The Night School: Lessons in Moonlight, Magic, and the Mysteries of Being Human

by Maia Toll, Lucille Clerc (Illustrator)

Overview

Delve into the mysteries of the Night — from divination and astrology to ancient philosophy and self-exploration — in The Night School, a magical course of study for modern witches, seekers, and mystics, from award-winning author Maia Toll.

Welcome to the Night School, Firefly. Here you'll explore the farthest reaches of the universe, and the deepest parts of yourself. You'll learn to cast off the constraints of the day, and open your eyes, your heart, and your mind to the enchanted mystery of the Night. You'll travel the world in search of inspiring sites, timeless wisdom, and essential magic. And you'll do so under the bewitching guidance of the Night Mistress, your guide in the curriculum of all that lies beneath the starry sky. 

For anyone interested in spirituality, folklore, mysticism, witchcraft, healing, and self-exploration, The Night School is a highly creative journey into the magic of the night.  Organized as an enchanted course of study, with semesters and subjects for exploration — ranging from Midnight Foundations (Philosophy 101) to Divining the Night (Divination 101) to Harnessing the Celestial Tides (Energetic Engineering 101) — this illuminating manual offers short nightly lessons complete with reflections, exercises, homework, and even extra credit to help readers connect with the power of the night and explore the deeper mysteries of being human. In an era when our daytime hours are increasingly uncertain and people are turning inward to reevaluate what really matters, The Night School encourages us to slow down and contemplate our dreams, relationship to the natural world, and the ancient traditions of mystical thinking — all by the light of the moon.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780762474295
Publisher:	Running Press Book Publishers
Publication date:	08/09/2022
Pages:	272
Sales rank:	240,239
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 8.60(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Maia Toll is the author of Letting Magic In, The Night School, and the Wild Wisdom series, which includes The Illustrated Herbiary, The Illustrated Bestiary, The Illustrated Crystallary, and Maia Toll's Wild Wisdom Companion. After earning degrees at the University of Michigan and New York University, Toll apprenticed with a traditional healer in Ireland, where she spent extensive time studying the growing cycles of plants, the alchemy of medicine making, and the psycho-spiritual aspects of healing. She is the co owner of the retail store Herbiary, with locations in Asheville, NC and Philadelphia, PA. You can find her online at maiatoll.com. 

Table of Contents

Orientation 1

Welcome to The Night School 3

Your Only Prerequisite 6

Gather Your Supplies 7

New Student Orientation 15

Semester 1 25

Midnight Foundations (PHILOSOPHY 101) 27

The Mysteries of Being Human (PSYCHOLOGY 101) 59

Divining the Night (DIVINATION 101) 95

Semester Break 125

Office Hours: Midterm Check-in 127

Semester 2 131

Tools of the Mystic (DIVINATION LAB) 133

Elemental Alchemization (ALCHEMY 101) 153

Harnessing the Celestial Tides (ENERGETIC ENGINEERING 101) 193

Office Hours: Closing Thoughts 241

Final Exams 245

Commendation from the Night Mistress 252

Notes from the Teachers' Lounge 253

The Night School Library 256

Index 260

About the Author 264

Editorial Reviews

06/06/2022

“Magic is everywhere. To see it and the effects it has on your life, change the way you perceive the world,” contends spiritual teacher Toll (Maia Toll’s Wild Wisdom Companion) in this fun exploration of magic. Toll structures the volume as a curriculum split into two “semesters,” with such classes as “Divination Lab,” “Alchemy 101,” and “Energetic Engineering 101” covering the basics of night-related magic and how to interact with it. In “Philosophy 101,” the author lays out the beliefs that undergird her style of magic and posits, for example, that science and magic are two similar systems for describing the same phenomena and that energy flows toward the object of one’s attention. Toll suggests readers apply concepts with “homework” assignments that include using the moon to tell time, divining the future by interpreting the movement of smoke, and researching cultures that developed an equivalent of the “four elements” (fire, air, earth, water). The author affects the voice of a compassionate professor, charmingly addressing readers by the nickname “Firefly,” and the discrete “lessons” offer a clever way to organize the bounty of insight and exercises, even if the night theme sometimes gets lost. Additionally, the celestial illustrations of psychedelic night skies by Clerc wonderfully evoke the cosmic wonder of the material. The result is a delightful program with magic to spare. (Aug.)

Publishers Weekly

Magic is everywhere. To see it and the effects it has on your life, change the way you perceive the world,” contends spiritual teacher Toll (Maia Toll’s Wild Wisdom Companion) in this fun exploration of magic. . . . The author affects the voice of a compassionate professor, charmingly addressing readers by the nickname “Firefly,” and the discrete “lessons” offer a clever way to organize the bounty of insight and exercises. . . Additionally, the celestial illustrations of psychedelic night skies by Clerc wonderfully evoke the cosmic wonder of the material. The result is a delightful program with magic to spare.—Publisher's Weekly

Maia Toll's The Night School is a delightful invitation to sink deep into the shadowed mysteries of magic, with a design that's as beautiful as it is functional. An accessible, educational, and inspiring adventure for the modern witch or mystic at heart.—Adrienne Young, New York Times bestselling author

Maia Toll’s The Night School will make you believe starlight is within reach— the way curiosity, wonder, and awe have been woven together with grounded research is unparalleled in the field. The way The Night School combines steady and surefooted guidance as the reader is encouraged to wander through the unknowns of enchantment is a magic trick in and of itself. Never before have I felt so deftly held in the worlds of mystery and mysticism. This is a book I will carry with me through at least one full lifetime . . . maybe more.—Steph Jagger, author of Everything Left to Remember

This whimsical book is a delight–but it's also sneaky. Couched in an accessible and fun back-to-school format is an absolute ton of information, and Maia Toll not only goes wide, she goes deep, guiding the reader beyond the initial questions of what magic is and how to work with it, into who WE are, and how we can be more than we ever thought possible.—Nikki Van De Car, author of Practical Magic

I love Maia Toll’s mind! This genre-breaking creation is enchanting, whip-smart, and a deeply satisfying read. Toll is a master of writing the misty in-between, using ritual and symbol to create magic for her readers. The Night School is a serious alchemy of fiction and non-fiction, and it shows us how to make our experience of darkness relevant and full of meaning. Sharpen your pencils, and get ready to learn real magic.—Sarah Selecky, author of Radiant Shimmering Light

From the Publisher