Lustration of the Ancestors
March 29 - 30, Year 3 Aquarius

The Lustrations of Year 2 Aquarius were held at PURE Sanctuary Temple in Westville, Illinois: in Year 3 Aquarius the Lustrations were held at Akasha Temple in Kankakee, Illinois.

In all cases of course the Lustrations are held by the Mother Temple, but the ceremony has been hosted by other Temples since the Mother Temple does not at this time have dedicated space of its own. 
(Near the end of Year 3 Aquarius The Mother Temple did acquire dedicated space of its own in the Witchschool.com campus in Hoopeston, Illinois)
​Rev. Ruthann Amarteifio, HPS, of Akasha Temple provided a beautiful location for this Lustration -a secluded camping lodge overlooking the Kankakee river.

This year for the first time the Lustration became a two-day event, with a number of collateral activities involved. Many people chose to attend both days and slept over Saturday night in the lodge's comfortable rooms. Others joined us Sunday morning for the Lustration ceremony itself.

Saturday a number of presentations were offered through the day, and lively discussions ensued. Between presentations was social time to allow people to get to know each other.
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Rev. Aine Massie, Rev. MIke McBride, and Rev. Karen Plioplys hold candles after the ceremony.
Saturday evening Initiatory Confirmations were held for a number of people. The Correllian Tradition recognizes Self-Initiation, but encourages its members to have real-time Initiatory Confirmations when possible. To facilitate this, we offer Initiatory Confirmations at as many events as possible.

Among those who had Initiatory Confirmations at this Lustration were Rev. Aine Massie, Head of Crystalline Star Shrine (Cincinnati, Ohio), Rev. Mike McBride, Head of Sacred Waters Shrine (Sault Ste Marie, Michigan), Rev. Karen Plioplys, Head of Triple Goddess Shrine (Wheaton, Illinois), and Rev. Green Owl, Head of Trianna Shrine (St. Louis, Missouri).
PictureAbove: The Initiatory Confirmations were facilitated by (standing) Rev. Stacy Paedusis, Rev. Don Lewis, Rev. Ruthann Amarteifio, (kneeling) Rev. Traci Logan-Wood, and Rev. Casey Carraher



​After the Initiations came the Deemster's Court. In Correllian parlance a Deemster is an investigator or judge appointed by the Tradition. In this case the Deemsters are appointed to review Witan Shrines and decide if they are suitable for full Temple status.

All potential new Temples must now spend at least one year as Witan Shrines as a kind of probationary period. This rule was created in Year 2 Aquarius.

This was the first time that Deemsters had actually been appointed to review Witan Shrines, and the first Shrines to be reviewed were the Shrine of LaVeda in Australia, the Crystalline Star Shrine in Cincinnati, Ohio, and the Phoenix Rising Shrine in Canada.​
PictureThe Deemster's Court, L to R Rev. Stacy Paedusis, Rev. Ruthann Amarteifio, and Rev. Karen Plioplys

Lady Ruthann of Akasha Temple was appointed Grand Deemster, and will head the Deemster's Court at each session. The other two members of the Deemster's Court will be drawn from among available Clergy.

Serving with lady Ruthann on this occasion were Rev. Stacy Paedusis and Rev. Karen Plioplys of Triple Goddess Witan Shrine.
PictureRev. Aine discuses her experiences as a Shrine Keeper with the Deemsters.


​Rev. Wendy Eversen of LaVeda Witan Shrine -being in Australia- submitted written reports to the Deemsters regarding her experiences as Shrine Keeper for LaVeda Shrine.

Rev. Aine Massie of Crystalline Star Witan Shrine appeared in person to answer the Deemster's questions and discuss her experiences running Crystalline Star.

Rev. Cat of Phoenix Rising Witan Shrine could not be reached for comment, and the opinion of all concerned was that the Shrine had folded quietly and without notifying the Tradition -proving the need for the new system. 
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After the ceremony Lady Krystel reads Rev. Diana's report on Pagan images in Chicago architecture. Everyone agreed it was a fascinating and well-researched piece.
​It was no surprise then that the Deemsters ruled against Phoenix Rising and the Shrine was formally desolved.

Both LaVeda and Crystalline Star however were approved for full Temple status, becoming the first Temples to be approved through the new process. Good work Rev. Wendy and Rev. Aine!

The next morning we were joined by First Priestess Lady Krystel and First Elder Lady Bitterwind who came up from Danville with Lady Becci of PURE Sanctuary Temple and Lady Becci's partner Shelly.

Also arriving Sunday morning was Rev. Diana from Holy City Temple.

Rev. Diana had just completed a report o Pagan images in Chicago architecture, which made fascinating reading.
PictureRev. Mike McBride in the Dress Robe of Sacred Waters Shrine.
While the Clergy gathered and began robing Rev. Edward Highcorrell showed pictures of the new building which he was looking at for a potential Witchschool.com campus, which would also afford space to the Correll Mother Temple. 

The building was located in Hoopeston, Illinois, approximately half way between  Danville and Kankakee, where major Correllian Temples are located -making it an ideal central location.

Everyone agreed that the building would be ideal and admired the pictures of its stately exterior and spacious interior.

Looking at these pictures on this sunny Lustration morning we had no idea of the circuitous and controversial road that lay ahead of us in pursuit of a campus. 
​
PictureThe procession heads out. Visible L to R are Shelly (in the background) Lady Becci, Rev. Diana, and Rev. Don


​The camping lodge was one of the most beautiful settings imaginable for the Lustration, sitting as it did just above the Kankakee river. Between this and the beautiful weather the Elders were moved to deviate from our normal custom and use water from the Kankakee river instead of the Vermilion river.