http://www.greyschool.com/main.asp

So yeah, there's this online wizarding school. Apparently, the founder looked at the Harry Potter books and thought "Hey, what if I made a school for REAL wizards?". The site is very funny, but what I like best is the founder's name: Oberon Zell-Ravenheart. He's actually pretty influental in the Paganism community (which is odd, since anyone else what a name like that would be called a fluffy bunny), but just...wow. I feel sorry for the 1,200 people who paid for this.

Sounds like a pretty ingenious money-making scheme.

ehhhh, ok, but what does this have to do with psionics?

true, im not sure it has much to do with psi, but it is interesting. I mean, is there even a real building or is it just an online school? To go there wouldn't kids have to drop out of school or people who work quit their jobs? How exactly do they teach "wandmaking" and isn't it just too big of a coincidence that all the teachers on the site have weird wizard names like on Harry Potter? Yeah, this site is a definite scam.

Does sound like a money making deal, and from what I could see in the link, it's all done on-line...There were 8 un-registered students on and 14 registered students on when I got there..Just mentioned different rooms and clubs, but no location or no showing of the school.....so I'm going with on-line....

Designed for students of ages approx. 11-18 (middle through high school), the Grey School of Wizardry provides an extensive program of studies in all areas of Wizardry and Magick, at an Apprenticeship level. Graduates will be qualified and licensed as “Journeyman Wizards.”

I can only imagine how impressive that would look on a resume'.

Lol...


Nice Bleeding

"Yes sir, I have a resume, here it is!"

Man"Hmm, You were the president of your schools SGA, you were an eagle scout, you volunteered at soup kitchens...And oh, whats this?! The Grey School of Wizardry?! Oh, you get an automatic approval, welcome to the career of flipping burgers..." Ahaha..I make myself laugh...=)

High profile marketing firm seeks experienced production leader.

Must have at least 5 years of experience in the field and a 4-year degree in media or something related to media.

Must be prepared to travel.

Applicants should attach a resume and cover letter. We will contact references!
Also, please fax a photocopy of your Journeyman Wizarding license.

We offer competitive pay, full benefits, and two weeks of paid vacation!

You also get a bonus if you bring you're own broomstick!!!

BTW...We pay in runes!

Okay, first of all....A lot of this stuff is not influenced by Harry Potter. Nearly everything from Oberon's school is based on Wicca and Paganism, and if you even took the time to look at the structure of these religions, you'd see how undereducated you sound right now...Trust me, Oberon is NOT a fluffy-bunny, and just because you have an interesting craft name (just look at mine, and I've been a Wiccan for 3 years...) does not mean you are inexperienced. This is a school for WICCA and PAGANISM which includes learning about mythological creatures, making wands (yes, these are ritual tools, not something you wave around and act stupid with), and many others. Some people actually like learning about their religion from professionals, unlike many people who just pick up books and act like experts on the religion (trust me, I've met a lot of these people) and some people are willing to pay for this knowledge. Here's an interview with Oberon himself, if you'd like to understand the complexity of Paganism and it's teachings. But please, for your own sake, DO NOT go around denouncing influential religious people. Sorry if I sound ticked off, but this is just an example of non-Pagans attacking Paganism without fully understanding the religion.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffFpbO8zeY0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7kFpDy_lmE

I don't mean to attack anyone's religion. I just don't see (if that kind of magic exists, which i've never seen but very well could) how an online school that you pay for would help teach it. Seems more like a hands-on kind of thing to me. I'm not trying to start an argument, just want your opinion is all.

Oh, it's fine. I guess I kind of overreacted, actually . And teaching people to use magick doesn't necessarily have to be hands-on. It's basically just giving people the building blocks to Paganism and Wicca, because some people don't have access to places like that where they live, their community disapproves of Pagan teachings, or they'd be too embarrassed to go to such a place in their own neighborhood. Most of the lessons tell you what to do, and you can practice what you learn from the safety and comfort of your home. And I suppose magick could be compared to prayer, but instead of just asking for something and then sitting around waiting for it, you are more proactive. The theory behind magick is that all particles are essentially energy, so this energy could theoretically be harnessed and used to make a more positive situation for yourself. But, there are rules. Whatever you ask for can't harm another living being, or compromise another's free will. It goes by the rules of "'An it harm none, do as ye will" and "Whatever you cast out returns to you threefold". As for the school requiring payment, can you only imagine how much running an institution like that would cost?? It's basically like an online college course in Witchcraft, which is going to need funding to stay open! Thanks for listening to my opinion, btw, and again I'm sorry if I seemed a little offended.

I was a Pagan for a while, so I do know a good deal about it. I can see why you were offended, and i'm sorry for that. I disagree with some of the beliefs of Wicca, but I was poking more fun at the site than the religion itself, because I do have a lot of respect for Wicca. It seems to be the closest any religion has gotten to knowing the truth about life.

Ah I see. Still, someone who participates in that school could be using this forum and could have been insulted (although I don't belong to the site, so it's not me). I do think Wicca comes very close to the most basic truth of religion. I'm an eclectic Wiccan, so I just choose the principles I like But, I can see why some of the teachings would be disagreeable. But thank you for clarifying that you don't mean to be insulting the religion.

I'm sorry, but I can't take you seriously until I see your Journeyman Wizarding license.

Hahaha...

On the side of highway I-95, Atlanata Georgia...

"Officer, is there a problem?"
"I'm sorry Ma'm, but you were speeding..."
"Oh, well I'm awfully sorry..."
"I know Ma'm, but...I have to write you a ticket...
"Oh..."
"So, I need to see your license, registration..."
"Ok..."
"And one more thing..."
"Yes....?"
"I need to see you're Journeyman Wizarding license

Guys you're being harsh! I used to be pagan, a long time ago. I never looked into it much though, i'd love to PM you sometimes Lady, if thats ok with you. I'm interested into all that stuff with wicca. Not to sound rude, but would that site be counted as a religion? Because i heard that if you have to pay, then it isn't a religion, it might not count with the site though. Crazy.

Yeah so i'd love to PM you, Lady! Will speak soon?

Angel x

I don't understand how we're being overly harsh. It's an online "wizarding school" that charges an admission fee to give children a meaningless wizard license.

In fact, I don't understand what this has to do with religion at all. The school's site doesn't make any claim to any specific religion. It almost seems like you're equating magic with wicca, which is bass ackwards. The concept of magic is far bigger, older, and more varied than wicca. Wicca is a neo-pagan religion that seems to offer up elements of some kind of magical practice in the form of religious rituals. Most of the occult circles out there that practice magic have nothing to do with wicca or any kind of neo paganism.

How can anyone not be critical of a supposed "wizard school" that is bilking people out of money?

For once...I agree with Eric!
Holy crap! I'm agreeing wit Eric! It's the appocalypse!

But anyways...It is a wizarding school..Who will take that seriously? It sounds more like a Harry Potter fan club, than a Wiccan Practicing site...I mean, who takes that seriously? I practice psi, and I believe in psychic phenomenon, and I am a practicioner, of that phenomenon, but even I cant take it seriously!!!

Hell has frozen over.

People actually paid?!!

And heavan has burnt over! And Micheal Jackson has become president! EEEHK!

I don't understand the point of this thread--is it just to point something out so everyone can have a laugh? So it's a "school" charging people...it is not the first religious institution to do so. And they can spend their money how they want, just as I can. I can't see how individuals enrolling at this place has any negative effects on any of us.

So this thread seems to lack the potential for any serious debate. It's just finger pointing and a chuckle because someone is actually spending money on beliefs that differ from yours.

People are brainwashed all the time by religion, and give their money readily in the process. It's hard for me to pick and choose who is being hoodwinked the most by (to me) outrageous beliefs.

EDIT: I'm not trying to play liberal mommy here, I am just--honestly--curious as to why a discussion thread regarding this school is open. What is the discussion if we are not just pointing at it and laughing?

The site isn't a religion..It does not call itself a religion, nor does it claim to be under any religion...It's just a funny thing...Kinda like that truthism.com post that was here earlier...That was relle funny...

True, Heart, though I debated with changing each reference of "religion" to "belief system" prior to posting but thought it wasn't necessary. Would it have mattered if I did?

The point, anyhow, was that this is not the joke area, it is the "Metaphysics, Astrology, Psychic Phenomena" forum and, I thought, is used for debate. Such posts where people can just gather around and collectively laugh does not seem to elicit any substantial discussion.

But I guess you answered my question--the point of this thread really is to just laugh at the site because it is ridiculous. Maybe I should start a similar thread regarding psionics...what's that specific site? PsiPog.net? Yeah.

Blurb from Wikipedia:


I'll be quiet now

Well, it is semi-religious. Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and his wife founded the Church of All Worlds. If that outfit rings a bell, and you are a science fiction fan, it is Valentine Michael Smith's church in Robert Heinlein's Stranger in a Strange Land.

The Grey School honors the Grey Council. Again, if you are scifier, that is Babylon 5's name for the Minbari ruling body, and Delenn is quoted at the top of the page here:

http://www.greyschool.com/living-bio.asp

You couldn't make this stuff up.

They have schools for Jedism, why not this, Wicca and Paganism are very well practiced, it'd be no different then going to a Catholic school or studying for priesthood. And he does have some reliable study guides, especially Raymond Buckland I've been practicing paganism for 6 years, Where Raymond Buckland is more along the Wiccan side of things, I find he does give some good information. Its intresting, but not something I would sign up for.

Excuse me? You don't see me running about denouncing your religion do you? Wicca is a real religion, and practicing MAGICK is part of WICCA, so, as a Wiccan I would ASSUME that a site that is a school where you can learn MAGICK is part of Wicca. And Oberon did an interview with a Wiccan school, so I would also have to ASSUME that Pagan teachings are part of the criteria. If you watched the videos I put in my post you would realize that. Grey School is not a Harry Potter school that teaches you how to turn people into frogs, or anything of the sort.

No, you are confused. Magic is its own thing. Magic is NOT wiccan and has existed as a practice long, looooonnnngggg before wicca. Wicca utilizes something that it calls magic for ritual. In fact, if you look at wiccan magic and then compare it to some of the chaos magic out there, you'd find almost nothing but differences. Saying that talking about magic is like talking about wicca is like saying that wishful thinking is like catholic prayer.

Magic is a thing that people do, paganism is a spiritual belief. Paganism is a religion, magic is a practice. Got it? The two are exclusive of one another unless a particular individual chooses to combine them.



And I didn't denounce your religion, though I'd be happy to if that's what you really want me to do. That's probably the third time on this board that you've become needlessly defensive of a religion that nobody's really talking about.

I never said that magick and Wicca are one and the same. I merely said that magick is PART of Wicca. NOT that Wicca invented magick. I do realize that other religions have varied forms of magick. And saying magick is just something "people do" is like saying prayer is just something "people do" and if you ever ask a fundamentalist Christian/Catholic if prayer is important or not, they'll probably hit you with a brick.

Absolutely.


And of many other traditions as well, some of them secular.


I don't share your assumption. The site we are discussing features a miscellany of pop culture references. The Harry Potter look and feel was noted even in the title of this thread. We have his creator's word that Harry is not a religious figure, and he is surely no Wiccan.

There are also plainly marked science fiction references at the site. While Babylon 5's Delenn was a religious leader who took on a human incarnation to become a world savior, her religion was wholly fictional. Similarly, Valentine Michael Smith died for our sins, and thus served as the lynchpin for an earlier Zell Ravenheart religious-entrepreneurial foray. Neither Delenn's nor Mike's religion was of terrestial origin, so no Wiccan sacrilege is possible.

Putting aside the question of whether there is any such thing as magick to be learned, which you rightly reserve as something touching on your religion and so off-limits, there remains the question of whether magick is likely to be learned at this "school."

And the problem with answering that in the affirmative is that the site reads more like a parody than a school catalog. Ironically, it looks just like one of the imagined ads, newscasts, and interview shows of the future that regularly graced Babylon 5. (Damn, that was a good show.)

*Edit

Tell that to the thousands upon thousands of people who follow this belief.

It is a religion just like many others. Wicca is one variety of pagan witchcraft, with distinctive ritual forms, seasonal observances and religious, magical and ethical precepts. Wicca has also been described as a Neopagan or a Mesopagan path.

well, what do they worship exactly?

Some Wiccans have a monotheistic belief in the Goddess and God as One. Many have a duotheistic conception of deity as a Goddess (of Moon, Earth and sea) and a God (of forest, hunting and the animal realm). This concept is often extended into a kind of polytheism by the belief that the gods and goddesses of all cultures are aspects of this pair (or of the Goddess alone). Others hold the various gods and goddesses to be separate and distinct.

Magick is not only wiccan though...Theres satanism, paganism..Tons of pagan cults...I mean, athiest use magick...Jus cause magick is involved doesnt make it Wiccan...

Magic isn't anymore real then the flying spaghetti monster.

I have never met an atheist who claimed to do anything extraordinary.

I meant AG...That someone who has no religion "An Athiest" Has the same right to practice magick as a Wiccan...Magick isn't only Wiccan, and it isn't specific to any Paganism practices either...It's a practice..As bleeding said..

I suggest you look up what an atheist is...

It's not someone without a religion but someone who denies the existence of a higher power.

Find me an atheist who claims to use magick. It has nothing to do with rights at all but I guarantee you can't find one because atheists or at least all the ones I know are skeptical of such claims.

http://www.bewitchingways.com/
http://www.wicca.com/
http://www.ecauldron.com/
There, three websites. Now, go educate yourself because you really are starting to sound stupid. I don't think Christianity is a legitimate religion, but you don't see me attacking Christians every time they try to defend their beliefs. Sure, i'll argue a point or two that I find debatable, but I'm definately not going to smash their religion into the dirt. And Wicca is a legitimate religion whether you like it or not.

But...This site is not baised on YOUR beliefs...It is based on a PRACTICE you do..But not your exact belief system..Try educating YOURSELF...


It's fun bein skeptical of things lol...Bein a skeptic, is alot easier than bein the believer..Now I see why you guys do it so much...

If by "higher power" you mean a being who is omnipotent and omniscient, or even a being that controls the earth in some way, then I am a witchcraft practicing athiest. At least, I will be after I get out of school and have time to study.

Firstly this thread will be moved to the jokes section of the board, as the original intent was to be light hearted, that is where I shall put it.
Secondly I do not wish for this thread to continue on it's de-railed path so further posts wishing to discuss Wicca as a religion should be posted on allready active threads, and here is a list. LIST

Thirdly, it should be noted that Wicca is indeed a religious choice chosen by quite a few members of U.M. and no more bizarre than the religions that invite you to drink of the blood and eat of the flesh of the host.

And finally nirvanic, you will be recieving a personal p.m. read it carefully.

Wow they really have schools for Jedism? Is there a religion devoted to the Jedi and the force?

hmmm, define "magick"!!!!!!!!!

yep, somewhere in England I think, I read an artical about it a few months ago.

What is a Jedi?