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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 Gaia Thesis (preferred spelling Gæa or Gaea), 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.

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 A. 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] Zell-Ravenheart returned to lead the Church of All Worlds, Inc. in 2005 and currently serves as First Primate.[5]

Grey School of Wizardry

The Grey School of Wizardry (GSW), inspired in part by Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the school in the Harry Potter novels by British author J. K. Rowling, is a school specializing in occult magic, operating primarily on-line and as a non-profit 501(C)(3) educational institution in the State of California. This School is an outgrowth of the Grey Council[6], a team of two dozen mages and sages. Members of the Grey Council follow many different paths, and may have orientations and perspectives that differ from each other, but they all hope to spark the imagination, beauty, and power of the minds of seekers everywhere.

GSW is a school, not a role-playing game or a chat room. This means that the faculty expects their students to study and put the work on their class assignments before any of the social aspects that the school also offers. While the school has a number of social and extracurricular activities for students to enjoy, such as clubs, Houses and Lodges, a school magi-zine, and challenges, to name just a few, it is first and foremost an educational institution.

The Grey Council worked together over the year 2003 to weave the best lessons from many of the magical community’s most respected elders and teachers into the Grimoire for the Apprentice Wizard, compiled by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart (New Page Books, 2004). The Grimoire, however, is only the first phase of a long-range Vision to make available the Wisdom of the Ages for a new generation and a new Millennium. It is both an essential handbook of Apprentice-level Wizardry (like the Boy Scout Handbook) and a basic textbook for a full seven-year academic curriculum of Wizardly studies. Thus, its Lessons begin very simply and grow more complex as students advance.

Incorporated March 14, 2004 by Headmaster Oberon Zell-Ravenheart, and created for students of all ages over 11, it provides a seven year program of studies at an Apprenticeship level. The Grey School of Wizardry is an on-line Mystery School for apprentice Wizards of all ages and walks of life. As a non-denominational educational environment based on Magic and Natural Awareness—what is called ‘Out-of the Box’ thinking—the school instructs its students in the sacred arts of magic and secret ways and knowledge. Many of the topics and knowledge taught here have been forgotten or overlooked by modern educational institutions. The Grey School is not a religious institution, and its members come from all backgrounds, including religious. The School teaches knowledge and not religion, which is a distinction of Wizards in contrast to the Pagan and Wicca traditions which promote a religious philosophy, although a few Classes cover mythology and comparative religions.

Over 335 courses are offered, providing basic education for instance in history, mythology, geography, mathematics, literature, natural history, astronomy, chemistry, physics, zoology, botany, and Latin, as well as 16 magickal Departments. The performing arts are included as well, with classes in poetry, music, theater, and illusion, drawing upon the rich store of materials available in the magical community. Class materials and lessons are provided and taught by a highly-qualified Faculty and guest lecturers. New classes are added continually.

The Grey School is highly interactive, and includes not just study materials, but four Elemental “Houses” (Sylphs, Salamanders, Undines, and Gnomes) in which youth students are able to communicate directly with each other. The school has over 1000 students; three times as many adult students as youths, with four adult houses[7], called Lodges. These are 'The Circle of the Standing Stones', 'The Society of the Four Winds', 'The Order of the Dancing Flames', and 'The Coterie of the Flowing Waters'. Each House, as well as each Lodge, has a Faculty Head, a Prefect, a Captain, and a Vice Captain.

The Grey School Library includes not only an excellent Bibliography, but also links to on-line articles and encyclopedias. Other links allow students to do independent research with various available training programs, directories, events, and stores for magical supplies. Also, there are interactive forums where students can post questions, have discussions, or just chatter away.

Graduates are certified as “Journeyman Wizards.”[8] The Grimoire for the Apprentice Wizard and The Companion for the Apprentice Wizard, both by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart, are the foundations of the curriculum.

The Gray School has categorized sixteen “colors” of magick which they have designated for “Departments” of the Grey School. Each of these has its Dean, Professors, Instructors, and Classes. These are:

Wizardry (indigo), Nature Studies (silver), Magickal Practice (gold), Psychic Arts (aqua), Healing (blue), Wortcunning (green), Divination (yellow), Performance Magics (orange), Alchemy & Magickal Sciences (red), Lifeways (pink), Beast Mastery (brown), Cosmology (violet), Mathemagicks (clear), Ceremonial Magick (white), Lore (grey), and Dark Arts (black).

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 five books (listed below). He considers himself to be a Wizard, and is one of the founding faculty members and currently Headmaster of the Grey School of Wizardry (an online school of magick). He regularly presents workshops, lectures and ceremonies at Neopagan and New Age events, as well as at science fiction conventions and renaissance fairs. Oberon and Morning Glory Zell-Ravenheart have appeared at over 20 Starwood Festivals (and a few WinterStar Symposiums) over the past 25 years; because of this, there has been a Church of All Worlds presence at Starwood, called the CAWmunity, for over a decade[9]. 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]


Health Concerns

On August 13, 2008, during a routine colonoscopy, doctors found a golf-ball sized growth attached to the colon, which was subsequently determined to be cancerous. On August 29, 2008, the tumor was removed laparoscopically at Petaluma Valley Hospital. Following, he underwent a six-month course of chemotherapy and has continued a reduced schedule of travel and teaching. Another surgery is scheduled to repair a hernia at the cancer surgery incision, but he regards himself as cured of the cancer. [10]

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
  • A Wizard's Bestiary. Dekirk, Ash "Leoparddancer", with Oberon Zell-Ravenheart. New Page Books (December 30, 2007) ISBN 1564149560, ISBN 978-1564149565

Discography

  • The Church of All Worlds - Lecture on cassette ACE
  • Men and the Goddess - Lecture (on cassette) ACE
  • A Bouquet of Lovers - Lecture with Morning Glory Zell-Ravenheart (on CD and cassette) ACE
  • Living Your Own Myth - Lecture with Morning Glory Zell-Ravenheart (on cassette) ACE

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:

See also

References

  1. ^ 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."
  2. ^ Adler (2006) p.3334
  3. ^ Man Made Unicorns
  4. ^ a b c Adler (2006) "Chapter 10: A Religion from the Future - The Church of All Worlds" pp.300-334
  5. ^ CAWeb - The Official Website of the Church of All Worlds, Inc.
  6. ^ Wizard School Website
  7. ^ We're Off To See A Wizard: The Magical Life of Oberon Zell - Interview by Natalie Zaman
  8. ^ Grey School of Wizardry Website
  9. ^ http://www.oberonzell.com/OZAbout.html Bio on Oberon Zell-Ravenheart's Official Website
  10. ^ Zell-Ravenheart, Oberon. "OZ's Blog". Retrieved 2009-06-29. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)

Articles and interviews

Additional reading

  • 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


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