Throughout history and legend a number of Mystery Schools, Orders, and specialized practices of magick and Wizardry have been designated. Many of these have distinguished themselves by colors. Wizards following those schools have consequently adopted those colors also, so we have Red Wizards, Green Wizards, White Wizards, Black Wizards and so forth. Grey Wizards (or, as some call themselves, “Prismatic Wizards”) are non-specialized, being adept in many areas.
As Apprentices begin their apprenticeship here, they will be asked to consider the colors with which they feel most connected. An Apprentice may find him or herself choosing a Major or Minor due to the association with that Department's color. Alternately, an Apprentice may find a new affinity for a color because of that color's association with a Department of Study here at the Grey School. These colors will also appear on the Journeyman Letter, which will be awarded upon graduation.
Apprentices will be encouraged to create a tabard (a simple over-the-shoulder draping that Wizards wear when doing particular kinds of magick) and other magickal garb of their chosen colors. (See the Regalia section for more details.) Apprentices may also work with those colors in various forms of magick such as candle burning, chromotherapy, altar cloths, choices of gemstones in personal jewelry, etc.
The colors as used and taught in the sixteen departments of the Grey School of Wizardry are as follows...
Wizardry (Indigo): Indigo relates to perception, imagination, illusion, and the ability to see patterns. Courses in the Department of Wizardry study famous Wizards from history and from literature, as well as the basic theories behind the workings of magick.
Natural Philosophy (Silver): Silver represents the color of the Moon, the secrets of nature, women’s mysteries and magicks, and witchcraft. Natural Philosophy includes all aspects of natural science and mysticism that relate to nature and her mysteries, plus practicalities such as camping and woodcraft.
Magickal Practice (Gold): Gold represents the color of the Sun, the sign of Leo, adolescence, joy, fruitfulness and nobility. Magickal Practice includes the practical foundational basics and magickal hardware: theory, tools, regalia, your sanctum sanctorum, principles of correspondences, signs, symbols, spells and charms.
Psychic Arts (Aqua): Associated with Friday and the planet Venus, aqua is an excellent hue for peacefulness and profound reflection. Meditation is the basis of most of the Eastern disciplines of magick and Wizardry. This discipline also includes all forms of psychic development, dreamwork, pathworking, and other mind magicks. The department of Psychic Arts was previously known as “Mind Magicks,” and prior to that, “Metapsychics.” These names may appear in older school documents such as past issues of the Grey Matters magazine, or old forum postings.
Healing (Blue): Blue is the color of emotional work, healing, wisdom, and thoughtfulness. Healing refers to all forms of magickal arts and practices devoted to curing diseases, relieving aches and pains, promoting tissue regeneration, restoring vitality and fertility, and any sort of practice which encourages the health of our physical form.
Wortcunning (Green): Green is the color of vegetation, as in gardening; also fertility and prosperity. Wortcunning (also known as herbalism or herbology) is the lore and art of knowing and using the magickal, medicinal and other properties of plants.
Divination (Yellow): Although not all seers were Wizards, all Wizards are expected to be seers. Yellow is associated with mental work; meditation, will, intellect, divination and communication. Divination is the art of foretelling or predicting the future; or discovering things that are lost, hidden or secret. This department concentrates on types of divination which use earthly tools, such as cards, stones, dice, or the palm.
Performance Magic (Orange): Orange is attuned to warmth, friendship, abundance, spirit, will, principles, theory and alertness. Also called conjury, stage magick and performance magic, this area deals with “miraculous” illusions and special effects. This department also includes the Bardic arts of music, chants, poetry, singing, and storytelling.
Alchemy and Magickal Sciences (Red): Red is the color of fire, inspiration, vitality, pride, anger, bravery, strong emotions, purification, arid places, aggressive music. Alchemy is the magickal art and science of metaphorical transformation and transmutation. Contemporary aspects of these studies include metallurgy and philosophy, soap making, home brewing, technomagicks, non-medicinal aspects of aromatherapy, chemistry, and additional areas where magick and science overlap through the manipulation of substances or objects.
Lifeways (Rose): Rose is the color for our relationships with other people – especially those involving family, self awareness, love, intimacy, and romance. This department addresses aspects of one’s personal life and relationships.
Beast Mastery (Brown): The color of magick in this department is Brown, the most common color of fur and feathers, and represents all things wild. Beast Mastery concerns everything to do with animals of all kinds, especially animal communication, knowledge of zoology, and the lore of totems.
Cosmology (Violet): The magickal color of this department is Violet, which is associated with power, wealth, good fortune, judgment, industry, and religious thought. In this department we will explore the wonders of the Universe: constellations, calendars, the solar system, and other celestial knowledge such as Astrology. It’s also concerned with the larger questions: How did everything begin? Where are we going? Is there anyone else out there?
Mathemagicks (Clear): The color of magick associated with this department is clear, reflecting the transparency with which all creation is suffused with magickal formulae – underlying everything, but invisible to all but the imagination. The Pythagorean mysteries laid the foundation for all mathematics; particularly arithmetic, geometry and music. In this department are included sacred geometry, numerology, and chaos theory magicks.
Ceremonial Magick (White): The color of purity, white represents friendship, the Moon, sincerity, divinity, and blessings. Ceremonial Magick, originating in the 17th and 18th Centuries within secret magickal orders, is based upon both the Qabalah and the Hermetica, along with Neo-Platonism and oriental doctrines. This department covers all forms of rites and rituals, for all purposes.
Lore (Grey): The color of magick associated with this department is grey, representing knowledge, lore and wisdom. Lore means “teachings,” and lore mastery is the primary attribute of the Wizard. Throughout history, Wizards have studied and collected books and writings containing the wisdom of the ages, and many have assembled important libraries and museums.
Dark Arts (Black): The color of magick associated with this department is black, relating to binding, banishing, fortitude, consistency, and protection. Black magick itself is not necessarily evil, any more than any other color – but its nature makes it popular with unscrupulous practitioners. Ethical Wizards chiefly use the Dark Arts to protect themselves and others from harm.
Each department has a listing on the school’s main page, including a mission statement and department description, Here.