Lustration of the Ancestors
April 17 - 18, Year 4 Aquarius

Arch Priestess Bitterwind, First Elder of the Correllian Tradition, during the ceremonial gathering of the Water for the Lustration ceremony from the Vermilion river in Danville, Illinois, USA

As is our custom each year the members of PURE Sanctuary Temple were entrusted with the duty of acquiring and Blessing the Lustral water prior to the Lustration. Thus it was that the members of PURE Sanctuary gathered early one Spring morning well before the Lustration on the banks of the Vermilion river, led by Rev. Kim Reffet, who acts as Head of the Temple since High Priestess Becci Penry stepped down from that position last fall.

​Rev. Kim, Rev. Reanna Marie, Marylynn, and First Elder Rev. Bitterwind (who attends PURE Sanctuary) brought a camera with them to record the event this year

Rev. Reanna and Lady Bitterwind of PURE Sanctuary Temple gather water for the Lustration from the Vermilion river. Each year the members of PURE Sanctuary Temple acquire and Bless the sacred water used in the ceremony of Lustration.

​It was on the banks of the Vermilion river that the Correllian Tradition began and grew to maturity, so whenever possible the water used in the Lustration is taken from the Vermilion as a tribute to the Ancestors, although we have also on occasion used water from other rivers, notably the Kankakee.

Rev. Reanna Marie, Rev. Kim Reffet, and Arch Priestess Bitterwind take part in the Blessing of the Lustral Water.

​Rev. Reanna and Lady Bitterwind drew the water from the river in blue pots. Then with Rev. Kim they joined to Bless the water, and make a thank offering to the river.

Once it had been Blessed and the offering made, the water was placed into a special glass bottle prepared for it. Lady Bitterwind had ornamented this bottle with brass leaves and butterflies.​

Rev. Reanna Marie takes part in the Blessing of the water.

Rev. Reanna Marie, Rev. Kim Reffet, and Arch Priestess Bitterwind take part in the Blessing of the Lustral Water.

After the Blessing ceremony Marylynn collected river stones from the bank.
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​These stones were to be Blessed at the altar during the Lustration, and then given out to people as talismans.ere to edit.

Marylynn collects stones from the bank of the Vermilion river which will be Blessed during the Lustration ceremony.

​This Lustration was very special, because it was the first Lustration to be held at our new building in Hoopeston, Illinois. Affectionately known as the Elephant, this huge building serves us in a multitude of ways: as the home campus of Witchschool.com, Hoopeston Books and Gifts, Selu Witan Shrine, and the temporary quarters of the Correll Mother Temple. It is a very large building, and it needs a lot of work -but it is eminently suited to our needs.

The main entrance of the Elephant Building, Hoopeston, Illinois

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​We regard our self-initiations as being by attunement, the attunement being activated by Keys in the ceremony. However we none-the-less feel that the real-time initiatory experience is important and encourage all of our people to have it.

The initiatory confirmation ceremonies held at the Lustrations often involve many people, and may last for several hours. It is not uncommon for this ritual to last for three hours, and some have stretched to four hours. Needless to say this can be somewhat exhausting for the presiding Clergy.

At this Lustration's initiatory confirmation we had four Second Degrees, two First Degrees, and four Dedications.

After the initiatory confirmations we broke for refreshments and some social time.

"Death Shall Have No Dominion" an artwork by Correllian First Elder Lady Bitterwind which stands to the left of the Great Altar of the Mother Temple, on the upper floor of the Elephant Building. Lady Bitterwind is a prolific artist who has donated many artworks to the Mother Temple.

​We came together around 11 PM for the Temple Deeming. Aspiring Correllian Temples must first spend approximately one year as a Witan Shrine before being Deemed for full Temple status. 

Lady Ruthann serves as Templar Grand Deemstress. At each Deeming Lady Ruthann is joined by two other Deemsters, specially chosen for the occasion.

Witan Shrines which have become eligible for Deeming must make a presentation to the Deemster's Court. The Witan Shrine's records are examined, and questions are posed regarding its projects, experiences, and worthiness for Temple status. 

At this Lustration only one Witan Shrine was approved for Temple status: Triple Goddess, located in Wheaton, Illinois, and  headed by Rev. Karen Plioplys.

After a good nights rest we reconvened Sunday morning to prepare for the Lustration ceremony itself, which was to be held at noon.

As noon approached First Elder Bitterwind and the members of PURE Sanctuary arrived with the Lustral Water. Many other people were arriving as well, since the Lustration proper is always the most heavily attended part of the weekend.

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​The Temple space had been specially decorated for the ceremony, and we busied ourselves with the finishing touches. 

Rev. Diane Lavendowski had brought a beautiful bouquet of flowers for the altar -it was decided to use these flowers in the Ancestor offering which is part of the Spring Lustration.


Left: The great altar of the Mother Temple with some of the items used in the ritual. At center is the vase of flowers given by Rev. Diane Lavendowski for the Ancestor offering. At left is Rev. Don's staff, the gift of the Correllians of Africa, at right are the bronze incense burner which belonged to the Blv. Mable, former First Priestess of the Tradition, and the carnival glass situla given by Lady Bitterwind and used in the cleansing of the Temple. Behind the altar can be seen "Big Wheel's Turning" an artwork by Lady Bitterwind representing the processes of the universe.
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Once again the eminent First Priestess Lady Krystel was unable to take part in the Lustration, so the Lady Priestess Ruthann stood in for her.

We began with the slow and rhythmic dance of the Temple dancers, who had been organized and trained by Rev. Casey. 

Rev. Casey led the way in his accustomed role as Guardian, bearing the ceremonial sword, and issued the challenge which begins each Lustration and starts the process of cleansing the Temple space.

Next the beautiful, white-clad dancers came, led by Anastasia Tompkins, circling the ritual space with winding steps and elegant movements. As the dance progressed, the youngest dancers formed an honor guard at the Temple entrance, blessing the celebrants as they processed in.

​​When everyone had assembled the ritual began with the cleansing and Blessing of the Circle. Then the Higher Selves of the First Priesthood were invoked.

Now the Sword was presented and the Circle cast.

Next the Staff was presented, and the Quarters were called with the invocation of the Seventy Gods. This long invocation calls upon seventy Divinities Who are are meant to represent all Deities, stressing the Nativist universalism inherent in the Correllian Tradition

Another artwork by Lady Bitterwind which stands on the right of the Great Altar.

​Nativism, as envisioned by Blv. Caroline High Correll, is the idea that the indigenous religions of the world are kin to one another, having more in common than divides them. This is a guiding vision of Correllianism.

The invocation of the Seventy Gods ends with the invocation of Goddess and God as such. This is followed by the Great Rite and the Combined Charge.

Rev. Mark, Rev. Sapphire, and Rev. Diane  recite the Combined Charge of Goddess and God, and enact the Great Rite symbolizing the union of Spirit and Matter, Deity in the Universe.

Rev. Kim Reffet Head of PURE Sanctuary Temple serving as Elder's Herald with First Elder Lady Bitterwind.

First Elder Lady Bitterwind now comes forward, with her Herald Rev. Kim Reffet. They bear the Great Book, wrapped in its purple velvet mantle. In this book are inscribed the names of all Correllians living and in Spirit. The Great Book is Blessed by the First Priesthood.

Now the Elder's Herald, Rev. Kim, invokes the Beloved Ancestors, who are the focus of this Lustration. Offerings of flowers and incense are made to the Ancestors to show our love for them.

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​Next the Ancestors are invoked into the First Priestess, who acts as Grand Oracle of the Tradition. As stated, Lady Ruthann took the First Priestess' part for this ritual and brought through the oracle of the Ancestors.

Arch Priestess Bitterwind now brings forward the Lustral water, in the antique glass cauldron used for the purpose, and proffers it to the Oracle.

Then, Lady Ruthann channeled the Blessing of the Ancestors into the Lustral Water, using a sacred crystal to direct the energy. 

A group photo after the ritual. L to R: Aaron, girl dancer, Vicky, boy dancer, Rev. Diane, Rev. Janet Schmidt Head of Thousand Mirrors Temple, Rev. Sapphire Star, Rev. Don Lewis, Lady Ruthann, Rev. Aine Massie Head of Crystalline Star Temple, Rev. Virginia Powell from Selu Witan Shrine, Rev. Rick Schmidt of Thousand Mirrors Temple, Rev. Jason Highcorrell of Selu Witan Shrine, Rev. Mike McBride of Sacred Realm Personal Shrine, Rev. Stargazer from Selu Witan Shrine, Rev. Mark Crewson. Front Row: Rev. Kim Reffet Head of PURE Sanctuary Temple, Marylynn from PURE Sanctuary Temple, Rev. Karen Plioplys Head of Triple Goddess Temple, and Rev. Casey.

Arch Priestess Bitterwind takes the Lustral Water, which has been hallowed by the Ancestor's Blessing to the center of the Circle for the act of Lustration. One by one the Guardians of each Quarter come to her. Under the guidance of the Arch Priestess, the Quarter Guardians use a goose feather fan to asperse their respective Quarter, dispersing the Blessing of the Ancestors unto all the Correllians of that Quarter. In this way the energies of the Blessing are sent out to all the Correllians of the world.

When the last Quarter Guardian has returned to place, the Chalice is presented, and the toast is offered using the water Blessed earlier during the Great Rite.

Finally, thanks are given, and the rite is ended.

As always, the Lustration was a wonderful experience, and we are very grateful to all those who came and whose energies and efforts made it such a special weekend.

​Many Blessings to all!