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lemondrop13 · 01-24-2009, 02:04 PM

As you step through the Arithmancy classroom doors, you see wooden desks and chairs arranged in a circle. Professor Shackleton has provided a number of cushions in a myriad of colors and textures that are stacked by the door for you to choose from to match your comfort and liking. Two walls are filled with thick wooden shelves, filled with a seemingly endless number of Arithmancy texts and the occasional Ancient Runes and Divination reference. The other two walls of the room are covered in framed pictures and posters of a very old man doing mathematical calculations, a map of the Mediterranean, a witch carrying a large wooden number seven, a chart converting letters to numbers, and many more pictures with a number at the top and people exhibiting various qualities below.

When you look to the front of the room, you see a tall, blonde-haired woman in powder blue knee-length robes sitting behind a desk made of dark angelique wood. On the desk is a small placard reading "Professor Macadrian A. Shackleton - Arithmancy," as well as a small stack of thin, leather-bound booklets, an assortment of papers and quills, several copies of the class textbook, and a small pouch that she keeps very close by her left hand. She smiles welcomingly at you as you enter the classroom and makes a small gesture for you to take a seat in one of the many desks in the circle.

OOC: This lesson is for first, second, and third years ONLY. Any students in fourth year and above who post will be dismissed.

lemondrop13 · 01-24-2009, 03:33 PM

Professor Shackleton waited patiently while the students tried to answer her question. They were all correct in what they stated, but they all seemed to be thinking she wanted an answer from the textbook, when what she really wanted was an original answer - examples of ways Arithmancy could prove useful in their lives. Finally, one student grasped the concept of what she was trying to convey.

Quote:

Originally Posted by hermygirl

Nia looked thoughtfully, trying to remember some of what she had done last year beofre raising her hand. "Well, it can help us learn from many things. Like the energies of certain days - so for example when it might be best to complete tasks, perhaps from what has been done wrong in the past and also how to prepare for the future. I guess if we know someones else's numbers, we can perhaps get an idea of how they might react to something, their preferences and so on...and therefore it can influence our lives quite a bit. Both positive and negatively, but mainly in terms of understanding. Oh, and challenges that we might face - so then we can think about what to do about them?"

"Perfect examples! Three points to you dear! Very good thinking. Arithmancy can help us understand endings and change, like when we go through break-ups or falling out with friends. It can help us learn more about the psychological conditions at work, so that we can try to understand why we act or think the way do in certain situations or why others handle problems in certain ways. Arithmancy truly can help you in every aspect of you life."

Professor Shackleton gave the students a moment to take down what she said, then continued, "Let's move on to the history of Arithmancy." She pointed to a portrait on the wall of a very old man doing calculations, "This portrait shows the man credited with the birth of Arithmancy. Who is he and when did he live?"

highjinx · 01-24-2009, 03:34 PM

Bleh. He frowned when he got his answer wrong. Oh well, on to the next question. Raising his hand, he spoke.

"He's Pythagoras, a sixth-century B.C.E. Greek philosopher, mathematician, and mystic."

Disneymaniac · 01-24-2009, 03:34 PM

Theo raised his little hand, "Is it Pythagoras? And he lived in the Greek times. About the 6th century BC."

theSpark_Inside · 01-24-2009, 03:34 PM

The acknowledged birth of Arithmancy is credited to Pythagoras, a sixth-century B.C.E. Greek philosopher, mathematician, and mystic, who is historically known as “the father of numbers.” Spence replied after raising her hand.

Saiai · 01-24-2009, 03:35 PM

"He is Pythagoras and he lived in Ancient Greece in the 6th century B.C.E" Sakura said while taking down the notes. Making sure that her hand was up.

BeccaBear · 01-24-2009, 03:35 PM

Allie riased her hand.
"Pythagoras. He was a greek philospher, and mathmatician." she said. "And he lived in the 6th centuary B.C."

ChloeeCloverr · 01-24-2009, 03:36 PM

Shana didn't know the answer so she didn't speak up but she had a think about.

0o0vampire6460o0 · 01-24-2009, 03:37 PM

"It's Pythagoras. He was a Greek scholar and he made the Pythagorian system of Arithmancy," Sasori replied.

Hedwig18 · 01-24-2009, 03:37 PM

Ana raised her hand and said "It was Pythagoras, a sixth-century B.C.E. Greek philosopher, mathematician, and mystic, who is known as “the father of numbers.” she answered

*Nordic Witch* · 01-24-2009, 03:37 PM

Ameera raised her hand and said "I think the man in the portrait is Pythagoras a sixth-century B.C.E. Greek philosopher, mathematician, and mystic, who is historically known as “the father of numbers."

Lislchen · 01-24-2009, 03:37 PM

Quickly taking down what the professor'd said Nancy's hand shot into the air once again before she answered, "That's Pythagoras,and he lived in the 6th century B.C."

noneworld · 01-24-2009, 03:37 PM

Damian raised his hand and said "This is Pythagoras, a sixth-century B.C.E. Greek philosopher, mathematician, and mystic, who is historically known as “the father of numbers.”

Slytherin Princess · 01-24-2009, 03:38 PM

Ruby raised her hand and answered "he was called Pythagoras a Greek philosopher who is known as the father of numbers"

Weasley174 · 01-24-2009, 03:40 PM

John raised his hands.

"Professor, isn't there actual a debate who created Arithmancy, but since it is about numbers many people think that Pythagorean created it, though that is what most people think, I think it is upto us what we think. Pythagorean was a Greek mathmatition who lived in the 6th centuary B.C." John finished what he was saying there.

lemondrop13 · 01-24-2009, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dingDong

Bleh. He frowned when he got his answer wrong. Oh well, on to the next question. Raising his hand, he spoke.

"He's Pythagoras, a sixth-century B.C.E. Greek philosopher, mathematician, and mystic."

"Precisely. Three points again! Keep up the good work." Professor Shackleton smiled warmly.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jenster

Theo raised his little hand, "Is it Pythagoras? And he lived in the Greek times. About the 6th century BC."

Quote:

Originally Posted by forensicscientist101

The acknowledged birth of Arithmancy is credited to Pythagoras, a sixth-century B.C.E. Greek philosopher, mathematician, and mystic, who is historically known as “the father of numbers.” Spence replied after raising her hand.

"And you both are also correct. Two points apiece for your houses!"

Macadrian walked over to the wall and gestured to the portrait, "This man is, in fact, Pythagoras. He lived in the sixth-century B.C.E. He was born in Greece but spent most of his life in Italy, where he developed his school. He is known for much more than just his exploration of Arithmancy. He is also credited with being the father of mathematics and known for his delving into musical harmony. And while we will not be studying those accomplishments here in this class, it is an interesting bit of information to know how diverse Pythagoras truly was."

Watching the quills scribble furiously, Macadrian paused for a moment, then asked, "What was Pythagoras' philosophy about numbers and life? And please don't just read me the textbook. Also give me what you think it really means. This class is about more than just regurgitating a textbook. I want you all to truly understand what you're doing this work for."

Rosa Chispa Princessa · 01-24-2009, 03:45 PM

Herminny, raised her hand, Pythagoras, he lived in the6th century everything had a special vibe to to it, the higher that vibe the more important the thing was, so mabe certain numbers cause certain vibes about a thing, when something had a higher vibe it was doing good things, and at a lower vibe the thing is doing bad things. Being human we all do good and bad things, but mabe with arithmancy we can predict when we and others will do these things to be better prepared for it when it comes.

Luna Laufghudd · 01-24-2009, 03:46 PM

" Is that Pythagoras, professor? Didnt he live in the sixth-century..." Miranda wondered if she had remembered it correct "He was a Greek philosopher and liked maths" Miranda finished

theSpark_Inside · 01-24-2009, 03:47 PM

He thought that each number had a specific meaning and we should take that meaning and use it to give us things that we could use in life. He also thought that he could predict life with the power of numbers. Is that correct? Spence asked after raising her hand.

Disneymaniac · 01-24-2009, 03:47 PM

Theo raised his hand, "Does he believe that the faster a something moves, the better its life will be. And the slower something moves, the less better its life will be." He had struggled with trying to understand, but he hoped he had.

noneworld · 01-24-2009, 03:48 PM

"One of Pythagoras' beliefs was that the essence of being is number. Thus, being relies on stability of all things that create the universe. Things like health relied on a stable proportion of elements; too much or too little of one thing causes an imbalance that makes a being unhealthy. Pythagoras viewed thinking as the calculating with the idea numbers. When combined with the Folk theories, the philosophy evolves into a belief that Knowledge of the essence of being can be found in the form of numbers. If this is taken a step further, one can say that because mathematics is an unseen essence, the essence of being is an unseen characteristic that can be encountered by the study of mathematics." said damian.

Saiai · 01-24-2009, 03:48 PM

"He believed that the higher an object’s vibration, the more spirit force it contained, hence the more positive its nature. Likewise, the lower an object’s vibration, the less force and more negative its action. When taken all together, the vibration of everything in the universe creates an absolute, undivided unity. These beliefs led to his system of Arithmancy, in which the numbers 1 through 9 are symbolic representations of the nine stages of the human life cycle. What I think that means, is that he thought that everything contained an energy force, and that depending on the number and what stage said number is in, we could tell what stage of life the person, item or thing was in, whether it be the beginning or the completing." Sakura said while putting up her hand, desperately hoping she was correct.

BeccaBear · 01-24-2009, 03:48 PM

Allie raised her hand.
"He believed that everything in life could be predicted through patterns or cycles of numbers. Higher vibrations contained more spirtual force, ehich would mean it had a more positive outcome. And lower vibrations, less spirtual force, which would mean a negative outcome." she said.

0o0vampire6460o0 · 01-24-2009, 03:50 PM

"Some have higher, more positive 'vibrations' and others have lower, more negative 'vibrations'. So these numbers can, in their own way, show us who we are and who we have the potential to be." Sasori replied.