| Forest Troll
Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Ohio
Posts: 27,991
Hogwarts RPG Name:
Kirsten Delbin
Hufflepuff Fifth Year
Hogwarts RPG Name:
Mateo Theodore
Slytherin Fifth Year
  x11  x9
|  Puff by day, snake by night | Mj's bestie | Always UP to Something...
Cassie loved to hear the thoughts about divination no matter if they were good or bad and she liked the challenge of the bad, so hearing every point of view coming from her students was a delight. As a younger witch she might have closed up and not spoke more freely, but at her age she knew her stuff and was comfortable in her own abilities.
SPOILER!!: Morgan Quote:
Originally Posted by emjay  Morgan was unsure what day it was, let alone what class he was suppose to be in at any given moment. Time just blurred together into one endless ordeal, being in that room most of the time. So normally he followed his year mates when it was time to be let out for school. Most times he ended up in the right place, or at least it seemed that way.
And he realized that he was meant to be in Divination once they reached the top of the castle. "Hello, Professor," he greeted Kitridge politely, his voice almost robotic as he was running on autopilot these days. But he soon narrowed his eyes as he noticed Nemesis already there when he walked in to find a seat.
What were they doing in Divination? Morgan was sure they didn't take the class as he'd never seen them here, so they were probably here to rat anyone else out who didn't mind their p's and q's. "Nothing better to do, Nemesis?" he asked oh so politely with just a tinge of annoyance underlying his tone. But he didn't wait for answer as he kept walking before sitting in an empty seat.
Bernie still seemed awfully chummy with them which was curious. But Morgan was not going to keep letting Nemesis live rent free in his head which they totally did so he turned his narrowed eyes away from them and glanced up at the board as he absently scratched at his arm.
Thankfully he wasn't sitting long before class started and he barely gave the question any thought before raising his hand. "I think people hear what they want to hear and can just read into anything they want to get the answers they want." Skeptical? Yeah, he was these days.
Morgan being the first to answer and Cassie was ready, "You are very correct in some ways Morgan, people tend to be tone deaf to things they don't want to hear or that don't follow what they want. Words can be twisted in ways to make it seem they are going the way that a person wants, but at some point those that twist words end up realizing how much they can not change things that are set about them."
SPOILER!!: Claudine Quote:
Originally Posted by FearlessLeader19 Thoughts of how the universe fits in with the lessons?
Okay, there was the start to the lesson that they weren’t used to. Anyway. Claudine considered the questions and took her time to put her thoughts together. Over the course of her five years at Hogwarts, her opinion on Divination was in the middle; there wasn’t much believe in the subject but then she couldn’t explain how that one time she and the rest of the class had managed to summon a ghost the other term.
So, coming back to the question…
The Snakette sat back in her chair thoughtfully. Up went a hand after sometime. “I think Diviners use the universe to get their readings.’’ Claudine did not wish to elaborate her thoughts. She didn't have the energy.
"You are very right, diviners are people that have opened up their mind or the third eye per say and really watch the universe in all these different forms to come to find uniqueness in every aspect that could be giving a warning or just knowledge of something going on." There were the forms that looked at the past as well, but those weren't what today was about.
SPOILER!!: Noah Quote:
Originally Posted by Watson She wouldn’t say more? Noah nodded. Right! No spoilers. He offered Professor Kitredge a small smile.
Class shortly began thereafter and he focused on the question that she had posed the class. Wait.... what did this have to do with being itchy? The boy bit his lip, wishing that he had Aboli beside him to offer a perspective. She was amazing at Divination..... Absolutely amazing at it. He wished he could have been that good at it. He remained silent at first, listening to his peers comments. At Morgan’s comment, he found himself nodding in agreement. Yes, people chose to interpret what they wanted too... That was true.....And Claudine’s comment about diviner’s using the universe to get readings made sense to him. He wanted to connect it to horoscopes and talk about how muggles looked to astrology- well some- like his cousin LIVED off of his prophesied horoscope to tell them how to seize the day... How would Aboli answer the question? He tried to think through the questions she had prompted him with two years when they had studied for Divination OWLS together back in the library.
As he mulled over the question, he found himself having a moment of realization. Things started to click. What if the universe was like on of his Dad’s coworkers? The two of them couldn’t speak the same language and needed someone to interpret it... maybe divination was like that?
He raised his hand. “I think the universe is giving us signs of what’s happening around us.... Divination is the...” What was the right word he wished to use? Ah yes! “Tool for us to interpret it. It’s almost like we speak two different languages. The first is the universe which may do it through omens... And the diviner comes in and interprets the language through the use of divination.”
"Absolutely brilliant Noah, the way you worded that was very ideal. Diviners are interpreters and many have studied these forms for so long that they can speak all the forms and interpretations people need to find what they are looking for, whether it good or bad."
SPOILER!!: Quinn Quote:
Originally Posted by NiallNIP Quinn was dragged from his thoughts as he heard Morgan's remark towards Nem. Quinn hadn't even noticed them come in, or even if they were here before Quinn was. Being reminded of Nem's existence made Quinn's blood boil. He knew Nem wasn't to be trusted, Bernie just didn't want to believe it. And then they're the reason that Ash got... got something-ed. He wasn't sure if Ash or any of the others were even still alive... and that was Nem's stupid fault.
Today had just turned into an angry day. And yet, Quinn couldn't do anything about it. Nem could just as easily kill him as any of the Alliance—considering they were in it.
Quinn tapped his foot in annoyance of Nem's mere presence in the room as the Professor made her introduction to the lesson. Quinn wasn't sure if he thought Divination was real, but he knew he didn't drop a rock on his foot for nothing. And the bad omen was all too right.
"I don't know. I think it could be. But some people who call themselves diviners are definitely fakes. And who knows if you're subconsciously pushing yourself towards a certain outcome now that you've gotten the reading, like a self-fulfilling-prophecy-type thing—now that you think it's going to happen, you unintentionally make it happen. It's really up for interpretation. But, if it works for some people, then it works for them," he shrugged.
"You are not wrong in some ways Quinn, don't we all have a few paths laid ahead of us and it the world gives us clues on which we should pick, but in the end our feet and actions will be the reason we go down one path or another. So if someone has it in their head something will happen they certainly will follow that path."
SPOILER!!: Devin Quote:
Originally Posted by griffin Huh. What did this whole questioning the legitimacy of signs have to do with itchiness? Maybe they were going to learn that being itchy was some kind of sign? This stuff about the universe sounded deep. Too deep for his mind to fully contemplate right now. Perhaps in another time when he didn’t have to worry about if he and his friends would survive to see their families again he would have enjoyed this discussion more. ”Different people might interpret the same sign to have different meanings because they personally relate to it in a different way, and so they shape their understanding of it based on their own experiences. But I don’t think that means that signs from the universe don’t mean anything, just that the meanings of divination are different for everyone.” He had no idea if that made sense or even if it adequately answered the question, but too much of his brain power was going to baseline survival right now for him to think any deeper about the universe. Honestly he had no idea on if divination really meant anything to him at all. There were much more pressing issues on hand in the present that needed to be sorted before he could worry about the future. It seemed rather pointless trying to predict the future when he wasn’t even certain that there would be one.
Devin got some nods, "People can tend to do that and it is just like learning something knew. We always connect it with things we already know so we can find a way to relate the information. Thankfully with divination there is guidance and information to help us form a reading based on others so that people can't just interpret things the way they want. " She knew that wouldn't work well if everyone just predicted everything correctly.
SPOILER!!: Curtis Quote:
Originally Posted by Charely Potter There were times that Curtis wanted to really talk with his godmother again, alone. But it was limited to classes and outdoor escorts.. with other people present. Their greetings were just enough for now as he settled into the lesson beginning.
What did he think about the first question? Given the right time, diviners will seek the answer they desire or happen upon a sign that the universe spell out. Curtis thought before answering, "It depends on the Diviner themselves. Some take advantage of the signs and twist them unto their own wishes," Works with just about anything really. "Perhaps those that don't believe came across too many undesirable readings." Somehow just saying this aloud, he felt something click in his head. There was something deeper behind this question.
Curtis got a nod, "Many have tried to form their own opinions and twist things the way they want. With divinations there is certainly ways to do that, but making a sign the way you want, doesn't mean that is what the sign actually means. Ones that don't believe do tend to make readings a joke, so I could see some doing this as well."
SPOILER!!: Camryn Quote:
Originally Posted by Daydreamer11 Camryn sat with her face in her hands, trying hard to maintain her “don’t care” attitude. She was listening as the professor spoke. The topic had taken a sharp turn from itching to Divination and the universe. Cam just wanted to sit there and think about happier times, happier things. However, she just couldn’t help herself. She had to answer.
Raising her hand, Cam began to give her opinion.......albeit without enthusiasm. ”I think.......there are people who see signs in everything, real or not. They make up their own interpretations and believe they are true, even though they are not. But.....I do believe that the universe tries to help us out sometimes. It tries to tell us things that we need to know. I think there are some people, diviners, who really are in touch with the universe or whatever is out there and they can make sense of the signs.” Well that was a lot for someone who didn’t care.
She really liked this answer and gave a few nods, "You are very much on the right track with all of this. Diviners are in touch with the universe, because they spend so much time studying it and learning to connect to it. If you know what to look for you can always find your way, but isn't that the way with life, if you look for the wrong in everything you will find the wrong, if you look for the helpers, you will find the helpers?"
SPOILER!!: Kinsay Quote:
Originally Posted by ArianaBlack Kinsay sat quietly (which was strange) and properly (which was even stranger) as she waited for class to begin. She only looked over at Nemesis briefly as he strolled by. Nemesis made her feel a confused sort of way. It was hard, understanding her feelings. Especially when they all seemed to conflict. That's why her ultimate solution was to just stop thinking about it all together. Except. That never really worked because the more she told herself to stop thinking it - the more she did think it. See? Confusing.
And she was doing it again. The thinking about it thing.
So when Mamie came by to sit, Kizzy was desperate to think about anything else. She gave table-mate a sad sort of look. A I-hope-no-one-disappears-today sort of look. A everything-is-terrible and I-don't-even-like-divination sort of look.
And then when class began, Kizzy turned her attention to Professor Kitridge instead. The question did help with distractions. Kinsay firmly believed that divination didn't actually work because nothing about it made sense. It wasn't science. No offense. Like Morgan said. Or like Quinn. Some people are fakers, Kinsay knew. Sometimes Kinsay thought maybe Professor Kitridge was a faker too. She couldn't say this, of course, because it might hurt her professors feelings, so instead, Kiz raised her hand to ask a question. An important one. "Professor? If divination really works, how come you didn't know terrible things were going to happen this year?"
This.............. was meant to be said with more tact.
Cassie smiled at this, really smiled, "Many diviners have different gifts and talents. My talents lay in readings and creatures, but that doesn't mean I didn't see bad happening. In all readings the signs were there, but to pin point exactly what was going to take place would have taken a skill that I do not have and I am okay saying that." She was no Trelawney, though she wouldn't mind being one.
SPOILER!!: Nem Quote:
Originally Posted by Felixir Nem's eyes found Bernadette as she entered, and tracked her all the way to the seat beside them. "Hey." They tilted back an inch or two more, one foot hooked around a chair leg, while the toes of the other provided support and leverage. "Oh, the usual." Would only have been polite to ask the question in return, but Nem knew where Bernadette could usually be found these days. Really, it was a kindness that they didn't ask, and Nemesis Upstead was nothing if not terribly kind.
Speaking of terribly kind, they shot a glance at the other Gryffindor, now passing by. "I'm here to learn, McCarthy," Nem replied, just as politely, and turned their eyes to the front of the room again. Ready to learn, see?
Look. A question.
And look. An answer. "You know, the universe doesn't give us anything, or try to help us. It's just there." So jot that down. "There are things available to be interpreted - signs and whatever, sure - but they aren't personally delivered. You have to see them and take them for yourself, if you even have the capacity to do so." A lot could be said for a method like that, in any context. Nem could be the one to say it, if they felt so inclined. The pin on their chest gleamed in the dim light of the nearest candle. "Anyway, Divination is a real branch of magic, that's fairly well-documented. But it's also inexact, and unreliable. There are plenty of diviners who make it up or see what they want to see, others who actually have decent intuition but not a clue how to use it, and others still who know how and when to tap into that intuition." Bona fide Seers were another kettle of kelpies entirely, as far as Nem was concerned, but they weren't going down that rabbit hole today.
She highly enjoyed Nems answer and it showed in her smile. She wasn't sure she smiled this much in awhile. "They could be some opinions that the universe doesn't give us anything, but maybe one is just not seeing the repetitive signs in front of them." She would get to more of that in a bit, but for now she gave Nem a very excited nod.
SPOILER!!: Apollo Quote:
Originally Posted by PhoenixRising Good answer? Hold onto until they got started? Apollo wondered now if perhaps he wasn't meant to answer aloud just yet. Had anyone answered about the itchy question? He glanced around at his peers but no time to contemplate because it seemed they were getting started.
The first year listened as Kitridge moved about the class, introducing today's topic. Divination is all around us? He tilted his head in contemplation because he wanted to believe that divination was real and yet there was a small part of his brain telling him that it's bologna. Wasn't it? He listened to his peers but there was something in Nemesis' tone that made Apollo re-think his answer. Inexact and unreliable? Was it really though if it was a real branch of magic? Using charms when done improperly was unreliable too, so Apollo was failing to see how that was any different? If one was properly trained and educated in the subject, it would just be as reliable as any other sort of magic branch. Wouldn't it?
"There are set meanings to certain objects, so if you're choosing to see only certain objects it would be clear to see how some can get the answers they want. But that's probably true for any area of magic. Turning a blind-eye to certain aspects of magic because you want to believe that your way is the correct way. That your views are correct." Was he talking about more than just the Hogwarts subjects here? Perhaps. But hopefully vague enough that it wouldn't get him into trouble.
This first year was very in tune with today's class, had he looked at her lessons? "Very well put Apollo." She grinned without going into more.
SPOILER!!: Lia Quote:
Originally Posted by Kolyander Lia chewed the inside of her cheek in obvious thought. Or so she hoped it would look that way. Truthfully her mind was on everything but Divination right now. Like for instance, had she eaten breakfast this morning? She thought she had but she felt hungry. However, that was a normal occurrence over previous months.
Giving her head a small shake to clear away her current thoughts and focus more clearly on the lesson, Lia also sat herself up a bit straighter in her chair. Now what were they talking about?
Oh, right. Being itchy. Or not? The universe and Divination. Erm, okay, yes... right. This was something she could answer. Maybe. Hopefully. Dahlia slowly raised her hand. "Like some of my classmates have already said... I think it depends on the situation and who is interpreting it. Sometimes people will only see what they want to see, good or bad. Others might make things up to make it sound more interesting or to appeal more to those they're giving the information too." She took a small pause here to collect her own thoughts before continuing. "For instance I'm a triplet and while I look exactly like Lily and her and I as well as Elijah all are really simple, we all respond to the same thing differently." Much more could've been said to give a much more deeper meaning to her answer but she choose against it and fell quiet.
"That is a very unique way to look at this topic and seeing how it relates to you." She enjoyed this answer too. Her students were all doing amazing today.
SPOILER!!: Aibhi Quote:
Originally Posted by Imsosikk07 As she sat in class after staring at the board wating for Kitridge to begin, she felt a sudden tingle in her right arm. At first, she thought nothing of it, but as she kept looking at the board, the tingle in her arm grew worse and worse and just couldn't resist the urge to scratch. Itching her arm, Aibhi tried to listen to Kitridge beginning their lesson and still keeping her focus on the board with the single question. 'Why do I feel bloody itchy?' Good question! Gaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!!!!! She thought to herself more and more when she looked at the question on the board. Looking away from the board for a moment, she tried to listen in on the lesson as a way to distract herself from itching her arm again and again. Raising her hand, Aibhi speaks, "Well, one can say that from the outside looking in, it can appear magical, mystical, and maybe even scary, because we may not understand where this information is coming from. Many believe that divination works because all things are connected like with our energy."
After answering Kitridge's question, she glanced back at the board again seeing the question and looks down at her arm. Oh the urge to itch was strrrrrrooooooooooong, but she closed her hand up into a fist and looked away from her arm to resist the urge...for as best as she can. Was it her mind just playing a trick on her? Was it because of her seeing the word "I t c h" that subconsciously she just started to feel itchy out of her nowhere? She couldn't help herself. She went back to scratching her arm. Ok, new plan...avoid looking at the board... And that was exactly what she was going to do...at least for now.
Was there something wrong with her arm? Cassie looked at her concerned for a moment before listening to her answer. "Energy is always important, that is a good thought to add."
SPOILER!!: Bella Quote:
Originally Posted by Nordic Witch Bella smiled as Apollo sat down in the seat beside her murmuring about bad karma and making no sense.. It was rare that they could sit together in class, so she was going to cherish this opportunity. When the class got started Bella took her time to listen to many of the other answers while she gathered her thoughts. Divination was a very new subject to her so she wasn't really sure how diviners saw or interpreted signs.
Bella figured she had to say something though so she tentatively raised her hand as she answered. "I think the universe gives us signs to help us in our lives if we know where to look for them, and how to interpret them. I also think like some of my housemates have said already that many people give Divination a bad name if they twist the signs from the universe for the own gain and benefit instead of just reading them as they are." Like con-artist and fake fortune-tellers.
"Very good Bella, many times it has all to do with knowing how to find a sign even if you don't know how to read it."
SPOILER!!: Violet Quote:
Violet had just had it with school and the Room and the Neo-Alliance and pretty much everything in the world today. And she did not have the patience to try to pretend to like Divination--at least, not very much patience. When she saw the message on the board, she just hmphed to herself--'Why do we get itchy?' And now people were probably starting to feel itchy just from reading that. The power of suggestion, that's why. Violet gritted her teeth, determined NOT to feel itchy at all--mind over matter, that was all it took.
The question, however, was another matter. "There may be some people who can read the intentions of the universe, but I think a lot of people just fool themselves, start to see a message in every single thing that happens, maybe see more into things than is really there." Because everything in the universe is not always about you, Violet thought.
This was a professor's dream if the students were all listening to each other. "Yes, they can fool themselves, but if they really are in touch with the universe and the signs around them then they can never be fooled."
She was going to get to that right now, "Now these were amazing answers and some of you are looking at me like I have lost my mind, because the board is about itching and well we aren't talking about itching..... or are we?" She gave them all a very sly smile, "A few of you pointed out that people can interpret signs different and that can be very true, but that is why we have a divination book filled with different forms and their exact meaning, but should we ever just take that meaning alone? The answer is no, even the best diviners check other forms and other places to see what is truly going on. For instance I have spend hours upon hours this term looking at tea leaves, crystals, water, as well as my cards finding as much information as I can. I didn't just take one of those and say that was the final say." She wouldn't go into what she was looking for, but she would use herself as examples.
"Now in times of uncertainty you have to use your instincts and the world around you, sometimes the universe will help you by just a little gesture. Which brings me to my question on the board." She turned to look at the board for a moment. "Now Apollo said Karma could make you itch, like if you know something is going to happen. What are your thoughts? Why do we feel itchy? Is it because we can sense something or is it something else?"
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