Before sharing with you pics and details of the Christian Witches Convention 2022 in New Orleans, let's take a quick stroll down the proverbial memory lane to give you a complete history of the Christian Witches Convention and where we go from here.
On Easter weekend 2019 the first ever Christian Witches Convention was held in Salem, Massachusetts at the Hawthorne Hotel attended by a powerhouse cadre of souls who honor Christ and the Craft.
This photo was shot of all the attendees on Saturday night of the convention at the ball themed American Horror Story. That huge red wig I'm wearing is my take on one of my all time fave witches, Myrtle Snow from the AHS series.
Purpose
The purpose and intention of the first Christian Witches Convention was connection with other like minded Christian Witches who understand the uniqueness of this path, and who may have also faced and successfully overcome challenges involving friends or family who are quick to offer unsolicited advice on personal spiritual matters, loaded with warnings such as beware of hell, the devil is busy and the Bible says this or that (these are all topics for another day).
These witches, wizards and magickal beings don't heed such 'warnings.'
We know that being a Christian Witch is a personal spiritual path, one which is walked by a seeker who's guided solely by the inner Voice of the Higher Self.
Another purpose of the first ever Christian Witches Convention was to learn from fellow practitioners about their walk as a Christian Witch, as well as to understand more about the wider witchy community by delving into the history of Salem, and more specifically, the Salem witch trials. The memorial to these innocents who were slaughtered during a period of panic, brutality and mob mentality stands as a silent witness of atrocities we must never allow.
Christian Witches Church
Yes, we even held church on Sunday morning, the first ever (that I know of) Christian Witches public church service. We're a community that honors the divine in all and as all, and we likewise honor our heritage from being in Christian religions of all sorts, and so worship on Sunday mornings is part and parcel of what we do, although our church service looks rather different from a typical church service. Here are a few more pics to give you an idea of the flavor of what we experienced at that historic moment forever frozen in time...
The energy in the room on Easter Sunday at the Hawthorne Hotel was palpable, with attendees being delivered from negative belief patterns that thwart the practice of effective magick.
The Christian Witches Convention was not held in the years 2020 and 2021.
Fast forward to Memorial Day weekend of 2022 and more witches, wizards and magickal beings convened in New Orleans for a weekend of magick, learning about the path of the Christian Witch, visiting cemeteries (collecting cemetery dirt for magickal practice) connection, and of course, partying and fun!
Here are pics from the opening festivities on Thursday night:
On Friday was our first field trip and learning day in the French Quarter, with visits to a few of our fave magick shoppes and reading studios, including:
- OMEN: Psychic Parlor and Witchcraft Emporium
- Hex: Old World Witchery
- Bottom of the Cup Tearoom
And even a stop at the Vampyre Boutique, reportedly one of only two real vampire stores in the world. Here I am in the coffin there...
Here we are at the historic Bottom of the Cup Tearoom, a space that holds deep meaning and significance for me. I got my first professional Tarot reading here about 20 years ago and I still have the deck I acquired that day! I had to sneak away from my Baptist husband (we're no longer married, we decided to go our own glorious separate paths) to get the reading so as not to have to defend my decision.
I've come a long way since those days of being afraid to exit the broom closet. No more. In these pics, you see me teaching about Tarot and divination in this very same space. Talk about full circle moments...
We had a blast at Bottom of the Cup Tearoom, a space that's been women owned for 4 generations since 1893!
On Friday night we toured cemeteries in the darkness of night... a thrill a minute that's for sure. Pics coming soon of the spirits we were able to capture on film.
On Saturday we enjoyed a full day of classes on the Magickal Arts & Sciences, with lots of food, friends and fun...
The theme of the ball at the 2022 Christian Witches Covention was the Matrix to honor our decision and conscious choice to remember that we are all sovereign beings, not mindless drones lying unconscious in a pod under someone's control. We donned our Matrix gear and headed out on Saturday night. Here are a few pics...
Me serving a feminine take on Morpheus
Harmony and Dr. Jewa Lea in full Matrix gear
The lady in the red dress reminds us that we always have the choice between the red pill and the blue pill, to stay asleep, or to choose to awaken...
The Oracle with cookies and all lol (she won the prize for best Matrix costume btw)
Seraph
Seraph and the Oracle "I protect that which matters most."
On Sunday morning it was time for Christian Witches Church! I got to offer an inspirational message for us as practicing Christian Witches and we got our praise on with Roberto del Ray as our musical inspiration. It was, in a word, delicious.
With founding members of the Christian Witches Mystery School, from left to right: Queen Vashti, initiated High Priestess in our Coven The Ma'at Temple of Love, Light & Truth, yours truly, Tenia Butler, founding member of the Mystery School and Queen Hadassah, initiated High Priestess in our Coven The Ma'at Temple of Love, Light & Truth.
More pics of the Christian Witches community members who could convene in New Orleans for the weekend:
THANK YOU for sharing this moment with our global community of Christian Witches who are a formidable movement for freedom of worship and freedom of devotion for all people! YOU ARE THE GIFT!
Blessed be,
Rev. Valerie Love (aka KAISI)
Rev. Valerie Love is the author of over 20 books on practical spirituality, magick, the occult and Christian Witchcraft and is the Founder and Head Mistress of the Covenant of Christian Witches Mystery School in the Solomonic Tradition (CCW for short) and the initiated High Priestess of the Ma'at Temple of Love, Light & Truth. Explore the Christian Witchcraft series of books intentionally designed for you... the practicing Christian Witch.
(Oh and if you've read any of the books, would you be kind and leave a review on Amazon or Goodreads? Thanks beyond the moon!)