RE: Grey School of Witchcraft & Wizardry

It has come to my attention that some individuals have accused me of making "false statements" regarding my school, Stonehaven Academy of Applied & Theoretical Magick. The accusation is that I claim that Stonehaven is the "first online school of magic." This accusation is followed by citing the fact that the Grey School of Witchcraft & Wizardry (GS) has been online for well over 10 years while my school is new.

Let us nip this rumor in the bud, shall we?

First of all, let me preface my comments by saying I had the honor of serving as a professor of the Grey School in the capacity of Dean of the Dark Arts department. I know the founder and Headmaster of the school, Oberon Zell Ravenheart, or "OZ" as he is affectionately known. I respect him and his many accomplishments.

Since it was public knowledge that I was Dean at the GS, it would have been rather stupid of me to later open my own school and then claim that Stonehaven was "the first online school of magic!" EVERYONE knows that GS was founded more than a decade earlier!

Now let us put this rumor to rest by considering the following points:

1) Peruse any of my writings about Stonehaven Academy and you will see that I have NEVER used the phrase "The first online school of magic" as a stand-alone, definitive description without also adding some qualifying statement.

What you WILL see are statements like the following:

"First online school of magick in the Steampunk theme" "First Online school of magick featuring Victoriana." "First online school of magick in a Steampunk/Victorian style for the serious student" or "serious adult student."

Occasionally you might see, "first online school of its kind" - but Stonehaven is a "kind" that is very DIFFERENT than the GS.

NOWHERE do I claim to be the first online school of magick overall, just the first of its kind in this style and philosophy. To the best of my knowledge, that is an accurate statement.

2) My being a professor at GS wasn't a secret. To the contrary, I proudly told LOTS of people about it! How foolish it would be for me to make crazy claims about Stonehaven being the "first online school of magick!"

3) I respect Oberon. I was happy and proud to be a part of his school. I would NEVER disrespect his accomplishments by claiming his glory as my own. That's just not me. I have also had many accomplishments. Why would I have to make false claims???

Finally...

4) Stonehaven Academy of Applied & Theoretical Magick is a VERY different creature than Gray School of Witchcraft and Wizardry! Yes, it is true that we both teach magick and I will also open a virtual reality campus, but that is where the similarities end. The theme of the school, its "look," the types of classes offered, the fundamental PHILOSOPHY of my school, the organization, even the approach to teaching is radically DIFFERENT. Oberon and I have very different ideas on what magick is and is not. I have a right to promote my ideas in my own forum.

Oberon has NOTHING to fear from Stonehaven Academy. It would be a mistake to imagine that there will be some sort of competition between our schools. Why? Because I think GS appeals to a different sort of student than Stonehaven will attract.

Furthermore, there are OTHER well-known known online schools of magick (The Witch School, to name one) that also came before Stonehaven. It would be a very stupid, not to mention EMBARRASSING thing, for me to claim to be the first, since that could so easily be disproved.

I hope this matter is laid to rest, once and for all.