FAQ

No website is complete without the ubiquitous Frequently Asked Questions page, and we are no exception. This section will be added to from time to time as new questions are received, but before emailing please scroll through to see if your question has been answered. The list of questions will be frequently updated and aims to be as comprehensive as possible.

Please note that this page covers general questions about Phoenix Rising Academy itself. If you are experiencing technical difficulties with our Virtual Learning Centre then please either visit the software help pages or email for help.

Does Phoenix Rising Academy teach practical application of the Western Esoteric Traditions?

Absolutely not. Phoenix Rising Academy is not an “esoteric school”. From time to time some of our courses may incorporate aspects of practical applications, such as learning to draw astrological charts, or discussing Tarot symbolism if one is studying comparative methods of divination, but our main focus is on the cosmology, history, phenomenology, theory and method of these traditions, and does not extend into the practical domain. We uphold a scholarly approach which remains rigourously academic while respecting and incorporating those  experiential and imaginal aspects which are necessary to do justice to our subject matter.

Why do you call yourselves an Academy if you're not a university?

The word “Academy” does not necessarily denote a university; the connotations of the word depend on specific cultural usage and interpretations. To begin with, our use of the word is inspired by the Platonic Academy of antiquity, and its Humanist revival by Marsilio Ficino during the Renaissance. As an institution we stand for education and critical thinking, and this is precisely what the archetypal Platonic Academy represents.

Secondly, in Great Britain, the term “Academy” can refer to certain types of secondary schools, as well as certain types of undergraduate institutions. Once we have fulfilled the technical requirements of the BAC (see information re accreditation here), our courses will officially equate to undergraduate level education, and are already designed to these standards.

In addition, due to our activities in Greece, we are forbidden from using the terms “university” or “college” by Greek law, since that is not what we are, nor do we pretend to be.

Finally, we selected the word “Academy” as opposed to “Centre” or “Society” to make it very clear that we are neither an esoteric school/society/order, nor a completely unregulated and independent organisation offering courses of dubious quality and content, like those one can find all over the internet. We are not a university, nor are we a “new-age mystery school.” Our approach is academic and our tutors are all scholars with appropriate qualifications and experience.

Who is behind Phoenix Rising Academy?

Phoenix Rising Academy is not affiliated to, nor funded by any other organisation, school, order or establishment. It  is the brainchild of the founder and director, Sasha Chaitow, and was established to fill a perceived exigency brought about by the decline of the humanities in a significant number of Western universities, together with the need to disseminate and promote the significance of the academic study of Western Esoteric currents.

Since you see the establishment of the Academy as a vocation, why do you charge fees and why is it formed as a company rather than a charity or non-profit organisation?

We truly wish we could offer our courses and seminars free of charge. However, that would presuppose significant funding from a sponsor, and that in turn would render us beholden to that sponsor. As the Academy considers itself a spiritual child of the Platonic Academy, we are not prepared to compromise our ideological and ethical positions for any reason whatsoever. This however, obliges us to remain independent, and in order to remain viable, the Academy must generate income in order to exist. We try to keep our fees fair and we also offer a number of discount opportunities and scholarships. Our goal is not to profiteer, but to remunerate our faculty and administrative staff fairly, while allowing the Academy the necessary income to cover its costs and organisational needs.

Can I get credit at my university/college for courses taken at Phoenix Rising Academy?

We are still in the process of applying for accreditation, as explained elsewhere. However, even after this process is complete, we will be a British Higher Education Institution, not an American one, and there is no way of reconciling the two systems. Even if this were the case however, we do not feel that the kind of courses we offer should be taken with academic credit in mind. The purpose of our courses is to provide knowledge and a learning experience that should be seen as a worthwhile endeavour in its own right, and not simply as an “interesting aside” to one’s mainstream studies. Candidates who wish to take our courses for such a reason should think very deeply about the reasons they wish to pursue a course of study in Esotericism and the Arts.

Can I apply for financial aid if I apply to study at Phoenix Rising Academy?

For the same reasons outlined in q. 4, it is not possible to offer financial aid in an official capacity, nor are we at liberty to apply for aid on your behalf. As explained in q.3, we make every effort to offer as many opportunities as possible to students in financial difficulty. If you wish to study at Phoenix Rising Academy and cannot afford the fees, please contact us anyway to discuss the options. If we do not have scholarship places open then it may be possible to come to an arrangement via an installment plan or something similar.

Why is the application process so complex?

In order to study topics in Esotericism and culture, one should have a clear awareness of what it is one has chosen to study and for what reasons. Furthermore, our courses are academically rigorous and demand certain academic skills on the part of the student,as well as advanced critical thinking and a mature approach to the subject matter. We are not a “Hogwarts for grownups” or a “school of magic.” Therefore, like all discerning academic institutions, we wish to ensure that students who enrol on our courses are both suitable and able to handle our material and requirements.

Are all of the courses available online or do I have to go to a classroom?

All Phoenix Rising Academy full-length courses are 100% online. Some Greek-language courses are also available on-site. This is clearly reflected in individual course descriptions. Phoenix Rising Academy also holds frequent live events and seminars, as well as online webcasts. However, you can participate in a course no matter where you live, as long as you have an internet connection and fulfill our eligibility requirements.

What is the registration and refund policy?

Our registration and refund policy is clearly explained on our Fees page and in our Student Handbook. Please ensure you are familiar with our policy before applying, as registration at Phoenix Rising Academy constitutes acceptance of this policy.

Who can take courses?

Any one who fulfills the eligibility requirements.

Is there a set time when I need to sign in to a course?

All taught courses feature mandatory “live chat sessions” set at a fixed time once a week, but the reading and study can be completed at your own pace and on your own schedule, with much of the communication taking place through online forum discussions or e-mails. There are, of course, still timelines for each program that you’ll need to follow. This does not apply to self-study courses, which can be taken entirely at your own pace, and do not have deadlines.

What hardware/software do I need to take online courses?

All students must:

  • Have proficiency and access to an up-to-date computer including Skype with voice-tovoice capability and reliable Internet access, preferably high-speed.

  • For most students the computer requirement can be met with Windows XP/Vista, Macintosh, or Linux computer that is capable of accessing the Internet with one of the standard web browsers. For most students the Skype requirement can be met with a free account at www.skype.com and a working sound card and microphone plus broadband Internet access.

  • Be able to attend and participate in online chat class sessions; and

  • Be able to read web pages, text documents, and other materials that may be posted by an instructor or linked from other websites.

  • Many courses will have audio or video components that require you to have a working sound card and microphone, plus broadband Internet access.

  • Many courses may require that you upload or download documents with a .doc file extension.

  • Students are responsible for their own software.

 

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Our courses are distance learning only - we have no classes in London. All applications must be made by email. Click here to apply.

Η Ακαδημία Phoenix Rising είναι ανεξάρτητος εκπαιδευτικός και ακαδημαϊκός οργανισμός. Δεν είναι μυητικό τάγμα, ή σχολή εσωτερισμού. Δεν ασκούμε και δεν διδάσκουμε την πρακτική εξάσκηση των θεμάτων που διδάσκουμε. Διδάσκουμε την ιστορία, την φαινομενολογία, την φιλοσοφία και την πολιτισμική επιρροή τους. Η Ακαδημία Phoenix Rising εδρεύει στο Λονδίνο και παραδίδει τα μαθήματά της μέσω διαδικτύου. Δεν εδρεύουμε στην Ελλάδα και Δεν αποτελούμε "κολλέγιο" ή Κ.Ε.Μ.Ε.
Several other websites use a combination of the words "Phoenix Rising" in their name. Phoenix Rising Academy is not affiliated to any other organisation. Any similarity in the name is purely coincidental.

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