Grimoire for the Apprentice Wizard (Paperback)

~ (Author) "Here is how the word "Wizard" is defined in the dictionary: WIZARD-FROM ANGLO-SAXON WYSARD (m.), "wise one..." (more)
Key Phrases: Harry Potter, Green Man, Middle Ages (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Oberon Zell! Who better to write a young Wizard’s Grimoire that this living legend from the magickal and Pagan world?" -- —Amber K, Author: True Magick: A Beginner’s Guide (Llewellyn 1985) …and many more

"Oberon awakens a fire in every person he comes into contact with, having long lived the life of a Wizard." -- —Jesse Wolf Hardin, Author, Kindred Spirits: Sacred Earth Wisdom (Swan•Raven 2001) The Earthen Spirituality Project

"Oberon is not only extremely learned in the magickal arts but he communicates that knowledge with wit and charm." -- —Fiona Horne, Author, Witch: A Magickal Journey (HarperCollins 2000) Star of “Mad, Mad, Mad House” (SciFi Channel 2004)

"Oberon is one of the most intelligent and creative people in modern Paganism…gifted storyteller, powerful magician, and young at heart." -- —John Sulak, Co-Author: Modern Pagans (RE/Search Publications 2001)

"To Oberon’s knowledge and achievement in the magickal community, add personal capacity for wonder, curiosity, and effervescent delight in discovery." -- —Conrad Bishop & Elizabeth Fuller, Producer/Hosts, “Hitchhiking off the Map” (public radio series)

Product Description

Besides the main author, the contributors to this Grimoire read like a "Who’s Who" of modern magickians, and include such notables as Raymond Buckland, Raven Grimassi, Amber K, and Donald Michael Kraig, among others. These varying viewpoints and expertise make for a balanced presentation and, like a good school, for an ability to maintain interest levels by having changes of pace and style.

Designed as an Apprentice-level program of studies, this book is aimed at the same folks who find Harry Potter so fascinating – those young (and young at heart) people who want to be more in control of their world.

It is broken down into seven separate "Courses" – Wizardry, Nature, Practice, Rites, Spectrum Part 1, Spectrum Part 2, and Lore. It further contains a set of appendices – A History of Magick Time Line, The Wizard’s Library, Credits and References, and an Index. Each of the Courses is further broken down into six or seven "classes" (a total of 45). Be prepared to put in some serious study time and effort if you want to take advantage of the material herein!

Like Hogwarts, this book is arranged and scheduled to take seven years to complete. To the younger reader, I must say that there are good reasons for this, not the least being that one needs to become proficient in the basics before moving on.

Many youngsters may be put off by the work expected of them in the early going. Where are the charms? Where are the incantations in mystic languages? Where are the rewards? Well, just like having to finish your veggies before getting dessert; just like needing to learn basic math before moving on to algebra; just like laying a foundation before building a home; you need to acquire the basic knowledge of the magickal world before getting into the "good stuff."

As you work your way through this book (and make no mistake, you will work your way through it!), you may find yourself longing for the carefree days of school. The concepts contained within are easy to read, simple to absorb, and consuming to understand. If you think "Apprentice" means easy-to-do, think again. You will find yourself being fed a diet of ideas which may well force you to alter your perception of the universe.

Oberon covers everything from creating your magickal tools to planting and caring for a garden (Anyone who doesn’t see gardening as a magickal act should consider the transformation of a seed into a plant and on to your table.); from learning to survive in the woods to learning to recognize Elementals. And all of that before he even begins to address the actual practice of magick.

Course One, Class One, Lesson Three ("1.I.3: Glossary" to use Oberon’s notation system) is a handy glossary of types of Wizards which covers everything from Bards and Cybermancers to Wiccans and Wizards. If there is a description of a magick worker in the English language, it is in this glossary.

Scattered throughout this book are tables of correspondences. There are a number of them, arranged in a variety of formats, and covering a wide range of topics. There are also a large number of illustrations, many of them (almost half, in fact) from the fertile mind and hands of Oberon.

When he actually begins to discuss working magick, he takes the time to explain how and why it works. He relates it to things that all teens can relate to, and puts it firmly in the realm of things which are able to be done by anyone willing to put in the time and effort.

He explains how to set up altars (both indoors and outdoors), how to construct shrines and henges, and other items as well. He includes basic instructions on a wide variety of healing techniques. He adds constant encouragement, in the form of reassurances that practice is required, and not to get discouraged if you don’t get immediate results.

This book is aimed at the total spectrum of Wizardry (like Hogwarts). It does not just cover the Ceremonial aspects of magick. It covers the spectrum from invoking angels and demons to doing simple divination; from creating planetary talismans to simple remedies for acne; and from alchemy to conjury (stage magic). Reading this book will provide a thorough understanding of Wizardry. Completing the work within this book will provide a thorough mastery of the basics of Wizardry.

He divides magick into the colors of the rainbow and more: Meditation (aqua); Healing (blue); Wortcunning (green); Divination (yellow); Conjury (orange); Alchemy (red); Beast Mastery (brown); Cosmology (violet); Mathemagicks (clear); Ceremonial Magick (white); Lore Mastery (grey); and the Black Arts (black). Thus, by adopting tabards or robes of the appropriate color Wizards who follow this system will be able to immediately identify the specialty of those they encounter.

Mythology is covered extensively, as are world religious views. While some may question their inclusion in a grimoire, it is vital for the apprentice to understand all that may be encountered in the performance of magick. Because of the vast amount of energy devoted to these topics over the millennia, they have a valid existence on other planes, and the magickian must be prepared to deal with them.

As with any competent teacher, Oberon not only expects you to complete the assigned exercises, but also assigns outside reading and independent research. He lets you know early on that there will be both theory and practice involved in progressing through this work, and both are equally important. He makes every effort to balance his opinions and beliefs, which he is careful to identify as such, with the opinions and beliefs of others covering a wide spectrum.

For those with limited cash available, he lists many websites where information may be found. Even the most cash-strapped individuals can (and SHOULD) obtain a library card and avail themselves of the resources available there, in the form of internet access, books, magazines, etc.

Pagan Times ([e-mail])

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Product Details

• Paperback: 372 pages
• Publisher: New Page Books (February 12, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1564147118
• ISBN-13: 978-1564147110
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (73 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #56,643 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I gave copies to my grandkids., May 3, 2004

By	James Sawyer (Orlando, Florida) - See all my reviews

The Grimoire for the Apprentice Wizard, in my opinion, is a landmark book. Zell-Ravenheart has taken the popular fiction and fantasy of today to produce a primer for a good life that will appeal to today's video game youth.

In my youth I was introduced to the principals and ideals taught in this book by Glenda the Good, TikTok, the Tin Woodman and all of L. Frank Baum's characters in the Oz books. Today, it's not so easy to get young people to listen. Using popular images from movies such as Harry Potter and the Lord of the Rings the Grimoire presents an astounding amount of educational information in an entertaining way.

It's a combination history book, motivational book, self help book and magickal primer all wrapped up in one.

As mentioned in earlier reviews, I did run into some printing errors. Some of the rune graphics were out of place. They were included as a separate insert sheet that I taped in the back cover. I can only assume that they will be fixed in later printings.

The book is not about Wicca or other pagan paths. One of the other reviews listed this as a problem. I don't believe it is intended to be a lesson in religion. By keeping the religious aspect out of the book, and presenting it in a "Harry Potterish" way it will ease the way for some parents to allow their children to read the book. Remember, some parents believe that any religion except christianity is an evil cult. Many of the "lessons" or "assignments, " some presented as games, will help a young person throughout their life. There are exercises to improve pattern recognition and memory just to mention a few.

This is not a fictional Merlin story. The type of wizard described in this book is achievable. The concepts taught are the same concepts that successful people all over the world have used to become the captains of industry, company presidents and good parents. That's why I purchased copies for both of my grandchildren. (That way they will keep their hands off my copy!)

I cant put it better than Griffin from Lafayette, CA United States did:
I highly recommend this book to both new and old readers alike. It is refreshing to see an author who not only claims the intention to provide an open philosophy that still honors its history and practice, but who succeeds in doing so.

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Is There A Time Travel Spell?, August 3, 2004

By	K. W. Pastore "Zosodada" (Western New York State, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I don't like this book, it doesn't have instructions on how to send it back to myself when I was of the age of the intended demographic. JUST KIDDING! Maybe it DOES have such instructions but I have yet to grok the arcane implications of Oberon's astrolabe (and yes, I DO like it). If I read this when I was in my teenage years I probably COULD warp this tome through the veils of Chronos by now. It would have saved me YEARS of hobbling together various bits and pieces of cosmic fabric, finding what works and sifting away the chaff.

Speaking of the intended demographic readership this book would be likely to serve, I would estimate them to be of the ages between 13 and 21 and about 70% male: the Harry Potter contingent to be sure. Frankly, I've been exposed to no Harry Potter book or movie in the entirety. I've read of Rowling only long enough to recognize that she's been exposed to Francois Rabelais, therefore she gets my seal of approval on that account alone. Other than that observation my Potterology is null and therefore I base no opinion on any reference or analogy between the Potter Mythos and the "Grimoire".

The contents of the book are presented in the form of a course of study involving seven parts. Essays, charts, grammaries, and appendices and an index are included, as well as a "Commencement" and a multitude of illustrations, both classic and newly created for the volume. Are there spells? Yes, Virginia, there are spells galore.

The lore is presented in a friendly and earnest manner and is clear and concise enough to fit a wealth of information into every page that form a solid, foundational overview of Pagan (Neopagan) information, mystical knowledge and arcane gnosis along with a reliquae of historical fact and visionary fantasy. Among all of this, a good grounding of Common sense is not ignored ("NEVER leave a candle burning. . ."); nor is a good dose of humor.

A healthy respect for language and learning is shown throughout the text. One might expect the young student to have his/her interest in various subjects piqued by the "Lessons" herein to assume a greater interest in and aptitude for a variety of subjects when viewed through the Grimoire's magical lens. Such a student might even venture into a career-path from such motivation (e.g., Course 1, Class VI might inspire some to further study psychology; Course 3, Class I might inspire an interest in law, ethics; and 7,V could lead one into the annals of history and literature).

I would imagine that some further editorial tweaking could improve subsequent editions. The most blaring example of errata did not hit me until well over 300 pages into the volume: p. 333, "Freddy Mercury of Queen was a Zoroastrian. According to legend he was trained by a sorcerer. . . " OOOPS! Make that "Zoroaster, according to legend. . ."! Also the dates quoted herein regarding the time of "Zardost"/"Zarathrustra" ("628-551 BCE") should probably be revised to an earlier best estimate such as c.1300 BCE. The heart & soul of the Grimoire should sufficiently counter such tweakables until further editions become available. (This book should SELL quite well.)

With apologies to Ian Corrigan I must counter his "criticism. . . that the book almost entirely avoids the matter of religion"; my regard for the book is only strengthened due to this fact. As Oberon states in the introduction, "A Wizard is not a Priest or representitive of any church or religion, but an `adept'... a
Wizard can be whatever religion he chooses (or none at all!)."

--- Ken Zosodada

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hear it from a student!! This book is fabulous!, May 23, 2005

By	Helga "Helega De Grey" (Gauteng, South Africa) - See all my reviews

Yes, you read the title right. I'm a student in the online Grey School of Wizardry. This book is used as a handbook for all classes. It's amazing how this school and contents of this book as brought to my life. The only word to explain my experience is... "Wow!"

This book nearly fell of the shelf when I saw it the first time. I ignored it at first but it happened a second time as I wandered down the New Age aisle. I knew there is no such thing as coincidences, so I bought the book.

I was astonished to see the detail and course material published in this book. Several previous writers on magick and/or wizardry added some of their work to this wonderful book. I read a reviewer say it's just a copy of others material OZ added to his book to sell, when you think of it Headmaster Oberon, would not be the admired wizard he is today with his life experience if he acted in his own belief that only his work was the only way. A true wizard recognizes others and their work, together forming the foundation of teaching and guiding wizard apprentices on their way to becoming journeymen and beyond.

I was the first South African student to enroll in this school and I have experienced a change from being a uninspired, negative person to a vibrant, positive person whom inspired so many others around me as well. What we do have within this school are magnificent, Lead-by-Example Professors and students who jump in and get their hands `dirty.' Students being all they can be, helping fellow students with classes. Learning world history from our classmates as we are scattered all around the world. The world is our campus... at least for now.

It's difficult to explain the power of such a place as the Grey School of Wizardry. This school and everybody involved have helped me figure out the person I truly am. What I could bring to others, how I could help them succeed in seeing themselves through different eyes. Help other people trust in themselves and in the Divine, which are out there you just need to reach out and take full grip of it. The power of the Universe is unlimited to those wishing to use it in an honorable way.

This is definitely a school to start your apprenticeship. Go search for the greyschool on the internet under and start your journey at becoming whom you were born to be.

Blessed Be
Helega Austrinorum Africae