Grey Matters
September 2024
Table of Contents
Conclave 2024
vGSW Expansion
vGSW Scenarios Coming Soon
Apprentice Leadership Nominations
Lore of the Ancients: Manananggal
GSW Beast Mastery Crossword
September 2024 Astrological Forecast
Conclave 2024
By Grey Matters Staff
Another Conclave has gone by, marking the illustrious gathering of Wizards at Highspire Manor as they engaged in creative and practical wandmaking, immersive lectures, stimulating conversation, and even some fun and games. If you weren't able to attend, we sincerely hope to see you next year. If you're keen to read some retrospectives on the occasion, you can find several on the forums: Back from Conclave! | Grey School
vGSW Expansion
By Headmaster Kingsley
Well met Wizards one and all,
Greetings from The Grey School of Wizardry!
I'm thrilled to highlight for everyone the news of a significant addition to our community—the Virtual Grey School of Wizardry (vGSW) Info Center, now open to the public in Second Life.
Through our partnership with Linden Lab, we’ve enhanced our presence in Second Life, providing an immersive and interactive space where our global community can engage more deeply with what The Grey School has to offer.
As you explore the vGSW Info Center, you’ll find detailed information about our academic programs, extracurricular activities, and the unique culture that defines our institution. The Info Center is designed to be interactive, allowing visitors to engage with the content in a meaningful way. Each section has been carefully crafted to give you a comprehensive understanding of the opportunities available at The Grey School, offering a window into the world of esoteric education.
To further connect our community, we are excited to announce that once each term, we will be hosting a public virtual moot in the Info Center. This will be an opportunity for wizards, magisters, and curious visitors to gather, discuss, and share in the magickal atmosphere that defines GSW. It’s a chance to engage with our community, exchange ideas, and delve into the trade of wizardry together.
The Info Center is open to all, free to explore, and serves as a gateway to the deep and magickal experiences that await at The Grey School of Wizardry.
- Link to Second Life Location - http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Highspiria/133/84/30
Wizardly Regards,
Headmaster Kingsley ᛞ
vGSW Scenarios Coming Soon
By Headmaster Kingsley
Well met, Wizards one and all,
As Always I hope that the day finds everyone in good health and high spirits!
The Grey School of Wizardry is thrilled to announce the upcoming vGSW Scenarios, an addition to Grey School's training methods that brings our wizardry lessons to life in a whole new way.
vGSW Scenarios leverage our updated Virtual Campus in Second Life to offer immersive, interactive scenarios where you can practice your skills in real-time, all while enjoying the safety and flexibility of a virtual setting. Each term, pupils can dive into 1-3 scenarios found in their grimoires, tackling challenges that will push your wizardry skills to the limit.
But, What does that look like?
Here is a look at the First round of Scenarios that are currently under development.
-Banish spirits from a haunted Playhouse: Research the history, identify the entities, and apply your knowledge of wards and protective charms to cleanse the space.
-Lead a disaster relief effort: Coordinate supplies, ensure safety, and use your healing skills to aid the injured in a simulated crisis.
-Craft a ceremonial magickal event in the City: Plan the ritual, prepare the components, and conduct the ceremony with precision, all while mastering the intricacies of ritual design in modern life.
Why Scenarios? Because there's a world of difference between knowing and doing. These scenarios are designed to challenge you, test your adaptability, and prepare you for the real challenges you'll face as a wizard in the world today.
Scenario-based training isn't new—it’s a tried and true method used in professions around the globe. Medical professionals, emergency responders, military personnel—they all use simulations to hone their skills. Soon, it'll be your turn.
What sets vGSW Scenarios apart?
-Realism: These scenarios are designed to be as close to real-life as possible with virtual environments to explore and interact with.
-Preparation: You’ll have the chance to practice before you're graded.
-Variety: With scenarios across all 16 departments, there’s something for every aspiring wizard.
-Dynamic Content: Scenarios will be updated regularly, so there’s always a new challenge waiting.
This is more than just training—it's preparation for the path ahead. vGSW Scenarios offer a unique way to experience the thrill of real-world application while ensuring you're well-prepared for any challenge that comes your way.
Apprentice Leadership Nominations
By Grey Matters Staff
Hopeful candidates for Prefectships and the Captaincy are being announced already. Are you interested in heeding the call? Make sure to review the Handbook page at Apprentice Leadership (greyschool.net) and then contact the Dean of Students at DoS@GreySchool.com
Lore of the Ancients: Manananggal
By Prefect Dega
Original Art by Asher of Blackwood
Some elders in the Philippines still remember, still watch on the lookout for a creature that stalks in the night; under the full moon, it begins flight by wrenching free from its lower extremities to take flight. Why? It is hungry. Its most sought-after meal is the womb of a pregnant woman! The warriors would ready their weapons and hide the women when the omens foretold of the coming of the Manananggal. The shamans would be ready with anting-anting, specialized talismans to repel the dreaded creature. Other warriors were ready in other ways; ready to take the creature down by its known weaknesses…
The Beginning of the Tale
“Hey! Do you know about the Manananggal?” asked RJ.
“No,” I replied, “is it some sort of dish?”
“Well, its like a vampire or something, but it likes to feast on pregnant women!”
“I see.”
“Maybe you should do an article on that! It’s one of the scariest things we have from the Philippines!” stated RJ.
This conversation happened with my coworker at a local nonprofit as we shared the same cubicle pod over three months ago. Unbeknownst to me, RJ discovered she was pregnant, and still had lingering cultural worries of the Manananggal. Months later when she announced her pregnancy, I connected the dots that she may have wanted me to figure out something to protect her baby. Even though RJ had immigrated to the United States, it would seem that her cultural education would not be denied; this cultural wariness about mythical or legendary creatures attacking in the night is strong still in many people. According to one source, “Some people still believe in their [Mananangglal] existence to this day, pitching their roofs or making their windows hard to perch on” (Poe, 2022).
One of the confusing things about the Manananggal is that can act and live like any other normal person during the day, but at night the true semblance of this creature is revealed (Poe, 2022). The Manananggal is often portrayed as a female and according to another source, “The manananggal is said to favor preying on sleeping, pregnant women, using an elongated proboscis-like tongue to suck out fetuses, or the blood of someone who is sleeping. It also haunts newlyweds or couples in love and sometimes newborn children” (Wikipedia, 2024). I can see now why my coworker might have been worried and come to me for some inkling of help.
What is the Manananggal?
While many sources agree to the description of the Manananggal, one source details this about the creature:
“The word manananggal comes from the Tagalog word tanggal, which means "to remove" or "to separate", which literally translates as "remover" or "separator". In this case, "one who separates itself". The name also originates from an expression used for a severed torso. The manananggal is described as scary, often hideous, usually depicted as female, and always capable of severing its upper torso with its intestines trailing out and sprouting huge bat-like wings to fly into the night in search of its victims” (Wikipedia, 2024).
As the Filipino culture was introduced to many different cultures, the concept of the Manananggal may have come from many sources, another source states, “Most of the beliefs incorporated from various sources. Some of it originated during the pre-Hispanic era, from pre-Christian religion which was influenced by the Hinduism and probably with colonial Catholic Christian myths and superstitions” (Ligarayk, 2017). Thus, the Manananggal takes on elements of the European Vampire, viciousness of the Werewolf, and the weird bodily separations of Hindu demons (Yu, 2017).
The Prey Becomes the Predator
While some Filipino villages were comfortable hiding from the Manananggal, some decided to fight the creature:
The Manananggal of Cebu: One well-known story involves a young woman from Cebu who was suspected of being a Manananggal. Her neighbors noticed that her clothes were always stained with blood, and she was often seen leaving her home at night. One night, a brave villager followed her and witnessed her transformation. He managed to strike her lower body with a sharp object, preventing her from rejoining her upper body. The Manananggal was forced to flee, never to be seen again.
Another tale recounts visions warning a warrior of a coming danger:
The Manananggal of Iloilo: Another tale comes from Iloilo, where a young man was haunted by nightmares of a Manananggal attacking his family. He decided to take matters into his own hands and set a trap for the creature. He placed a large mirror beneath a tree where the Manananggal was known to perch. When the Manananggal landed, her reflection startled her, causing her to fall to the ground and break. The villagers were overjoyed to be rid of the terrifying creature.
Mirrors? Sharp objects preventing the torso from rejoining the rest of the body? What other things can a Wizard do to protect the area from a Manananggal? Here are some remedies:
· Alyanna Poe suggests, “To deter Manananggals, people keep around raw rice, salt, or ash. They’ve been said to not like the smell of burning rubber as well. Similarly to vampires in Christian mythology, they avoid holy water, spices, vinegar, daggers, and light” (Poe, 2022).
· Ligarayk, a native Filipino suggests, “The Manananggal avoids garlic, tail of a sting ray, salt or they also die from sunlight. It should go back to its normal form before sunrise otherwise, they will die” (Ligarayk, 2017).
· One source details why the Manananggal seeks out certain prey and how to counter the creature, “Due to being left at the altar, grooms-to-be are one of its main targets. The severed lower torso is left standing and is the more vulnerable of the two halves. Sprinkling salt, smearing crushed garlic, lighting it on fire, or smearing ash on top of the standing torso is fatal to the creature. The upper torso then would not be able to rejoin itself and would perish by sunrise” (Wikipedia, 2024).
It would seem that multiple strategies have been developed and passed down through the generations against the Manananggal. It is with this knowledge that the Wizard can turn the tables on the Manananggal and evolve to become the predator instead of the prey!
The Magickal Rite to Become a Manananggal
Very similar to some accounts of the werewolf involving a ritual to become a beast (Montague Summers, 2003 (Original 1933)), Ligarayk details that anyone can become a Manananggal by choice:
“It can also pass its power to anybody. Manananggal become immortal unless the power is given to another member of the family. It is believed that there is a living chick inside its body. In order to pass the power, a ritual should be performed and once the living chick has been transferred, he will now hunt for food to keep it alive. Even though the stories are just products of Filipino's Imagination and not scientifically proven but still many people believe in it” (Ligarayk, 2017).
My coworker RJ also seemed to echo Ligarayk’s notions about the lore of the Manananggal. Depending upon the culture, many people prefer to play it safe and not take chances; it would seem that many predatory creatures like the Manananggal work best under the camouflage of night and the element of surprise! Luckily, no Wizard reading this article will be caught unawares…or will they?
Works Cited
Ligarayk. (2017). "Manananggal": A Philippine Folklore Creature . Retrieved from Steemit: https://steemit.com/art/@ligarayk/manananggal-philippine-folklore-creature
Montague Summers. (2003 (Original 1933)). The Werewolf in Lore and Legend. Garden City: Dover Publications.
Poe, A. (2022, September 24). The Manananggal: A Background on the Aswang from the Philippines. Retrieved from Author Alyanna Poe: https://authoralyannapoe.com/blog/f/the-manananggal-a-background-on-the-aswang-from-the-philippines
RJA. (2024). Do you know about the Manananggal? (P. Dega, Interviewer)
Wiki, M. a. (2024). Manananggal. Retrieved from Myth and Folklore Wiki: https://mythus.fandom.com/wiki/Manananggal
Wikipedia. (2024). Manananggal. Retrieved from Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manananggal
Yu, H. J. (2017, August 21). 5 Asian Myths That Explained Solar Eclipses. Retrieved from Next Shark: https://nextshark.com/5-asian-myths-solar-eclipses
GSW Beast Mastery Crossword
By Grey Matters Staff
Complete this month's crossword online at GSW Beast Mastery Crossword - Crossword Labs Or download a PDF:
September 2024 Astrological Forecast
By Grey Matters Staff
Welcome to September, Wizards one and all! This month, the cosmos has some thrilling—and potentially chaotic—events in store, starting with Uranus retrograde and a game-changing lunar eclipse. Last month, we survived Mercury's retrograde antics, which finally settled down by the end of August. Now, as we step into September, Uranus, the rebel of the zodiac, goes retrograde on Sunday, September 1. As the ruling planet of Aquarius, Uranus embodies the quirky, unconventional energy that challenges us to embrace our unique selves. Between now and January 2025, the universe invites you to unapologetically celebrate the parts of you that might have once made you feel like an outcast.
But that’s not all September has up its astrological sleeve. Also on Sunday, September 1, Pluto—currently in retrograde and the cosmic ruler of transformations—makes a bold move into ambitious Capricorn. This shift compels you to reassess your work-life balance, reminding you to carve out time for the passions that truly fulfill you, even within the grind of daily life. The upcoming Virgo new moon on Monday, September 2, offers the perfect opportunity to reflect, recalibrate, and map out the best path forward.
September is all about aligning your actions with your dreams. On Wednesday, September 4, Mars, the planet of action and determination, enters nurturing Cancer, blending assertiveness with a desire for comfort and security. It's a powerful mix—think leather and lace—that helps you push forward while creating a cozy, supportive environment. Then, on Sunday, September 8, the wise asteroid Pallas moves into fiery Sagittarius, pushing you once again to question whether you’re truly on track to achieve your goals. As Mercury, the planet of communication, returns to its home sign of Virgo the same day, creativity flows effortlessly, making it an ideal time to pursue artistic endeavors, whether that's music, writing, or another passion project.
However, be cautious as the full moon and lunar eclipse in Pisces on Tuesday, September 17, could bring abrupt and unforeseen endings. To navigate this turbulent time, prioritize self-care—opt for calming tea over wild nights out, and don’t rush into any major conversations. Astrology is the perfect excuse to hit pause and let the cosmic dust settle.
As the sun shifts into Libra, the sign of relationships, on Sunday, September 22, expect love and partnership themes to take center stage. This date also marks the fall equinox—a time of balance between light and dark—and Mabon, a time to express gratitude. The potential for profound shifts in relationships is high this month, but taking things one step at a time will make it easier to manage. With Venus slipping into passionate Scorpio the same day, expect an extra dose of intensity and allure in your connections, though be wary of potential jealousy. Fortunately, as Mercury glides into Libra on Thursday, September 26, the scales tip in favor of harmony, turning any tension into passion rather than conflict.
Get ready—September is a month of transformation, creativity, and deepening connections. Read on to discover what this dynamic month holds for your sign.