Divination: Intro to Astrology
 

Sticking the door open with a charm, Professor Kapoor welcomed the students into the first Divination class of the term. A little disappointed that he wouldn't be able to teach what he would've liked to this term, but he optimistically hoped that he would be able to resume the topic next term.

"Good afternoon, students!", he greeted warmly. "Welcome to Divination. This term we will be studying Astrology. Come on in and please take a seat. We'll begin shortly."

Divination! Yes! And at last, they had a real professor - not that evil witch St. Whatsherface. Punz skipped into class with a real smile on her face and took a seat right in the front and center of the room. Was it a little weird how cheerful she was? No, not at all.

"Hello, Professor sir," Rapunzel greeted the man at the head of the room. Obviously he had to be the professor. "I'm really looking forward to your lessons this term," she added, her green eyes twinkling mischievously. Heheh - Divination was always fun.

Kayla stomped into the Divination classroom in an extremely foul mood indeed. She had almost walked past the Professor's desk before she realised she hadn't said hello. "Afternoon Professor" she said in a short tone and a quick nod of her head before she made her way to an empty table and slammed her books down onto the desk and throwing herself into a chair.

"Good afternoon." He said greeting the first student to walk into the class.

"Well, that is splendid! You know it always helps if one has a pre-dispositional interest in the subject being taught.", he breathed a sigh of relief. This class should be a relatively easy teach if all the students were this enthusiastic.

'Oh, dear!', but it seemed not all of them were. He was going to have to work for it, then. "Good afternoon.", he ventured. He hoped that with time, this lil McPuffys spirits would lighten.


"Alright, then, class, let's begin." He moved over behind his desk and shut the door with his wand until it uttered a soft click. "Who can tell me what the definition of 'Astrology' is?"

Ella walked inside very well knew that she was not late to the class. She had her warm smile as she said, "Good day Professor!" then stayed there for a second, looking arround to see if anyone was known to her. Her eyes spotted Zel. Friend!! She walked over to her, sitting next to her, "Hey, how have u been?" she asked, set her bag aside.

But when the professor started the lesson, she raised her hand, "Astrology means a group of systems, traditions, and beliefs in which knowledge of the apparent relative positions of celestial bodies and related details is held to be useful in understanding, interpreting, and organizing information about personality, human affairs, and other terrestrial matters, Professor."

With his 'I-couldn't-care-less' mask firmly in place, Nicholai entered the classroom and shot a half-smile at Professor Kapoor, chosing to sit up front so he wouldn't have to look at Kayla so he could enjoy the class.

"Hello Professor." Nicholai greeted, throwing himself casually into his seat and yawning for good measure.

Krissy sat next to her cousin quietly pulling out a quill ready to take notes.

Kayla raised her hand. "Astrology is a group of systems, traditions, and beliefs in which knowledge of the apparent relative positions of celestial bodies and related details is held to be useful in understanding, interpreting, and organizing information about personality, human affairs, and other terrestrial matters."

Her eyes narrowed as she watched Nico walk into the room and choose a seat at the front. She felt like sticking her tongue out at him but knew that would be rather childish, so instead she gave Krissy a sideways glance and a small smile. "Nice to see you cous" she whispered.

Raising his hand Nicholai answered,
"Sir, Astrology is the study of the positions and aspects of celestial bodies in the belief that they have an influence on the course of natural earthly occurrences and human affairs. As for the word itself 'Astro' means star or constellation and 'Logy' means study or science."

Erica raised her hand and said "Professor, Astrology is is a group of systems, traditions, and beliefs in which knowledge of the apparent relative positions of celestial bodies and related details is held to be useful in understanding, interpreting, and organizing information about personality, human affairs, and other terrestrial matters." Taking her hand down she hoped that she was correct.

Krissy looked up at Kayla impressed. She wondered if her aunt had been a seer as well, then maybe Krissy and Kayla had even more in common, it was strange to suddenly have family again. Her hand flying over her parchment taking notes Krissy whispered to Kayla, "Next time yeh are a smarty pants speak slower cous."

Kayla looked at Krissy and snorted loudly and she quickly covered her mouth. "I'll remember that" she murmured still trying not to laugh loudly. Oh god it felt good to have Krissy here, now she didn't feel so alone.

Camira raised her hand. "Astrology is a group of systems, traditions, and beliefs in which knowledge of the apparent relative positions of celestial bodies and related details is held to be useful in understanding, interpreting, and organizing information about personality, human affairs, and other terrestrial matters."

Qaz started taking notes. She was going to like this a lot better than reading soggy tea leaves.

"Hello!", he said smiling warmly at the student representing the blue team this afternoon. "Make us proud.", he whispered in, hoping she would do Ravenclaw well this afternoon.

"Good. 5 points."

"Excellent answers. 5 points to you both!"

"Nice of you to join us, Mr. Toussaint."

"Good. 5 points and an extra for the etmology."

"Yes. 5 points to Gryffindor."

"Wonderfully researched, Miss Yaxley. 5 points.", he said, glad she decided to make it to the introductory class afterall.

"Alright, then, moving on...", He picked up a small round object and began to play with it. "We're going to do a bit of a world culture thing here,...who can name me a few different places or types of Astrology that can be found around the globe?"

Camira raised her hand again, glad she had studied. "Horoscopic astrology is a form of astrology which uses a horoscope, a visual representation of the heavens, for a specific moment in time in order to interpret the inherent meaning underlying the alignment of the planets at that moment. The idea is that the placement of the planets at any given moment in time reflects the nature of that moment and especially anything which is born then, and this can be analyzed using the chart and a variety of rules for interpreting the 'language' or symbols therein.

Horoscopic astrology developed in the Mediterranean region and specifically Hellenistic Egypt sometime around the late 2nd or early 1st century BCE"

Kayla raised her hand again, she wasn't too sure of this but decided to give it a go anyway. "The origins of much of the astrological doctrine and method that would later develop in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East are found among the ancient Babylonians and their system of celestial omens that began to be compiled around the middle of the 2nd millennium BCE. This system of celestial omens later spread either directly or indirectly through the Babylonians and Assyrians to other areas such as India, Middle East, and Greece where it merged with pre-existing indigenous forms of astrology."

Nico thought for a second before raising his hand, "Sir? There is Western Astrology which is popular throughout the western world; Vedic and Jyotish astrology- which is made up of Siddhanta, Samhita and Hora- and that developed in India; Chinese Astrology; Hellenistic/ Egyptian Astrology and Islamic Astrology- which developed in Persia/Iran. Also the Aztecs developed a form of astrology independently."

Oh. Is that what he meant. Oops. She raised her hand again. "There's Vedic Astrology, which is native to India. Vedic astrology Vedic astrology is more interested in the kind of karma you have brought into this life, rather than Western Astrology, which attempts to predict what you can expect in the future. Vedic astrology is said by some to bemathematics at a higher level."
There. That was better, wasn't it?