August 2025 Grey Matters
- Grey School of Wizardry
- Aug 1
- 8 min read
Updated: Aug 19
Grey Matters
August 2025
Table of Contents
1.) GSW Presents: A Midsummer's Night's Dream
2.) GSW Donation Drive
3.) The Rod of the Druid
4.) August 2025 Astrological Forecast
5.) GSW Shakespeare Crossword
GSW Presents: A Midsummer's Night's Dream By Grey Matters Staff Well met everyone, We hope that the day finds you in good health and high spirits!
July 30th marked GSWs first foray into the world of Shakespeare with Apprentice Leadership's Midsummer Night's Dream taking place on vGSW! If you were unable to attend the event, the livestream was recorded and you can access it at https://www.greyschool.org/videos?wix-vod-video-id=085b54ff8df94d5ebe7c4f957a4cef3a&wix-vod-comp-id=comp-k3gbbox8
GSW Donation Drive
By Headmaster Nicholas Kingsley
Dear Friends, Pupils, and Supporters of The Grey School of Wizardry, As always I hope that the day finds everyone in good health and high spirits!
I'm proud to highlight that the Grey School of Wizardry has for the past two decades stood as a place where rigorous study, curiosity, and timeless traditions meet to form the next generation of wizards. Sustaining that vision takes more than passion alone. As a nonprofit university, we rely on the generosity of those who believe in this work to ensure that our programs remain strong and accessible to all who seek them.
As we look toward the remainder of 2025, we are reaching out to our community with a simple yet impactful request for this years donation drive: if everyone receiving this message contributed just $25, we would have the resources needed to maintain and strengthen our programs for the entire year ahead. This single act of support from each friend of the school would secure scholarships, sustain our faculty, advance our virtual and on-campus offerings, and expand opportunities for apprentices and magisters alike.
Your gift today will directly fund the continuation of this work. By joining together in this way, we can ensure that wizardly education remains a living, vibrant discipline, grounded in scholarship and accessible to all who feel called to it.
In recognition of extraordinary generosity, donors contributing $1,000 or more will be personally contacted for their address, as we wish to present them with a decorative Grey School of Wizardry sword as a token of our gratitude.
Please consider making your contribution now:
With gratitude for your continued belief in our mission,
Headmaster Nicholas Kingsley ᛞ
The Rod of the Druid – Slat an draoichta
By Journeyman Dega the Black and Grey
“Magic was the supreme science because it raised its adepts out of the ordinary levels of humanity to a close relationship with the gods and creative powers. Nor was it a science to be had for the asking, ‘for many were the wand-bearers and few the chosen'” – W. Y. Evans Wentz
Introduction
In a previous article, this researcher detailed magic used by the Bard class, which may have represented some of the final remnants of Druidic magic to survive (Minatani, 2024). Scholar Peter Berresford Ellis noted texts that described a Druidic wand—the slat an draoichta (rod of the Druid)—which was not only a symbol of office, but also a tool used in magic (Ellis, 1994, p. 249). Today, magickal practitioners around the world embrace the wand as a primary tool—an extension of one’s body—employed in divination and prophecy (Zell-Ravenheart, 2004, pp. 103–104). But what was the origin of the slat an draoichta? In this article, this researcher attempts to explore its roots from a Celtic perspective.
The Legend of Cormac Mac Airt, the High King of Ireland
Touted scholar Lewis Spence, in his book The Magic Arts in Celtic Britain, described how King Cormac was lured by magick into the “Paradise of gods”:
“As Cormac was walking in the plain adjacent to his palace he observed a young man who held in his hand a wonderful branch which had nine golden apples depending from it. When the youth shook this branch, the apples, beating against each other, made sweet and mystic music, so that he who heard it straightway forgot his sorrow and care. It had also the property of lulling folk into a magical oblivion” (Spence, 1945, pp. 28–29).
According to Spence, Cormac offered to buy the branch from the young man, but the youth countered by demanding Cormac’s wife and young son in exchange. When the wife and son learned of the bargain, Cormac used the branch to dispel their concern, and they left willingly with the stranger. After about a year, Cormac longed to see his family and set out to find them. A magickal mist then enveloped him and carried him to the home of Manannán mac Lir, the sea god and ruler of the Otherworld.
After reuniting with his wife and son, they fell asleep, only to awaken back at their palace in Tara, accompanied by the silver branch and other magickal items (Spence, 1945, p. 29). The branch, often called the Silver Bough, became a recurring motif in Celtic myth and legend as a powerful and symbolic item.
The Druidic Wand
According to Spence, “The magic wand wielded by Irish Druids is alluded to frequently in Celtic legend” (Spence, Druids: Their Origins and History, 1949, p. 147). He explained that the wand was typically crafted from yew wood and sometimes took the symbolic form of a crescent-shaped branch adorned with tinkling bells—likely an imitation of the Silver Bough, the magickal apple-branch associated with Manannán mac Lir (Spence, 1949, p. 148).
Whether due to a Druid’s status or true magic, the mere presence of a Druid holding a wand “had the property of causing a great peace to descend even in the midst of battle” (Spence, 1949, p. 148). Supporting this claim, scholar Philip Freeman cited the ancient writer Posidonius, offering additional context:
“All public and private—or as we would say, criminal and civil—cases were brought to the Druids for settlement. The Gauls clearly believed the Druids were a class set apart and genuinely admired their special devotion to justice and honorable behavior. They could even step between warring armies and force hostile tribes to lay down their arms. Given the hot-blooded nature of Gaulish warriors, that was indeed a sign of respect” (Freeman, 2006, p. 159).
Freeman further noted that the Druids formed a priesthood that transcended tribal boundaries, offering both justice and, at times, external conflict with rival tribal authorities (Freeman, 2006, p. 164). Thus, the power of the Druidic wand coincided with the authority and reputation of the Druid—respected throughout Celtic lands.
Returning to the materials used to create Druidic wands, Spence noted that the choice of wood varied by region (Spence, 1949, p. 148):
In Gaul, oak was used
In Ireland, hawthorn, rowan, and yew
In Wales, a mysterious wood known as Mathonwy
In this researcher’s own experience, he once received a Hazel wand as a gift for a special occasion. For the one who bestowed it—a Druid—Hazel held personal significance. Thus, regardless of the specific woods used by ancient Druids, it is evident that the wand’s meaning could be shaped by individual and regional symbolism.
Modern Interpretations and Uses of Wands
Today, wands are used in many domains—stage magic, orchestral conducting, divination, and water-witching, to name a few. Many practitioners associate the wand with divine wisdom (Zell-Ravenheart, 2004, p. 104). When considered as an Elemental tool, opinions vary: some traditions associate the wand with Air, while others, such as Ceremonial Magick, link it to Fire (Zell-Ravenheart, 2004).
According to Adeptus Oberon Zell-Ravenheart:
“To a magician, his wand is an extension of himself—a measure of his ability, wisdom, and imagination… In ritual, the wand serves to unite our body, mind, and soul with that of universal consciousness to bring into manifestation our magickal desires” (Zell-Ravenheart, 2004, p. 104).
Although it is unclear whether ancient Druids conceptualized the wand in this same metaphysical way, others certainly perceived a unification within the Druid—the merging of deep knowledge, skill, and leadership. This presence may have been as magickal as the wand itself.
Conclusion
While further research is needed to trace the slat an draoichta through broader Celtic traditions, this researcher found that the Rod of the Druid was deeply linked to leadership, justice, and honorable behavior—qualities rarely found in abundance at the time (Freeman, 2006). The Druid, Vate, or Bard who carried the Silver Bough garnered respect not only because of their elevated status, but also because their training was rigorous, prolonged, and transformative. This reverence was not lost on the Celtic peoples, who turned to Druids in times of conflict, uncertainty, and legal need.
Works Cited
Ellis, P. B. (1994). The Druids. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.
Evans-Wentz, W. (1911). The Fairy Faith in Celtic Countries. New York: University Books.
Freeman, P. (2006). The Philosopher and the Druids. New York: Simon & Schuster.
Minatani, C. (2024, Beltane). The Magic of the Bard: Seekers of Wisdom, Learning, and Magic. Oran Mor: The Celtic E-Zine of the New Order of Druids, pp. 6-11.
Spence, L. (1945). The Magic Arts in Celtic Britan. London: Rider & Company.
Spence, L. (1949). Druids: Their Origins and History. London: Rider & Company.
Zell-Ravenheart, O. (2004). Grimoire for the Apprentice Wizard. Franklin Lakes: Career Press.
August 2025 Astrological Forecast
By Grey Matters Staff Welcome to August, the roaring heart of Leo season, where the sun blazes high and the cosmic weather keeps us on our toes. We’ve made it through July’s cosmic rollercoaster. Uranus sparked chaos with its shift into Gemini, and Saturn, Neptune, Chiron, and Mercury all turned retrograde in fire signs, leaving us reeling. But take a breath, friends: August offers a little celestial reprieve.
On August 6, Mars, our cosmic warrior and bringer of willpower, slips into Libra’s diplomatic court. The energy shifts from conquest to compromise. If your love life’s been teetering, now is the moment to lay it bare. Who’s putting in the effort, and who’s skating by? Mars in Libra wants balance, but it isn’t afraid to demand it.
And while Mercury spends most of the month either retrograde or climbing out of its post-shadow fog in the sign of Leo, don’t panic. Yes, communication may be fumbled or fiery, but Leo rules the heart and Libra governs grace. Speak your truth with courage and kindness, and you just might find your relationships leveling up or finding their natural end with dignity.
Then comes the mystical crescendo: the Lion’s Gate Portal peaks on August 8. Ancient Egyptians celebrated this alignment between Sirius and Earth as the true new year, a time of resurrection, renewal, and cosmic clarity. Leo’s solar glow reminds us of our inner child, our creativity, our playfulness. So pause. Reflect. Ask what your younger self needs now, and what future self is calling you forward.
Just one day later, on August 9, the full moon beams bright in Aquarius, the water bearer. This lunation asks whether you are living as a solo act or showing up for your community. It’s a call to integrate, not isolate.
That same day, Uranus, co-ruler of Aquarius, forms a grand Air Trine with Mars and Pluto, a configuration that practically screams breakthrough. Think lightning bolt to the soul. If the gods are whispering in your ear, as poet Jim Harrison once said, this is the day to listen close. Or shout back.
Mercury stations direct on August 11, but we’re not out of the woods just yet. Until August 25, we’re wading through the planet’s post-retrograde shadow. Be patient. Double-check your messages. And maybe don’t sign any major contracts until the fog lifts.
Then, on August 22, the sun shifts into Virgo, trading Leo’s spotlight for Virgo’s spreadsheet. This is your invitation to get grounded. Trim what no longer serves. Align your habits with your healing. Virgo season is about getting your act together, not for perfection, but for purpose.
Hot on its heels, the Virgo new moon rises on August 23 at a potent, rare 0°, signaling a cosmic clean slate. But don’t rush into your intentions just yet. This new moon makes a tense square with Uranus, the wild card of the zodiac. Expect disruption, innovation, and some serious curveballs. Give your wishes a few days to settle before setting them in stone.
Finally, on August 25, Venus trades Cancer’s comfy homebody energy for Leo’s velvet stage. Think less nesting, more spotlight. It’s a glow-up moment, from blankets to ballroom, Netflix to nightclub. Venus in Leo is about heart, boldness, and living out loud. Don’t whisper what you feel. Declare it. Love big. Be seen.
So whether you’re howling at the moon or dancing through the fire, August invites you to roar, reflect, reset, and remember: you were born to shine.
Good luck out there!
GSW Shakespeare Crossword
By Grey Matters Staff
Complete the crossword online at https://crosswordlabs.com/view/gsw-shakespeare-crossword
Last month's crossword solution:
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