October 2026 Grey Matters
Grey Matters
October 2026
Table of Contents
1.) Welcome Your New Apprentice Leaders 2.) Lodge Cup Awarded 3.) Dean's List Award
4.) Oztober Arrives on vGSW
5.) GSW Radio Now Live
6.) Live Classes Are Live
7.) On My Recent Re-Sorting into the Circle of the Standing Stones 8.) How To Get Back To Your Practice
9.) Oztober Astrological Forecast 10.) Oztober Crossword Puzzle
11.) Between the Covers: The Wizard's Walk
12.) From the Wizard's Kitchen
Welcome Your New Apprentice Leaders
By Grey Matters Staff
As Winter Term 2026 began several days ago, we formally welcome a new Scabbard of Apprentice Leaders who have stepped forward to serve their peers and their School. Please show your thanks and support to the following: Captain Asher B.
Vice Captain Jennifer G.
Stones Prefect Katie C.
Waters Prefect Marcus C.
Shadows Prefect Anthony B Meanwhile, our prior Scabbard deserves thanks and recognition as well for their efforts and success during the prior term. Please extend your gratitude to: Captain Asher B.
Vice Captain Anthony B.
Flames Prefect Jennifer G.
Winds Prefect Shawn B.
Waters Prefect Marcus C.
Shadows Prefect Timothy M.
Lodge Cup Awarded
By Grey Matters Staff
At the end of Summer Term, the standings in the competition for the Lodge Cup were as follows: 1st Place: Order of the Dancing Flames
2nd Place: Circle of the Standing Stones
3rd Place: Society of the Four Winds
4th Place: Coterie of the Flowing Waters
5th Place: Assembly of the Silent Shadows The Lodge Cup was therefore awarded to the Order of the Dancing Flames! Go Flames! As a point of additional recognition, the most credits were earned by the Order of the Dancing Flames (112) and the most Merits were earned by the Society of the Four Winds (600).
Dean's List Award
By Master Meighen, Master of Studies
As of the end of the Summer Term on the Autumnal Equinox in the year 2026 CE, the following Apprentices have distinguished themselves through academic excellence and earned Dean's List nominations in at least three of their classes. By the power vested in the office of the Master of Studies, I am pleased and honored to award these deserving individuals the honor of the Dean's List.
Their names are henceforth recorded here so that their achievement may be distinguished in perpetuity.
Please join me in congratulating the following hardworking Wizards for their dedication and commitment to their studies!
Apprentice Samuel M. (4)
Dietary Nutrition 401, Through the Hidden Door—Realm of the Fayerie, Phenology 401: Natural Cycles, Therapies 601: Emotional Freedom Technique
Apprentice Ryan P. (4)
Magickal Zoology 102: Working with Animal Energies, The Mythic Masculine, Dragonlore 101: Europe, History and Culture of the first Peoples of the Americas
Apprentice Jack C. (4)
Herbal Formulary 301, Introduction to Cosmology, Introduction to Container Gardening, Herbcrafting 301: Compresses, Baths, Plasters, etc
Apprentice Tsuki K. (3)
Lost Worlds 301: Intro to Archaeology, Physics 301: Mass, Force and Waves, Wizards of History 101: Archaic
Apprentice Angel R. (3)
Ethics 200: Know Thyself, Spellcraft 200, Magickal Zoology 101
Apprentice Asher B. (3)
So You Want to be a Yellow Wizard?, Magickal Tools, Constructing an Altar
Congratulations, Wizards, and well done!
Oztober Arrives on vGSW
By Headmaster Kingsley
Well met Wizards one and all,
We hope the day finds everyone in good health and high spirits!
Oztober runs from September 30 through October 31, with new activities and returning favourites across campus!
This year introduces Ozmead Hallow, a temporary seasonal area just beyond the Support Garden by the Headmaster’s Tower. Enter through the small door to the north near the Castellan statue. You’ll need Campus Standing 1 or higher to gain access.
Across campus, claim Pumpkin Towers for your Lodge. Each held tower earns a competition point every 15 minutes and remains protected for 30 minutes after a claim. Your Living Lodge Pumpkin needs attention too: feeding is free, with one contribution per hour and up to four daily.
Meanwhile, the Travelling Oztober Trunk is roaming Tutoria. Find it and bring another member of the displayed Lodge to unlock its Wizcoin reward wisps. You can also steal it for your own Lodge for 10 Wizcoins before it’s unlocked, though two members of your Lodge must then touch it to release the rewards!
In Ozmead Hallow, test your wizardry knowledge at the Theban Practice Board, where answering in Theban can earn up to 75 Wizcoins in a full rewarded run. Then visit Spooky Tod for seasonal items at 150 Wizcoins each, or 75 Wizcoins for members of the Lodge leading the School’s overall standings. More stock will arrive throughout the month.
Wear your armguard for Lodge activities and keep your Wizcoin HUD active for purchases and rewards.
There’s more ahead: trick-or-treat pumpkins arrive during Oztober’s final week, and we’ll close the season together at the Halloween Moot on October 31. Gather your Lodge, explore the new Hallow, and make yourselves part of the festivities!
GSW Radio Now Live
By Grey Matters Staff
Bring a little of the Grey School into your day with GSW Radio. You can listen on vGSW or tune in from your mobile device, keeping the sounds of campus with you even when you're away: Listen to GSW Radio.
Live Classes Are . . . Live! By Master Meighen, Master of Studies
This October, and for the rest of Winter Term, the campus is haunted, not by spooks or spectres, but by learning! Yes, Live Classes are officially in session! This term, the full gamut of Core Classes are being offered on campus under the direct and real-time instruction of our Faculty. If you're keen to sign up, it's easy! First, go to the Course Catalog in your Grimoire and sign up for the class on the website. Then, check out the Live Course Guide to find out when and where your class meets. Each class is offered twice in the term, once earlier in the day and once later in the evening - we hope that this will help suit the schedules of as many pupils as possible. Classes are held in Meighen Hall, and the Live Course Guide will tell you which classroom. If you've already taken a Core Class but would like to review the material in a live setting, we think that's wonderful! Simply show up for class - no class registration on the website is necessary. And, lastly, just as a point of clarity - this is not required (at this time, at least). You are welcome to complete your Core Classes through the text-based learning system if you prefer.
Here is this month's calendar of classes at a glance:
On My Recent Re-Sorting into the Circle of the Standing Stones
By Apprentice Katie C.
When I began my studies at the Grey School of Wizardry, I was sorted into the Coterie of the Flowing Waters by order of my sun sign at birth – Scorpio. I have thoroughly enjoyed being a part of the Waters Lodge, and it tied very deeply to my identity. The Waters Lodge motto is “Life, Death, and Transformation,” and I felt that this motto was central to my very core. My whole life has been characterized by periods of transformation. Some were more disruptive than others, but to me, part of living is growing. I embraced the Waters Lodge motto with all of my being. I was very dedicated to the Waters Lodge. I participated in fighting for the Lodge Cup, served as Waters Prefect for a term, and during any Berserker match where the Undines were playing, would spam the vGSW chat with Waters Lodge roots and rah-rah-rahs. While I made friends from other Lodges, the majority of my friends were Waters. I felt settled.
On August 22nd, 2026, Captain Asher Blackwood was having his Ascendency Ritual. I attended as a member of the Waters Lodge. After the ritual, we were shown a booth that contained the Sorting Staff and given the opportunity to take the quiz to see what Lodge best matched our personality. There was discussion, but no one seemed to be interested in taking the quiz. I stepped forward.
It is important to note that this was not a decision born of deep introspection or discomfort with my current Lodge. It was a spur-of-the-moment decision. I found myself stepping forward and saying that I would take the quiz before I had even fully realized that I had made the decision. I honestly did not believe that the Sorting Staff would end up telling me that I belonged in a different Lodge, though I was intrigued by the possibility. I began the quiz. I do not remember what the questions were, or even how many there were. My goal was to answer as quickly and honestly as possible, and to not give myself time to think about each answer. I finished the quiz and was presented with these results:
Flames: 5
Waters: 11
Winds: 11
Stones: 13
I was shocked. I immediately received the message that I was sorted into the Circle of the Standing Stones and given a new armguard and uniform. I accepted them, still in a state of surprise. I was not disappointed, just fully astounded. I had built my entire identity around the Waters Lodge, and the quiz very decisively showed something else. I was removed from the Waters Lodge Discord channel and placed into the Stones Lodge channel. I stayed after the sorting to continue talking with friends but then began getting errors that I was out of uniform and so I went and changed from Waters Blue to Stones Green.
Over the days since my re-sorting, I have dealt with a plethora of different emotions. Surprise was first, and excitement was second. One of my best friends is Captain Asher, and now we are in the same Lodge. There was sadness, as I realized that I was no longer part of the same Lodge as my other best friends. There was a profound sense of loss of identity. I had identified so much with the Waters Lodge for so long, and to be honest, I had not paid much attention to the other Lodges as a whole. I did not even know the Stones Lodge motto. I did not know what it means to be a part of the Stones Lodge. I still am not entirely sure, though I do feel that the excitement is returning. I look forward to finding out what it means for me to be a part of the Stones Lodge.
One feeling that I have not had was a feeling of wrongness. I believe strongly that while the circumstances of your birth have the power to shape you, you are still in control of your own destiny. My birth sign placed me in the Waters Lodge, and I will always have the Waters flowing deep within me, but as I have come to learn more about the Stones Lodge, I believe that I am in the right place. Each of us contains all of the Elements. I would even argue that at different times in our lives, the ratio of the Elements changes. At this time in my life, I do identify strongly with the Stones Lodge motto: “Strength, Integrity, Greatness of Soul.” My life is a constant discovery of who I am. I am Water, I am Wind, I am Fire, I am Stone.
Life, strength, death, integrity, transformation, greatness of soul.
How To Get Back To Your Practice
By Apprentice Kelly D. As the summer 2026 term wound down, I had prepared two presentations: one for a Stones Lodge event and another for the End-Of-Term Moot. These presentations had a theme of renewal and reinvention after a period of stagnation. These presentations are being revised and edited to instead be a series of articles; it is my hope that all the Apprentices of the Grey School may find them interesting and useful to their lives and studies.
"Fall seven times, get up eight"
Japanese proverb
Sometimes we stumble and fall; to error is human, after all. There are many reasons for us to fall off of our life path and into stagnation while our attention is shifted elsewhere, among them being unforeseen challenges like a sudden family emergency, mental health trials like depression, or even something fun but frivolous replacing our dedicated work, among many other things. So with this in mind, how do you reset yourself and bring your energies back into alignment with your values? How do you build yourself back up once you’ve already lost momentum? I think, simply, the answer is that you need to decide this is something you will do. Once you make the decision, all else is secondary. I will attempt to explain my experiences trying to answer the remaining questions and what I’ve chosen to do for myself. I hope my blueprint will be of help to others as well.
"The best time to have planted a tree was 30 years ago, the next best time is now."
Modern anglophone proverb
So when it comes to forming good habits, it is always better to have momentum on your side. It is better to have a strong journaling practice, to write the tasks you intend to do the next day before you go to bed, and meditate each morning when you wake up. Sometimes really getting the benefits of doing the right thing will require repetition and you won't feel the changes right away, but that doesn't mean they aren't worth starting or doing. Doing the things we know are good for us, assuming our information is accurate, will be good for us. This is not a complicated or controversial thing to say, but that doesn't mean that there won't be missed days, days where we do it tired and sloppily, days where we wake up in the middle of night in a jolt and do it hastily because we forgot. But you should do it, whatever 'it' is for you. Find something you think will be good for you and your practice and start doing it, you'll be glad you did.
The next lesson that comes to mind is that you need to make space for your aspirations. That is to say, if you want your life to look a certain way, you need to make changes to accommodate that. One thing I did for myself is, after years of wanting it, I finally got an ‘L’ desk that is a desk that curves like an uppercase ‘L’ . This was replacing a pretty basic writing desk I was using for a long time. This didn’t work for me because it didn’t have any way to pull back wires when using it so I had to bend them a lot to work, meaning that wires were getting bent and harder to use, eventually forcing me to replace them. I also had no room to work on my journaling or other analogue writing hobbies like calligraphy, collecting and using fountain pens, and otherwise giving me space to upkeep my journaling practice. While I will not tell everyone that spending a lot of money is good for it’s own sake, I found an improvement in my workflow by doing this because I thought about what I wanted to do, and what that lifestyle actually looked like. Making room to actually write made it easier to write. I made sure I had a comfortable pen to use as my everyday ‘driver. I made sure to have a desk lamp.
The next lesson is about auditing your time. Put pretty simply, it’s very easy to go through the motions of life without thinking a lot about where your time is going. Even if you’re relatively good about scheduling your life around other people (social commitments, jobs, familial obligations) you may find it to be a lot harder to actually keep track of your own time. Consider this: do you eat your meals at the same times every day? Do you go to sleep and wake up at the same time? How about writing in your journal, making a to-do list, or any of the many other daily tasks? These things do add up, and by moving your attention to them you can control where your time goes and make positive changes in your life. My trick was to simply add tasks in 30-minute intervals starting from when I go to sleep. So I make a task list before bed, and journal before that, and make my bed up for sleep before that, and shower before that. I’m also planning and doing a similar thing in the mornings as I have time unassigned before I eat breakfast. I think there’s a lot I can be doing but, overall, taking this blocking method can do a lot to make things flow more naturally. This process is long and ongoing, but the idea is that you can build good habits over time. This method has been working well for me and I will keep updating it so I can accomplish more. One thing I am working on is dedicating time to work on my coursework at the school alone, on my own, though I’ve been able to get a lot done by focusing around group activities on vGSW during the previous term. As of this writing, I am still finding my footing in the Winter Term, and perhaps you are too. Take heart that it does get easier, but it is important to give your focused attention to building a grounded and earnest approach to your lives and studies.
Oztober 2026 Astrological Forecast
By Grey Matters Staff
This is a month of reflection, reconsideration, and shifting power dynamics, with both Venus and Mercury moving retrograde and Scorpio energy steadily gathering strength. Rather than rushing forward, October asks us to look beneath the surface, revisit unfinished business, and pay closer attention to what our choices reveal about our deeper priorities.
The first major turning point arrives on October 3, when Venus stations retrograde in Scorpio. Continuing until November 14, this cycle places relationships, trust, money, intimacy, and personal values under intense scrutiny. Old attractions, unresolved relationship patterns, financial concerns, or emotional attachments may reappear, not necessarily to be revived, but to be understood more clearly.
A gentler pause comes with the New Moon in Libra on October 10. Libra favors balance, diplomacy, and careful consideration, making this lunation a useful moment for sorting through competing priorities, needs, and wants.
Around October 15 or 16, Pluto stations direct in Aquarius after roughly five months of retrograde motion. The change may be subtle at first, but themes involving control, collective change, technology, institutions, and long-term transformation can begin moving forward again. Situations that have felt stuck may slowly regain momentum, particularly where fear or resistance has been operating behind the scenes.
The atmosphere deepens considerably on October 23, when the Sun enters Scorpio. With Scorpio season underway, attention turns toward concentration, strategy, emotional honesty, and transformation. This is a time for examining motives, strengthening boundaries, and deciding what deserves ongoing investment.
October 24 becomes one of the month's most astrologically crowded days. Mercury stations retrograde in Scorpio, adding communication delays, misunderstandings, technical frustrations, and travel complications to an already reflective landscape. Because Scorpio is associated with secrets and hidden information, conversations may also return to topics that were previously taboo or only partially understood. Yet, the same day also brings a Venus cazimi, an exact alignment between Venus and the Sun. Traditionally viewed as a moment of clarity within the Venus retrograde cycle, this can provide a brief window for recognizing what matters most in relationships, finances, and personal values.
The month reaches a dramatic peak with the Full Moon in Taurus on October 26. Taurus seeks stability, security, comfort, and tangible results, while the Scorpio Sun pushes toward change and emotional intensity. With Pluto adding pressure to the configuration, financial matters, questions of control, or conflicts over priorities may erupt. Something that has been developing quietly and in the background could finally become impossible to overlook or ignore any longer.
Overall, October 2026 is less about dramatic forward motion than meaningful reassessment. By the end of the month, some situations may feel more complicated than they did at the beginning, but they may also be considerably more honest.
Oztober Crossword Puzzle
By Grey Matters Staff
Complete this month's crossword at GSW Oztober Crossword Puzzle - Crossword Labs Or download a PDF:
Beneath the Covers: The Wizard's Walk by Nicholas Kingsley
By Grey Matters Staff
The Wizard's Walk, authored by Nicholas Kingsley, has the distinction of being the first book published by GSW Press as part of its mission to bring the wisdom of Wizardry into the modern era through a diverse array of publications. This book serves a critical role in that mission by bringing real, tangible, and actionable knowledge of Wizards and Wizardry into a single volume and placing it in the hands of the reading public. Beyond the obvious task of imparting knowledge, The Wizard's Walk serves a more subtle role of announcing to the world that Wizards are real and that we have something valuable to contribute. In that sense, it echoes the clarion call issued by the Grimoire for the Apprentice Wizard over twenty years ago, summoning those with the makings of Wizards in them to the path of wisdom.
Adeptly combining theory with practice and mingling attitude with skill, The Wizard's Walk introduces the reader to Wizards and their trade, what it means to be an Apprentice Wizard, and how to think, act, and walk as a Wizard in the world today. The Three Rules of Wizardry, the Three Models of Magick, and more are all introduced and explained. In fact, never before have these essential aspects of Wizardry been so conveniently condensed into one place and explicated so plainly. While of broader interest and appeal to those who may yet enter into the Path of Apprenticeship, those already enrolled at GSW will also find great value in this text. While no replacement for the full curriculum of the Grey School, it does make an excellent reference and guidebook full of helpful practices, insights, and explanations that is quickly and easily referred to. This is undoubtedly a book that deserves the attention of every current and aspiring Wizard!
The Wizard's Walk is available now on Amazon.
From the Wizard's Kitchen
By Grey Matters Staff
As Autumn is officially upon us, the time will soon be right to make and enjoy some delicious mulled cider! Join us in the Wizard's Kitchen and conjure up a batch for yourself.
Ingredients
8 cups apple cider
2 cinnamon sticks
6 whole cloves
4 whole allspice berries
2 star anise pods
1 orange, sliced
Pinch of ground nutmeg
Directions
Add cider, spices, orange slices, and nutmeg to a large saucepan.
Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat (do not boil).
Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer 20–30 minutes.
Strain out spices and orange slices.
Serve warm.
Optional Extras
To add some tartness to the flavor, toss in some cranberries.
While mulled cider is traditionally nonalcoholic, you can add in a splash of bourbon, rum, or brandy at the end if desired.
The star anise has a licorice flavor; you can add less or omit it altogether if you don't care for that.
The Magick of Cooking
If you keep in mind the Resonance Model of Magick, you can understand how the ingredients aren't just flavorful spices - they are reagents with their own correspondences and resonances that you are assembling for a purpose. You could, almost, say it's a spell in its own right!
The various spices, and the orange, are associated with prosperity, success, money, luck, purification, and opening new opportunities. While they simmer, and their scent is filling your space, why not tap into that intentionally and make a real spell out of it? Consider taking a little pinch of each spice and adding it to a small bag - like the small cotton drawstring bags sold as reusable tea bags - that can be tucked into your wallet or purse, bringing those helpful resonances into contact with your money. Or, perhaps, it might be an opportune time to work on balancing your checkbook or some other financial tasks while you sip on your cider and let their resonances build a field that supports your endeavors. If you've been struggling with money and feeling the stress, carefully take the pot off the stove and carry it around your home, wafting the steam carrying the smell and essence of the reagents - I mean, ingredients - thoroughly around the place to let their purifying aspects do their jobs. Get the Psychological Model involved by adding some visualizations, affirmations, or little chants or litanies to the process. Clean out the bad feelings and usher in some new opportunities for prosperity!
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