Good morning, my name is Professor Myer Mendholsonn. I am the headmaster of Merlin’s School for Ordinary Children.

The school is a very unique one, not only because we have had it built in the medieval fashion of a Norman castle, but in the fact that we also use tried and tested teaching traditions here. We do not use technology because we feel that to learn – and learn properly – one must be in touch with real life. Therefore we practices procedures that give children a tangible grasp on existence.

At Merlin’s School we teach Astrology and Astronomy, history and art, and even a touch of the magic that Merlin, himself, used; that of Magia Naturalis - natural magic.

An example of this magic is seen within the pages of The Ring of Curses, a book that was written about a very peculiar mystery that happened at the school a few years back. An ancient Aztec ring was stolen and it caused all sorts of grief, with even a few students disappearing there, for a while. But the clever youngsters put things to rights in no time. I am very proud of them.

But back to the school. I intend to introduce you to all our teachers one by one, and … give you examples of their curricula, as well as showcase some beautiful illustrations and pictures.

I sincerely hope you enjoy your visit to Merlin’s School.

                           Professor Myer Mendholsonn

Good afternoon, I’m Professor Symbidium Bloom, mistress of Astronomy and Astrology. Professor Mendholsonn has insisted I do a class today even though I’m really not prepared for it. But as he does – insist - I will inform those who are interested, of the five planet line-up that is making its presence felt at this moment. Bear with me please.

Alignments are not rare, it’s the amount of celestial bodies that are in them that creates the rarity.

At this moment we are able to see, just before dawn – south to southwest - and with the naked eye, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. While they do not align in order, because of their orbits on the ecliptic path (Earth's orbital plane projected onto the constellations of the Zodiac) they can be seen up until the 20^th February 2016. The moon sweeps past each of these planets – and some stars – while mostly in the house of Leo.

This particular phenomena started on the 20^th of January this year, 2016, the first time since mid-January 2005.

However, for short time only – and during the night exclusively – this celestial event will occur again around mid-August this year. This will be better seen in the southern hemisphere.

All very exciting, but the individual energy fields of each planet can cause some upsets in the Universe, more so in our Galaxy.

Now … if you’ll excuse me I have things to do. Professor Mendholsonn knows better than to upset the tranquillity of the Planetarium.

Hello … I’m Professor Hercules Flounder; I’m the history teacher at Merlin’s School. I’m very passionate about my subject though sadly I can’t say that many people feel the same way. But never mind. Unfortunately my Time-Line got stolen last year so there won’t be any excursions. But … I can tell you a little bit about the lesson that featured in The Ring of Curses #1 in the Merlin’s School for Ordinary Children. It was a disaster really - not the lesson, though it didn’t go down very well either - the excursion that followed. That’s when the troubles began. But more about that later. Professor Mendholsonn said I mustn’t dwell on the incident. It’s not good for the students’ moral. Anyway … what I’ve decide is to leave you the lesson of that particular day … minus the conversation of course … then we’ll take things from there.

 “Today we are to explore the ancient but magnificent civilisation of the Aztec Indians. They once lived in Middle America, an area now known as Mexico.

The Aztecs were cannibals, they were one of the most barbaric races on Earth when it came to the worship of their Gods. And the cannibalism was part of it. The Aztec nation sacrificed thousands upon thousands of people to appease their deities. In fact, one of their fiercest warrior Gods known as Huitzilopochtli would only be satisfied with the blood and hearts from human sacrifice. They usually used slaves or criminals for these killings, but when a shortage of victims was anticipated the Indians held mock wars. They would arrange with neighbouring tribes to meet at a certain time and in a prearranged place, then they would engage in battle. When each tribe had enough hostages they would cease their fighting until next time, taking away their captives with them. It was an accepted ritual in everyday life for the Aztecs.

It was calculated that during one particular four day feast honouring a new temple for a warrior God, over twenty thousand innocents were slaughtered … on a platform at the top of the pyramid. This temple would eventually become so blood-soaked that a terrible stench surrounded it. But this was part of the glory to the deiform.

These pyramids were built from stone blocks joined by mud mortar. They were painted with a type of lime plaster and then covered with beautiful artworks. The victims were tied spread-eagle on a slab, before being dispatched with a ceremonial knife. The skulls were kept after the skin was flayed from the bodies and some of the flesh was consumed at the feasting celebrations.

There was a lot more to the Aztec Indians than just human sacrifice, though. They had a great knowledge of our known universe using two calendars, one solar and one lunar, rather than our single Gregorian calendar. They were great architects and farmers, and great craftsmen as well. This last fact was to contribute to their downfall.

Back in the year 1519, an adventurer named Hernando Cortez, along with six hundred followers, landed at San Juan de Ulua. Mexico was, at that time under the rule of a mighty warrior chief called Montezuma. Cortez and his men went about conquering the natives, marching inland to the magnificent city of Cempoala; a place of over eighty thousand inhabitants and rumoured to have streets paved with gold.

Through his spies Montezuma heard about this and went to meet and greet the newcomers. He presented Cortez with many gifts, like gold trinkets shaped as dogs, monkeys and jaguars with eyes filled with precious jewels. There were crystals and figurines and golden bows and arrows also. And there was even a golden helmet adorned with a crest of green feathers.’

Montezuma then invited Cortez and his entourage to join him in the capitol city where he resided at the time; which was a huge mistake. Cortez didn’t want friendship; he just wanted everything that the Indians had in the way of treasure, now that he knew their worth. In the end he and his men not only caused the death of the mighty chieftain, Montezuma, but wiped out the whole Aztec nation as well. They finished their trail of destruction by decimating the great city.

While it is believed that everyone died the site is now the place where modern day Mexico City now stands.” 

Due to the fact that Professor Mendholsonn is busy he has asked me – again - to take class today. I’m feeling quite faint about it, you know? It’s all done under duress but I suppose one has to bend when so many children have asked so many questions.

It’s all because of the imminent release of a new book, Sword of Stone (destined for 2017), I’ve heard. This information, I feel, is more in keeping with Professor Lords’ idea of conducting a class.  But then …

Let me take a seat before I swoon.

Hmmm … where to start? Last time I spoke of planetary alignments and last year we had a very extraordinary one – a trine with the moon, Mercury and Saturn - one that opened a portal for a short time. I stress here … that it was a very short time only but it caused so much drama here at the school. I’m sure the vibrations here abouts will never be the same again.

But that’s what happens when one doesn’t listen. I took great care to make sure that nobody would … um … err … well.

Anyway, I suppose one does need to understand the planets … especially ours. It’s quite magical really, the way they work together. Like music! Each planet has its own harmony. Each planet has its own story. And the galaxy works like a clock … but not many people are aware of this. And then there’s the code … the Fibonacci code.

But we will talk of this later for at the moment I have to draw up some charts for the children to study next year. I feel tired thinking about it … I don’t like to use time in this way. Not enough peace.

A very good afternoon to everyone. My name is Aurelius and I’m a Druid. I’m a guidance officer of sorts at Merlin’s School though I don’t have an official title. In fact … err … umm … most of the children don’t even know why I’m here at all. Well … sometimes I wonder myself, but I am so there you have it.

Anyway … we shall move on with our first lesson. Today I want to talk about the number zero, or naught, depending on how you say it.

Now I haven’t pulled the number out of thin air I have reason for starting with it and it’s because I take my teachings from Tarot cards. They are cards that have been around for some years, though many people thinking they are just a load of superstitious nonsense. Then there are others who believe that they are based on the ideas from the Egyptian Book of The Dead. Either way, they are my reference point.

So … on with the number zero … the card name is The Fool, for reasons that will be passed on later.

Zero is a number represented by a circle … it has no beginning and no end and is about the cycle of life … and it is the place where everything starts. It goes round and round and is perpetual … umm … that means eternal. It can also be likened to a ring and when you think about rings one can see they can be linked together to make chains. Or they can be given as a gift, or a promise to spend your life with someone. Or better still they show the cycle of things … beginning, middle and end – birth, life and death.

On a bigger scale there is a ring around the earth called an equator; there is an even bigger equator in our galaxy and a bigger one still in our universe. So you can see these rings get around. A round … get it? Umm, no … well moving on.

As everything has an equal and opposite equal one must also look at what’s in the centre of the ring. While you might say it is just a hole it also has its place in the making of the ring, for without it the ring … or zero … wouldn’t exist.

But that’s all for now. We will talk about the other part of the zero … or ring … in our next lesson.

A very good afternoon to everyone. My name is Aurelius and I’m a Druid. I’m a guidance officer of sorts at Merlin’s School though I don’t have an official title. In fact … err … umm … most of the children don’t even know why I’m here at all. Well … sometimes I wonder myself, but I am so there you have it.

Anyway … we shall move on with our first lesson. Today I want to talk about the number zero, or naught, depending on how you say it.

Now I haven’t pulled the number out of thin air I have reason for starting with it and it’s because I take my teachings from Tarot cards. They are cards that have been around for some years, though many people thinking they are just a load of superstitious nonsense. Then there are others who believe that they are based on the ideas from the Egyptian Book of The Dead. Either way, they are my reference point.

So … on with the number zero … the card name is The Fool, for reasons that will be passed on later.

Zero is a number represented by a circle … it has no beginning and no end and is about the cycle of life … and it is the place where everything starts. It goes round and round and is perpetual … umm … that means eternal. It can also be likened to a ring and when you think about rings one can see they can be linked together to make chains. Or they can be given as a gift, or a promise to spend your life with someone. Or better still they show the cycle of things … beginning, middle and end – birth, life and death.

On a bigger scale there is a ring around the earth called an equator; there is an even bigger equator in our galaxy and a bigger one still in our universe. So you can see these rings get around. A round … get it? Umm, no … well moving on.

As everything has an equal and opposite equal one must also look at what’s in the centre of the ring. While you might say it is just a hole it also has its place in the making of the ring, for without it the ring … or zero … wouldn’t exist.

But that’s all for now. We will talk about the other part of the zero … or ring … in our next lesson.