Grey School of Wizardry

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Grey School of Wizardry
Grey School of Wizardry - crest.jpg
Teaching the Wisdom of the Ages to Aspiring Wizards around the World to make Magick Available now and for Generations to Follow.
Location
Whitehall, New York

USA
Information
MottoLatin: Omnia vivunt, omnia inter se conexa
(Everything is alive; everything is interconnected)
Established2004
HeadmasterOberon Zell-Ravenheart
Faculty18
Age11+
Houses
  • Flames
  • Waters
  • Stones
  • Winds
  • Psyche
NewspaperGrey Matters
Websitewww.greyschool.com

The Grey School of Wizardry is a school specializing in occult magic, operating primarily online and as a non-profit educational institution in the State of California. It was founded by present headmaster Oberon Zell-Ravenheart, a founder of the Church of All Worlds. It is a secular institution, not a religious one, and is not affiliated with any religion or religious organization. Over 600 classes are offered in 16 magical departments. Graduates are certified as Journeyman Wizards, using the traditional title journeyman signifying one who has completed an apprenticeship.

History[]

Before the school opened, the Grey Council was established in 2002 by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart as an advisory group to determine the curriculum.[1] The Grey Council was composed of some two dozen authors, mystics, magicians and leaders of neopagan communities around the world, including Raymond Buckland, Raven Grimassi, Patricia Telesco, Frederic Lamond, Morning Glory Zell-Ravenheart, Donald Michael Kraig, Katlyn Breene, Robert Lee "Skip" Ellison, Jesse Wolf Hardin, Nicki Scully, Sam Webster, Trina Robbins, Ronald Hutton, Amber K, Ellen Evert Hopman, Luc Sala and Jeff McBride.[2][3] The Grey Council worked through 2003 to produce a textbook—a grimoire—for the school, the Grimoire for the Apprentice Wizard (2004). This was followed by the Companion for the Apprentice Wizard in 2006.[4]

The Grey School of Wizardry first opened on August 1, 2004. The school's motto is: Omnia vivunt, omnia inter se conexa (“Everything is alive; everything is interconnected” — Cicero). It is a nonprofit educational institute for children 11–17 years of age, and adults of any age.[5] The name of the school may derive from the colors associated with the wizards in the J. R. R. Tolkien classic Lord of the Rings and, in particular, with the appendix to the name of the protagonist Gandalf (the Grey).[6] It was incorporated as a non-profit educational institution in California on March 14, 2004,[7] and received a 501(c)(3) tax exemption from the Internal Revenue Service on September 27, 2007.[8]

Curriculum[]

The school provides a seven-year apprenticeship curriculum in wizardry. Faculty and students represent a wide variety of faiths, including Pagan, Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu, and Muslim.[4]

The curriculum begins with simple lessons, and increases in complexity as students progress. More than 450 classes are offered in 16 color-coded departments. These are: Wizardry (indigo), Nature Studies (silver), Magickal Practice (gold), Psychic Arts (aqua), Healing (blue), Wortcunning/Herbalism (green), Divination (yellow), Performance Magics (orange), Alchemy & Magickal Sciences (red), Lifeways (pink), Beast Mastery (brown), Cosmology (violet), Mathemagicks (clear), Ceremonial Magic (white), Lore (grey), and Dark Arts (black). Although some classes address mythology and comparative religion, the school's grimoire (textbook of magic), Companion for the Apprentice Wizard, and the school's philosophy focus on magic rather than spirituality.[4]

The program was partially inspired by the fictitious "Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry" from the Harry Potter novels by J. K. Rowling.[9] the Grey School hosts four lodges for adults: Flames, Waters, Winds, and Stones, that are associated with the Elements Fire, Water, Air, and Earth; the school also has one youth lodge, Psyche, which is associated with the fifth element of Spirit (animating force). Lodges are moderated by faculty Heads and student Prefects. Despite this resonance with a fictional school, the Grey School of Wizardry is an entirely serious project; it is an institution for esoteric educational enrichment. The Grey School provides an interactive social environment, with clubs, merits, challenges, awards, a monthly school magazine (“Grey Matters”), summer Conclaves at the School's physical campus, and a virtual school on "Second Life" which offers student run moots, weekly meetups, and more.

The School offers a range of more than 500 peer-reviewed classes in 16 departments of magickal study. As a School of Wizardry the Grey School offers a full Apprenticeship program where upon completion Apprentices receive a certificate of Journeymanship in their chosen Major. Taking the Grimoire for the Apprentice Wizard as a starting point, the Grey School of Wizardry develops the concepts expressed into engaging classes, specialized instruction, and adds meaningful depth to the learning process of the Apprentice Wizard.

Course materials and exercises are provided by highly-qualified Faculty as well as talented guest lecturers with new courses being added continually. Both the Grimoire as well as the School focus on Wizardry and magick rather than spirituality; while a few Classes cover mythology and comparative religions, studies at the Grey School remain a secular affair open to all.

For those seeking to learn Magick and other arcane mysteries with-out walking the Wizard's path, or for those who may be further along than Apprenticeship, The Grey School offers the path of the Magister. The School's Magister Program lifts the structure as well as the level restrictions of the Apprenticeship program, allowing one to choose nearly any class from any level of study in the school's course catalogue.

In October of 2019 The Grey School acquired a Physical campus in Whitehall, New York. The nine acres of hill top Conclave Grounds, and the "Highspire Manor" school building are open to Apprentices and Magisters alike during the School's yearly Conclaves, Physical Classes and with special access able to be granted by appointment with the Provost.

According to Isaac Bonewits,[10] "The Grimoire collects in one book a library of wisdom about ceremonial native and Earth-centered magic, Paleo- and Neopagan religions, the obligations of the wise to protect the defenseless, great wizards and witches of the past and present, and more."[9] Bonewits also asserts that the school presents an opportunity for males who are unsatisfied by the teachings of the modern Wicca movement.[9]

References[]

  1. ^ Oberon Zell, The Church of All Worlds. Retrieved on November 27, 2013.
  2. ^ Cusack, Carole M. (2010) “The Church of All Worlds and Pagan Ecotheology: Uncertain Boundaries and Unlimited Possibilities,” DISKUS Archived 2013-12-03 at the Wayback Machine, Vol 11.
  3. ^ Grey School of Wizardry: Grey Council Membership
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b c "About the School: The Grey School of Wizardry". Retrieved on November 27, 2013.
  5. ^ Fleischmann, Tom (Winter, 2009), "On Alticorns," Indiana Review, 31(2).
  6. ^ Cusack, Carole M. (2010) Invented Religions: Imagination, Fiction and Faith (Farnham, Surrey: Ashgate), 73-79.
  7. ^ Cusack, Carole M (2009) "Science Fiction as Scripture: Robert A. Heinlein's Stranger in a Strange Land and the Church of All Worlds," Literature and Aesthetics: The Journal of the Sydney Society of Literature and Aesthetics, 19(2).
  8. ^ Knowles, George (November 29, 2009), "Oberon & Morning Glory Zell-Ravenheart," "Controverscial.com", Retrieved November 16, 2013.
  9. ^ Jump up to: a b c Bonewits, Isaac (2005) The Pagan Man: Priests, Warriors, Hunters, and Drummers (Citadel) ISBN 0-8065-2697-1, ISBN 978-0-8065-2697-3, p. 84
  10. ^ Aloi, Peg (August 12, 2010). "Isaac Bonewits (1949 - 2010) : A Tribute". Witchvox. Retrieved January 19, 2012.

Further reading[]

Books[]

  • Zell-Ravenheart, Oberon - Grimoire for the Apprentice Wizard (New Page Books, 2004)
  • Bonewits, Isaac - The Pagan Man (Kensington Citadel Press, 2005) p. 84
  • Zell-Ravenheart, Oberon - Companion for the Apprentice Wizard (New Page Books, 2006)
  • Adler, Margot - Drawing Down the Moon: Witches, Druids, Goddess-Worshippers, and Other Pagans in America Today, (1979; revised and expanded 3rd edition Penguin Books, 2006) pp. 330, 334
  • Ash “LeopardDancer”, DeKirk - Dragonlore (New Page, 2006)
  • Pesznecker, Susan “Moonwriter” - Gargoyles (New Page, 2006)
  • Moonoak, Luke - Radiant Circles (The Solantis Institute, 2010)
  • Cusack, Carole - Invented Religions (Ashgate, 2010)

Magazines[]

  • Prosser, Lee - Ghostvillage.com review Fate Magazine (March 19, 2004)
  • Seth, Shalini - The Grey School of Wizardry Emirates Today in the UAE (Nov. 18, 2005).
  • Night Sky, Michael & Anne Newkirk Niven - Oberon Zell: A Wizard’s Vision (PanGaia Magazine #47) (Autumn 2007) pp. 22–28

Academic Papers[]

  • Cusack, Carole M., Associate Professor, BA (Hons), MEd, PhD, Editor, Journal of Religious History - The Church of All Worlds and Pagan Ecotheology: Uncertain Boundaries and Unlimited Possibilities Studies in Religion A20, University of Sydney NSW 2006

Online Publications[]

  • Zell-Ravenheart, Oberon - Esoteric Education: Restoring the Wonder [1]
  • Beattie, Bill - Interview with Oberon Zell-Ravenheart Witchcraft Magazine (Australia) (May 18, 2005) [2]
  • O’Gaea, Ashleen - Interview with Oberon Zell-Ravenheart Tapestry (Litha and Lammas issues, 2005) [3]
  • Zell-Ravenheart, Oberon - The Grey School of Wizardry’s 1st Birthday Five Feathers Magazine (Sept. 2005) [4]
  • Elson, Rebecca - Ten Questions with Oberon Zell-Ravenheart The Magical Buffet (issue 16) [5]
  • Shadowlands, Harlequin - Interview with Oberon Zell-Ravenheart The Witches Codex, [6]
  • Badb, Jillbe - Interview with a Living Pagan Icon The Druid’s Egg (Imbolg 2007) (Contributing Editor) [7]
  • Pesznecker, Susan “Moonwriter” - Profile: The Grey School of Wizardry The Magical Buffet, March 2007. [8]
  • Online Wizardry Recognized with a 501(c)(3) - Alternative Approaches.com (October 29, 2007) [9]
  • Wind, Mabyn An Interview with Oberon Zell-Ravenheart - Penton (Dec. 2007) [10]
  • Sffarlenn, Laneth - Wizards of Old and New, the Grey School is Calling For You! The Witches’ Voice (February 11, 2008) [11]
  • Zaman, Natalie - We’re Off to Meet a Wizard: The Wonderful Oberon Zell! Broomstix (Beltane 2008) [12]
  • White, Peter M. - Oberon Zell-Ravenheart Interview The Witches’ Codex (Oct. 31, 2008) [13]
  • Walmsley, Charlotte (at Cardiff University) - Welcome to the Grey School of Wizardry: Real Life Dumbledore's Harry Potter Haven The National Student (August 19, 2013) [14]

External links[]

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