Raventree Academy of Magick
Welcome to Raventree Academy of Magick! Please explore our site to discover more about our vision, purpose, ethics, and curriculum, as you decide whether to join our student or faculty body.
Our Vision
Magick is experiencing a Renaissance, a new Golden Age in which arte, practice, and craft are unifying to form new traditions, even as forgotten paths are rediscovered for modern magicians. Countless practitioners, theoreticians, and authors are forming global networks of individuals and communities dedicated to the study and practice of magick.
At Raventree, we seek to provide a home for seekers and practitioners alike in an academic and edifying setting. Raventree seeks to be the newest branch of the flourishing tree that is modern magick: finally, a location for students to study and practice magick at a level worthy of any university.
Raventree Academy is not about "instant gratification" or flashy results. Raventree seeks to expand students' horizons in a rigorous, challenging environment which will continue to expand the corpus and community of modern magick. Faculty serve as instructors, mentors, and researchers, expanding the frontiers of magickal understanding while helping students find their own path. Students gain theoretical knowledge, practical experience, and a deep understanding of magick and associated esoterica.
Why Raventree?
Although Raventree is far from the first online institution of magickal learning, it is unique in myriad aspects. At Raventree's core is the belief that there is a community of practitioners and students devoted to the academic pursuit of magick through folklore, anthropology, history, and practical work. A glance at our "Suggested References" page will help the prospective student or faculty member gain an insight into our driving beliefs.
Students here will find their coursework and instruction vastly different from any other institution of online magickal learning. Material is rigorously researched and carefully vetted, and presented in the style of university-level courses. Students are expected to participate in generating original research during their studies, engaging with primary and secondary literature, as well as participating within their Discipline to gain practical understanding.
Modern students of magick and esoterica have been given a glut of introductory level texts and lessons, but then cast into the wilderness when seeking for more advanced or rigorous knowledge. Although nothing can replace independent craft and research, Raventree seeks to fill the void by providing an institution where the deeper mysteries of magick can be explored and studied.
Our approach is both challenging and rewarding.
What Students Can Expect
At Raventree, students can expect an environment akin to that of any other institute of higher learning. Students are expected to pursue their coursework diligently and remain engaged during their studies. We realize no student at Raventree can be a fulltime student of magick in the modern world. Courses are therefore designed to accommodate a 21st century daily schedule, and are primarily offered asynchronously. However, faculty at Raventree take full advantage of what modern technology has to offer, and therefore courses are often offered in a blend of videos, texts, podcasts, assigned readings, and discussion boards. Faculty often provide live seminars or workshops to augment classes or simply enhance student engagement, and these are offered through video conferencing platforms.
Assessing one's understanding or comprehension of magick is constantly evolving at Raventree. While many of our classes do rely on traditional methods of assessment, such as quizzes, examinations, and papers, other methods of assessment include developing presentations, creating videos demonstrating practical workings, or taking photographs of rituals or tools. At Raventree the emphasis is firmly on learning; however, we believe regular learning assessments provide students with a way to cement their understanding while providing useful checkpoints throughout their education.
