Oberon Zell Ravenheart's Biography(Books)(Photos)

Oberon zell-ravenheart, (1942- ) is a Founder of the Church
of All Worlds and a leading figure in the Neo-Pagan

species of the mysterious "Ri" and solved the ages-old
mystery of the Mermaid. In 1987 he conducted a research tour

community. A modern Renaissance man, Oberon is a
transpersonal psychologist, metaphysician, naturalist,

of ancient oracles and archaeological sites throughout
Mediterranean Europe. Other magickal journeys have taken

thealogian, shaman, author, artist, sculptor, lecturer,
teacher, and ordained Priest of the Earth-Mother, Gaia. He

Oberon to Peru, Hawaii, Alaska, back to Australia, and, in
1999, to France and England for the total Eclipse of the

sums all this up in the designation of "Wizard."

Sun.

Oberon is also an initiate in the Egyptian Church of the
Eternal Source, a Priest in the Fellowship of Isis, and an

Oberon is the author of numerous published articles on
history, Gaian thealogy, magic, shamanism, mythology,

initiate in several different Traditions of Witchcraft. He
holds academic degrees in sociology, anthropology, clinical

anomalies, dinosaurs, archaeology, cosmology, and related
topics, and has been interviewed and quoted extensively in

psychology, and theology. Oberon has a son, Bryan, born in
1963, and raised in the Church of All Worlds.

many books on New Age religious movements, Paganism and the
occult.

Oberon was born Timothy Zell on November 30, 1942, in St

With many years of theatrical experience, Oberon has been an

Louis, Missouri--a Sagittarian with Aquarius rising. As a
child he had a natural affinity with the creatures of Nature

entertaining guest on a number of radio and television talk
shows around the country (and in Canada and Australia), as

and spent much of his time alone in the woods. His early
attunement to Nature contributed to the emergence of psychic

well as being a regular featured speaker at many Pagan
festivals and conventions.

abilities, including the gift of telepathy. He was
introspective and read a wide range of literature, including

Oberon is also an accomplished ritualist, creating and

various works of science fiction and fantasy.

conducting rites of passage, seasonal celebrations, Mystery
initiations (such as the Eleusinia and the Nashville

Panathenaia), Earth-healings, and other rituals for up to
3,000 people.

founded the Church of All Worlds on April 7, 1962, inspired
by Robert A. Heinlein's 1961 science-fiction novel, Stranger

Oberon's artwork has illuminated the pages of various

in a Strange Land.

fantasy and science-fiction magazines since the late 1960's.
He illustrated Anodea Judith's Wheels of Life, among other

After attending graduate school at Washington University in
St. Louis, Oberon went on to shape the Church according to

books, and he drew up an extensive Darkovan Bestiary for
Marion Zimmer Bradley's science-fiction series. He created a

his vision of religion as a connective system that joins one
with time and space through the oneness of all things. The

series of God and Goddess altar posters, and his T-shirt
designs may still be seen at gatherings of Pagans and

Church of All Worlds filed for incorporation in 1967 and was
formally chartered in 1968. The CAW received its 501(c)(3)

environmental activists.

exemption from the IRS on June 18, 1970, becoming the first
Pagan church to do so.

But Oberon's favorite art project is his ongoing sculpture
series of Gods and Goddesses, and of mythological and

First to apply the terms "Pagan" and "Neo-Pagan" to the

legendary creatures, currently being produced and marketed
through TheaGenesis LLC as the Mythic Images Collection. His

newly emerging Nature religions of the 1960s, and through
his publication of the award-winning Pagan magazine, Green

masterwork is "The Millennial Gaia." Oberon's sculptures may
be seen on the Mythic Images web site.

Egg (1968-1976; 1988-1996; he is currently Publisher
Emeritus), Oberon was instrumental in the coalescence of the

Oberon and Morning Glory pledged from their first meeting to

Neo-Pagan movement, which for the last third of a century
has been reclaiming the religious heritage of pre-Christian

maintain an open relationship, and they have always done so.
For ten years (1984-'94) they were in a triad marriage with

Europe.

Diane Darling (editor of Green Egg, and later, Green Man and
PanGaia magazines), and in 1995 they began forming their

Oberon's work through the Church of All Worlds has played a
major role in the unity of the Pagan movement and helped

current six-person Family, the Ravenhearts. They have
created a family business and legal structure called

many Pagans focus their energies into environmental issues.
He has initiated and been involved in numerous Pagan

TheaGenesis, LLC. In 1997, the Ravenhearts were featured on
the TV show, "Strange Universe," and in 2000 they were

ecumenical alliances and projects, including the Council of
Themis, the Council of Earth Religions, the Covenant of the

featured on A&E's documentary series, "The Love Chronicles:
Love in the '60s."

Goddess, the Universal Federation of Pagans, and the Papal
Apology Project.

Oberon now resides with the five other Ravenhearts in Sonoma

In 1970, Oberon formulated and published the thealogy of

County, Califia.

deep ecology which has become known as The Gaea Thesis. He
met and married his soulmate, Morning Glory, at the

Oberon Zell-Ravenheart is referenced in the following books
(listed in order of publication dates):

Llewellyn-sponsored Gnostic Aquarian Festival in 1973, where
he was a keynote speaker on that topic. They were legally

As Tim Zell (1962-1978): black Magic, Satanism & Voodoo, by

married April 14, 1973, in a spectacular public Pagan
handfasting ceremony in Minneapolis, which was shown on TV

Leo Louis Martello (1971); the New Pagans (1972), by Hans
Holzer; Witchcraft, The Old Religion, by Leo Louis Martello

in Japan!

(1973); Pagans U.S.A., by Susan Roberts (1973); religious &
Spiritual Groups in Modern America, by Roger Ellwood (1974);

From 1977 to 1985 Oberon and Morning Glory lived in a
5,600-acre intentional community (Greenfield Ranch) in the

Directory of the Occult (1974), by Hans Holzer; Occultism,
Witchcraft & Cultural Fashions, by Mircea Eliade (1976);

mountains of northern Califia, creating a rural homestead
and Pagan retreat center.

As Otter G'Zell (1979-1994): drawing Down the Moon, by

Oberon and Morning Glory co-founded the Ecosophical Research

Margot Adler (1979; revised and expanded edition 1987);
Encyclopedia of American Religions, by J. Gordon Melton

Association in (era) 1977, and their research into arcane
lore and ancient legends resulted in the Living Unicorn

(1979; 2nd edition 1986); Do You Believe In Magic? by Annie
Gottlieb (1987); encyclopedia of Witches & Witchcraft, by

project, begun in 1980 and culminating with the lease of
several of their Unicorns to the Ringling Bros./Barnum &

Rosemary Guiley (1989); coinci-Dance, by Robert Anton Wilson
(1990); Heaven on Earth: Dispatches from America's Spiritual

Bailey Circus.

Frontier, by Michael d'Antonio (1992);

During much of this period Oberon traveled around the
country exhibiting Unicorns at Renaissance Faires, and was

As Oberon Zell (1995-present): The Pagan Path, by Janet &
Stewart Farrar & Gavin Bone (1995); people of the Earth: The

largely inaccessible for public Pagan appearances, though he
continued to exercise a considerable influence in the Pagan

New Pagans Speak Out, by Ellen Evert Hopman (1996);
Encyclopedia of Witchcraft, by Raven Grimassi (2000)

community through the large festivals, vision quests,
ceremonies, and ritual events held on the land.

Oberon was an acknowledged consultant for Marion Zimmer

In Feb. 1985, Oberon organized an ERA video diving

Bradley's The Mists of Avalon (1982) and Firebrand (1987),
and illustrated Anodea Judith's Wheels of Life (1987; 1993).