Grey Matters
October 2024
Table of Contents
1.) Summer Term 2024 Dean's List Recipients
2.) New Apprentice Leadership Scabbard Announced
3.) Lodge Cup Winners Announced
4.) Live Class Opportunities on vGSW and Discord
5.) Spooky Classes for Spooky Season
6.) vGSW Halloween Moot
7.) October 2024 Astrological Forecast
8.) GSW Dark Arts Crossword
Summer Term 2024 Dean's List Recipients
By Dean Meighen
As of the end of the Summer Term on the Autumnal Equinox in the year 2024 CE, the following Apprentices have distinguished themselves through academic excellence and earned Dean's List nominations in at least three of their classes. By the power vested in the office of the Dean of Curriculum, I am pleased and honored to award these deserving individuals the honor of the Dean's List.
Their names are henceforth recorded here so that their achievement may be distinguished in perpetuity.
Apprentice Fenler Novastrum: Plants 100, Conceptual Quantum Physics, Cosmology, Cosmogony, and Cosmogenesis, Introduction to Cosmology, Herb 101, So You Want to be a Clear Wizard
Apprentice WISDMAWK: Double, Double, Fieldwork 701, Unconscious Mind
Apprentice Adagius: Runic Interpretations, So You Want to be a Yellow Wizard, Dragonlore 101, Introduction to Alchemy
Apprentice Ari Bertine: White Wizard’s Library, Introduction to Hoodoo, Introduction to Magickal Metalwork
Apprentice Dega: Rituals of the Hexagram, Energy: Introduction to Theory and Practice, Advanced Banishing, Basics of Hoodoo, Signs and Symbols, White Wizard’s Library, Colors of Magick, Intro to Poppets, Opening the Unconscious Mind, Purification Rituals, The Knotty Wizard, Ethics of Magick 400, Chaos Magick, Defense Against the Dark Arts 601, Apprentice Leadership
Magister Amortus: Wizardry 100, Core Energy Practices 100, Core Energy Practices 101, Herb 101, Don’t Touch That
Apprentice Phineas Greycloak: Writing and Citing, So You Want to be a Black Wizard, Core Energy Practices, White Wizard’s Library
Apprentice Phyrepharie: Wizardry 100, Werewolves, Labyrinths, Wizardry 101
Apprentice Elysia Waterchild: Core Energy Practices 101, So You Want to be a Grey Wizard, Wondrous Stories 101
Apprentice Flaming Phoenix: Introduction to Cosmology, Latin for Magickal Practice, Conceptual Quantum Physics, The Stars and Constellations, Ethics of Magick 400, Alchemy 100
Apprentice Ryan Polly: Wizardry 100, So You Want to be a Yellow Wizard, Core Energy Practices 100
Please join me in congratulating these hardworking Wizards for their dedication and commitment to their studies!
New Apprentice Leadership Scabbard Announced
By Grey Matters Staff
The beginning of the Winter Term brings with it a new Scabbard of Apprentice Leadership, selected by their peers and singled out by their excellence in all areas of GSW life. Please offer them your support in the coming term, as your Prefects and Captain depend on their peers as much as their peers depend on them. Congratulations to: Flames Prefect - Prefect Abbie
Waters Prefect - Prefect Altiriel
Stones Prefect - Prefect Asher Blackwood
Winds Prefect - Prefect James Perkins
Captain - Captain Dega
Lodge Cup Winners Announced
By Grey Matters Staff
At the conclusion of the Summer Term, the Lodge Cup was earned by the Stones Lodge! Congratulations!
May the competition in the new term be fierce!
Live Class Opportunities on vGSW and Discord
By Grey Matters Staff
Starting in October, an assortment of live classes are being offered on the GSW Discord and vGSW. These classes offer the privileged opportunity to engage in dynamic, immersive, real-time learning opportunities fostered by your instructors and in collaboration with your peers. Don't miss out! Check the calendar in Discord for more details and to sign up!
Spooky Classes for Spooky Season
By Grey Matters Staff
As the warm days of summer begin to wane and a chill starts to seep in, the nights grow longer and the full moon casts its witchlight over skeletal trees and the dark creeps just a little closer. There's no mistaking it: spooky season is here again!
While you enjoy the cooler nights, fallen leaves, pumpkin spice everything, and perhaps even a horror movie or two, consider checking out some of the following classes at GSW to learn a bit more about the darker side of things. As a bonus, all of them have been recently refreshed! Y6 - Ouija Boards
A classic staple of countless horror movies and urban legends, surely we all know that to play with a Ouija board is certain doom - or is it? Enroll in this class and learn the reality of these infamous talking boards.
Y3 - Magickal Defense at School and Work
How do you defend yourselves from magickal threats when you are away from the safety of home and sanctum? Sure, many wizards ward their personal spaces, but what about work or school, where many people spend much of their time? This class will explore answers to this exact quandry.
Y2 - Werewolves: Fact or Fiction?
What's the truth behind the dreaded lycanthrope, the shapeshifting mane-beast known as the werewolf? What role does it play in folklore and how can science explain it? Take this class and find out!
Y1 - Shadowlore 100: Creatures of the Night
Revisit the lore of the classic monsters of horror and folklore, with a discerning Wizardly eye! As a special opportunity, this class is being taught live by Dean Kayser on Discord - check the calendar on the GSW Discord Server for details.
vGSW Halloween Moot
By Prefect Asher Blackwood
As the nights grow longer, the hues of golds and red paint the landscape, and pumpkins are appearing as if by magick!
On our Grey School of Wizardry virtual campus (vGSW) Autumn is in full bloom! Of course, as we enter October it becomes increasingly difficult to not think of the celebrations at the end of the month.
In fact, there will be another festival to add to the Halloween vibes, the vGSW Halloween Moot!
The vGSW Halloween Moot is starting at 5 PM EST October 31, 2024 on the virtual campus in Second Life.
There will be various events from high in the sky with a special, only for Halloween, obstacle course with broom flying to down on our vast grounds for some educational fun and games!
There could even be a special guest to fill our brains with some spooky-season knowledge.
More shall be revealed as the month progresses!
Mark your calendars and show your school spirit (and earn merits) with your participation!
October 2024 Astrological Forecast
By Grey Matters Staff
October kicks off with some serious Libra energy, setting the stage for significant shifts. The Sun in Libra isn't alone—it gets a cosmic boost from the moon on October 2, forming a rare solar eclipse known as a "ring of fire." This marks the second Libra eclipse in a duo, following last year’s October 14 event, and it’s also the final eclipse of 2024. What does this mean? Expect big changes, particularly in your relationships, international dynamics, and the ever-elusive pursuit of peace.
Manifesting the Right Connections Under Libra’s New Moon Eclipse
On October 2, Libra’s solar eclipse may have you rethinking your closest relationships—whether personal or professional. With the moon aligning with detail-oriented Mercury and fiery Black Moon Lilith, it’s time to get strategic. Jot down the qualities you seek in partners and colleagues, along with your non-negotiables. This clarity will help you sidestep any pitfalls you’ve encountered before.
Lilith’s influence encourages you to channel your anger or frustration constructively, communicating your feelings clearly and diplomatically. Writing things out in advance can help avoid explosive confrontations, ensuring your voice is heard without unnecessary drama. After all, keeping the peace is a Libra specialty!
Jupiter Joins the Retrograde Party
On October 9, Jupiter turns retrograde in Gemini, joining the outer planets already in reverse. This signals a slow-down period, perfect for reflecting on the messages you want to send. Don’t be afraid to take a step back and reconsider your plans. And if you’re feeling stuck, why not reconnect with a former mentor or colleague? They could provide a fresh perspective—or even open new doors.
Pluto’s Final Bow in Capricorn
October 11 brings Pluto’s final forward push in Capricorn before its decades-long transition to Aquarius in November. Pluto’s journey through Capricorn since 2008 has coincided with profound power struggles and transformations, both personal and political. As Pluto approaches the end of this era, it’s a good time to reflect on the lessons learned—especially with the U.S. election season heating up.
Supermoon in Aries: Go Big or Go Home
October 17 sees a fiery full moon in Aries, the final supermoon of 2024. This cosmic event is all about bold self-expression. Don’t hold back—step into the spotlight and showcase your authentic self. With competitive Mars and power-driven Pluto squaring the moon, the stakes might feel high, but instead of battling for attention, why not share it? Elevating others is the true mark of a leader.
Feeling a little too charged up? Channel that intensity into something constructive—boxing, karaoke, or a good old-fashioned venting session can help you burn off the excess energy without adding to the tension.
Welcome to Scorpio Season—Cue the Drama!
From October 22 to November 21, the Sun swims through seductive Scorpio, heightening themes of power, transformation, and mystery. Scorpio season amps up your manifesting abilities, so be mindful of what—and who—you’re focusing on. The right connections might find their way to you when you least expect it. If you’ve been thinking about teaming up on a project or business venture, this is the perfect time to consolidate efforts for a win-win.
Halloween: A Mystical, Magical Finale
Halloween (October 31) aligns perfectly with Scorpio’s magical energy. Mercury’s alignment with Neptune adds a layer of mysticism, making this the perfect time to trust your intuition. Visualize what you want, and you just might get it. A nearly-new moon on the eve of Halloween offers the chance to let go of lingering ghosts from the past, preparing you for a fresh start as November begins.
GSW Dark Arts Crossword
By Grey Matters Staff
Complete this month's crossword online at https://crosswordlabs.com/view/gsw-dark-arts-crossword-2
Or download a PDF: