Facing my accusers (are you bored yet?)
http://www.innerconvocation.com/images/short-statements.pdf
The above link, which is the equivalent of a playground bully session, has a series of friends of RJ Stewart accusing me.
These people accuse me of stealing copyrighted work and that I claim to be the sole originator of the work titled Inner Temples work. I have stolen nothing, have plagiarized nothing and I have never claimed to be the sole originator of the disputed work.
The statements he has put up on line, along with his friends however are defamatory, untrue and designed to damage my public reputation. It is time to put an end to RJ Stewart's public bullying, misogyny and obsessive behavior - a campaign that I have quietly put up with for 13 years.
Here are my accusers and my comments
The above link, which is the equivalent of a playground bully session, has a series of friends of RJ Stewart accusing me.
These people accuse me of stealing copyrighted work and that I claim to be the sole originator of the work titled Inner Temples work. I have stolen nothing, have plagiarized nothing and I have never claimed to be the sole originator of the disputed work.
The statements he has put up on line, along with his friends however are defamatory, untrue and designed to damage my public reputation. It is time to put an end to RJ Stewart's public bullying, misogyny and obsessive behavior - a campaign that I have quietly put up with for 13 years.
Here are my accusers and my comments
Caitlin and John Matthews
"To my certain knowledge, the Inner Temples and Inner Convocation work, which forms an important major part of R.J.Stewart's long-term program of teaching, were originated by him, and not by Josephine (McCarthy). The fact that she has placed modified versions of these texts and teachings on her website is definitely a breach of copyright. From her conversation (in the 1990’s) I could understand immediately that matters concerning the Inner Temple and Convocation were clearly not known to her at that time.” --------
Caitlin and John were not involved in any way either as guest attendees or in any other form, to any workshop taught by myself and RJ Stewart from 1993-2000. Caitlin and John at that time were busy creating the ‘Celtic Shamanism’ tradition in the UK while we were teaching in the USA.
The conversation to which Caitlin refers to, was in early Jan 1993 when I had just recently met RJ. The work now known as ‘Inner temples’ was not discussed in any form – it would not be as it did not exist at that time. She asked me what ‘workshops’ I had attended. ‘None’ was my reply as I was not involved in commercial magic at that time.
Since that time until 2001 the contact I and RJ Stewart had with these two people was minimal, with them occasionally visiting our home (2 or 3 times) while we still lived in the UK. After 1997 when we emigrated, we only saw them again at the 2000 Findhorn Conference.
Caitlin now teaches as a part of what has become the 'RJ Stewart Inner Temple franchise', and therefore she has a vested financial interest in keeping this dispute going.
John Matthews: “I can confirm that R J Stewart he has been teaching, practicing and publishing books on his Inner Temple Traditions Inner Convocation subjects for a number of years, and had often discussed his early training, in the 1970‘s from W.G. Gray and Ronald Heaver, with myself and other colleagues. In short I can find no sensible grounds for the claims made regarding this material as it appears on (Ms. Dunne's/ McCarthy’s) website
As you will see from the documents on this site, and looking into RJ Stewart’s publications for yourself, the assertion that John makes is incorrect (and also vague). Yes RJ has been teaching this stuff for a number of years... since 1992. He may have discussed his early training with WG Gray (so?) though RJ did not receive any training from Ronald Heaver (they met briefly once, many years ago); I do not see how these statements are even relevant.
Gareth Knight
“although she may have shared a teaching role with him for the five or so years of their marriage, it would seem to me to be highly misleading to think that she had as major an input as she appears to believe in a body of teaching that is manifestly his life`s work and which he had been developing for at least 25 years before they met.”
This was the only statement that saddened and surprised me. Basil Wilby (Gareth Knight) I consider to be a good man and a good magician. Although we corresponded back and forth, Basil only actually met me twice, working with me in a closed magical group once in Bath UK in the early days and never had anything to do with our teaching work. He was never in a position to make any judgement on my input/contribution or development to the work in any way. Bob told Basil that he had been developing the work for 25 years before he met me (not the volumes on Merlin, Underworld, faery, Living Magical Arts stuff etc). If that is truly the case, where is it? Where is the evidence for that? Basil has taken Bob at his word, nothing more.
Kathleen Adkins - a student and friend of RJ Stewart
"I remember clearly in the early days of our working together, starting in 1988, how pure and satisfying the work with you was. I remember the Inner Temples, the Convocation, the Library, and how much those workings meant to me. They were definitely in place before Josephine ever showed up on the scene. The books on which the Inner Temple work was based were all copyright by you…I remember seeing it on the books and also on the tape recordings, many of which I still have. ------------
?? really?? And this statement is not clear. Is she saying that she clearly remembers these visions done in 1988?? Where? Any document evidence? And the books on which the inner temples work was based? Which books are those? When were they published and by whom? She states she has many of these books, tapes and CD’s? Can she list the titles, the copyright, the page number and paragraphs where this work appears in print? Can she produce them in court? I think not. I presume the tape/cd refers to the 2005 CD of the inner convocation visualisations that he self published. She goes to to accuse me of copyright theft which is a dangerous accusation to make, particularly when it is not true.
Kevin Shipman/Orion Foxwood
I can, with absolute resolve, confirm that the Inner Temple Traditions/ Inner Convocation material was published, in circulation, and taught by R J Stewart for several years before Ms. Dunne came to the USA . In fact, it is my understanding that a substantial part of it was in circulation and taught by Mr. Stewart before he and Ms Dunne met, and before they were married in 1995. -----------
If Mr Shipman can indeed confirm that the inner temples material was in published circulation before we started working together in 1993 I would challenge him to produce such publication so that we can all see. Can he produce books, library of congress records, printed material from that time before 1993? No, I didn't think so.
If you scroll to the bottom of this page, you will see a newsletter that was put out in 1996. Look at paragraph 3. You will see a discussion about the name 'priests and priestesses' and how we were looking for a better name. Pam, one of the organisers suggested a working title of Inner Temple Working. This eventually was used. The title was subsequently trademarked and copyrighted by RJ Stewart in 2005. So maybe Mr Shipman was timejumping....
Frank Gerace and Cheryl Wanner
“Initially, Josephine did not teach at all during the workshops in the 1990’s, though she would offer comments on the work; her separate contribution to the weekend's events would be in the form of offering healing work (wordlessly), tarot readings or working with dance techniques. There was no mention of Josephine as an originator of any of the Priest and Priestess meditational material, the Inner Convocation material or the Inner Temple Traditions” --------------------------
I did not teach at all during the workshops in the 1990’s?... just look at the large body of evidence on this site that states the contrary. And as for the printed material... I have never claimed anywhere to be the sole originator of the work, ever. I was a co developer, it was joint work, we taught each other many things. This is clearly evident in the large amount of documents, websites etc that are presented on this site. I have no problem and never have had a problem praising the amount of learning that I received from RJ Stewart, but it would seem he has a serious problem admitting that I ever taught him anything, developed anything with him or took any of his concepts and dramatically expanded them.
Jake Archer
"One series of workshops I attended was the Inner Temple Traditions/ Inner Convocation series that began in Maryland in 1994 for myself and I can confirm that this was taught by RJ Stewart, and that all students were formally advised in class and in support material that he wrote this material. I can say unequivocally that the Inner Temple workshop series is of his creation and none others except for the acknowledged influences, such as his own original teachers in Britain in the 1970's, that he incorporated while teaching and developing this three part series from his own practice and teaching experience." -------------------------
I cannot comment on what Bob may have told people when he was teaching when I was not present. In the later 90’s he did have a habit of attributing things he learned from me to other people who were more famous (learning anything from your wife, a woman, obviously has no street cred). This was a major cause of arguments in our household. By 1999 I was challenging him openly in workshops whenever he said something like this, which resulted in arguments in the middle of workshops.
H Reid Shaw
t is my belief that Josephine’s "claim" upon this work appeared no earlier than February of 2005, then after a hiatus of eight years again in May 2013. -----------------------
And this belief is wrong. Though Reid Shaw was not in a position to be able to make any judgments for himself as he was not a regular attendee of our work, was not aware of my work input or was he aware of my earlier website. He did come to a workshop and a residential, but his main interest is healing modalities. RJ Stewart moved in with Reid Shaw in Nov 2000 when our marriage broke down and they began to work more closely together after that.
Kevin Jennings
I have known R J Stewart since 1988, and have attended many of his classes and seminars over the years, especially his ongoing Inner Temple Traditions and Inner Convocation series. I can confirm that R J was teaching these classes as early as 1989 in New York, and that he developed a detailed series promoted under those titles, with a large group of Manhattan and New York area. -------------------------------
I cannot say that Kevin did not know better, as he did and does. If he can confirm that inner temples/inner convocation classes were happening as early as 1989, (interesting, seeing even that name was not used until 1996/7) I would like to see solid evidence of that, with content.
Kevin is a close personal friend of RJ Stewart and a tarot reader in NY.
Rodney Karr
I began attending RJ Stewart’s workshops involving his inner temples work held in Berkeley California in 1995. I can testify to the fact that the Inner Temple Tradition Inner Convocation work was always without exception presented at the various workshops as being R J Stewart’s work which he had created and written.
I don't understand how Josephine Dunne (Josephine McCarthy) can in any way claim or indicate that this temples work was her creation or copyright. I support and can testify to the fact that the Inner Temples work was formally taught and formally presented as R J Stewart’s sole creation over the 10 years of my time as his student" ---------------------
I was teaching with RJ at the sessions that Rod attended in Berkeley. It was never, in my presence, ever stated that this work was the sole creation of RJ Stewart, and this work was not written in any books at that time. They were told that they could not teach this work themselves as we (note we) had no official teachers at that time. They were told however that they were free to teach/work with groups using the material from Bob’s books (which was not the material they were being taught in class).
I have never claimed anywhere that this work was ‘my sole creation’.
* * * * *
See the 1996 birth of the term 'Inner Temple working' 3rd paragraph. Also, note that RJ Stewart continues to publish faery books, along with the Celtic, Merlin themes.... no Inner Temple, no Inner Convocation.... he published nothing on those themes until 2005, after I was well out of the way.
"To my certain knowledge, the Inner Temples and Inner Convocation work, which forms an important major part of R.J.Stewart's long-term program of teaching, were originated by him, and not by Josephine (McCarthy). The fact that she has placed modified versions of these texts and teachings on her website is definitely a breach of copyright. From her conversation (in the 1990’s) I could understand immediately that matters concerning the Inner Temple and Convocation were clearly not known to her at that time.” --------
Caitlin and John were not involved in any way either as guest attendees or in any other form, to any workshop taught by myself and RJ Stewart from 1993-2000. Caitlin and John at that time were busy creating the ‘Celtic Shamanism’ tradition in the UK while we were teaching in the USA.
The conversation to which Caitlin refers to, was in early Jan 1993 when I had just recently met RJ. The work now known as ‘Inner temples’ was not discussed in any form – it would not be as it did not exist at that time. She asked me what ‘workshops’ I had attended. ‘None’ was my reply as I was not involved in commercial magic at that time.
Since that time until 2001 the contact I and RJ Stewart had with these two people was minimal, with them occasionally visiting our home (2 or 3 times) while we still lived in the UK. After 1997 when we emigrated, we only saw them again at the 2000 Findhorn Conference.
Caitlin now teaches as a part of what has become the 'RJ Stewart Inner Temple franchise', and therefore she has a vested financial interest in keeping this dispute going.
John Matthews: “I can confirm that R J Stewart he has been teaching, practicing and publishing books on his Inner Temple Traditions Inner Convocation subjects for a number of years, and had often discussed his early training, in the 1970‘s from W.G. Gray and Ronald Heaver, with myself and other colleagues. In short I can find no sensible grounds for the claims made regarding this material as it appears on (Ms. Dunne's/ McCarthy’s) website
As you will see from the documents on this site, and looking into RJ Stewart’s publications for yourself, the assertion that John makes is incorrect (and also vague). Yes RJ has been teaching this stuff for a number of years... since 1992. He may have discussed his early training with WG Gray (so?) though RJ did not receive any training from Ronald Heaver (they met briefly once, many years ago); I do not see how these statements are even relevant.
Gareth Knight
“although she may have shared a teaching role with him for the five or so years of their marriage, it would seem to me to be highly misleading to think that she had as major an input as she appears to believe in a body of teaching that is manifestly his life`s work and which he had been developing for at least 25 years before they met.”
This was the only statement that saddened and surprised me. Basil Wilby (Gareth Knight) I consider to be a good man and a good magician. Although we corresponded back and forth, Basil only actually met me twice, working with me in a closed magical group once in Bath UK in the early days and never had anything to do with our teaching work. He was never in a position to make any judgement on my input/contribution or development to the work in any way. Bob told Basil that he had been developing the work for 25 years before he met me (not the volumes on Merlin, Underworld, faery, Living Magical Arts stuff etc). If that is truly the case, where is it? Where is the evidence for that? Basil has taken Bob at his word, nothing more.
Kathleen Adkins - a student and friend of RJ Stewart
"I remember clearly in the early days of our working together, starting in 1988, how pure and satisfying the work with you was. I remember the Inner Temples, the Convocation, the Library, and how much those workings meant to me. They were definitely in place before Josephine ever showed up on the scene. The books on which the Inner Temple work was based were all copyright by you…I remember seeing it on the books and also on the tape recordings, many of which I still have. ------------
?? really?? And this statement is not clear. Is she saying that she clearly remembers these visions done in 1988?? Where? Any document evidence? And the books on which the inner temples work was based? Which books are those? When were they published and by whom? She states she has many of these books, tapes and CD’s? Can she list the titles, the copyright, the page number and paragraphs where this work appears in print? Can she produce them in court? I think not. I presume the tape/cd refers to the 2005 CD of the inner convocation visualisations that he self published. She goes to to accuse me of copyright theft which is a dangerous accusation to make, particularly when it is not true.
Kevin Shipman/Orion Foxwood
I can, with absolute resolve, confirm that the Inner Temple Traditions/ Inner Convocation material was published, in circulation, and taught by R J Stewart for several years before Ms. Dunne came to the USA . In fact, it is my understanding that a substantial part of it was in circulation and taught by Mr. Stewart before he and Ms Dunne met, and before they were married in 1995. -----------
If Mr Shipman can indeed confirm that the inner temples material was in published circulation before we started working together in 1993 I would challenge him to produce such publication so that we can all see. Can he produce books, library of congress records, printed material from that time before 1993? No, I didn't think so.
If you scroll to the bottom of this page, you will see a newsletter that was put out in 1996. Look at paragraph 3. You will see a discussion about the name 'priests and priestesses' and how we were looking for a better name. Pam, one of the organisers suggested a working title of Inner Temple Working. This eventually was used. The title was subsequently trademarked and copyrighted by RJ Stewart in 2005. So maybe Mr Shipman was timejumping....
Frank Gerace and Cheryl Wanner
“Initially, Josephine did not teach at all during the workshops in the 1990’s, though she would offer comments on the work; her separate contribution to the weekend's events would be in the form of offering healing work (wordlessly), tarot readings or working with dance techniques. There was no mention of Josephine as an originator of any of the Priest and Priestess meditational material, the Inner Convocation material or the Inner Temple Traditions” --------------------------
I did not teach at all during the workshops in the 1990’s?... just look at the large body of evidence on this site that states the contrary. And as for the printed material... I have never claimed anywhere to be the sole originator of the work, ever. I was a co developer, it was joint work, we taught each other many things. This is clearly evident in the large amount of documents, websites etc that are presented on this site. I have no problem and never have had a problem praising the amount of learning that I received from RJ Stewart, but it would seem he has a serious problem admitting that I ever taught him anything, developed anything with him or took any of his concepts and dramatically expanded them.
Jake Archer
"One series of workshops I attended was the Inner Temple Traditions/ Inner Convocation series that began in Maryland in 1994 for myself and I can confirm that this was taught by RJ Stewart, and that all students were formally advised in class and in support material that he wrote this material. I can say unequivocally that the Inner Temple workshop series is of his creation and none others except for the acknowledged influences, such as his own original teachers in Britain in the 1970's, that he incorporated while teaching and developing this three part series from his own practice and teaching experience." -------------------------
I cannot comment on what Bob may have told people when he was teaching when I was not present. In the later 90’s he did have a habit of attributing things he learned from me to other people who were more famous (learning anything from your wife, a woman, obviously has no street cred). This was a major cause of arguments in our household. By 1999 I was challenging him openly in workshops whenever he said something like this, which resulted in arguments in the middle of workshops.
H Reid Shaw
t is my belief that Josephine’s "claim" upon this work appeared no earlier than February of 2005, then after a hiatus of eight years again in May 2013. -----------------------
And this belief is wrong. Though Reid Shaw was not in a position to be able to make any judgments for himself as he was not a regular attendee of our work, was not aware of my work input or was he aware of my earlier website. He did come to a workshop and a residential, but his main interest is healing modalities. RJ Stewart moved in with Reid Shaw in Nov 2000 when our marriage broke down and they began to work more closely together after that.
Kevin Jennings
I have known R J Stewart since 1988, and have attended many of his classes and seminars over the years, especially his ongoing Inner Temple Traditions and Inner Convocation series. I can confirm that R J was teaching these classes as early as 1989 in New York, and that he developed a detailed series promoted under those titles, with a large group of Manhattan and New York area. -------------------------------
I cannot say that Kevin did not know better, as he did and does. If he can confirm that inner temples/inner convocation classes were happening as early as 1989, (interesting, seeing even that name was not used until 1996/7) I would like to see solid evidence of that, with content.
Kevin is a close personal friend of RJ Stewart and a tarot reader in NY.
Rodney Karr
I began attending RJ Stewart’s workshops involving his inner temples work held in Berkeley California in 1995. I can testify to the fact that the Inner Temple Tradition Inner Convocation work was always without exception presented at the various workshops as being R J Stewart’s work which he had created and written.
I don't understand how Josephine Dunne (Josephine McCarthy) can in any way claim or indicate that this temples work was her creation or copyright. I support and can testify to the fact that the Inner Temples work was formally taught and formally presented as R J Stewart’s sole creation over the 10 years of my time as his student" ---------------------
I was teaching with RJ at the sessions that Rod attended in Berkeley. It was never, in my presence, ever stated that this work was the sole creation of RJ Stewart, and this work was not written in any books at that time. They were told that they could not teach this work themselves as we (note we) had no official teachers at that time. They were told however that they were free to teach/work with groups using the material from Bob’s books (which was not the material they were being taught in class).
I have never claimed anywhere that this work was ‘my sole creation’.
* * * * *
See the 1996 birth of the term 'Inner Temple working' 3rd paragraph. Also, note that RJ Stewart continues to publish faery books, along with the Celtic, Merlin themes.... no Inner Temple, no Inner Convocation.... he published nothing on those themes until 2005, after I was well out of the way.