A place to post images, updates, and links for Grey School classes.

Wednesday, August 23, 2006

Get your official Oregon Conclave DVD!

The Conclave DVDs are ready! Each DVD includes 524 images and runs for about 36 minutes.

DVDs are recorded on DVD-R video, playable on computer or on a television screen via a standard DVD player. All DVDs are mailed in a jewel case and inside a padded mailer.

Cost: $10 + $2 for postage & handling

(Anyone outside continental US—please add $1.)

A portion of the proceeds goes back to the Grey School, so don't hesitate to toss in something extra as a donation!

Payment must be in cash (send at your own risk) or post office money order. I’m doing this from my home and don’t have the ability to handle PayPal or credit cards, and I don’t want the risk of dealing with checks.

To order a DVD:

1. Email me (Moonwriter@greyschool.com) with your order request.
2. I will reply to you with a mailing address; you can then send in payment.
3. As soon as I receive your payment, I’ll mail your DVD! I’ll do my best get them mailed out promptly, but if I get a bunch of requests all at one, it may take a week or two.

Tuesday, August 01, 2006

1. Welcome to Oregon Conclave 2006!


We camped at Silver Falls State Park, Oregon, at an elevation of about 1200 feet and in the foothills of Oregon’s Cascade range.

Temperature: upper 90s to 100-ish, but surprisingly comfortable in the shade. Staying hydrated was important!


Check-in was at 4 pm. The next few hours were devoted to setting up camp, having dinner, and introducing ourselves to one another.



2. Thursday, July 20, 2006: The first campfire

As with all of our campfires, the first one was held in our fire circle.


3. Friday, July 21, 2006: The first morning in camp

Looking out over our camp:


Our Lodge Captain, Aaran, concentrates on (or maybe pleads with?) her morning coffee.


Defensor WillowRune on duty! She set up protective wardings around the camp and performed tirelessly as our 'chief of security."


Willow Silverhawk and WillowRune led morning meditations in the fire circle.



4. Friday, July 21, 2006: The hike!

Friday morning found the Silver Falls hikers getting an early start to beat the anticipated 100 degree heat. Hike leaders: Aaran, Lyonscribe, and (a volunteer assistant) Desert Thunderstorm.


Front (l-r): Mary Lee, Desert Thunderstorm, Whiskerwind, Cate. Middle: Mark Summer, Aurora1, Oranstar, Gallie, Leigha, Sagewomin, Aaran (in black), Irene Gingery, Treeotter. Back: Lyonscribe, WaterMusic, Mary (raising hand), Rainmaker, John Gingery. (Moonwriter, alas, had to miss the hike because of a brief home-front crisis that required her to dash into Silverton to find a pay phone. Did we mention that there was no cell coverage and no wireless at Silver Falls? YES!!)

Aaran and Lyonscribe consult the trail map.


On the trail! Before starting out, the hike leaders made sure that hikers were carrying LOTS of water.


Desert Thunderstorm points out a waterfall to Whiskerwind, with Leigha and Lyonscribe looking on.


The big one: South Falls. Note the hikers walking behind the falls.


Yet another lovely falls on the trail.


And yet another hiking picture:


North Falls:


5. Friday, July 21, 2006: Morning classes and morning meditations

Temperatures today reached 108 in Portland, and 100 in camp! We'd later find out that heat records were set this weekend all over Oregon.

After the hikers had set off on their adventure, classes went on back at camp:

CLASS: Introduction to Numerology (Taught by Morgan Felidae, Day Lodge)

CLASS: Divination Practice (Kalla, Day Lodge)

CLASS: Personal Sigils (WillowRune, Day Lodge)

Kalla demonstrates a popular way of keeping cool....

6. Friday, July 21, 2006: Afternoon classes

CLASS: Wandmaking (Rainmaker, Day Lodge). Teacher Rainmaker at left. Not sure who's hiding behind her, but on the right (front to back) are Willow Silverhawk, Mary Lee, and Sagewomin.


Two of the finished products:


CLASS: Charms and Talismans (Moonwriter, Day Lodge)

(l-r) Aaran, Cate, Jason, April, and Willow Silverhawk building their charms.

Rainmaker was put in charge of weatherworking for our Conclave, and given the 100 degree temperatures, it could be argued that she did her job a little too well. In ‘Charms’ class, April created a charm to bring in the west wind (which was currently blowing in from the east). Within half an hour of activating her charm, the wind changed! Not only that, but it brought in a light cloud cover. The heat mitigated somewhat, but the air became very muggy. Interesting!

CLASS: In-Person Core Energy Practices (Moonwriter, campfire ring; no photos)

A dip in one of the local swimming holes (this one below Upper North Falls) was a popular way to beat the 100 degree heat. Here are Watermusic and Lyonscribe, taking advantage of the cool water.

7. Friday, July 21, 2006: Pot luck

On Friday, we shared a communal potluck supper in our own Great Hall (a.k.a. the Silver Falls day lodge). Our Captains provided the elemental decor!


The event had been planned very casually, and despite Moonwriter's fear that we might end up with 30 loaves of bread, it turned out to be a varied and spectacular feast! Leave it to a group of Wizards to somehow just know what to bring!


The Earth group (l-r: Aaran, Earth Prefect Oranstar, Desert Thunderstorm, Irene & John Gingery, Cate, and Kalla):

Air (l-r: Lyonscribe, Watermusic, April, Jason, Mark, WillowRune, and Morgan):


Fire (l-r: Starlion Redman, Leigha, Gallie, Aurora1 (hiding behind Gallie?), Fire Prefect Treeotter, Whiskerwind, and Water Prefect Willow Silverhawk):

Water (l-r: Mary Lee, Air Prefect Sagewomin, Rainmaker, Mary, and James:


Great food, amazing company....


At the Earth table, we found a reversed, "blank" Oreo. Kalla decided to sell it on eBay, to raise money for the Phoenix upgrade! (uh huh....)

8. Friday, July 21, 2006: Evening classes and a ritual

Starlion Redmane (left) and Desert Thunderstorm practice the martial arts.



CLASS: Choosing Your Animal Companion or Familiar (Morgan, her camp site). The class starred Eos, Morgan's pet rat. Here's Eos on James' shoulder, in his and WillowRune's campsite.


Ritual for new beginnings (led by Kalla in our central meadow). We're not sure if it was the Spiral Dance, or Desert's booming voice shouting, "THE RITUAL IS STARTING IN THE MEADOW, AND DON'T FORGET TO BRING YOUR WANDS" that upset our ... special neighbors.

9. Friday, July 21, 2006: Bardic Circle/Sat

Every evening ended with a campfire. This was taken on Friday, at the start of a wonderful Bardic Circle that featured stories, poems, songs, personal reflections, and even a light-saber duel!





No star watching tonight, thanks to April’s charmed cloud cover!

10. Saturday, July 22, 2006: Morning meditations and group photo

WillowRune and Willow Silverhawk led morning meditations each day. The group met in the campfire circle.


After our 9 am morning meeting, we gathered for a group photo. Everyone wore their GSW T-shirt or elemental colors, and many also wore their Conclave color ties.

WaterMusic models the attire for well-dressed Conclavians in the Air group:



Above is a group shot, taken by Cate. This was taken on Saturday morning. Most people are wearing either a GSW T-shirt or a shirt in their elemental group color, along with their color ties. Front: WillowRune (kneeling), Kalla (sitting). Front row: Mark Summer, Willow Silverhawk, Sagewomin, Mary Lee Seal, Rainmaker, TreeOtter. Middle row: Gallie (sitting), Leigha (sitting), Whiskerwind (standing, in red), Aurora1 (standing, in black w/red tie), Aaran. Back: Oranstar, Moonwriter, WaterMusic, Lyonscribe, Desert Thunderstorm, Starlion Redmane, April Degele, Jason Stiers, John Gingery (tall man!), Irene Gingery (shorter woman, standing in front of John), Morgan Felidae, James Tryon.

Missing: Katalan, Ashley, Lili.

11. Saturday, July 22, 2006: Morning classes

CLASS: Herbology 101: Potions (Moonwriter, her campsite)

Jason, Lyonscribe, and Kalla take notes.

Aurora1, Treeotter, Mary Lee, and Sagewomin practice their simples, brews, and infusions.


Ingredients from Moonwriter's formulary:


Aurora1, Treeotter, and Jason try out their potions:


CLASS: Making a Magickal Bag (Whiskerwind, campfire ring). (l-r) Irene Gingery, Treeotter, and Desert Thunderstorm work on their bags.


Our Lodge Captains, Kalla and Aaran, in one of many planning sessions.


CLASS: Runemaking (WillowRune and Morgan, campfire ring). l-r: Whiskerwind, Treeotter, WIllowRune, Cate, Morgan, Aurora1, and Desert Thunderstorm.