space"People can be very important in dreams, and of course it's very subjective. For instance, my mother. Were I to dream of her, it would be a portent of foreboding... she and I didn't get along very well, you see. Or it might represent some form of repression. She was never comfortable with my Second Sight. However, my father loved her very much, and saw her as a great source of wisdom, so if she had ever appeared in his dreams, it likely would have been to impart knowledge, perhaps to help him look at something he was only aware of on a subconscious level."
"And, yes, the cross, or really any symbol associated very strongly with one religion or another, or even an ideology, can be fraught with symbolism in dreams. The images can evoke feelings of solace, of comfort, or suffering and guilt. It all depends on the perspective of the person having the dream. Two Christians might also see the cross in a different light, depending on which branch of the religion they come from."
Lesson Closed
Homework: Keep a dream journal for one week and attempt to interpret the symbols you find.
10 total House Points awarded to Ariana Elwood of Hufflepuff House. 10 total House Points awarded to Camila Rojas of Slytherin House.
Posted: Sat Feb 21, 2015 6:49 pm
Lesson 2: Crystal Gazing
The Definition of Crystal Gazing:
• Crystal-gazing (also known as crystal-seeing, crystallism, crystallomancy, gastromancy, and spheromancy) is a form of divination or scrying achieved through trance induction by means of gazing at a crystal.
Methods and Materials:
• The term crystal gazing denotes several different forms of a variety of objects, and there are several schools of thought as to the sources of the visions seen in the crystal gazing trance. Crystal gazing may be used by practitioners—sometimes called "readers" or "seers"—for a variety of purposes, including to predict distant or future events, to give character analyses, to tell fortunes, or to help a client make choices about current situations and problems. • With respect to the tool or object used to induce the crystal-gazer's trance, this can be achieved with any shiny object, including a crystalline gem stone or a convex mirror— but in common practice, a crystal ball is most often used. The size of ball preferred varies greatly among those who practice crystallomancy. Some gazers use a "palm ball" of a few inches in diameter that is held in the hand; others prefer a larger ball mounted on a stand. The stereotypical image of a gypsy woman wearing a headscarf and telling fortunes for her clients by means of a very large crystal ball is widely depicted in the media and can be found in hundreds of popular books, advertising pages, and films of the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries. The pervasiveness of this image may have led to the increased use of fairly large crystal balls by those who can afford them. • Books of instruction in the art of crystal gazing often suggest that the ball used should be perfectly spherical (that is, without a flat bottom) and should be supported in a wooden or metal stand. If made of glass (e.g. lead crystal), it should be free from air bubbles but may be colored. If carved from natural crystalline stone (such as quartz, beryl, calcite, obsidian, or amethyst), it may display the natural coloring and structure of the mineral from which it was fashioned. Some authors advise students to place a sigil, seal, or talismanic emblem beneath a clear sphere, but most do not. Most authors suggest that the work of crystal gazing should be undertaken in a dimly-lit and quiet room, so as to foster visions and more easily allow the onset of a trance state. • Some practitioners claim that crystal gazing engenders visionary experiences and preternatural and/or supernatural insight, while others think that the visions arise from the subconscious mind of the crystal gazer. Some authors accept both positions as not mutually incompatible.
Interpreting Images presented by the Crystal:
• Many of the methods of interpretation can be taken from what was learned when we studied Dream Divination. • It is important to note that, for all but the most experienced or attuned Seers, what is seen in the crystal is seldom meant to be taken literally. • If one is properly attuned to the forces and to their own Sight, they may see a pure, unobstructed vision or what is to come. • However, most will only see symbols. • Details like emotions are hard to place and generally require another detail to throw the meaning into the light. • Details like themes can be very telling, but are very much open to interpretation. • Details like objects are usually tied to some sort of symbolism; how they are presented, or not presented in the example of the missing pants, is more important than the object itself. • People are a very interesting thing to note; their presence can mean many things. Just because a person is in your dream doesn't mean that they'll be present when the events being foretold take place, which is the general belief. Rather, it can mean that you would want them there, or that they represent something you will need. The presence of a brave friend can be because you'll need your courage; a wise friend could mean you'll need wisdom.
Homework: Borrow a Crystal Ball from your professor and spend some time scrying and attempting to interpret whatever images you might see.
OOC:
If you are quoted, your student is registered for this lesson. If he or she does not attend at least one class, his/her house will be docked ten points at the end of the term. This is waived if you are listed as absent.
ℂ𝕌ℝℝ𝔼ℕ𝕋𝕃𝕐 ╔═══════════════════════════════╗ Single LookingDistractedin her Classroom with her Students xxxFEELINGxxx Dazed xxxTHINKINGxxx ❝ I wonder who will See... ❞ ╚═══════════════════════════════╝
But what is this, that I cant see?✥ ✥ ✥xxx With ice cold hands taking hold of me.✥ ✥ ✥xxxxxx When God is gone, and the devil takes hold,✥ ✥ ✥xxxxxxxxx Who'll have mercy on your soul?✥ ✥ ✥xxxxxxxxxxxx ═════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
spaceDrusilla had placed Crystal Balls out on the four tables at the front of the class, ready for the lesson at hand. She couldn't help but wonder if any of the students taking this lesson had the aptitude to See anything in their swirling depths. She waited for the students to arrive, and then smiled, her arms opening in a welcoming gesture. This lesson was a true test, not just to whether or not a student could See, but also if they took the lesson seriously."Hello, students! I'd like you all to read the notes on the board, and preferably write them down as well. Then, I will guide you through a meditative exercise to clear your mind, after which you will each gaze into the Crystal Ball on your desk and take note of what you see, if anything."She sat on her desk, crossing her legs in a relaxed seated position, and waited patiently. When the quills had stopped and the eyes were on her, she smiled.
"Alright, now, I'd like you all to sit in your seat like so, or on the floor, if you like. Take a deep breathe through your nose, filling your lungs until you can take in no more air, and then slowly release the air through your mouth. Do this again, and again, relaxing your mind and body. Clear your mind of any images, any thoughts. Calm yourself, center your being. When you feel you are relaxed, a blank slate, open your eyes, gaze into the Ball, and See."She watched carefully, eyeing their expressions. Waiting to see if anyone would truly See anything.
╚═════════════════════════════════════════════════ xxx✥ ✥ ✥No wealth, no ruin, no silver, no gold; xxxxxx✥ ✥ ✥Nothing satisfies me but your soul. xxxxxxxxx✥ ✥ ✥Well, I am Death, none can excel. xxxxxxxxxxxx✥ ✥ ✥I'll open the door to Heaven or Hell.
Camila had scuttled through the doorway, guiding the short heels of her Mary Janes across the stone floor in short, hurried steps to suit her petite frame. A small smile pricked at the corner of her lips as took a seat behind one of the crystal balls, it was large, and clear, and perched on a metal stand at the center of her small round table. As she gazed into its depths, her attention perked up at the professor's voice and followed her instruction, whipping out her notebook and quill to jot down the notes on the board. It took her longer than expected, damn notes, but she had to make them neat, and cursive, and pretty, complete with a few scrawling vines and full petaled roses. She crossed her legs underneath her dutifully then pulled her hair back in a loose bun and teased her bangs gently to straighten them out before following the actual directions. Closing her eyes, taking a deep breath, she tried to center herself, but she couldn't stop thinking! First about the class, than her stepbrother, than about Morven and how odd she'd reacted to being called a kitten. Then to Benjamin, bloody Benjamin, then she tried to fight that smile away as she shook her head, refocused her attention, and felt her stomach growl for something sweet. She must have spent the entire class period trying to center herself long enough to finally feel comfortable opening her eyes and gazing into the clear glass, the void and depth magnetized her vision but remained empty. Just completely, and utterly, empty.
[OOC://xXxXx]
╔════════════════════╗ ☆═━┈Fourth Year Chaser┈━═☆ Divination Class Dressed in:Slytherin Uniform 14 yrs ☪ 5' 3" ☪ 129lbs ╚════════════════════╝
████████████████xxαяιαηα εℓωσσ∂xx███████xxxxinsult me, i'll get over it. insult my friends, i'll destroy you.
Fourth Year | | Fourteen | | Hufflepuff | | Single | | Metamorphmagus
Ariana walked into Divination and was immediately excited when she saw the crystal balls sitting atop every table. We'll be crystal gazing! She hurried over to the desk and took a seat, staring at the clear ball perched upon a metal stand. She was so intrigued by the ball that, when Professor Somerset started their lesson, she was a little startled. Ariana quickly took out her parchment paper and wrote down her notes, making sure her handwriting was at least readable. She was so excited that it was hard to slow herself down while writing everything out. The hard part about the whole thing was attempting to clear her mind. Ariana almost had thoughts running through her head 24/7, and being that she was exciting, it was even harder. She drew in long, deep breaths and attempted to clear her head. While she hadn't expected it, eventually it seemed that her mind had quieted, and she wasn't being plagued by her usual running thoughts. When that time finally came, Ariana gazed into the ball, tilting her head. At first, she saw nothing; the ball continued to be completely empty, which was a little irritating. However, after a while of staring into the ball, Ariana noticed something; as she stared into that ball it was like there was something in there, but it was just out of view. Drawing in another breath, Ariana looked a little closer. Maybe it was just a reflection off something in the room? Maybe she was wrong? She wasn't sure. After a bit more staring at the ball, it seemed like there was something in there, however she couldn't quite make it out. Hmph...it was probably just a shadow... Ariana though to herself, frowning a bit.
• Cartomancy is fortune-telling or divination using a deck of cards. Forms of cartomancy appeared soon after playing cards were first introduced into Europe in the 14th century. Practitioners of cartomancy are generally known as cartomancers, card readers, or simply readers. Cartomancy is one of the oldest of the more common forms of fortune-telling. It is similar to tarot card reading in that various card spreads are used, such as single card, "Destiny Square," and 3 cards. The tarot can also be used in cartomancy. Cartomancy using standard playing cards was the most popular form of providing fortune-telling card readings in the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. In English-speaking countries, a standard deck of Anglo-American bridge/poker playing cards (i.e., 52-card, four-suit set) can be used in the cartomancy reading; the deck is often augmented with jokers, and even with the blank card found in many packaged decks. In France, the 32-card piquet playing-card deck was, and still is, most typically used in cartomancy readings, while the 52-card deck was, and still is, also used for this purpose. (A piquet deck is with a 52-card deck with all of the 2s through the 6s removed. This leaves all of the 7s through the 10s, the face cards, and the aces.)
The Wheel of Fortune:
• The most popular method of cartomancy using a standard playing deck is referred to as the Wheel of Fortune. Here, the reader removes cards at random and assigns significance to them based in the order they were chosen. Though the interpretation of various cards varies by region, the common significators for the future are as follows:
• King of Hearts: A man over 35, with sandy, dark blond, or light brown hair, with brown, blue or hazel eyes. Usually a family member or other loved one. Paternal and family-oriented. • King of Diamonds: A man over 35, with red or light blond hair with blue, green or gray eyes, Usually a wealthy man in an authority position. • King of Clubs: A man over 35, with medium or dark brown hair, with brown, blue or hazel eyes. Usually a married business man (although business could have a sexual, rather than commercial, interpretation.) • King of Spades: A man over 35, with dark brown to black hair, and dark brown eyes. Usually a widower or divorced man, or a man from a foreign country. Ambitious and powerful, can be arrogant and deceptive. • Queen of Hearts: A woman over 18, with sandy, dark blond, or light brown hair, with brown, blue or hazel eyes. Usually a family member or other loved one. Maternal and family-oriented. • Queen of Diamonds: A woman over 18, with red or light blond hair with blue, green or gray eyes, Usually a wealthy woman in an authority position. • Queen of Clubs: A woman over 18, with medium or dark brown hair, with brown, blue or hazel eyes. Usually a business woman or social butterfly. • Queen of Spades: A woman over 18, with dark brown to black hair, and dark brown eyes. Usually a widow or divorced woman, or a woman from a foreign country. Ambitious and intelligent, can be cold, calculating, or spiteful.
Spreads:
• Another common method used in Cartomancy is to use Spreads, similar to what is used in Tarot, where one shuffles the deck until it feels 'right,' and then lays the cards out in a particular pattern. Each card represents something, such as the past, present or future. Which card is in which position is then interpreted by the reader.
Common Spreads
• The Three Card Spread: Indicating past, present and future. • The Yes or No Spread: Five cards are laid out and a yes or no question is asked. Red indicates yes, black indicates no. The more of one color there is, the more definite the answer is.
Homework: Do a reading on yourself, either using the Wheel of Fortune or a Spread taught in class. Attempt to interpret the results.
OOC:
If you are quoted, your student is registered for this lesson. If he or she does not attend at least one class, his/her house will be docked ten points at the end of the term. This is waived if you are listed as absent.
Arkendrai
Ariana Elwood
Yukina101
Thane Findlay-Abrams
Essy ze Ninja
Camilla Rojas
Quote:
Cash Meadows Devlyn Maycry excused - hiatus
Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2015 11:42 pm
ℂ𝕌ℝℝ𝔼ℕ𝕋𝕃𝕐 ╔═══════════════════════════════╗ Single LookingDistractedin her Classroom with her Students xxxFEELINGxxx Dazed xxxTHINKINGxxx ❝ I wonder what the cards have to say... ❞ ╚═══════════════════════════════╝
But what is this, that I cant see?✥ ✥ ✥xxx With ice cold hands taking hold of me.✥ ✥ ✥xxxxxx When God is gone, and the devil takes hold,✥ ✥ ✥xxxxxxxxx Who'll have mercy on your soul?✥ ✥ ✥xxxxxxxxxxxx ═════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
spaceDrusilla had placed a single deck of cards before each chair in the classroom today, each deck from her own collection, well-worn and clearly used often. As the students filed in, she smiled widely at each of them."Hello, class! Today we'll be going over Cartomancy, which is a method of Divination using cards. We will be focusing specifically on using a traditional 52 card deck, though of course there are many different types of cards that can be used, including some meant specifically for Divination, such as Tarot and Oracle cards. Take a minute to copy down the notes, then open your decks."She gave them all a couple of minutes to do that, and once they all had their cards out, she continued."Now then, I'm sure you've all noticed, these cards have all been used... a lot. They are from my personal collection, so please be careful with them. I would like you each to shuffle your decks, and use the Yes or No method to answer a question. It doesn't have to be profound or complicated, something as simple as 'will there be roast for dinner' is perfectly fine. If you like, you may share your results with the class, but of course it is completely optional. House points will be awarded for participation."The seer pursed her lips, waiting patiently.
╚═════════════════════════════════════════════════ xxx✥ ✥ ✥No wealth, no ruin, no silver, no gold; xxxxxx✥ ✥ ✥Nothing satisfies me but your soul. xxxxxxxxx✥ ✥ ✥Well, I am Death, none can excel. xxxxxxxxxxxx✥ ✥ ✥I'll open the door to Heaven or Hell.
Camila, as the weeks wore on, had come to achieve a level of intrigue and understanding, in concerns with the class and all of its teachings. She'd been skeptical, at first, and had only taken the course as it seemed like an easy O. After all, she could make it all up, if she had to, and none would be the wiser (or so it seemed.) But the class had begun to interest her more than she cared to admit, to a point where even she began to feel jealousy claw its way up her throat. She wished she could do more. And she was determined for it, too. Perhaps not as much as the hufflepuff, Ariana, but maybe. As she took her seat, she gently slid a green chipped fingernail across the deck of cards, its worn exterior, folded corners, and faded colors exaggerated it's age, or maybe not. She blinked up at the professor as she explained, quite sternly, in comparison to her usually flighty words, not to damage the cards before actually explaining the lesson. Camila did as she was told, gently shuffled them, probably far more than she needed to, and began to lay five cards face down. ”Will I pass this class?” She figured she'd start easy, and one by one, flipped the cards over, four of which, ran red, but the final card, was a black king. She shrugged and shuffled the cards to play again.
”Okay, ummm....Does Morven like Benji?” She mumbled to herself, and flipped the cards over, then blinked. Three black, two red... so she doesn't? Or does she? “Does Mori like Benji?” She whispered harshly again, trying not to be overhead as she whipped the cards over. Three red. Two black. Yes. She frowned. ”.....Dammit.” Camila only huffed, then spent the rest of the class period with her face cupped in both hands staring down at the cards.
[OOC://xXxXx]
╔════════════════════╗ ☆═━┈Fourth Year Chaser┈━═☆ Divination Class Dressed in:Slytherin Uniform 14 yrs ☪ 5' 3" ☪ 129lbs ╚════════════════════╝
Quote:
Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2015 3:01 pm
x x x x
x
████████████████xxαяιαηα εℓωσσ∂xx███████xxxxinsult me, i'll get over it. insult my friends, i'll destroy you.
Fourth Year | | Fourteen | | Hufflepuff | | Single | | Metamorphmagus
Ariana walked into Divination and took her seat. She always seemed to walk into the classroom in a particularly good mood; it must've been the classroom itself... Shrugging inwardly, Ariana examined the deck of cards sitting on her desk. They were old and worn from years of work. Cartomancy... She thought to herself, only looking up when Professor Somerset began to speak. She wrote down all her notes in neat handwriting, and continued listening when Professor Somerset went on with her lesson. So they were to ask yes and no questions...simple enough. After everything was written down neatly, Ariana took the deck of cards into her hand and thought, biting the inside of her cheek...what was she supposed to ask? Starting with a simple question, Ariana asked "Will I pass this class?" quietly while setting out her five cards. After turning each over, Ariana cocked her head to one side. Four red, one black. Good sign... She smiled to herself, picking up her cards and shuffling them into her main deck again. Setting out another five cards, Ariana asked "Hmm...will I pass History of Magic, though?" She asked, frowning a bit. She'd always done horribly in History, and she doubted she'd pass it...maybe barely. Flipping over her cards, Ariana furrowed her eyebrows. Three black, two red. So...what, there's less of a chance she will than she won't? Sighing, Ariana put the cards back in the deck again, then shuffled them. She continued asking questions quietly, deciding to not really share with anyone, she was a little uncomfortable with that...
Oneiromancy (from the Greek Oneiros, who were the gods of dreams) is a form of divination based upon dreams; it is a system of dream interpretation that uses dreams to predict the future.
Interpreting Dreams:
• This form of Divination is simultaneously one of the most welcoming and most difficult forms of divining. Its requirements are simple, but can be difficult to attain. Namely, in order to use Oneiromancy, one must remember something of their dreams. • The entirety of a dream is irrelvent; what is generally the most important is something that stands out. This can be anything from an object (I wasn't wearing any pants!) to a theme (I was lost!) to an emotion (I felt afraid!). The more specific the detail is, the more easily the sign can be read, and the more detailed a reading can be. • Details like emotions are hard to place and generally require another detail to throw the meaning into the light. • Details like themes can be very telling, but are very much open to interpretation. • Details like objects are usually tied to some sort of symbolism; how they are presented, or not presented in the example of the missing pants, is more important than the object itself. • People are a very interesting thing to note in dreams; their presence can mean many things. Just because a person is in your dream doesn't mean that they'll be present when the events being foretold take place, which is the general belief. Rather, it can mean that you would want them there, or that they represent something you will need. The presence of a brave friend can be because you'll need your courage; a wise friend could mean you'll need wisdom.
Dream Journals:
• One of the simplest ways to study this form of Divination is to keep a Dream Journal. • Each day (or night), as soon as you wake up, immediately write down everything you remember from any dreams you had. It's important to not waste time; the longer you take to get to this, the more you'll forget. • At the end of each week, read through your notes and see if there were any trends. Repeated symbols, a similar theme or emotion underlying a majority of the dreams, the presence of a single figure; all of these can be signs that your dreams are trying to tell you of something to come. • Isolate the trends that are most prevalent or seem most important. Then, find a book on Dream Symbols. Look through it for the symbols you've noted. Write out the information for each of the symbols you isolated. • The likelihood of a black and white explanation of what's to come is unlikely; rather, you'll probably end up with some sort of vague idea of something that will happen. It might be broad and very open to interpretation, so don't discredit it. Watch what happens in the weeks to come and see if anything matches up. If it does, make a note of that; it might help you to more effectively interpret your next set of dreams.
Homework:Keep a dream journal for one week and attempt to interpret the symbols you find.
(( OOC: )) If you are quoted, your student is registered for this lesson. If he or she does not attend at least one class, his/her house will be docked ten points at the end of the term. Exceptions can be made provided you contact Cara MiaKitty and are able to provide a reasonable excuse.
The King Beardly
Dylan Burgamy
Yukina101
Timothy Cherri
Sir Spazalots
Uriah Simons
Cara MiaKitty
Elliott Holt Persephone Tempest
Posted: Fri May 15, 2015 7:29 pm
c υ r r e n т l y ╔═══════════════════════════════╗ ✖ 𝓼𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓵𝒆 ✖ LookingDistractedin her Classroom with her Fourth Years xxxғeelιngxxx Focused xxxтнιnĸιngxxx ❝ Little ducklings, all in a row. ❞ ╚═══════════════════════════════╝
spaceDrusilla entered the classroom in a daze. She was quite late, she was certain of it. Where did the time go? She'd been so caught up in her cards and runes that she'd completely lost track of it... or perhaps she'd simply stared off into space for a couple of hours. Both were equally possible, after all... except that when she arrived in the classroom and checked the clock, she was actually on time. She frowned; the clock in her office must be wrong, then. She'd have to fix it... if she remembered. Which she probably wouldn't, of course. She blinked a moment, then smiled at her students, her arms sweeping open in a grand gesture."Hello, my little ducks, and welcome back to Divination. I am Professor Somerset. Now then, in this class, you will need to have an open mind, open eyes, and patience. Divination is a powerful art, but difficult. Also, there will be no disrespecting of my craft, or of the abilities of fellow students... now then! With that unpleasantness out of the way, we can begin."
spaceShe paused long enough to let the students absorb her words, and long enough to get just a tad distracted... what was she looking at, though? She scowled for a moment, shoved the visions away, and smiled widely again at her students before launching into the lecture."Divining the future through Dreams is one of the oldest arts known to man, both of the Magical and Muggle variety. It is also one of the most difficult to master, for each person has their own rhyme and reason to their dreams. It is one of the reasons why, particularly among Muggle fortune tellers, understanding and interpreting the signals in the dreams of another can prove difficult. Symbols, aside from a few, ancient, archaic ones which resonate with almost all people, may mean different things from different people. A Slytherin, for instance, might dream of a snake, a symbol of ambition or power or confidence. However, that same snake in the dreams of say, a Christian Muggle, might represent greed, corruption, or danger. Because of these differences in the way we view the world, and the things that might appear to us in our dreams, it is really only an individual who can make a real prediction of what their dream might be telling them."She stopped then, curious. She had, of course, seen this play out, but in different ways each time... how would it happen then?
spaceThe Seer's eyes glazed, and she shifted a bit, her head tilting in an odd manner, rather like a bird's, her eyes unblinking and unseeing. After a moment, she gave her head a light shake, and smiled again."Where was I? Oh, yes. Dreams. Well, then. Let's talk about dreams, why don't we? Tell me, What are some common symbols in dreams, and what might those symbols represent? What is an example of a symbol that might mean something vastly different to different groups of people?"She waited patiently, eager to hear what her students had to say. It would tell her much about them... but didn't she already know? Sometimes she forgot...
Tell me about the old days, Another night at the Copper Coin
Fourth year ║ Ravenclaw ║ Chaser ║ Half-blood
Dylan found his way into Divination, setting his things down in a random seat, a bit tired to focus on something so vague as dreams, but decided he'd get over that and contribute anyway. He raised a hand, sitting himself up and racking his brain for an answer. He didn't know much about the symbolism of dreams, but he had remembered reading a book that talked about dreams and what they meant. "Er, I've heard that when you dream of falling in a dream, it means that either we need to let something go or that something in our life is going out of control. I guess it depends on how fast you're falling." He sat back, deciding that would be good enough.
OOC:
Quote:
Tell me about the old days, Put the sun into the sea.
Posted: Fri May 22, 2015 4:40 pm
Lesson 1: Interpreting Dreams
Lesson Closed
Homework:Keep a dream journal for one week and attempt to interpret the symbols you find.
10 total House Points awarded to Dylan Burgamy of Ravenclaw House.
Dream Divination, or Oneiromancy in proper terminology (from the Greek Oneiros, who were the gods of dreams), is a form of divination based upon dreams; it is a system of dream interpretation that uses dreams to predict the future.
Interpreting Dreams:
• This form of Divination is simultaneously one of the most welcoming and most difficult forms of divining. Its requirements are simple, but can be difficult to attain. Namely, in order to use Oneiromancy, one must remember something of their dreams. • The entirety of a dream is irrelvent; what is generally the most important is something that stands out. This can be anything from an object (I wasn't wearing any pants!) to a theme (I was lost!) to an emotion (I felt afraid!). The more specific the detail is, the more easily the sign can be read, and the more detailed a reading can be. • Details like emotions are hard to place and generally require another detail to throw the meaning into the light. • Details like themes can be very telling, but are very much open to interpretation. • Details like objects are usually tied to some sort of symbolism; how they are presented, or not presented in the example of the missing pants, is more important than the object itself. • People are a very interesting thing to note in dreams; their presence can mean many things. Just because a person is in your dream doesn't mean that they'll be present when the events being foretold take place, which is the general belief. Rather, it can mean that you would want them there, or that they represent something you will need. The presence of a brave friend can be because you'll need your courage; a wise friend could mean you'll need wisdom.
Dream Journals:
• One of the simplest ways to study this form of Divination is to keep a Dream Journal. • Each day (or night), as soon as you wake up, immediately write down everything you remember from any dreams you had. It's important to not waste time; the longer you take to get to this, the more you'll forget. • At the end of each week, read through your notes and see if there were any trends. Repeated symbols, a similar theme or emotion underlying a majority of the dreams, the presence of a single figure; all of these can be signs that your dreams are trying to tell you of something to come. • Isolate the trends that are most prevalent or seem most important. Then, find a book on Dream Symbols. Look through it for the symbols you've noted. Write out the information for each of the symbols you isolated. • The likelihood of a black and white explanation of what's to come is unlikely; rather, you'll probably end up with some sort of vague idea of something that will happen. It might be broad and very open to interpretation, so don't discredit it. Watch what happens in the weeks to come and see if anything matches up. If it does, make a note of that; it might help you to more effectively interpret your next set of dreams.
Homework:Borrow a Crystal Ball from your professor and spend some time scrying and attempting to interpret whatever images you might see.
(( OOC: )) If you are quoted, your student is registered for this lesson. If he or she does not attend at least one class, his/her house will be docked ten points at the end of the term. Exceptions can be made provided you contact Cara MiaKitty and are able to provide a reasonable excuse.
