Grey School of Wizardry
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The Grey School of Wizardry is a non-profit educational institution incorporated in the State of California, which functions international through the internet as Online Education[1]. The institution first opened August 1, 2004 designed for students in the 11-18 age range; however, because of interest among adults the school later allowed students of all ages[2]. The Grey School of Wizardry is affiliated with the Grey Council, a group based on a recurring theme in fiction. The school uses the text Grimoire for the Apprentice Wizard by Oberon Zell Ravenheart who was one of the founding faculty members and current Headmaster.
The Grey School of Wizardry currently offers a 7 year/level program of studies, with 24 credit units per level, at an Apprenticeship grade[3]. Upon graduation of the program the student receives a Journeyman Wizard certificate with a Major in their chosen field, and optionally a Minor. The Grey School currently has 16 academic departments, 4 Elemental Houses for young students, and 4 Elemental Lodges for adults. The Houses are reminiscent of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry from J. K. Rowling's popular fantasy novel series Harry Potter.
[edit] Departments
The Grey School of Wizardry contains 16 departments each with its own field of study and a corresponding color of magick[4]. Each department has a Dean, Professors, Instructors, and offers classes for its field.
[edit] Department of Wizardry (Indigo)
- This Department provides an introduction to Magick and Wizardry. It explores magical theories, principles of magick, and what it means to be a Wizard[5].
- Indigo shading to ultraviolet is often called “the color of magick” and represents wisdom, self-mastery, spiritual realization and is related to perception, imagination, illusion, the ability to see patterns, or Wizardry in general[6].
[edit] Department of Nature Studies (Silver)
- Nature Studies includes all aspects of metaphysics and mysticism that relate to Nature, along with related skills such as Ecology, Camping, Gardening, Woodcraft, and others[7].
- Silver representing the feminine energies of intuition, insight, dreams, psychic gifts, divination, the color of the Moon, the secrets of Nature, women’s Mysteries and magicks, and Witchcraft[8].
[edit] Department of Magickal Practice (Gold)
- This Department includes the practical foundational basics and magickal hardware: theory, tools, regalia, your sanctum sanctorum, principles of correspondences, signs, symbols, spells and charms[9].
- Gold reflects the masculine energies of strength, leadership, and vitality, the color of the Sun, the sign of Leo, adolescence, joy, fruitfulness and nobility[10].
[edit] Department of Mind Magicks (Aqua)
- The department of Mind Magicks teaches meditation as a way to open the door to individual growth and personal advancement along with dealing with psychic development, dreamwork, and "pathworking"[11].
- Aqua represents meditation, reflection, and psychic attunement. It is associated with Friday and the planet Venus.
[edit] Department of Healing (Blue)
- This Department help students achieve a basic foundation in, and comprehension of, various Arts of Healing, as it is considered to one of the hallmarks of Wizardry[12]. Some studies provided by this department are Psychic, Chakra, Auric, Chromatotherapy, Pranic, Distance, Gemstone, and Herbal Healing Modalities.
[edit] Department of Wortcunning (Green)
- The Department of Wortcunning (an old word used for the knowledge of the secret properties of herbs) focuses on equipping students with a solid foundation in the knowledge and mastery of all aspects of herbal lore and plant magicks, from myth to method, including practical applications as well as folklore[14]. Some of the topics covered include knowledge, healing, safety, food as medicine, ecology and living in harmony with Earth.
[edit] Department of Divination (Yellow)
- This Department provides skills in the divination arts, the arts that allows one to ‘predict’ the future by addressing Divination as both an art and a skill, with classes dealing with subjects such as runes, oghams, scrying, Tarot, dowsing, palmistry, dream interpretation, augury, and numerous other methods[16].
- Yellow represents the Element of Air, friendship, goodnes, faith, Wednesday, the planet Mercury, the 3rd (Solar Plexus) Chakra, charm, trust, Summer, divination, and creativity[17].
[edit] Department of Performance Magics (Orange)
- Also called conjury or stage magic, performance magic deals with “miraculous” illusions and special effects[18]. This Department guides students in acquiring the essential skills, both physical and conceptual, to make their performances consistent with magickal and ritual activities. Studies include conjury, bizarre magic, ritual poetry, bardic arts, chants & invocations, entrancement costume, and make-up & masque.
- Orange represents pride, courage, heroism, attraction, kinship, prosperity along with an association with performance arts and conjury (stage magic)[19].
[edit] Department of Alchemy & Magickal Sciences (Red)
- This Department concerns the science of magick and the magick of science, especially transmutation and transformation[20]. Its goal is to provide a forum for the systematic pursuit of Alchemy and the Magickal Sciences as paths for personal transformation. Topics include soapmaking, home brewing, technomagicks, nonmedicinal aspects of aromatherapy, chemistry, and additional areas where magick and science overlap through the manipulation of substances or objects.
[edit] Department of Lifeways (Pink)
- This Department focuses on relationship and other aspects of personal life such as goal setting, research, organization, record keeping, scheduling, commitment, communications, and critical analysis[22].
- Pink is related to the agrarian aspects of Venus, fertility and growth, as well as love for oneself and others, intimacy, and involving family[23].
[edit] Department of Beast mastery (Brown)
- This Department is concerned with animals, their names, how they evolved, what they eat, their behaviors, lifestyles, mating rituals, languages, and animal communication[24]. It tries to impart skills in communicating with the animals and other nature spirits while learning to understand the environment that we share. Classes include animal communication, the lore of animals, magical animals, Totems, and familiars.
- Brown is the color of many soils, animals, tree barks, fur, feathers, and many other things in nature[25][26].
[edit] Department of Cosmology (Violet)
- This Department studies astronomy and astrology while also exploring questions like: How did everything begin? Where are we going? Is there anyone else out there?[27]
- Violet is associated with power, wealth, good fortune, royalty, spirit, higher esoteric learning, ancient wisdom, and several astrological signs[28].
[edit] Department of Mathemagicks (Clear)
- This Department teaches essential skills, both practical and theoretical, to understand and use number and form in their magickal work, and to comprehend the esoteric mathematical foundations of the universe. class topics include Pythagoreanism, the archetypal numbers, numerology, gematria, sacred geometry, esoteric mathematics (elementary and advanced), the I Ching, chaos magick, and the esoteric Quadrivium (arithmetic, geometry, music, astronomy)[29].
[edit] Department of Ceremonial Magick (White)
- This Department helps students acquire the essential skills, both practical and theoretical, to conduct effective Ceremonial Magick and to achieve the personal spiritual development. Class topics include the Hermetica, Qabalah, Neo-Platonism, theurgy, medieval grimoires, Renaissance magick, angelic operations, ceremonial technique, magickal tools, the Golden Dawn and other magickal orders, and invocation, evocation & banishing[31].
- White, the color of purity, represents friendship, the Moon, The Goddess, Monday, infancy, and the sign of Aries. Crystal white is the color of sincerity, divinity, transformation and singular focused sounds such as a gong or bell[32].
[edit] Department of Lore (Grey)
- This Department helps the student develop the ability to access, synthesize, and critically evaluate arcane knowledge from a variety of magickal cultures. A few topics in the Department of Lore classes include world mythology, world history, hidden realms, wizardly fiction, and cultural pantheons[33].
- Grey represents knowledge, lore, and wisdom. It is associated with Wizardry, like Indigo, and encompasses all colors while being none of them[34].
[edit] Department of Dark Arts (Black)
- This Department focuses on informing and equipping students in three main areas: understanding the basics of low magick, or sorcery, and its applications; learning the history and traits of creatures and beings traditionally considered "dark," in cooperation with the Departments of Beast Mastery and Lore; and warding the wizardly safety of themself and others through Defense against the Dark Arts as well as the understanding of other potential hazards of our practices and community[35].
- Black is related to constricting, binding, foreboding, fortitude, consistency, and Saturnian energies[36].
[edit] Houses
Every student of the Grey School is assigned to a particular House or Lodge. Each House has a Faculty Head who is the moderator of the House's forums and chatrooms.
[edit] Elemental Houses
[edit] Salamanders
[edit] Sylphs
[edit] Undines
[edit] Gnomes
[edit] Elemental Lodges
[edit] Order of the Dancing Flames
[edit] Coterie of the Flowing Waters
[edit] Circle of the Standing Stones
[edit] Society of the Four Winds
[edit] External links
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