As always people came from all over for Lustration. Our local Correllian
community was joined for the event by guests from Arkansas, Connecticut,
Georgia, Massachusetts, Missouri, and New York.
In addition to the Mother Temple and local Temples Selu and Enchanted
Realm/PURE Sanctuary, many Correllian Temples and Shrines were
represented including Circle of Friends, Crystalline Star, Hooded Crone
and Lady of Light. Sacred Sea Temple and Spiral Light Shrine sent major
delegations including numerous members.
Right:
Rev. Alyssa Maxon, D.J., and Beth of Spiral Light pose with the "Paganmobile"
en route from Connecticut to the Lustration. Photo courtesy of Rev.
Alyssa Maxon.
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Although people began arriving as early as Friday the 23rd,
the first activities of Lustration weekend did not begin until Friday
the 29th. That evening we all gathered for a drum circle at
the home of Rev. Reanna Marie, HP, Head of Enchanted Realm Temple. The
drum circle was open to the public and did in fact include at least one
member of the public. During the drum circle, which lasted from 6 till
10 PM, a special birthday celebration was held for retired First
Priestess Lady Krystel and Rev. Virginia Powell, HP, Head of Selv Temple
and Elder’s Herald.
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Above:
The Friday Evening Drum Circle. Photo courtesy of Lady Green Owl.
Saturday morning many of us attended the annual Sweet Corn Parade in
Hoopeston. The Sweet Corn Parade is a major event in the region
featuring floats, marching bands, clown, the obligatory politicians, and
of course Beauty Queens.
...Beauty Queens? Yes, Beauty Queens. Hoopeston is home to the annual
Miss Sweetheart Pageant which draws contestants from across the US, who
also appear in the Sweet Corn Parade the next day.
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Above: Miss Hoopeston on her float in the Sweet Corn Parade. Photo
courtesy of Magick TV. |
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After the parade Selv Temple hosted a special Corn Feast
featuring corn-based dishes and other classic Midwestern American food.
The Feast was also open to the public.
We believe strongly that as a modern world religion it is very important
that we interface with the public and let people know who we are and
what we are about. We have suffered a certain amount of prejudice as a
result of this policy, but we have also overcome a great deal of
prejudice because of this policy.
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Above: Rev. Don
confers with Rev. Karla Summers, HP, and MaryAnn Kaufmann during the
Corn Feast in Hoopeston. Photo
courtesy of Rev. Alyssa Maxon.
Following the Corn Feast Rev. Robert deMaille of Spiral Light Shrine
shared with us several power point presentations which Spiral Light uses
in its work with members of the military, a major focus of the Shrine.
These presentations were beautiful and well-presented. Rev. deMaille
explained to us all the special needs of the highly competitive east
coast community, where polished presentations like these are of special
importance.
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Above: Rev. Aine Massie HP,
Rick of Lady of Light Temple, Rev. Debbe Tompkins HP, and Rev. Don
during the Corn Feast. Photo courtesy of Rev. Alyssa Maxon.
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Above: Rev. Robert deMaille
demonstrates Spiral Light's power point presentations
after the Corn
Feast. Photo courtesy of Rev. Alyssa Maxon.
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We then assembled to Hesychia House for the Temple Deeming. Rev. Reanna
Marie, HP, and Rev. Karla Summers, HP, of Circle of Friends Shrine,
joined the Chancellor as Co-Deemsters for the ceremony.
Rev. Virginia
Powell, HP, represented Rev. Silver Moonblossom for the deeming of
Serenity Witan Shrine of County Durham UK.
Rev. Stephanie Neal, HP, represented Rev. Lee Fluhr of Hall of the
Ancestors Witan Shrine of Maryland, USA.
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Avove: The Deemsters'
Court. L to R: Rev. Reanna Marie, HP, Rev. Don Lewis, HP, and Rev. Karla
Summers, HP. Photo courtesy of Magick TV.
And Spiral Light Witan Shrine of Groton, Connecticut, USA, was
represented at the deeming by a deputation of its members headed by
Shrine Head Rev. Alyssa Maxon and Co-Head Robert deMaille.
As is our custom each group ceremonially presented their answers to the
Deeming questions, with final results to be announced during the
Lustration itself.
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Above: Rev. Don with the
delegation from Sacred Sea Temple, L to R Samantha, Rev. Michael Barry,
Rev. Michael Neal, and Rev. Stephanie Neal HP. Photo courtesy of Rev.
Stephanie Neal.
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Above:
Elizabeth Bull of Spiral Light Shrine prepares to address the Deemsters'
Court.
Photo courtesy of
Magick TV.
After the Temple Deeming Saturdays activities concluded with
initiations.
Rev. Gwen Cromwell
of Pure Sanctuary received her Third Degree initiation.
Rev. Michael Barry,
Rev. Michael Neal, and Rev. Michael Poole received their First Degree
initiations in our first ever all-Michael initiation ceremony.
Samantha of Sacred
Sea made her dedication.
Congratulations to
all of the Initiates and Dedicants!
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Sunday morning we gathered for the Lustration ceremony at Hesychia
House. The last several weeks had seen a flurry of activity as the
grounds were prepared for the ceremony with the clearing away of bushes
and undergrowth and the removal of an ornamental pool and fountain that
had seen better days. The altar was set up within the shelter of a
natural circle of trees, which shaded the proceedings against the August
heat and sun.
Above: Preparing the
Hesychia grounds for the Lustration
ceremony. Photo courtesy of Alyssa Maxon.
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As always the Lustration ceremony was open to the public and a few non-Correllians did
indeed join us, as well as a few spectators around the Hesychia grounds.
Also, for the first time ever the Lustration was covered by the local
media, with a news crew from WICD Channel 15 being present. [The
resulting story by reporter Checkey Beckford is among the most positive
news reports we have ever been featured in]
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Above: Invoking the
"Seventy Gods".
Photo courtesy of Magick TV. |
Rev. Green Owl, HP, Head of Trianna Temple, and Rev. CJ Cromwell, HP, of
Pure Sanctuary handled technical logistics for the ceremony. The script
for the Lustration of the Living can be seen HERE
Elizabeth Bull of
Spiral Light opened the ceremony with a special Besom Cleansing rite.
Rev. Robert deMaille of Spiral Light served as Guardian for the
ceremony. Rev. Aine Massie, HP, Head of Crystalline Star Temple, and
Rev. Reanna Marie, HP, Head of Enchanted Realm Temple, took their
accustomed roles as Vocifer and Sonifer.
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Above: Lady Bitterwind
brings forth the Book of Life to be Blessed.
Photo courtesy of
Magick TV.
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M. Rev. Don Lewis, HP, First Priest and Chancellor of Tradition, led the
ceremony. Rev. Windy LaJoie, HP, of Hooded Crone Shrine, took the role
of Lead Priestess, while Rev. Virginia Powell, HP, Head of Selv Temple,
acted as Elder’s herald assisting First Elder Arch Priestess Virginia
“Bitterwind” Smith.
Samantha and Rev.
Michael Barry of Sacred Sea Temple acted as Aquifer and Lucifer
respectively.
Rev. Alyssa Maxon of Spiral Light and Rev. Karla Summers HP of Circle of
Friends Shrine, acted as Genevocator and Junovocator.
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Above: Lady Bitterwind
displays the Book of Life.
Photo courtesy of Magick TV. |
Above: A view across the
width of the circle.
Photo courtesy of Magick TV. |
Beth, DJ, and Elizabeth Bull, all of Spiral Light, acted as Guardians of
the East, South, and West respectively. Rev. Christina Dunn, Head of
Lady Of Light Temple, acted as Guardian of the North.
Rev. Debbe Tompkins, HP, Head of the Order of Hesychia, acted as Lector
for the Great Rite while Rev. Stephanie Neal, HP, Head of Sacred Sea
Temple, and Rev. Mike Neal of Sacred Sea enacted the Great Rite.
Rev. Virginia Powell, HP, joined the Chancellor in bringing through the
Oracle of the Ancestors, which said:
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“A beginning
is coming
: A change is coming:
May we all be fair:
In love and trust and in obedience:
May we all be blessed: …Behold the further words of the Ancestors
: As this year progresses into the next:
We shall see the coming of the tide upon the shore:
And with it the riches of the sea:
We shall see the bounty of the Great Work laid before us:
And the task which is laid upon each of us:
Is how we shall react to the very success:
Which comes from our efforts:
Which shall bring forth the best
in us and the worst in us:
And unto you the Ancestors say:
Draw forth from yourselves the best:
That the best may multiply upon the earth: And
that the good things which come to you now
: Will continue to come from
one day to the next”
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Above: Rev. Don delivers the
Oracle.
Photo courtesy of Magick TV.
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Above: Rev. Robert deMaille
assists with
the Toast. Photo courtesy of Magick TV. |
After this followed the toast. As is our custom the toast was
accompanied by a musical presentation: Rev. Gwen Cromwell, HP, of Pure
Sanctuary, sang the Lustration Anthem.
We then announced
the Temple Deeming results, which were:
Serenity Witan
Shrine is advanced to the status of Proto-Temple.
Hall of the
Ancestors Witan Shrine is advanced to the status of Proto-Temple.
Spiral Light Witan
Shrine is advanced to the status of Proto-Temple.
In
addition the Deemsters have established the Temple of Healing and the
Living Stones Memorial Temple, which have formerly existed as Formal
Shrines.
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Awards were then presented for excellence. This cycle we honored the
following people for their service:
Order of the
Golden Wand: Elizabeth Bull,
Rev. Anna Rowe, Rev. Lee Fluhr, and Rev. Mary Keller
Order of the
Silver Chalice: Rev. Mary
Keller
Order of the
Iron Pentacle: Rev Darlene
Moon Masque Mystique, Rev. Anna Rowe
Order of the Thurible: Rev, Moonleaf
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Above: The sigil of the
Order of Tsalv (pronounced roughly as "Chah-lee" "Chah-loo") |
Beyond these we made one final, extraordinary award. In addition to our
Service Orders which honor members in each Lustration cycle, the
Tradition also has three Meritorious Orders which are only presented for
outstanding actions. These are the Order of Orpheus recognizing
outstanding service to the Correllian Tradition: The Order of the Round
Table recognizing outstanding service to the Pagan community: and the
Order of Tsalv recognizing outstanding service to the cause of peace in
the world.
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At this Lustration it was our great pleasure to award the Order of Tsalv
to Rev. Robert DeMaille for his service as a 9/11 rescue worker. The
9/11 tragedy is a horror which neither America nor the world will ever
forget. Nor can the world ever forget the heroic efforts of rescue
workers like Rev. Robert who risked their lives for the sake of others
both during and after that fateful day.
The Tradition is proud to extend this rare honor to Rev. Robert with our
thanks for his selfless actions, as well as to state our heartfelt
thanks to all of those rescue workers and others who extended themselves
despite danger, grief, and hardship for the sake of others in the wake
of the Great Tragedy of 9/11. May you be blessed.
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Above: Rev. Robert deMaille
of Spiral Light.
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Above: Giving thanks.
Photo courtesy of Magick TV.
We then gave thanks and adjourned to the after-Lustration feast.
After the feast
Lady Krystel held a Spirit Message circle in which she and Janice Romack,
a Friend of the Tradition of more than twenty years standing, gave
spirit messages to participants.
Thus ended the
Lustration of the Living for Year 08 Aquarius. We want to thank everyone
who took part and hope to see you all again next year!
The next Lustration
will be the Lustration of the Ancestors to be held in Salem,
Massachusetts, on the weekend of April 17-19.
To learn more about this event or to register click HERE
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