Oberon Zell-Ravenheart
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Oberon Zell-Ravenheart (b. Timothy Zell, also formerly known as Otter G'Zell) (b.November 30, 1942, St. Louis, Missouri - ) is the co-founder of the Church of All Worlds and a prominent figure in the Neopagan community.
An early advocate of deep ecology, in 1970 Zell-Ravenheart articulated the Gaea Thesis, independently of Dr. James Lovelock, who is usually credited with the theory's development.[1] Zell-Ravenheart, along with his co-wife, Morning Glory Zell-Ravenheart and the other members of his group marriage, have been influential in the modern polyamory movement.[2] He also co-founded the Ecosophical Research Association in 1977, an organization that explores the truth behind myths; best known for the creation of the "living unicorn" (created by minor surgery to the horn buds of a goat).[3] One of their "unicorns", Lancelot, toured with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.
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[edit] Church of All Worlds
With R. Lance Christie, Zell-Ravenheart formed the Church of All Worlds (CAW) on April 7, 1962, by "sharing water", which would become a foundation ritual of the church. They were inspired to begin the organization after reading Robert Heinlein's Stranger in a Strange Land, and took the name for their new group from a spiritual organization described in the novel. Zell-Ravenheart served as High Priest and "Primate" of the church from the early '60s through the late '90s.[4]
[edit] Role in Neopagan community
As the creator and original editor of the Neopagan magazine Green Egg, Zell-Ravenheart was an early popularizer of the term "Neo-Pagan". In 1967, when Green Egg was still a spirit-duplicated newsletter, Zell used the term "Neo-Pagan" to describe the new religious movement he was helping to create. Green Egg later grew to be a semi-glossy magazine with international distribution and, in an era before the Internet, its letters column provided an important and lively forum for discussion and networking.[4]
Zell-Ravenheart holds a Bachelor's degree in psychology from Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri and later did graduate study at Washington University in St. Louis. He is the author of numerous articles and four books. He considers himself to be a Wizard, and is one of the founding faculty members of the Grey School of Wizardry (an online school of magic). He regularly presents workshops, lectures and ceremonies at Neopagan and New Age events, as well as at science fiction conventions and renaissance fairs. As a sculptor, he has created numerous images of Pagan deities - some based upon historical images, others his original creations. With his family he runs Mythic Images, a business through which his artwork is distributed.[4]
[edit] Books by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart
- Grimoire for the Apprentice Wizard. New Page Books, US (2004) ISBN 1564147118, ISBN 978-1564147110
- Creating Circles & Ceremonies: Rituals for All Seasons and Reasons (with Morning Glory Zell-Ravenheart) New Page Books (2006) ISBN 1564148645, ISBN 978-1564148643
- Companion for the Apprentice Wizard New Page Books, US (2006) ISBN 1564148351, ISBN 978-1564148353
- Dragonlore: From the Archives of the Grey School of Wizardry. Dekirk, Ash "Leoparddancer", with Oberon Zell-Ravenheart. New Page Books (2006) ISBN 1564148688, ISBN 978-1564148681
[edit] Partial discography
- The Church of All Worlds - Lecture on cassette
- Men and the Goddess - Lecture on cassette
- A Bouquet of Lovers - Lecture with Morning Glory Zell-Ravenheart on CD and cassette
- Living Your Own Myth - Lecture with Morning Glory Zell-Ravenheart on cassette
[edit] Media appearances
Oberon Zell-Ravenheart has been interviewed on many television and radio shows in the United States, England, and Australia. Some of these include:
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[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Adler, Margot (revised edition, 2006) Drawing Down the Moon: Witches, Druids, Goddess-Worshipers, and Other Pagans in America Today. Boston, Beacon Press ISBN 0-14-303819-2 p.320: After Lovelock's publication of the theory in Newsweek, "Zell entered into a short correspondence with Lovelock, comparing their world views."
- ^ Adler (2006) p.3334
- ^ Man Made Unicorns
- ^ a b c Adler (2006) "Chapter 10: A Religion from the Future - The Church of All Worlds" pp.300-334
- Krassner, Paul (2005). Life Among the Neopagans reference to Zell at Starwood Festival in The Nation, August 24, 2005 (web only).
[edit] Additional reading
- Aloi, Peg. The Oberon Interview in Obsidian Magazine, Issue 1.
- Bond, Lawrence & Ellen Evert Hopman (1996) People of the Earth: The New Pagans Speak Out (reissued as Being a Pagan: Druids, Wiccans & Witches Today in 2002 Destiny Books ISBN 0-89281-904-9) Interview.
- Vale, V. and John Sulak (2001). Modern Pagans. San Francisco: Re/Search Publications. ISBN 1-889307-10-6
