In her interview with MysticMag, Ashley M. Ryan shares how she founded the Pythian Mystery School to fill a gap she experienced growing up when resources around magic and witchcraft were scarce and often complex.
Today, her mission is to make these teachings accessible to a wider audience, focusing on practical, easy-to-follow steps tailored for a world increasingly centered on video content. Rooted in Hermetic traditions and inspired by the Pythia of ancient Greece, the school empowers individuals by connecting them with ancient wisdom within a modern, community-driven setting.
Through her classes, students embark on journeys of inner exploration, supported by both foundational theory and regular spiritual practice.
What inspired you to establish the Pythian Mystery School, and what is its core mission?
I developed the Pythian Mystery School because, as a young person in the early 2000s, there weren’t many resources available to me, especially around magic and witchcraft. Back then, options were very limited. Now, in 2024, there’s a much larger community and more material out there, but people don’t like to read as much—they’re far more focused on video content. During the pandemic, I felt a strong mission to create the kind of resources I didn’t have while growing up.
For me, it was about addressing the core basics. I could read all these books, but they usually weren’t step-by-step guides; they were mostly theory and detail-heavy. My goal with the Pythian Mystery School is to make a very complex subject—occultism—accessible by breaking it down into easy, understandable steps for the modern viewer.
Can you explain the significance of the ancient Pythian traditions in today’s world?
Certainly, I don’t teach the specific Pythian tradition, but the name holds a special meaning for me. When I was a young girl, my great aunts, who were Benedictine nuns and often babysat me, asked if I wanted to be a nun and “marry Jesus.” At just four years old, I remember thinking, “Oh no, I don’t want to do that!” I told them that if I had to be in a religious setting, I’d rather be a priest. They replied, “Oh no, you’re a girl; you can’t do that.” My little four-year-old mind decided then that religion wasn’t for me.
Later, in college in 2011, while pursuing my undergraduate degree in philosophy, I learned about the Pythia, also known as the Oracle at Delphi. She was a priestess to Apollo, and learning about her inspired me deeply. It showed me that there were, indeed, female priests and that this path was something I could pursue if I truly wanted to.
The Pythian Mystery School draws on the tradition of Hermeticism—a broad collection of teachings influenced by ancient Egyptian traditions, the Chaldean Oracles, as well as Greek and Roman mythology, and even elements of Gnosticism from early Christianity. Central to Hermeticism is the movement and influence of the planets, and how understanding these celestial dynamics can bring wellness and empowerment to individuals.
How do your classes help individuals connect with their inner wisdom and spiritual path?
Great question. Everyone has a goal when it comes to spirituality, and I created a community to support that journey. Watching a video, even a hundred times, will teach you the theory, but the real work lies in practice—and that’s why it’s called a spiritual practice. It needs to be done consistently, ideally daily or at least weekly. The community aspect of the Mystery School plays a big role in this by allowing students to support and cheer each other on.
In the classes, I provide the theory, which may include learning how to meditate. Meditation is essential—not only for mindfulness, which is valuable in itself, but also for connecting with one’s inner child and understanding the deeper pains within. A lot of spirituality involves this inner work. It’s similar to psychology, but it goes deeper, beyond just the mind.
Many people carry a lot of “mental clutter” from past experiences. My goal is to help students clear away that buildup to reveal their inner divinity. If someone comes in with a lot of trauma or pain, the journey may be harder, but through diligent practice, we work together to remove those obstacles.
What role does mythology play in your teachings and personal transformation?
Mythology serves as a form of psychodrama—a story or legend that illustrates archetypal roles. Take the legend of King Arthur, for example. It’s an inspiring story for many young men, representing an idealized archetype.
Personally, I approach mythology comparatively. My goddess, Isis, was something of a blueprint for the Virgin Mary in Christianity. What fascinates me most about mythology is how similar stories appear across different cultures, with unique characters but shared themes. For instance, while the Virgin Mary embodies a more internal archetype, Isis has a more external role.
In the story of Isis, her husband, Osiris, was murdered and dismembered by his brother, who scattered his body parts across Egypt. It became Isis’s mission to find these pieces and reassemble her husband. While it’s a story of love, it’s also about self-discovery. I use mythology as a series of parables, not as historical fact, to illustrate deeper truths and guide personal transformation.
How does the Pythian Mystery School approach the balance between ancient wisdom and modern spirituality?
Balancing ancient wisdom with modern spirituality is challenging, which is why I always provide a list of resources and bibliographies so students can conduct their own research. Ancient wisdom is complex because much of it has been modified over time. Some of what we consider “ancient Egyptian” teachings, for example, actually date back only to the 16th or 17th century.
I emphasize to my students that these texts were written in specific historical contexts, and we need to be mindful of language and ideas that may have been considered appropriate back then but might seem outdated or problematic now.
I also avoid New Age teachings; I don’t focus on things like aliens or timeline jumping. My approach is grounded, like the ancients, in the earth and the planets. People are welcome to explore whatever resonates with them, but my goal is to guide students back to our roots—to understand human nature and our connection with the universe around us.
What can students expect to experience or achieve through the guided meditations and rituals you offer?
Each ritual or meditation has its own unique purpose and outcome, depending on what we’re focusing on. For example, if a student wants to break a habit—like finding it hard to put down their phone or feeling overly drawn to TikTok—we use a combination of candles, herbs, and self-reflection. The goal is to plant seeds in the unconscious mind, with support from the goddess, to help overcome this challenge. However, it’s important to know that this isn’t a quick fix; it requires practice and commitment.
Let’s say we work together on a ritual to break a habit of excessive screen time. Following the ritual, you might encounter challenges as you’re reconditioning your brain, which has become accustomed to a dopamine boost. The ritual is intended to help you start diverting your attention toward more meaningful activities.
On the more spiritual side, I also guide chakra meditations. Many people’s energy systems are out of balance, leading to issues like brain fog or emotional instability. The chakra meditation works to clear out stagnant energy, similar to refreshing a pond to prevent algae growth. By cleansing and cycling the energy, students can experience improved mental clarity, see things more clearly, and develop a healthier balance between rationality and emotions.
Ashley is offering a 2-week free trial – please check it out here: https://study.pythianmysteryschool.com/join?invitation_token=b552fa97ffb91ed3c84a447f27210a1055aeb489-4dea814a-c654-41b9-8a71-46add61c3f46
