Seat of Wisdom Seminary Courses
Courses
"And all this vegetable world appeared on my left foot, as a bright sandal, formed immortal of precious stones and gold. I stooped down and bound it on to walk forward through eternity."--William Blake
The Premise
Our goal is for these courses to cover well the three areas The Avalonian Catholic Church believes are crucial: 1) information on how to build a Spirit-filled ministry (the real reason for it all!), 2) the theory and practice of magical Christianity, and 3) the scientific theories, hypotheses, and hard data to support the same.
We thus work to instill in our seminarians a firm understanding of the vital need to embrace a "middle pillar" between knowledge of the physical accroutrements of this Work (handling money, low magic, etc.) and the spiritual side (which can lead to hubris, lack of compassion, and even poor physical health if overemphasized).
Too much material may keep people from enrolling or getting discouraged. Even clergy of churches much more "regular" than us have found that a lack of knowledge brings many problems, including lawsuits. Since our church covers so much ground and might prove quite controversial, our clergy must be quite knowledgable! This does not mean that we have simply selected a ton of reading material to test someone's mettle, however. We first decided what needs to be known in each subject area, and then confidently selected materials that best covered it well enough for the student to be able to understand it well and apply it with confidence.
Using out-of-print resources can be a quest for students, and if a work is still a good resource, it should be used. This also encourages environmental protection.
Theoretical knowledge can be tested even over the phone or Webcam, but practical knowledge must also be tested, and this will result in some travel and thus extra cost. We decided it would be best to have only a few major tests, both to keep the student's cost down, and because much of the material in different courses overlaps.
There are required reading materials that each student must procure. Some of these are published books; some are on the Internet. As much of the required wisdom is scattered in many tomes, it seems that new works will eventually need to be written, which will, of course, take some time. As a result, training currently is highly individualized. This can actually provide great benefits to both teacher and student. ;)
Some of these courses (or edited versions) will be made available to all interested individuals, whether members of our tradition or not.
We have created a Web database or virtual library so that students can learn at an accelerated pace and to actually see and hear information crucial to their development in a multimedia environment. We plan to add online training yet this year in the form of live Webcasts of classes.
For further info, please contact The Avalonian Catholic Church headquarters.
Fiat Lux!
Track 1 Templars of Truth (laity)
Course 100 The Nature of Truth
Books
The Secret of Crete by Hans Georg Wunderlich
Course 101 Entering the Mists: The Ancient Heritage of Avalon
Track 2 Lectio Divina: Reading the Signs (Minor Orders)
Course 201 The Divine Androgyne: The Duality of Deity
Covers the Elohim, Yaweh's Asherah, the Holy Spirit as Divine Feminine, Christ-Sophia, Mariology and Mariolatry, etc.
1) Compare and contrast Sophia, Goddess of Wisdom by Caitlin? Matthews with Sophia-Maria: A Holistic Vision of Creation by Fr. Thomas Schipflinger. 2) relevant sections of The Two and the One by Mircea Eliade ...
Course 202 Christian Astrology
Covers the theory of astronomical aspects being the intended references in the book of Revelation of St. John, the proper role of astrology, its use and fostering by popes, the scientific evidence for its efficacy. Discussion of the Mandaean view of the planetary archons as a possible framework for using astrology to avoid and overcome negative influences. The astronomical orientations and alignments of Christian churches and their meaning.
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Course 203 Occult Scriptural Exegesis (including Numerology)
1) Joseph McCabe's books (available online) 2) Joseph Wheless' books (available online) 3) relevant readings from Professor Hilton Hotema's work ...info on noncanonical references in canonical saints' works... ...noncanonical scripture readings & comparisons to canonical ones... ...overview of metaphysical exegesis: Christian Scientist, Unity, occult lodges, Kabbalistic methods, etc. ... ...comparative exegesis: similarity of nonChristian scripture with Christian versions... ...arguments for interpreting some passages of scripture literally...
Course 204 The Magic of the Mass
1) The Science of the Sacraments by +C.W. Leadbeater 2) readings about magical aspects of the Avalonian Mass, including article on the Round Caim of the A.C.C. by +Ryner 3) readings about other liturges: Easter, preTridentine, adoption of Gnostic liturgical practices 4) chapters dealing with astral temples and working within them in the Rev. Paul Beyerl's A Wiccan Bardo 5) Biblical proof of the Real Presence in the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar 6) readings about miraculous transformations: bleeding Hosts, stigmatized priests, etc.
Course 205 Wealful Wights: Angelology
1) The Fairy-Faith in Celtic Countries by Walter Yeeling Evans Wentz (available online) 2) The Secret Commonwealth of Elves, Fauns and Fairies by Robert Kirk (available online) 3) Cosmic Trigger: The Final Secret of the Illuminati by Robert Anton Wilson ...works on the more "traditional", "celestial" angels...
Course 206 St. Michael's Sword: Exorcism, Sacred and Profane
Course 207 Gnostic Church History (includes Women and the Church)
1) the problem of Paul 2) the first Christians: The Essenes 3) the power of the priestesses in the Church (incl. Popesses) Read The Yellow Cross by Rene Weiss ...
Course 208 Apocatastasis: Eschatology
Comparisons of Christian visions of the end times with preChristian versions. Prophecies of the end of the world by many different preChristian cultures worldwide and the almost identical dating which is very soon.
1) Hopi prophecies 2) Mayan calendar 3) Christian prophecies, including the Revelation of St. John, St. Malachy, and Nostradamus
Oral Examination
Track 3 Christ My Druid: Shamanic Christianity (Diaconates)
Course 300 The Third Heaven: Altered States of Consciousness
1) Fire in the Head: Shamanism and the Celtic Spirit by Tom Cowan 2) Shamanism and the Mystery Lines: Ley Lines, Spirit Paths, Shape-Shifting & Out-of-Body Travel by Paul Devereaux 3) Taliesin by John Matthews 4) The Underworld Initiation: A Journey Towards Psychic Transformation by R.J. Stewart 5) Patterns in Magical Christianity by Nicholas Whitehead ...Jewish hekhalot and merkabah work... ...the Interior Castle of St. Theresa... ...the Dark Night of the Soul of St. John of the Cross... ...health benefits of meditation... practical experience with the occasional aid of a mind machine
Course 301 The Music of the Spheres (the magic of sound)
"Music is a hearing art." -- Dave Frank, jazz pianist from Berklee School of Music
1) Where Is Saint George? by Bob Stewart 2) Music, Mysticism and Magic: A Sourcebook by Joscelyn Godwin 3) relevant sections of The Music of Scotland by John Purser 4) relevant section of Secrets in the Fields: The Science and Mysticism of Crop Circles by Freddy Silva 5) relevant material on Celtic church chant, including the music album by Kilmartin Trust, Sarum Rite CD, Incholm Psalter CD 6) Celtic & Native American Singing Stones: Singing Stones CD from Hearts of Space (Stearns/Sunsinger) 7) Modern Electro-Ambient Music: Vidna Obmana 8) info on Tibetan overtone chanting and how it is used ritually 9) Practicum: site reading test, perform 3 memorized liturgical chants, perform 3 liturgical chants from score, preparing/directing music for a liturgy utilizing prerecorded material and without.
Course 302 Magical Herbalism, Theoretical and Practical
1) The Secret Life of Plants by Peter Tompkins and Christopher Bird 2) The Goddess Obscured by Pamela Berger 3) The Master Book of Herbalism by Paul Beyerl 4) Wylundt's Book of Incense: A Magical Primer by Steven R. Smith healing with herbs
Course 303 Christian and Pagan Idolatry
Description: Includes greenfolk, mythical beasts, Pagan deities=Christian saints, human sacrifice, labyrinths, Mary, Templar-Jewish-Moslem charges, the cult of courtly love.
1) The Mysteries of Chartres Cathedral by Louis Charpentier 2) Gargoyles & Grotesques: Paganism in the Medieval Church by Ronald Sheridan & Ann Ross 3) Green Man: Archetypes of Our Oneness with the Earth by William Anderson, photographer Clive Hicks 4) Le Mystere des Cathedrales by Fulcanelli 5) ...unicorn book... 6) The Gothic Idol: Ideology and Image-Making in Medieval Art by Michael Camille 7) The Stripping of the Altars by ... 8) Images of Lust: Sexual Carvings on Medieval Churches by Anthony Weir and James Jerman --a ridiculous work, but one should be familiar with the thesis and arguments against it!
Websites
Sun Disc to Crucifix Men Homepage for above. The Black Men of Biddle Saracen (Moorish) masons building Gothic churches in England! Christ Church Books on Gargoyles and Grotesques Dragon's Hoard - Sheela-na-Gigs Erotic Traveler - Kilpeck Sheela-na-Gig Ireland and the Phallic Continuum At the Edge archive: Potency and sin phallic-art-GB.txt MonasCath Art & Culture Ruta de la Plata Caceres During research for this project I came across an interesting reference to stone phalli concealed within altars of pre mid Triple J - The Breakfast Show | Who's On When
Course 304 The Tree of Knowledge: The Sacred Use of Entheogens
1) The Road to Eleusis by various authors 2) ...
Course 305 Freeing the Waters: Working with Terrestrial Tellurics
Practical work with dowsing, ley lines, energy hotspots, etc.
1) Pyramid Power by Max Toth and Greg Nielsen 2) Secrets in the Fields: The Science and Mysticism of Crop Circles by Freddy Silva 3) Shamanism and the Mystery Lines: Ley Lines, Spirit Paths, Shape-Shifting & Out-of-body Travel by Paul Devereux ...
Track 4 "Thou Art a Priest Forever After the Order of Melchizedek" (Priestly)
Course 400 "Thou Eateth with Sinners": Reaching Out to the Marginalized and Disenfranchised Societies
Covers counseling, with an emphasis on special subcultures such as the goth, the financially destitute and Neopagan and those with special needs, such as addicts.
1) Dawning of the Pagan Moon: Understanding the Roots, Characteristics, and Influences of Western Paganism by David Burnett --some really questionable statements, but good general intro with some good ideas for outreach ministry. 2) Something in the Blood: The Underground World of Today's Vampires by Jeff Guinn with Andy Grieser ...
Course 401 The High Priest's Breastplate and the New Jerusalem: The Master Mason Wields the Stones
Covers the use of the energies of different stones for aiding physical healing, meditation, and building actual church edifices.
?1) Sacred Geometry: Symbolism and Purpose in Religious Structures by Nigel Pennick 2) Love Is in the Stones by Melody 3) ...
Course 402 Winding (Breathing) the Word: Homiletics
Course 403 Moving the Light: Ceremonial
with a special emphasis on the use of old liturgies (Tridentine, Sarum, Celtic) and techniques
Course 404 Constructing a Gothic Chapel on a Shoestring Budget
Prelimary considerations, discount and free sources of liturgical goods, home chapels, renting a worship space
1) eBay basics 2) thrift stores 3) closing churches 4) vestment design and construction
Course 405 Leading the Children of Light: Parish Administration
1) Marketing the Church: What They Never Taught You About Church Growth by George Barna 2)
Track 5 (Episcopal)
...Covers episcopal ceremonial and managing people over great distances. ... To be announced...
Cost
No organization can provide everything to everyone for free all the time. We are no different. There are costs to bringing you this wisdom: printing, research, time, long-distance phone bills, etc. Our prices are much lower than those of other seminaries, and we firmly believe that our training program is more comprehensive than most. We hope to recoup some of our costs, but realize that someone may be truly called, yet have less funds available. If this applies to you, please communicate your special circumstances to us, and barter or some other arrangement may be possible.
Application
Course Fees
Each numbered course is currently set at $50, which includes any printed materials in addition to books, advice and examination(s).
Access to the required reading material is the responsibility of the student. Although some books may be out of print, there are several resources available online for acquiring them, as well as interlibrary loan programs. Home avalonians@nospamlycos.com (Remove "nospam" to reply.) All written material in this site is copyrighted by the Most Rev. Jon Ryner, except where noted. The background and link buttons for this page were crafted by Silverhair. Check out her work here.