SALEM, New Hampshire – The Temple of Witchcraft (ToW) which was co-founded by Christopher Penczak, Steve Kenson, and Adam Sartwell in 1998, announced earlier this month the production of a documentary about their organization.
The trailer for the film titled, “Love, Will, and Wisdom: The Temple of Witchcraft Documentary’ was released on January 14, and offers a small glimpse of what viewers might expect when the film is released.
Filmed and directed by River Quellette, who has been a videographer since 2017, the documentary will focus on how the ToW evolved from a magical system for personal practice and development into an organization that offers a well-established modern tradition of Witchcraft.
Christopher Penczak said the experience of being involved with the making of the film had been fun and cooperative.
In addition to interviewing co-founders, Penczak, Kenson, and Sartwell, Quellette has interviewed a variety of the members of the ToW that work behind the scenes and whose contributions in teaching, administration, and training have helped to co-create and mold the organization into what it is today.
While Penczak has not seen any of the footage other than what is included in the trailer, he was present for some of the interviews. He said, “It’s been fun to see people who are not necessarily out front but do work like treasurer, Jocelyn VanBokkelen participate in the project.”
So far Quellette has interviewed, Mystery School Teachers Sellena Dear and Dan Lupacchino, both of whom are ordained ministers; High Priests Simon Hewett and Jason Gamache; Elsa Elliot who serves on the board of directors, and is the Scorpio Lead Minister who oversees Transition of Spirit, Bereavement, Ancestor Work, and Sacred Sexuality; Priestesses Dawn Marie Costorf and Nikki Valliere, and astrologer Sam Belyea who is a Priest and Student in the Ministerial Training program.
Temple of Witchcraft – [courtesy]
Penczak told TWH that in addition to the interviews, the film will incorporate footage of simple rituals (due to pandemic restrictions in place when the footage was shot) and a view of the Temple grounds.
“I am excited to tell the story of the Temple of Witchcraft, how it was founded, and the work of bringing the community together here in New Hampshire, and in many other places, through the voices of so many wonderful Witches who are such a big part of it.”
Penczak continued, “the documentary is an opportunity to share some of the land on the Temple grounds and the plans for the development of our community center, despite the limitations of gathering in these times during Covid.”
In late 2019, ToW was granted permission by the Salem Planning Board to build a community center on its five-acre plot of land that includes the over 100-year Victorian house that has formally been its home since 2012.
At the time, Penczak explained the need for more space, “We are only legally able to open two rooms of the house to the public, a ritual room/teaching space and a business office/retail space. We have an outdoor ritual area we use for small gatherings and gardens where were grow a lot of plants for our ceremonial and magickal use.”
The plan for the community center revolved around removing a large barn on the property that was beyond repair or renovation efforts to be used in that capacity.
The barn on ToW land that will be replaced with a community center – Image courtesy of Temple of Witchcraft
While the pandemic and concerns over the spread of COVID-19, which halted in-person events for ToW, has eased some of the immediate needs for the community center, the plans for its construction remain in place. The original project was operating on a timeline of completion to occur within five to seven years.
The documentary is planned for a late-spring or early-summer release.
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