ࡱ>    !"#$%&'()*+,-./0123456789:;<=>?@ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ[\]^_`abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz{|}~Root EntryZ O2`K@CONTENTS CompObjVSPELLING  WitchSchool organization or the Correllian tradition. In this essay, I explore some of the reservations that I have about WitchSchool in three major areas: 1. Concerns regarding the history of the tradition and "quality control" for current members, 2. Questions regarding the quality and quantity of material used for the training of new initiates, 3. Reservations concerning the public face of WitchSchool, as presented through the CEO of WitchSchool, Ed Hubbard, his press releases, and his Witch Wars Defense Manual. Tradition and Quality Control Who are these Correllians anyhow? Contrary to many jokes made at their expense over the years, the Correllian tradition does not claim the Star Wars universe as the inspiration for their name. Instead, the Correllians claim that their line descends from the High-Correll family. "The High-Correll family were descended from a line of Cherokee Didanvwisgi who intermarried with a line of Scottish Traditional Witches, whose descendants were further influenced by Aradian Witchcraft and by the Spiritualist Church. . . .The founder of the Tradition is the blv. Orpheis Caroline High Correll. She is said to have founded the Tradition as an entity separate from her ancestry, on September 4, 1479 Pisces (1879 AD)."(2) I tend to be very skeptical of the "ancient family tradition" claims, especially given that the material that their classes teach primarily comes from mid-to-late-twentieth-century published Neopagan information. In addition, I have not found any long-term membCHNKWKS TEXTTEXToFDPPFDPPrFDPCFDPCtFDPCFDPCvFDPCFDPCxFDPCFDPCzFDPCFDPC|STSHSTSH~hSTSHSTSHhSYIDSYID SGP SGP INK INK "BTEPPLC &BTECPLC >8FONTFONTvpTOKNPLC  STRSPLC :PRNTWNPRFRAMFRAMfmbers, 2. QuWhy Not WitchSchool? Part 1 Why Not WitchSchool? A Student's Perspective Part 1 Several years ago, I ran into a 16-year-old child who demanded respect because he was a priest in an old Wiccan tradition. Such claims are nothing new, but this child had something that I had not seen before--certification from a "Witch school" that he had completed the first degree curriculum and was considered a priest of that tradition.(1) Thus began my explorations into one of the world's largest online schools of witchcraft, the Correllian Nativist Church's "WitchSchool.com". I registered for their class work, and as of this date, have completed their first degree training program and more than a dozen additional classes from their site. As I went through the material and the media relations campaign from their managing clergy, I was dismayed and troubled by much of the material that I uncovered. I frequently get asked if I would recommend WitchSchool for someone aspiring to life as a Wiccan, and when I say that I would not, I get asked for specifics about why I would not recommend their program. This article is an attempt to compile many of my reasons why I personally do not recommend their program in specific and their tradition in general. This is not to say that their program is entirely devoid of useful material for all people everywhere. What I am suggesting is that given the reservations that I have for their program and material, I cannot in good conscience recommend this as worth time or effort given the availability of quality material and teaching opportunities that are available in the world today. In addition, given the troubling nature of statements made by individuals in authority within the organization, I cannot ethically recommend affiliation with the ers of the Chicago Pagan community who are willing to vouch for the Correllians prior to the 1990s, and certainly not as a well-established tradition. According to one source: "I first met Mr. Lewis [Don Lewis, head of the Correllian line] in the late 1990s. 1997, I believe. He was running the so-called 'Holy City Temple' out of a small room in Albany Park, right down the street to the east of the last stop on the Ravenswood. There was no large group meeting there. There couldn't have been. Even with only three of us present at that meeting, the room was getting a little crowded. You could probably find the location of the old room in an old copy of 'the Pipes of Pan.' . . . That was six years after the alleged start of the temple. If there was a multitude of other members, we never saw them appear at Pagan's Night out at Konak's, or at the Pagan Coffeehouse at Yo Mama's (yes, that's its real name). Not for years. . . When Ed [Hubbard, CEO of WitchSchool] and Don go out to sell magic lessons, being able to talk about their years and years serving as high priest in this family tradition helps their business. How inconvenient for their sales pitch if those of us who were there in the community with them, as they began their rise really not so very long ago, are there to say 'Ed. Don. Get real. We knew you when you barely had a storefront, and no members of this famtrad you're talking about were ever to be seen.'"(3) Being a relatively new tradition does not invalidate a tradition's merits outright. On the other hand, engaging in acts of accidental misrepresentation or omission (or outright dishonesty) does call into question the accuracy and legitimacy of the other teachings of the line. Another issue of concern is whether or not the Correllian Nativist Church is Wiccan. According to their first degree book, they are a Wiccan tradition and do teach Wicca. "The Correllian Tradition is a synchretic and highly philosophical Tradition of Wicca, which stresses the inherent unity of all Pagan traditions and the synchronicity of all spiritual paths."(4) On the other hand, the Correllian tradition has a dubious claim about why they state they are Wiccan. According to their web site, "Correllianism's claim to Wiccan status rests both upon Lady Orpheis' claimed Scottish Traditional lineage, and also upon her Aradian lineage, which she acquired in 1504 Pisces (1904 AD) through Lydia Beckett, a student of Charles Leland."(5) In other words, the Correllian claim as a Wiccan tradition comes from supposed lineage back to an individual who was not Wiccan, nor claimed to be Wiccan. Not only would this claim not hold stock with hard traditionalists, it does not make logical sense, even to the casual seeker. Further questions are raised by the Correllian admission that prior to 1979, the tradition did not call itself Wiccan. "In the meeting of the Council of Elders held at Candlemastide of 1579 Pisces (1979 AD) the Tradition formally described itself as 'Wiccan' for the first time. . ."(6) At best, the "Wiccan" self-identification would have to date from 1979, not 75 years earlier as implied by the introductory material. How Does Someone Become Correllian? Many magickal traditions have systems in place to assess candidates for membership within their tradition. From an interview process, to face-to-face schooling, to spiritual and psychological assessments of an individual's character, most groups have guidelines in place to ensure that the tradition does not welcome people with psychotic or psychopathic behavior, predatory natures, or other potentially dangerous qualities into a place that should be a realm of safety and security for its members. Many initiatory traditions also hold the idea that a teacher is, to varying degrees, responsible for the behaviors and ethics of those that they initiate (i.e., holding one's measure). Within the Correllian tradition, and specifically through WitchSchool.com, many of those safeguards appear to be limited or lacking entirely. Anyone can sign up for a class under a real or fictitious name and then proceed to become a Correllian, all without ever having face-to-face contact with any person from the Correllian tradition. Once an individual has signed up for the first degree course work, they are then given a set of 12 lessons (plus an introduction) and a final exam. The lessons are relatively short essays on a wide range of sampler topics, followed by twenty-five multiple choice questions. If the individual copies the text of the lessons into a document and then uses the search function, they can pass the multiple choice tests very easily without ever reading the material. Most people with even a cursory background in Wicca 101 can pass the tests easily. To become an outer court Correllian member and "recognized by the Tradition," an individual must complete two steps: "1) Register with the Correllian Directorate so that we will know who you are and may confirm your formal recognition. [and] 2) Perform the Outer Court Dedication ceremony& You may perform the ceremony for yourself, or if you have access to other Outer Court Correllians or to initiated Correllian clergy, they can help you with it."(7) The questions on the registration application, aside from general demographic information and questions about hobbies or Pagan group affiliation are: "Do you agree to support and follow the beliefs and practices of the Correllian tradition regardless of your other teachings, beliefs, practices, or affiliations?" and "Are you wiling and able to maintain an active involvement with the Correllian tradition, and work collaboratively and cooperatively with other members of the Tradition and the Administration?" (8) Thus, without any real-world contact with any member of the Correllian tradition, anyone can receive their first degree from WitchSchool and be a representative of that tradition. This is confirmed in their own words: "Successful completion of the lessons entitles you to apply for initiation as a First Degree Priestess or Priest of the Correllian Tradition. The First Degree is the entry level of the Correllian clergy. . . . Applicants for initiation who have successfully completed the lessons are usually accepted as a matter of course. . ."(9) Aside from the first degree program and a few sampler courses, the second degree program and most of the classes require paid membership for access. One of the more unique human representatives of the Correllian tradition is Pope Princess Bedwetter Fluffernutter (Rev. Mikki Barry), Mistress of the Garden Gnomes of Festering Goo, head of the Shrine of the Sacred Chao (formerly the Shrine of the Flaming Asscroft), an official Correllian Witan shrine. In true Discordian style, the Shrine put up a web site with many unique interpretations of the Correllian material. For instance, on the shrine patches worn as part of the Correllian regalia: "You can get your very own shrine patches if you are an actual member of the shrine. . . They're kinda like merit badges, but not really. Some people join shrines just to collect patches so they look really important. But that's ok, so long as you pay for em. . ." (10) Or some of what this particular shrine says that the Correllians believe: "The Correllians believe that evolution is not as good as intelligent design, but the Flying Spaghetti Monster is actually best. . . . The Threefold Law means that three Correllians must agree with you before you can be a Full Gainer. This differs from other Traditions in that they only give you a Half Gainer unless you have six who agree with you. . . . Explain the office of Chancellor of the Correllian Tradition. [Answer:] The chancellor has to have an office because he has so many vestments. He also has to be very strong in order to hold all of these vestments and walk in a straight line." (11) Although individuals who understand the unique worldview of Discordianism can see why this material makes sense to a Discordian shrine, to the public at large this can make the Correllian tradition seem like a joke. The viewpoints of this particular Correllian shrine do not reflect the majority of Correllian members, however. WitchSchool's Fishy Clergy Because the Correllian tradition does not require an in-face meeting with individuals as part of the initiation process and ordination as clergy, there is no way for the Correllian tradition to maintain standards of who they initiate. Currently, the Correllian tradition has first degree clergy members that include at least one fish and a few dogs.(12) These are members in the same standing as anyone else who completes the first degree program. Yet, Ed Hubbard, CEO of WitchSchool has stated, "If you were investigating the Correllian tradition you would discover they have integrated record keeping and that they do this to create a clergy that is as ironclad as possible under American and International law."(13) I do not know of any other religion that ordains fish or dogs, however. Where's the Tolerance? One term that repeatedly comes out in modern paganism is the emphasis on tolerance for other religions. The Correllian manifesto itself says "That people should not have to fear for themselves or their families, nor risk dissolution of their families, because of the intolerance of others in religious, philosophical, or moral matters."(14) It would be assumed that a desire to have tolerance would manifest in tolerance for other religions, and especially traditions within the scope of paganism, but several comments made by the CEO of Witchschool.com show a lack of tolerance for other Pagans. In a discussion of "witch judges," Hubbard writes: "This embodied authority [as a witch judge] is the core of British Traditionalist organizations, Gardnerian Groups, Alexandrian and Georgian Traditions. It is the central key authority of the Covenant of the Goddess, the biggest of all Witch Judging Organizations in the world" (15) He also states that the Covenant of the Goddess is "basically irrelevant in Chicago and the Heartland." (16) By far, some of the most judgmental statements involve the Correllian view of Christianity, as put forward by WitchSchool's CEO. Ed Hubbard, who at one point appears to have become a disgruntled Christian, sees Christianity as a con game. "I battle daily with the pain and anguish of a Christian youth I came to realize that the priests knowingly lie to us, they know there isn't a returning day of Jesus or they would fear it more. It's a scam dating back over 1600 years."(17) Within the tradition, the view of Christianity is somewhat softer, but still with disquieting undertones. "Some Pagans love to bash Christians. This is never a good idea--especially in front of Christians. For one thing, mainstream Christians are not our problem--radical rightwing Christians are."(18) The first degree material also says "we regard monotheism as an extremely primitive and limiting point of view."(19) Even with the softer veneer, an outright statement that religious tolerance is beneficial seems to be missing from the first- and second-degree materials. Recruitment and Proselytization Many Pagan paths stress the idea that one is called to the path, not recruited to it. The idea of recruitment and proselytization runs contrary to most codes of ethics. For those who are called to teach, especially, recruitment to become a teacher or elder is generally treated with disapproval. Yet, the Correllian organization has recently begun a drive to attract teachers to deal with new influxes of students. According to recent press releases: "Witch School has set out the call for 10,000 more Wiccan teachers to help provide online and in person training for these newly awakened Wiccans." (20) "If you ever thought about Wicca and asking what it is, you can take a free Wicca Course at WitchSchool.com. Witch School is the leading distance education system in Wiccan studies worldwide, and has now helped tens of thousands of people learn about Wicca and their own inner abilities. Maybe you will be one of those new teachers and not even aware of it yet." (21) To me, these sound like infomercials that would be better suited for selling the newest kitchen gizmo instead of providing spiritual education. I am of the belief that the gods will provide whatever is needed, when it is needed. To send these press releases to thousands of private (and non-Pagan) businesses is, in my opinion, a form of proselytization. For-Profit Teaching and Dollar Store Spells Historically, many traditions from the previous generation or so held to a prohibition against accepting money in exchange for teaching the Craft. Times have changed, and many groups do accept donations or charge minimal fees for training expenses. The Correllian material states that it is acceptable to charge money for the teachings for profit. "In the opinion of the Correllian Tradition, it is completely appropriate to charge a fee for a study group. . . .it might also possibly generate a small profit which you can spend as you see fit."(22) For the tradition itself, funding comes from many sources including selling "Mini Spells" (spell kits consisting of a candle and a sheet of instructions about how to burn the candle for everything from love to wealth to hexes), a small online store to sell the Correllian "merit badges" and other tradition items, book sales (including many books obtained when the Correllian organization or someone affiliated with the Correllians purchased Eschaton Books),(23) and membership dues. By far the most successful venture appears to be the Mini Spells. In the words of the Correllians: "Witch School began distributing them in May of 2005. . . by year's end, more than 30,000 of these enchantments and invocations had been distributed, and 10,000 more in January of this year. . . . How do they work? It's simple. Remove them from the package, untie the hand-tied bow, read the spell, and light the candle."(24) But can a tradition purchase real estate and operate a multinational business on selling candles alone? According to Hubbard, there is desire to expand the commercial side of the Correllian tradition. In 2005, Ed Hubbard was a guest on the short-lived Internet radio show "Haunts and Flaunts." During the show, he mentioned that he had recently been to Las Vegas for a Dollar Store expo to try and market the sale of the Mini Spells at dollar merchandisers around the country. (25) Is that the ideal future for WitchSchool's outreach, to sell witchcraft through dollar stores? In my opinion, this does nothing to help the public image of witchcraft, and further strengthens the image of witchcraft as a party trick or gimmick.(26) References: 1. Some individuals who claim membership in the Correllian tradition state that minors are not able to receive clergy status. I have not yet found anything on their web sites or in their Outer Court handbook or first or second degree books to say either way about whether or not they will allow a minor to be a priest or priestess. Given that they have no reservations for a fish to be a priest, I do take it at face value that the individual in question, a minor, had been told at some point that he was a priest in the Correllian tradition. This also brings up an interesting issue regarding parental consent. Although the images do not appear in the online version, the first degree print volume has a great deal of artwork, and some of the artwork contains nudity. Whereas I do not feel this would be an issue for adults, this could be problematic in the future if a parent of a minor child decided to raise issue about a  witch school providing their minor child with an instruction book on witchcraft that contains graphic R-rated artwork. I have been told that any parent(s) who complain to WitchSchool about their child s participation can have their child s account closed. How effective this is at keeping the child from re-enrolling is subject to debate, however. 2. http://www.correllian.com/history.htm (accessed July 4, 2006). 3. Reference removed pending approval from informant. 4. Lewis-Highcorrell, Don. Correllian Wicca: Lessons for the First Degree, Hoopeston, IL: Correllian Tradition (2005), 4. Available online at http://www.witchschool.com/free/Introduction/default.asp (accessed July 4, 2006). 5. http://www.correllian.com/history.htm (accessed July 4, 2006). 6. Rowe, Ann, April Legate, Donald J. Lewis, et al. The Outer Court Handbook, Hoopeston, IL: Correllian Tradition (2005), 53 (not available online). 7. Rowe, Legate, Lewis, et al. The Outer Court Handbook, 71 (not available online). 8. Rowe, Legate, Lewis, et al. The Outer Court Handbook, 72 Abbreviated version available online at http://www.correllian.com/application/OCM.asp (accessed July 4, 2006). 9. Lewis-Highcorrell. Lessons for the First Degree, 154 (not available online). 10. http://www.outercon.com/whatsnew.html (accessed July 4, 2006). 11. http://www.outercon.com/finalexam.html (accessed July 4, 2006). 12. Private correspondence with the author. 13. Hubbard, Ed. Witch Wars Defense Manual, Hoopeston, IL: WitchSchool (2005), 37 (not available online). 14. Correllian Manifesto, Article 16, point 2 Copy available online at http://www.buzzle.com/boards.asp?board=238&message=43918 (accessed July 4, 2006). 15. Hubbard, Witch Wars Defense Manual, 13 (not available online). 16. Hubbard, Witch Wars Defense Manual, 43 (not available online). 17. Hubbard, Witch Wars Defense Manual, 56 (not available online). 18. Lewis-Highcorrell, Donald. Wicca 201: Correllian Wicca Lessons for the Second Degree, Illinois: WitchSchool.com (2003), 149 (not available online). 19. Lewis-Highcorrell, Lessons for the First Degree, 19 Copy available at http://www.angelfire.com/poetry/firewriter78/cgi-bin/-_WitchSchool_com.htm 20.  Needed: 10,000 Wiccan Teachers by 2008, http://www.prweb.com/releases/2006/06/prweb398876.htm 21.  Seeking 10,000 Teachers of Witchcraft and Wicca Needed to Supply Global Shortage, http://www.prweb.com/releases/2006/06/prweb400016.htm 22. Lewis-Highcorrell, Donald. Correllian Ministry, Chicago, IL: Telepathic Media, Inc. (2003), 5 (not available online). 23. According to http://www.bandia.net/moonstone/RevCirc.html "Eschaton Books has folded again, but Ed Hubbard has bought up the entire Eschaton stock, and is selling the books through his, erm, 'witch school' site." 24.  Spell Casting Made Easy, http://www.prweb.com/releases/2006/02/prweb349389.htm 25. Haunts and Flaunts, July 2005 (radio show no longer available, originally aired through FearlessRadio.com). 26. When I was compiling this article, I was presented with many statements from individuals about financial questions regarding WitchSchool's (and other businesses that are somehow connected on an unofficial or semiofficial status) daily business practices. I am not an accountant or a tax attorney, so I have opted not to address those issues here. Should someone in the future decide to write an article about this topic and wish for me to include a link or citation to it, I will read the article and see if it bears mention. Note: This is part one of a three-part essay. This essay and the other two sections are under a Creative Commons license as listed below. The essay may be reprinted without written permission from the author as long as the essay, references, and this notice are provided free of charge. All material quoted herein falls under Fair Use. Copies of the Correllian materials cited here can be purchased through the WitchSchool.com site. To maintain the integrity of the quoted material, all typographical errors in the quoted material have been faithfully reproduced. Special thanks to my anonymous source, a member of the Correllian clergy in good standing, for providing copies of the written materials cited in this document. About oaths: According to Don Lewis, Chancellor and First Priest of the Correllian Tradition,  We have always felt that spiritual information is to be shared. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5lu5bxEpM0) Thus, presentation of any of the material does not violate any oaths of secrecy, and I have never taken any oaths to the Correllian tradition at any time. Why Not WitchSchool? Part 2 Why Not WitchSchool? A Student's Perspective Part 2 Quantity and Quality The preceding sections have discussed why I do not agree with many of the ideas espoused by the Correllian tradition. This next section offers some examples of why I do not feel that the material provided through WitchSchool.com is of sufficient quality for me to recommend it. Without stepping into the major discussion about whether initiation and/or lineage is a requirement to be Wiccan, most Wiccans would agree that there are certain core beliefs that must be part of Wicca. Among these, two of the most significant are the belief in the God and Goddess and the belief in the Rede as some form of ethical guideline. On the other hand, when asked what Wicca is, Hubbard had a very different viewpoint: "Let me explain what Wicca is, okay? Wicca is the belief in three important things: One, the immortality and the reincarnation of the soul. . . .Two, we believe directly that nature is a part of us and we're a part of nature, and three, I am God, you are God, thou art God."(27) If the primary spokesperson for the tradition is not able to succinctly and accurately explain what Wicca is on a Pagan-friendly radio show, what does that indicate about the other material that might come out? Topics Covered for the First Degree The first degree program is written to be a sampler in new age and Neopagan concepts. Although there is nothing inherently wrong with this approach, the material provided does not go any more in-depth (and in some cases less so) than a typical 101 book on the market. The course provides samples of information without any real depth. Sadly, the material does not include suggested reading for further study. The twelve lessons (and some examples of the material emphasized in each) are: Magic (e.g., working with the Higher Self); Cosmology (e.g., the Vangelo della Streghe); Personal Power (e.g., the Wheel of the Year); The Altar (e.g., tools); The Airts (e.g., quarter correspondences); The Circle of Art (e.g., a script of a circle casting); Invocation (e.g., choosing and caring for your patron deity); Garb (e.g., a discussion of the Correllian system of robes); Symbols, Omens, and Divination (e.g., basic color and number correspondences); Basic Energy Work (e.g., charkas); Herbs, Oils, and Incense (e.g., lists of plants); and Stones and Crystals (e.g., lists of stones and crystals). Each lesson also includes a small paragraph about the "god of the month" and a "spell of the month."(28) Topics Covered for the Second Degree As with the first degree program, the second degree program is written like a sampler of additional topics. This time, there seems to be no emphasis on Wicca itself, but an extremely diverse selection of metaphysical topics from around the world. The twelve lessons (and some examples of the material provided in each) are: Tarot (e.g., a basic explanation of what each card represents in a standard Rider-Waite-inspired deck); Physiognomy (e.g., divination by physical features and palm reading); Astrology (e.g., basic meanings of items on a chart); Magical Alphabets (e.g., gematria, the meanings of hieroglyphics, runes, ogham, Theban, and the Correllian alphabet); Numerology (e.g., the meanings of the numbers 0 through 10); Death, Spirits, and Spirit Guides (e.g., what different people believe happens to you when you die); Sex Magic (e.g., basic tantra and astral sex); Magical Calendars (e.g., the meanings of the different years according to the Chinese calendar and Aztec calendar) ; Advanced Chakra and Energy Working (e.g., temporal charkas); Ley Lines (e.g., the magick of geometric shapes); the Ba Gua (Pu Kua) (e.g., the Yi Jing); and Group Dynamics (e.g., the roles of leadership for shrine offices).(29) At only 149 pages, the second degree book, in my opinion, is not able to do any of these topics justice. Also, the material seems to lack cohesiveness, and reads like a series of pamphlets put together instead of a clergy training program that results in an individual able to run a small branch of the larger denomination. Samples of Mistakes and Misleading Information As a writer, I am aware of how easy it is for errors to creep into written material. Given the dynamic format of the WitchSchool teachings, it should be reasonable that, over the course of the school's existence, errors would have been corrected. Nevertheless, here are some examples of the outright mistakes and misleading information that brings into question the material at large. One consistent error that seems to appear throughout the course material is the idea that Wicca is an ancient religion. From references from "The ancient rule of Wicca is 'Do As You Will, But Harm None'"(30) to the idea that the Vangelo della Streghe teaches about how Maddalena worked "to let the people know more about the ancient Aradian Wiccan traditions,"(31) there is an erroneous emphasis that Wicca is an ancient religion. Another issue that I have with the material is the desire to push Correllianism as a Wiccan tradition while implying that Gardnerian Wicca is not Traditional Wicca. According to the first degree material, quarter color correspondences are as follows: "Gardnerian Wicca: Air- yellow, Fire- red, Water- blue, Earth-green Traditional Wicca: Air- red, Fire- white, Water- gray, earth- black"(32) The implication of this statement is clear--it is the Correllian belief that Gardnerian Wicca is not Traditional Wicca. According to the introduction for the first degree lesson on herbalism, "this lesson includes a list of plants which can be used to do the things described in this lesson." Among the "plants" listed are ambergris, civit [sic], and musk. In addition, some of the herbs listed would be dangerous to breathe the fumes of when burned, but the only cautions listed are "if you are not familiar with it as food, DO NOT EAT IT" and that wintergreen should not be used internally.(33) On the other hand, they do state that to dress a candle, "you take an appropriate essential oil. . . and put a little in the palm of your left hand. Now rub your two hands together so that they are coated with the oil." (34) As anyone who works with essential oils will readily testify, it is not always safe to put most essential oils in direct contact with the skin without first cutting the oil. Another personal pet peeve, although one that seems to have crept into modern paganism is the misuse of the term pentagram (a five-pointed star) to describe a pentacle (a circumscribed pentagram). According to the Correllians, "The Pentagram is a five-pointed star in a circle."(35) Although this is a common error, it is one that could have been easily fixed. Much of the material in the first degree book seems to have been tossed in to sound impressive, but, as a result, some of the material is grossly inadequate. Take, for instance, the Correllian definition of a black hole: "In science a Black Hole is a void in space which sucks up and destroys matter."(36) As any science student can tell you, black holes do not destroy matter. Another aspect that I personally find troubling is the idea of deity is always merely a mechanism for personal happiness. In their own words,  Deity does not judge you or persecute you  Deity will only ever wish to help you. . .Deity wishes you only growth and happiness, in whatever Personal form you picture Deity. (37) This runs counter to many deities from around the world who are deities of judgment (Ma'at immediately comes to mind), who do not truly care about human happiness or unhappiness, but focus solely on cosmic justice. At other times, the material they present puts across an image that (hopefully) is simply written poorly (a problem in itself), but if it is what they do mean to say, the message is troubling. Take, for example, the Correllian discussion of robes: "People wear robes for several reasons. 1) They look cool." Later on in that same section, they say that this reason is "probably the best reason for wearing robes." (38) Although they do suggest that part of the reason why looking cool is important is to be a key to the Higher Self to feel magickal, the implication is clear--it is absolutely important to look "witchy" if you want to be a witch. Given the broad scope of topics that a typical lesson touches upon, it is unlikely that any individual can be certain of all the issues and inaccuracies. For instance, I've only heard of Thor in reference to the Norse pantheon, but the Correllian material states: "THOR -Originally called Thunar, or 'Thunder,' Thor is the Germanic God of storms ad fertility."(39) It would take a wide range of experts to fully identify all of the errors in the material presented in the first degree book alone, however a newcomer to paganism (the demographic that this school seeks to educate) would likely be unable to pick out the questionable material and would accept it all as fact. In addition, unlike most published books, the Correllian material does not have a bibliography or other list of references provided with many of the lessons. This implies that all of the material included is original, when it is very clear to anyone who has ever read more than one introductory book on Wicca or paganism that the material is similar to every other introductory book out there (albeit with some questionable interpretations and phrasings throughout). Source Material--Does Correllianism Offer Anything Unique? Overall, the material does provide an overview consistent with many new age schools of thought and a "sampler style" of teaching where many topics are touched on, but none are covered in depth. The style of the material provided resembles that of Silver Ravenwolf's To Ride a Silver Broomstick, (40) and many of the topics are understandably similar, however in my opinion, Ravenwolf's book goes into more detail on many of the topics discussed. (And in my opinion, there are many other 101-level books that would provide better instruction than that book.) Providing soundbite-quality schooling does allow individuals with a dabbling interest or minors who are attempting to hide their studies from their parents to get an idea of what topics may interest them. However, I feel that serious students would be disappointed by the lack of depth to the material provided in much of the free and pay courses. For the second degree material, much of the information is easily available in books specialized on the particular topics covered, although an individual may have to do some preliminary research to find books on those specific topics. For instance, the chapter on Physiognomy contains a small discussion on divination by moles on the body, a topic that is not easy to find, however The Zingara Fortune Teller, published in 1901 and republished in 1979(41) contains much of the same material in considerably greater depth. To summarize, the material provided in the Correllian first and second degree manuals is no different than that which can be read in one or many books available at your local library or bookstore (with the exception of topics that are Correllian-specific, such as robes and the Correllian alphabet, which are completely meaningless outside of a Correllian setting). It is a sampling of many new age topics, and nothing more, however if that is what a seeker is searching for, this may be what that seeker desires. References: 27. Haunts and Flaunts, July 2005 (radio show no longer available through FearlessRadio.com) 28. Lewis-Highcorrell, Don. Correllian Wicca: Lessons for the First Degree, Hoopeston, IL: Correllian Tradition (2005). 29. Lewis-Highcorrell, Donald. Wicca 201: Correllian Wicca Lessons for the Second Degree, Illinois: WitchSchool.com (2003). 30. Lewis-Highcorrell, Lessons for the First Degree, 9. Copy available online at http://groups.msn.com/tarotlaydeespowergems/tarotlaydeespage.msnw 31. Lewis-Highcorrell, Lessons for the First Degree, 21. 32. Lewis-Highcorrell, Lessons for the First Degree, 59. 33. Lewis-Highcorrell, Lessons for the First Degree, 134-138. 34. Lewis-Highcorrell, Lessons for the First Degree, 47. 35. Lewis-Highcorrell, Lessons for the First Degree, 61. 36. Lewis-Highcorrell, Lessons for the First Degree, 69. 37. Lewis-Highcorrell, Lessons for the First Degree, 85. 38. Lewis-Highcorrell, Lessons for the First Degree, 94. 39. Lewis-Highcorrell, Lessons for the First Degree, 103. 40. Ravenwolf, Silver. To Ride a Silver Broomstick. St. Paul, MN: Llewellyn (1994). 41. A Gipsy Queen. Zingara Fortune Teller. Philadelphia: David McKay (1901). Reprinted in 1979 by The House of White Birches, Inc. Note: This is part two of a three-part essay. This essay and the other two sections are under a Creative Commons license as listed below. The essay may be reprinted without written permission from the author as long as the essay, references, and this notice are provided free of charge. All material quoted herein falls under Fair Use. Copies of the Correllian materials cited here can be purchased through the WitchSchool.com site. To maintain the integrity of the quoted material, all typographical errors in the quoted material have been faithfully reproduced. Special thanks to my anonymous source, a member of the Correllian clergy in good standing, for providing copies of the written materials cited in this document. About oaths: According to Don Lewis, Chancellor and First Priest of the Correllian Tradition,  We have always felt that spiritual information is to be shared. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5lu5bxEpM0) Thus, presentation of any of the material does not violate any oaths of secrecy, and I have never taken any oaths to the Correllian tradition at any time. Why Not WitchSchool? Part 3 Why Not WitchSchool? A Student's Perspective Part 3 The Public Face When I was doing my research for this article, one name seemed to come up over and over again: Ed Hubbard. Given that Hubbard has been a major impetus behind the creation of WitchSchool and now acts as its CEO, it is not surprising that his name is out in the forefront. Given that he is by far the most public face of WitchSchool, I was troubled by many of the comments that he has made in the past and present, both for their implications for the world in general and for paganism in specific. (42) An Apocalyptic Viewpoint Scare tactics have often been used by many religions throughout world history as a way to convince members of everything from safety in numbers to engaging in "first strike" warfare (the idea of get them before they get us). Probably the most troubling information that I found when reading the statements was an emphasis on the upcoming destruction of all things Pagan at the hands of zealot evangelical Christians. The CEO of WitchSchool suggests that if people do not fall in line with his prophecy, eventually they will be put to death by society. "At phase 3 it will be to thoroughly challenge Wicca and Paganism. It is at this phase I believe we are currently in. . . Phase 4 is the real pisser. They will find a way to make a Wiccan, a Pagan, a Witch a criminal class. Not unlike the Hippies of the 60's, The Blacks of the 70's and continues, Gays in the 80's and so forth. . . . But Wiccans will be a special case, it won't be enough to marginalize them and create ghettos for them. The authorities with the urging a growing evangelical movement and media war progress, they will seek the high ground. Wiccans will become traitors, treason, terrorists, and worse. All of these will be executable offenses and long term imprisonment. After all, The evangelicals don't want us to survive, and we are the object lesson that they need renewed. Be a Witch and you will die."(43) This form of extreme-sounding rhetoric is the same type of material that comes from the "radical Right" that Hubbard opposes. If we do not take the Pat Robertsons or Jerry Falwells of Christianity seriously for the radical speech they produce, can we take the Ed Hubbards of Correllianism seriously with comments such as this? Correllian Spies in Your Midst? According to the Witch Wars Defense Manual, the CEO of WitchSchool actively encourages and trains people to spy on other individuals and groups. (For what purpose, the book was not entirely clear.) According to Hubbard, "Make your spying so natural that no one ever questions your behavior. . . .At this point, I am way to [sic] public to act as a spy, and people are always careful around me. So I must depend on others to do my spying for me. If I have trained them well, you may never know." (44) In my opinion, this negates the idea of Perfect Trust, which may explain this interesting statement that might not be a typographical error. "No matter what battles I face, what wars I will fight in, and the face the testing of truth, I will work to preserve the knowledge we gained in pursuit of the ideal 'In Perfect Love and Perfect Truth.' That's the war I have fought for nearly two decades." (45) Creating Paganland? With the purchase of an old warehouse in the small town of Hoopeston, IL, the Correllians have set up a storefront to go along with their online school. When they first made an attempt to buy property for this purchase, many of the townspeople reacted strongly in opposition to the proposed sale. In the end, the town was receptive to the opening of a bookstore and, later, the main WitchSchool facility. How are the Correllians becoming good neighbors? "Ed Hubbard, CEO and director for the Witch School, hopes the business will serve as a tourist attraction as well as a place to educate those interested in Wiccan, Pagan and magical thought."(46) In addition, Hubbard has expressed plans to purchase another building in town, and set up apartments for more Pagans to move to Hoopeston.(47) Hubbard's long-term vision of where he wants paganism to go should send chills through the people of small-town Hoopeston. In a general essay expressing his dream of the future for paganism, Hubbard writes, "In time we will move onto subjects including business development, governmental interaction, community development, urban planning, and even how to build whole economies for ourselves."(48) This does not sound like a way of coexisting with those different from ourselves, but rather a way to exercise power over others (or push them out of the way for a "Pagan future"). Do the people of Hoopeston really want economic revival at the cost of their ability to live comfortably in their own town? With the opening of a bookstore, the main WitchSchool campus, a Craft botanical store, and more businesses in the works, will Hoopeston become a commercial witchcraft tourist destination--a "New Salem"? Conclusion Every tradition goes through growing pains from their inception through the end of their line. The severity of the growing pains is often proportional to the number of people who pass through or remain in the tradition. Ideally, a tradition will be able to develop an infrastructure capable of handling the needs of its membership before the membership grows beyond the means of the elders and their associates to care for the new members. If their statistics can be taken at face value, the Correllians have 120,000 or active students of WitchSchool (49), although press releases indicate the number may be as high as 160,000 students(50). According to press releases, they have only 2,000 trained teachers or mentors.(51) That means they have, at best one mentor, for every 60 to 80 students, and 30 to 50 new students being added every day.(52) It is reasonable to expect that the quality of service for the individual students will be lacking due to the sheer size of the course load that every teacher would be expected to manage. In many ways, the Correllian tradition and their WitchSchool.com site are the fast food of paganism. There is a focus on giving everyone identical product, quickly served, with emphasis on quantity over quality. Perhaps we as a society have grown to expect lower standards for aspects of our daily life. Personally, as a cooking gourmet, I would not recommend fast food chains for a quality meal. Nor, as a Craft "gourmet", would I recommend fast-food witchcraft for quality seekers. If an individual is looking for "McWicca," perhaps they can find their niche at WitchSchool. I personally cannot recommend WitchSchool.com or the Correllian tradition for serious seekers, however. References: 42. Again, I would like to note that during my research, I was provided with anecdotal stories about Hubbard's personal life and behavior. Given that the scope of this article is on the Correllian tradition and WitchSchool only, I am not including that information in here. What a person does in his or her life is a personal concern, and what is deemed ethical or unethical behavior in one's personal life is a matter for private discussion. Should someone write up material that they wish to be included in this essay, I will gladly review the material and see if it warrants inclusion of a link. 43. Hubbard, Ed. Witch Wars Defense Manual, Hoopeston, IL: WitchSchool (2005), 59 (not available online). 44. Hubbard, Witch Wars Defense Manual, 36 (not available online). 45. Hubbard, Witch Wars Defense Manual, 61 (not available online). 46. "Witch school now open to the public," http://www.commercial-news.com/local/local_story_182084435.html (accessed July 4, 2006). 47. "A Day in the Life of Witch School, Part 2," http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7CpL-v65C0 (accessed July 4, 2006). 48. Hubbard, Ed. "Pagan Juku," http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=usil&c=words&id=10776 (accessed July 4, 2006). 49. "Witch School Opens Doors in Midwestern Town," http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=2136578&page=1 (accessed July 4, 2006). 50. "Needed: 10,000 Wiccan Teachers by 2008," http://www.prweb.com/releases/2006/06/prweb398876.htm (accessed July 4, 2006). 51. "Needed: 10,000 Wiccan Teachers by 2008," http://www.prweb.com/releases/2006/06/prweb398876.htm (accessed July 4, 2006). 52. "Witch School Opens Doors in Midwestern Town," http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=2136578&page=1 (accessed July 4, 2006). Note: This is part three of a three-part essay. This essay and the other two sections are under a Creative Commons license as listed below. The essay may be reprinted without written permission from the author as long as the essay, references, and this notice are provided free of charge. All material quoted herein falls under Fair Use. Copies of the Correllian materials cited here can be purchased through the WitchSchool.com site. To maintain the integrity of the quoted material, all typographical errors in the quoted material have been faithfully reproduced. Special thanks to my anonymous source, a member of the Correllian clergy in good standing, for providing copies of the written materials cited in this document. About oaths: According to Don Lewis, Chancellor and First Priest of the Correllian Tradition,  We have always felt that spiritual information is to be shared. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5lu5bxEpM0) Thus, presentation of any of the material does not violate any oaths of secrecy, and I have never taken any oaths to the Correllian tradition at any time. t available online). 45. Hubbard, Witch Wars Defense Manual, 61 (not available online). 46. "Witch school now open to the p h&j&l&qqqq(2"'( ) @S *68PT4 5X\\bbZss~\~P6h6hޞhŸ"\l<l<<<<<<l<<<<<8 "PS" $ 08."0 "PS" $ 080 "PS" $ 08. "PS" $ 086  "" $  08($pR^ΣP֤(\ҥF,XJhҩ<D$n<>LPxzjjjjjjj`*j0 "PS" $ 086  "" $  08 " 0 "PS" $ 088 "PS" $ 08.". "PS" $ 080z&V.f.dNdZP8r.^ B|0jN2l :$.%h&l&r::0 " 8 "PS" $ 08."0 "PS" $ 080 "PS" $ 08. "PS" $ 08*l&&&&& '','+L+889L9@4@MM[$[_,```Laabb$cxccddd^eeXffRggLhroopl<l<<<<ll<<<8 "PS" $ 08."0 "PS" $ 080 "PS" $ 08. "PS" $ 086  "" $  08pqq " . 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