FRIDAY AND SATURDAY

A workshop on Building a Sustainable Infrastructure led by Rev Pete Davis, Rev. Davron Michaels, Rev. Cassie Michaels, Rev. Ed Hubbard, and myself. Above: Rev. Ruthann, Rev. Don, Rev. Davron, and Rev. Ed discuss sustainable infrastructure. In the afternoon there was an outdoor workshop on Spell Casting and Ritual conducted by Rev. Ruthann Amarteifio, Rev. Mestra, and Rev. Dr. Tim Lake: Rev. Sandy led a workshop on Magical Herbs in Everyday Food:
	A workshop in Clerical Counseling Basics was conducted by Rev Dr. Rodney Dysinger and Fernando Resto: And Rev. Kestra and Rev. Viktoria Whittaker led a workshop on Conflict Resolution and Group Dynamics. Left: Rev. Viktoria Whitaker and Rev. Kestra lead a workshop on Conflict Resolution and Group Dynamics.
In mid-afternoon I delivered the State of the Tradition address, outlining the many advances the Correllian Tradition has made over the year and emphasizing how truly groundbreaking some of these changes were for us. After the State of the Tradition address followed a panel on Congregational Pagan Churches including Rev. Shelly O'Brien and Rev Heidi Gleber of Pagan Church of the Sacred Pentacle, Rev. Pete Davis of the Aquarian Tabernacle Church, and Rev. Davron Michaels and Rev Cassie Michaels representing the Correllian Tradition. Right: Rev. Don delivers the State of the Tradition address Saturday afternoon.
Above: Panelist for the Congregational Pagan Chuches workshop including L to R: Rev. Shelly O' Brien, Rev. Heidi Gleber, Rev. Cassandra Michaels, Rt. Rev. Davron Michaels, Rt. Rev. Pete Pathfinder Davis, M. Rev. Don Lewis.
Finally there were also workshops on the logistics of Distance Shrines and the activities of the Order of Paladins. Above: The Paladin workshop led by Paladin Commanders Rev. David Webb, Rev. Jason Mycroft, Rev. Dr. Rodney Dysinger, and Rev. James De Montezon.
Above: The Officiating Clergy attune before beginning Friday night's initiation ceremonies.	Friday evening we began the customary First and Second Degree initiations and Outer Court Dedications which accompany each Lustration. We began with seven Second Degree initiations: followed with seventeen First Degree initiations (the most we have ever done in one ceremony), and concluded with Five Dedications. The ceremony took four hours to complete and was presided over by myself, Arch Priestess Ruthann, Arch Priest Davron, together with the eleven new High Priesthood -itself a unique event.
Above: Group photo of Friday night's initiation ceremony, including Officiants, Second and First Degree initiates, and Dedicants. The over-four-hour ceremony was our longest ritual marathon yet.
SATURDAY Saturday began with a Runic Yoga workshop led by Rev. Dr. Tim Lake and Rev. Viktoria Whittaker. This was followed by a workshop on the Aquarian Tabernacle Church presented by Rev. Pete Davis. Thereafter followed the Temple Deeming ceremony, one of the most important parts of any Lustration gathering.
Rev. Pete Pathfinder Davis gives a workshop on the Aquarian Tabernacle Church. To learn more about the Aquarian Tabernacle Church, go HERE.
	At the Temple Deeming ceremony Witan Shrines and Proto-Temples are Deemed as to their readiness to advance in the Temple making process. Arch Priestess Ruthann presides over the Deeming ceremony in her role as Templar Grand Deemstress, or head of the Temple making process, assisted by two Deemsters of her choice: on this occasion Lady Ruthann was joined by Rt. Rev. Davron Michaels and Rev. Jason Mycroft as Deemsters.
Above: Lady Cassandra of Astral Light and Astral Light Pursuivant Rev. Jim DeMontezon cast the Circle for the Deeming ceremony. Five Shrines were up for Deeming: Sedna Witan Shrine of Herefordshire, UK: Green Man Witan Shrine of Semilong, Northampton, UK: Dragon Witan Shrine of Morelos, Mexico: Celtic Cross Witan Shrine of Gulfport, Florida, USA: Heritage Witan Shrine of Piqua, Ohio, USA.

Above: L to R, Rev. Sandy of Astral Light Temple, Rev. Meg "Moonsinger" Hopkins, and Rev. Mark Crewson of Sacred Arts Temple act as lectors for the three Shrines being Deemed in absentia. Rev. Debbe Tompkins of Heritage, and Rev. Terry "Silthoron" Power of Celtic Cross, appeared for their Deeming in person. Written presentations were submitted by the remaining Shrines and read aloud by specially appointed Lectors. Right: Rev. Dr. Rodney Dysinger and Rev. Debbe Tompkins of Heritage Witan Shrine take their turn before the Deemsters. Below: The three Deemsters study written presentations from one Shrine being Deemed.

	The Deemsters ask questions of the prospective Temples, the answers to which questions are considered along with other factors such as whether paperwork has been properly maintained, etc... Then the Deemsters retire to deliberate. As a rule the results are not announced until the following day, during the Lustration ceremony itself. Left: Rev. Terry "Silthoron" Power of Celtic Cross Witan Shrine stands before the Deemsters. Rev. Terry had come all the way from Barbados to attend in person. Celtic Cross maintains two Distance Shrines in addition to its main Shrine in southern Florida.
Before the adjuring of the Deemsters Court however, we had an important announcement: Lady Krystel, the revered First Priestess of the Tradition had been unable to attend the Conference, but had sent her video-taped greetings. Lady Krystel, who has served as First Priestess and Matriarchal Joint Head of Tradition for twenty-six years, has not been able to be as active in recent years as she might have liked. Moreover, rephrasing Lady Krystel's message, the recent illness of Lady Bitterwind has made Lady Krystel all the more conscious of the passage of time and of her own mortality. Consequently Lady Krystel has decided that she would like to see her successor seated during her lifetime, in order to be sure that the succession proceeds smoothly. Therefore, effective as of the end of her video-taped message, Lady Krystel has stepped down as First Priestess in favor of Lady Ruthann as her successor.	Above: First Priestess Lady Krystel, photographed during an earlier Lustration. After twenty-six years in office Lady Krystel has retired, naming Arch Priestess Ruthann as her successor. Lady Krystel will now be known as First Priestess Emeritus.
	Lady Ruthann will now serve as Regent for the office of First Priestess for one year, until being confirmed by the Witan Council next Fall. Thereafter she will be hallowed in office as First Priestess. Lady Krystel, who emphasized that she has retired, not resigned, will remain a member of the Council of Elders, and will retain the same state and dignity she has so long held being now First Priestess Emeritus. With this news, and Lady Ruthann's somewhat shocked reaction, the Deemsters Court adjured.
Above: Arch Priestess Ruthann receives the news of First Priestess Krystel's retirement from office with surprise and more than a little shock. The news had carefully been concealed from Lady Ruthann until the public announcement was made, to make the moment as special as possible for her. Saturday afternoon featured a workshop on Rapport 101, led by Phil Farber, the noted author of "FUTURERITUAL": Right: Author Phil Farber leads the "Rapport 101" workshop, describing techniques of establishing rapport. Below: Phil Farber addressing his audience.
Brian Goldstein (Frater Archad AL) of the Sanctuary of Thoth then led a workshop on Ceremonial Magic: Above: The Ceremonial Magic workshop, led by Frater Archad Al.
Lady Ruthann and I then led a workshop on the Nature and Purposes of the Lustration: And Saturdays final workshop was on Temple Leadership and Administration with Rev Davron Michaels, Rev Ed Hubbard, Rev Mark Crewson, and Rev. Kestra.
	After the last workshop Astral Light Temple Herald Richard Lloyd presented Arch Priest Davron with a hand painted Lineage Tree, showing Rev. Davron's lineage backward and forward -a wonderful tribute to the Arch Priest. Left: Rev. Richard Lloyd, Chief Herald of Astral Light Temple, and wife Rev. Erica.
We then gathered for yet another wonderful dinner. This dinner featured speeches from Rev. Karla Summers, our respected Witchschool Dean of Mentors, and Rev. Serenity Acorna, Witchschool Assistant Dean of Mentors. It was a great honor and privilege to be able to bring these two dedicated Priestesses together after so many years of working together online, and we were greatly pleased to have them here. Above: Assistant Dean Rev. Serenity Acorna and Dean Rev. Karla Summers, who head Witchschool's Mentoring program.	Above: Rev. Karla addresses the crowd. Below: Rev. Serenity speaks
Above: Members of ALPI, the "Astral Light Paranormal Investigators", take the podium Saturday night. The ALPI team includes L to R Rev. Cassandra Michaels, Rev. Jim DeMontezon, Rev. Richard Lloyd, and Rev. Erica Lloyd.
Above: Rev. Jim shows and explains some of ALPI's paranormal investigating equipment.	After Dinner the Astral light Paranormal Investigators (ALPI) gave a presentation on paranormal research, describing the processes they use for investigating paranormal sites and speaking of some of their many experiences in paranormal investigation. I myself have been privileged to join ALPI in some of their investigations, and spoke briefly about these experiences and the use of clairvoyance in paranormal research.
At nine o'clock exactly we gathered around the bonfire in the outdoor ritual space behind Astral light Temple for a Crystal Web ritual to send healing energy to all those affected by Hurricane Katrina. Many of us had been on the road when Katrina actually hit, and had been largely out-of-contact with the wider world during the Conference: as reports of the hurricane's devastation, and especially its aftermath, began to reach us we were quite horrified to realize what had happened.	Above: Rev. Don leads a visualization during the Crystal Web ritual as Lady Windy (in Witchschool T-shirt) looks on.

	Above: Raising and focusing the energy during Saturday night's Crystal Web Ritual. Lady Windy of the Shrine of the Crystal Web led the ritual, which was designed to send healing energy to all the hurricane's victims, whether living or dead, and including those who were and still are working to rescue and aid others. Lady Windy directed the energy through one of Astral Light's Celestial Crystals which are tied into the Crystal Web, disseminating the energies to all who are suffering. Left: High Priestess Rev. Windy LaJoie of Hooded Crone Shrine and Shrine Guide for the Formal Shrine of the Crystal Web.
After the Crystal Web ritual followed a Drumming Circle which closed out the nights activities.