Lustration of the Living
October 4 - 5, Year 3 Aquarius


The Lustration of the Living for Year 3 Aquarius was one of our most memorable for several reasons. 

It had been a difficult summer with considerable controversy caused by Witchschool.com's decision to open a real-time campus in Vermilion county. At the time of the Lustration the ultimate outcome of the campus project was yet to be decided.

At the last minute Lady Krystel, First Priestess and Joint Head of Tradition, was too ill to take part in the ceremony, causing us to have to scramble at the last minute to move several people into different roles in the ritual.

Rev. Ruthann Amarteifio, Head of the Temple of Akasha, who had been appointed an Arch Priestess of the Tradition and inducted to the Correllian Council of Elders during the Summer, stepped into Lady Krystel's shoes and took her role in the ceremony.

Also, Rev. Janet Schmidt was inducted into the Order of Orpheus in recognition for her efforts during the Bennerite conflict which had taken place amid the controversies of the summer. The Order of Orpheus is a Meritorious Order which exists to honor those who have rendered great service to the Correllian Tradition.

As usual the weekend contained a number of events. 

Saturday included a number of presentations during the late morning and afternoon. Then in the evening Initiatory Confirmations were held for people who had completed a Self-Initiation but wanted the real-time Initiatory experience as well. Rev. Dave had come all the way from Montana for his Initiatory Confirmation, while Rev. Debbie haled from Ohio. We greatly enjoyed meeting and spending time with both of them and hope that they will return for future events.


Above: The Deemster's Court -Seated, Rev. Casey Carraher, Grand Deemster Rev. Ruthann Amarteifio, HPS, Rev. Dave Blair from Montana. Standing: Rev. Aine Massie, Head of Crystalline Star Temple, Rev. Debbe Tompkins from Ohio (in robes as Deemster's Herald), Rev. Don Lewis, and Rev. Janet Schmidt, Head of the Temple of A Thousand Mirrors.

The late Saturday evening came the Deemster's Court: at each Lustration, and also selected other venues, a Deemster's Court appointed by the Tradition Chancellor and headed by Grand Deemster Rev. Ruthann Amarteifio reviews Witan Shrines up for full Temple status. 
At this Lustration the Deemster's reviewed Trianna and Thousand Mirrors Witan Shrines. Trianna, headed by Lady Green Owl, is located in St. Louis, Misouri. Thousand Mirrors, headed by Rev. Janet Schmidt, is located in Belleville, Illinois. Both Trianna and Thousand Mirrors were accepted for Temple status.
On Sunday we held the Lustration proper. 

As stated, Lady Krystel proved too ill to attend. Because Lady Ruthann had to step in for Lady Krystel, Rev. Aine Massie had to step in for Lady Ruthann, and so on -so that a number of the participants in the ceremony found themselves in roles other than the ones they had prepared themselves for.

One of the most moving moments of the ceremony came when Rev. Janet Schmidt was inducted into the Order of Orpheus. Rev. Janet was not warned that this would happen, so the honor came as a complete surprise to her. The Tradition is very grateful to Rev. Janet for her efforts during the difficulties of the summer, and the leadership was very pleased to extend this honor to her.

Left: The Quarter Guardians -Rev. Dave Blair from Montana, Rev. Janet Schmidt, Head  of Thousand Mirrors Temple, Aaron Parks from Akasha Temple, and Rev. Karen Plioplys, Head of Triple Goddess Witan Shrine.

Rev. Casey Carraher took the role of Guardian once again, with Rev. Aine Massie, Head of Crystalline Star Temple, acting as Narrator.

The Quarter Guardians were Aaron from Akasha Temple in the East: Rev. Dave from Montana in the South: Rev. Janet Schmidt in the West: and Rev. Karen Plioplys, Head of Triple Goddess Witan Shrine, in the North. 

The Quarters are handled differently in the Lustrations and certain other very formal Correllian ceremonies than in ordinary ritual: the presiding Clergy invoke the Quarters and the Quarter Guardians personify and speak for the Quarters. This form is called the Invocation of the Seventy Gods because a total of seventy Deities representing many cultures and epochs are invoked during the process.


Above: Invoking the Quarters. L to R: Meghan of Akasha Temple, Rev. Karen Plioplys (Face obscured by hand), First Elder Lady Bitterwind (with Book), Rev. Kim Reffett of PURE Sanctuary Temple, Rev. Casey Carraher (in background), Rev. Don Lewis (with wand), Lady Ruthann, and Aaron Parks of Akasha.

When the Seventy Gods have been invoked the ceremony itself proceeds. 

Each year since the Lustrations became public ceremonies the Joint Charge, combining the Charge of the Goddess and the Charge of the God, has been offered. Usually this has been done by Rev. Becci Penry, HPS, of PURE Sanctuary Temple. Joining Lady Becci for this was her consort Shelly. After the Joint Charge Becci and Shelly performed the Great Rite conjoining Sword and Chalice.

An important aspect of the Lustration of the Living is the blessing of the Book of Life. Each year the names of all persons who have entered the Tradition during the preceding year are written up on specially prepared pages, which are Blessed during the Lustration of the Living and then added to the Book of Life. Then the Book itself, with the new pages added, is Blessed -symbolically Blessing all those whose names are contained within it.
Then the actual Lustration can occur.

The First Priest delivers an oracle from the Ancestors, and channels Their energy to Bless the Lustratory Cauldron. (In the Lustration of the Ancestors the First Priestess delivers the Oracle) 

First Elder Bitterwind then takes up her feather fan and asperges the Book of Life, extending the lustral Blessings to all whose names are in it. She then Blesses the Temple and those who are physically present. Finally the First Elder moves to the center of the Temple from which to Bless the Quarters. 

Left: Lady Bitterwind kneels holding the lustratory cauldron, as Rev. Don channels the blessing of the Ancestors into the water.


Now each Quarter Guardian in their turn comes forward to join the First Elder at the center of the Temple.

Taking the feather fan each Quarter Guardian asperses their Quarter with lustral water, extending the lustral blessings to the lands and people of that Quarter and all the Correllians who dwell among them. 

Finally a toast is shared, and the ritual concludes.

Right: Lady Bitterwind holds the lustratory cauldron for Aaron Parks of Akasha Temple who uses the feather fan to asperge the Eastern Quarter with the lustral water.
In retrospect this Lustration was bittersweet: It was wonderful as always to gather and worship together, but it is sad to consider that several people who have had important parts in the Lustration will not be back in the near future. 

Shortly after the ceremony Lady Becci and Shelly moved to Florida -they are very much missed. PURE Sanctuary is now Headed by Rev. Kim Reffett. At the next Lustration the Joint Charge will be offered by new people. 

However Lady Becci remains a member of the Witan, and we understand that she and Shelly are very happy in their new home.
Above Left: Rev. Aine Massie, Head of Crystalline Star Temple (in robes as Witan Herald), Rev. Casey Carraher, Cadet Priest of Akasha Temple (in pursuivant's robes), Rev. Janet Schmidt, Head of Thousand Mirror's Temple (with the sigil of the Order of Orpheus on her stole), Rev. Don, Lady Bitterwind, and Lady Ruthann.