Retired Priests and Priestess

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Reverend: Sara M. Cunningham: 1967-1971

One of the founding fathers and Vice President of the CES in the beginning and worked with the CES from 1967-1971. She was an active part of the esoteric scene in Los Angeles from the 1950s to the 1970s. She formed the 1st Temple of Tiphareth in Pasadena, and help found the CES. She worked as a personal psychic from the mid 80s through the 1990s. She worked with and studied under Dr. Israel Regardie, Professor Hans Holzer, William Gray and others. She has taught alchemy, herbalism, perfume alchemy, sound and color healing, psychic development, creative visualization among others. She now lives in Southern Oregon. Her publications include “The Magical Virtues of Candles, Herbs, Incense and Perfume”, “Qabalist’s Notebook”, “Arts Magian”, “Book of Lights.

Reverend Elaine Amiro: Priestess of Neith 1975-2008

Elaine Amiro was born in Little Compton, Rhode Island, and grew up on a farm. After my mother remarried, I remained with my grandparents. It was my grandmother’s desire that I became a school teacher and so I did.

"I did my practice teaching in the small town of Fairhaven where I taught a fascinating unit on Egypt. I really got deeply involved and remembered the movies I had seen as a child with a girl dressed as an Egyptian, which had always made a big impression on me. After teaching in Fairhaven for four years, I go a job teaching with the Bureau of Indian Affairs. I chose New Mexico as I had always wanted to go there.

"My experiences with the Navajo Indians at the boarding school were fascinating. I learned much about their customs, ceremonies, and a bit of their language.

"Well, the Church of the Eternal Source appeared and the fascination of Egypt began all over again. I found the religion to be very much like that of the Navajos and began corresponding with the Church members and studying. My ability for healing and helping others soared, my psychic ability was at an all time high. I have truly found that for which I had been looking."

Who am I? I am a servant and a priestess of Neith sent here to fill a mission. This mission has become wide and varied, but Neith is always present with Her strong hand on the back of my head, guiding me every inch of the way.

As you can tell by the writings about myself, my main ambition is to follow the path of the Goddess that She has chosen for me. It is a path of quietness, patience, beauty, truth, inner wisdom, peace and strength. It has been a course of many rewards. This pathway and

Elaine is now retired from the active Priesthood.

Rev. Lita-Luise Chappell: Priestess of Hathor 1990-2012

Lita-Luise Chappell (Ankhsuamon) began her studies in 1980 when she enrolled in a class offered in Ancient Egyptian History and Philosophy in San Diego, by Rev. Michael Poe. Under his excellent private tutelage, she learned ancient Egyptian history, philosophy and ritual magic for three years, enhanced by Rev. Poe's extensive library and research skills. A spectrum of magical techniques gave Lita a broad foundation from which to grow, from recreating ancient Kyphi incense recipes to how to call the ancient Gods. The theological training was a natural progression; and when the Goddess Hathor appeared one morning, her calling was evident. Within the year Ankhsuamon became a priestess of Hathor and was initiated by Rev. Michael Poe as such. The Temple of Hathor was established and she took the post of Temple secretary for the C.E.S.

July of 1984 was spent backpacking through Egypt, from Cairo to Aswan and back again, by mule cart, taxi, camel, horse, felucca (sailboat), First, Second and Third class trains. She was able to reach every major site along the Nile. "I went out early. No tourists, too hot. Even the guides slept in the shade. I bought incense in the market places at night and burned it in the temples in the early mornings. I gratefully was able to commune with the Gods, with hardly a 'living' soul ever around." She was also able to go back to Egypt twenty years later in 2004, where she continued her investigations of the ancient sites.

During those intermediary years, copies of rituals were written, publically performed, and then printed in the Khephera Newsletter. The Temple of Hathor at different times has taken on students and offered an open house to all interested in exploring the ancient beauty of Egypt and the participation in Her mysteries. In 1990, ten years after her studies began, she was ordained a Priest of the Church of the Eternal Source and became a member of the College of Priests. As of last July 2012 Lita has retired from active priestess duties with the CES. She will be sorely missed in the CES.