The
Augur
Your Community Guide to The Pagan Press
~Front Page~
"Why To Avoid
'Grimoire for the Apprentice Wizard', or anything from Oberon Zell-Ravenheart"
by Azzerac
I could make a career out of what is wrong this book, this man, and his teachings!
...so I will!
There is so much that is unethical, immaterial, false, blatant, and exaggerated, in this folio of fluff, that it boggles the mind as to finding a starting-point! Let's just take it page-by-page, shall we?
...but First, a word from the Zells, themselves!
"You don't wanna' put it on your
dick! It got little glitter-bits in it!"
~Morning-Glory Zell
Now, let's...
~Read along with Azzerac~
Don't Believe me? Google books will show you!
Flyleaves
Page 1
The Cover: Even the cover seems disdainful of the content, as, before getting a chance to delve too deeply, the cover is fleeing the scene of the crime! Peeled and falling apart, the very pages are going their separate ways. I hope I can still find all of them, to complete this dissertation. "New Page" publishers seem as new on the scene as Bookbinding is to their printing providers!
Flyleaves:
"Acclaim for The Author"~
I almost lost complete respect for Anodea Judith (author of "Wheels of Life"), after reading her endorsement of this motley collection of mish-mashed doggerel. If it weren't for the fact that her Chakra Research is so tight that it squeaks, I would have disposed of her writings as a case of guilt by association. The others are either unknowns, fluff-peddlers, or authors under the same banner of "New Page" Publishing. It seems that even Llewellyn Publications saw well enough (if just for this moment) to steer clear of this silliness. At least Ms Judith knew well-enough not to get wrapped-up in the "Grey Council" nonsense!
"Title Page"~
I defy anyone to find a classical symbol of the occult that they DIDN'T force into this glyph! Symbols of cultures that never met, through symbols of cultures that fought tooth-and-nail with each other: It's in there! The only thing it doesn't seem to have is a POINT! Also, I think it's missing a .... Nope. There it is. You can't tell what's been wrapped-around what without coloring it in.
Grab those crayons: I know this text isn't worth much beyond a coloring book!
A glyph, sigil, and circle is supposed to mean something. This has so much random sentiment as to defy even the curious from caring for too long. Maybe, if you did the same drugs they did when they came up with it, perhaps you could understand what it's supposed to mean.
Maybe it's just their Product Logo? (Is there a "Grey Council LLC"?)
Forward~
Raymond Buckland's reputation within the community took a serious blow, after writing about gypsy incest as a religious tenant. His association with this text did nothing to improve it. After opening with what turns out to be the first of numerous J. K. Rowling references (Zell states himself to be the inspiration for Albus Dumbledore (tm) ), he begins to state fame & duration of the Grey Council's practice, and not what they are actually capable of, nor culpable for. (More on the Grey Council as this dissertation unfolds).
Preface~
Here is where we get to the Hook. Romanticize the occult, "Hook 'em while they're Young"! It worked for the cigarette companies, and it should work here. This is a book geared for young boys, with all the social pressures, none of the rights, and with more than a small amount of pocket-change to afford his drivel. Why NOT make them his target audience? I understand the desire to apprentice. I teach free classes, but only to those old enough for the training. As you will see, later on, his information is not only misleading, but dangerous & illegal.
Acknowledgements~
I would rather chew my own NAME off than have it printed between (what's left of) these covers! Word has come down through the rumor mill (READ: Gossip) that the authors of articles to this text tried to distance themselves from Zell & his work, after finally seeing the finished product. I'm sure it sounded like a good idea at the time. "All the cool kids were doing it". Who wouldn't want to start a center-point for their Ideology to grow from? A circle of the wise would be great! If this little rumor is true, I wouldn't blame them!
The problem is, they're all Authors and Artists. It appears to be all they are.
When this book looked
like a dead albatross around the necks of their careers, who could blame them
for running?
As this book gains momentum (as any piece of garbage dropped from a height is
want to do), Zell's media presence effected their own. Now, I can't remember a
copy of "PanGaia" that didn't have the cover plastered with a Zell-Zealot! Point
of Note: This trend began shortly after Zell invited the publishers into the
"Grey Council". Can we say "Buying Fame", Folks? Whatever happened to earning it
on your merits?
More to come
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