Department of Dark Arts Class Listing

In this course you will learn the concepts and methods of creating an Ancestor altar and honoring those Ancestors according to the Conjure/Hoodoo tradition. 

Are vampires allergic to garlic or the sun? Can a human be “turned”? Are psychic vampires dangerous? How did the vampire we know and love evolve? Do vampires really exist at all? To the last question, the answer is yes. However, they are not the things of legend and certainly not in the image of popular myth.

In this class we will explore the myths and truths about modern vampirism. We will briefly explore the history of vampirism and answer some of the more popular questions posed by polite society. By the end of this class, you, as the student, will have one less thing to fear in the dark.

In this class you will learn what low magick is and the basic rules by which it functions. You will be asked to read a small number of outside sources of your choosing, on the practice of low magick and folk magick from anywhere in the world. You will also try out some of the principles by which most low spells operate.

This class meets on the vGSW campus in Second Life for real-time learning and interaction.  Assignments are primarily verbal and visual, perfect for the 'essay' challenged student.  Classes are set up in four 1 hour per week sessions, with a date available for a make-up as needed.  Times and Dates may vary.

**If taken for Major/Minor requirements, this class replaces the class of the same name** 

Hoodoo, sometimes called Rootwork or Conjure, is more than spells and prayers. It is a cultural tradition that has evolved from the times of slavery to now. In order to truly practice this work, one must first begin with its cultural history. That includes its origins in slavery and the oral tradition that includes hymns, folktales, and work chants that encoded the work and carried it forward from those ancestors into modern times. 

Learning Objectives:

After completing this class, the student will be able to:

This class will introduce the student to the technique of banishing. The lessons will cover basic banishing as a form of strong cleansing for people, places, and objects. The lessons will also cover the basics of using banishing to remove weak unwanted entities.

Grimoire of the Apprentice Wizard

"Cleansing and Purification" and "Ritual and Ceremony Overview" or "Foundations in Ritual and Ceremony" (About Rituals will also meet this requirement).

As you learned in the prerequisite class, “Core Energy Practices,” being able to cleanse ourselves and our surroundings of negative energy is crucial to magickal work. In that class, you were given very basic outlines for a few methods of cleansing. Here, we will discuss them in more detail and add several more options, with an emphasis on smudging and washes. Your grades will be based on “lab reports” as you try the methods and write about your results.

This class focuses primarily on techniques, formulas, herbs, and tools for cleansing the self and the space around us. For a look at cross-cultural purification rituals and the ritual structure, see Purification Rituals in the Ceremonial Magick department. 

There are groups that claim to use Dark (harmful/Adversarial) Magick mostly as retribution for perceived or real smites. The powers claimed range from nuisances to death. In this class we will explore some of the groups that teach the Adversarial Arts. We will look at their philosophies, and attempt to briefly understand their methodologies. The Adversarial Arts are explored in the Dark Arts department at the Grey School of Wizardry, not to condone this behavior, but to become knowledgeable and to protect ourselves or others against attack. The groups that we will explore are known to teach, perform, and use Adversarial Magick, but it is ALWAYS the individual that chooses to engage in these activities, not the group as a whole.

Wards are a type of protection that goes a step beyond shielding. These are permanent or semi-permanent constructs that are put around  a place or object and then left – not needing to be constantly maintained. This class will teach the basics of setting up wards and techniques for psychic wards, sigil & talismans, charms, and warding spells. 

This class will examine the technique of banishing in-depth. You will look at deeper definitions of the term "banishing" and learn some of the different intensities of banishings a Wizard can perform, such as banishing to push something out temporarily, banishing to remove something permanently, and banishing to destroy. This is an advanced class and is recommended for Dark Arts majors.

This class is the third in a course on archetypes.  The material presented assumes a prior familiarity with basic archetypes and their functions within the human psyche.  The prerequisite class, “Archetypes 501: Introduction,” should provide the basic level of familiarity needed.  In this class, we will dive deeper into the specific archetype of the Shadow.  The class will examine the Shadow as a function of the human psyche and its meaning in relation to personality development.  We will also look at representations of the Shadow in everyday life, mythology, and modern media.  In addition, there is a brief word on working with the Shadow archetype in magickal practice. “Archetypes 601: The Collective Unconscious” is not required before taking this class but recommended.

“Archetypes 501: Introduction”

Working with the archetype of the Shadow can be unsettling in some cases.  This is the darker, and often hidden, side of the psyche.  Students entering this class should consider their own emotional and mental fitness before taking on any exploration of the Shadow Self.  

Grimoire for the Apprentice Wizard, by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart. You will need fabric scraps (cotton, muslin, felt, or burlap are recommended), sharp scissors (for cutting cloth), straight pins, thread, and a sewing needle of the right size for your fabric. Depending on how you create your final project, you’ll need other materials, such as buttons, yarn, embroidery floss, herbs, small stones, etc. You will also need a standard or digital camera for sending images of your work. Note: what you don’t need is to be experienced at sewing! This class will include instructions for the person who’s never touched a needle and thread.

This class will focus on the history and histrionics that surround the Ouija ™ Board and all other Talking Boards.  We will explore their origins, uses, and whether or not they are a portal to the world of demons, a simple board game, or something in between.  Students will be asked to define the talking board use for themselves and to discuss ways of protecting themselves while using it.

Completion of or concurrent enrollment in Core Energy Practices 101: Centering, Grounding and the Senses (Psychic Arts, L1) and Core Energy Practices 102: Cleansing, Shielding, and Meditating (Psychic Arts, L1).

Completion of Core Energy Practices (Psychic Arts, L1; archived) also fulfills this prerequisite.­

Shielding

This class, in combination with 799b: Practicum Lab, completes the Dark Arts Major. Only students who have completed all other requirements for a Dark Arts Major will be admitted, and the two classes must be taken together. Here you will consider the ramifications, good and bad, of becoming a Black Wizard, explore the possibilities of this specialty, and develop your own ethical code to guide you in your future work.

This class does not accept magister students, as it is the culmination of the course of studies of the Apprentice Program.

This class, in combination with 799a: Practicum Lecture, completes the Dark Arts Major. Only students who have completed all other requirements for a Dark Arts Major will be admitted, and the two classes must be taken together. Here the student will receive personalized guidance in developing and completing a Final Project that showcases the student’s knowledge and creativity in this field.

This class does not accept magister students, as it is the culmination of the course of studies of the Apprentice Program.