First Ever Robing Ceremony!
Before sharing the deliciousness of the first ever Robing Ceremony for our High Priestesses, it would be good to offer a little background.
The Covenant of Christian Witches Mystery School (CCW for short) has an initiatory program which, in addition to Initiation (which takes place on holy days and is not public) entails a gift of a custom robe to our Initiates for magickal purposes and ceremonies and rituals held in the community. (You can find the details of the 2022 Initiation program HERE if you're considering deepening your commitment and dedication to your spiritual path as a Christian Witch.)
About the Robe
The robe gives off, as a close friend of mine said, "KKK vibes." Of course, that is not the intention, but is worth mentioning here, in case anyone else may have a similar thought.
The robes are white to indicate purity, light, holiness and the sacred attire worn in priesthoods around the globe, including ancient Egypt (Kemet). The gold represents the Great Work undertaken by all magickal aspirants, to successfully perform alchemy of the soul and transmute our base, lower nature into pure gold. We do not contend that we have completed the Great Work because we wear the robe. We wear the robe as a symbol of our aspiration to realize our golden, divine nature as well as our deep desire to rid ourselves of the dross that clouds and veils the brilliant emanation of the soul and spirit.
The first ever Robing Ceremony of newly initiated High Priestesses took place at Virginia Beach, VA, USA on the Winter Solstice at the Christian Witches Winter Solstice Ritual & Retreat. After the Robing Ceremony, our Winter Solstice Ritual was conducted on the beach (the camera couldn't capture us on the beach for the ritual, magick is real and sometimes you can actually see it). You can watch elements of the Robing Ceremony here:
(Just a quick note... the video was recorded by one of our attendees and is vertical FYI.)
Elements & Timing of the Robing Ceremony
All the ceremonies and rituals we conduct in the Mystery School are timed to sacred occasions, such as the New or Full Moon, or the Spring or Fall Equinox, or the Summer or Winter Solstice.
In the Robing Ceremony, we follow standard magickal protocols, such as:
- Preparation of the space: intentions, cleansing, clearing, altar setup, and magickal implements consecrated and ready
- Preparation of ourselves: ritual bathing, meditation, deep breathing, music
- Calling in the Spirit Team: archangels of the 4 directions, spirit guides, birth angels, ancestors, Ascended Masters
- A Magickal Circle: opened in the beginning and closed at the end
- Incantations/Declarations by the Initiates as well as the Officiant
- The Robes (gift of the Mystery School to our Temple of Ma'at Initiates)
- The Crowns (the Initiates choose and provide their own crowns)
- Friends and family: here you'll see attendees who were either related to the Initiates or were at the retreat with us since the Robing Ceremony is a public affair (though the Initiation is not).
- Presentation of the High Priestesses (or High Priests, High Witches, High Wizards, and/or High Warlocks... the Initiates get to choose their designation). This time we had 2 High Priestesses. Each Robing Ceremony will vary.
The High Priestesses who received their robes completed the training and initiatory program in the Mystery School, and endured the trials of initiation at a sacred and secret site, and were thus qualified to be robed. It is important to understand that the robe is not to be taken for granted. It is bestowed only upon those who have met all qualifications honorably.
Ma'at Temple of Love, Light & Truth
The Ma'at Temple of Love, Light & Truth is the ecclesiastical arm of the Christian Witches Mystery School. Those who are initiated in the Temple of Ma'at are called to serve the spiritual needs of humanity. The Goddess Ma'at is the patron diety of the Temple.
The Mystery School Offers 2 Initiatory Programs:
1. Ma'at Temple of Love, Light & Truth Initiation which entails:
- a financial investment
- rigorous study and mastery of the Magickal Arts & Sciences as presented in the Foundations curriculum accessed online and discussed in live Zoom classes
- a community of Witches from the sacred CCW Coven in our dedicated Initiates only chat
- master teachers in the Magickal Arts & Sciences to offer feedback, guidance and answer questions as you unfold your soul and ascend your consciousness
- travel requirement, which is a demonstration of your manifestation powers (to 2 retreats of your choice during the Initiatory year, one of which will be travel to your Initiation at a sacred site on the Winter Solstice)
- initiation into and by the Temple of Ma'at
- a sacred robe (gifted to you by the Mystery School upon successful completion and after Initiation). It is worth noting that the robe is earned and cannot be purchased.
2. Self-Initiation which entails:
- a financial investment
- rigorous study and mastery of the Magickal Arts & Sciences as presented in the Foundations curriculum accessed online and discussed in live Zoom classes
- community of Witches from the sacred CCW Coven in our dedicated chat for Initiates only
- master teachers in the Magickal Arts & Sciences to offer feedback, guidance and answer questions as you unfold your soul and ascend your consciousness
While the financial investment is significantly less in the Self-Initiation program, and there is no travel requirement (which means the entire program year can be completed from home), it is no less rigorous in study and expectations of you as a magickal aspirant. You are held to the same high standards of all Initiates in the Mystery School. You are given all that is required to initiate yourself at the end of the year (on the Winter Solstice if you so choose) in your own private sacred ceremony.
To Find Out More
To find out more about Initiation in the Covenant of Christian Witches Mystery School, go HERE.
About the Mystery School
CCW is not here to teach you anything. As with all Mystery Schools, the intention is to awaken in the aspirant the holy remembrance of their true divine nature and activate that potential. The school does not put anything into you. It draws forward the magick deposited into your spirit before the beginning of time. You are an infinite being. All Mystery Schools are pivotal points of remembrance of your infinite, cosmic nature, not to fill anyone's head with dogma, doctrine or rules.
In short, we are simply here to support you in accessing, honing, activating and channeling your inherent magick (which is unlike any other magickal practitioner's) into the world for the immense good of humanity, self and all, and to channel divine light into this dimension.
You can find out more about the Mystery School, including the 40 Foundations lessons HERE. Solomon is the patron of CCW.
Let us know about your magickal walk and practice, if you desire, in the comments. Are you initiated as a Christian Witch? Have you felt the intuitive nudge in that direction? Let's hear from you...
Blessed Be,
Rev. Valerie Love (aka KAISI)
Rev. Valerie Love is the author of 24 books on practical spirituality, magick, the occult and Christian Witchcraft and is the Founder of the Covenant of Christian Witches Mystery School in the Solomonic Tradition (CCW for short). 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!)
Also, join this critical, global discussion on CLUBHOUSE!
And remember to check out the Christian Witches PODCAST