SnitchSeeker.com - Arithmancy Lesson One: Welcome & Transit Cycles I

SnitchSeeker.com (https://www.snitchseeker.com/forum.php)

- Term 23: September - December 2009 (https://www.snitchseeker.com/term-23-september-december-2009/)

- - Arithmancy Lesson One: Welcome & Transit Cycles I (https://www.snitchseeker.com/term-23-september-december-2009/arithmancy-lesson-one-welcome-and-transit-cycles-i-68259/)

William had been silently working the whole time, keeping his head down and his mouth closed. It was bad enough he didn't really understand this class but he wasn't about to speak out of turn like those two students had. No, instead he decided to work hard and keep to himself, much like he did in Potions. Listening to professor Shackleton - no wait Clark now he had already written out his numbers, finding it much easier than he had thought before figuring out what everything meant.

W - 0-5
I - 5-14
L
L
I
A
M

That had been too easy, but now came for the interpretation part of the lesson. Which for him had his heart beating and his palms sweaty. Looking up the letter he stopped, blinking at his parchment once he had written it down.

Quote:

I: This is a very emotional time with many ups and down's. You are high-strung and vulnerable to stress. You are somewhat accident prone. You need to develop calmness, centeredness, and an acceptance of life. You must control your moods and not slip into feelings of self-pity and insecurity. At the same time you are very competitive and have the opportunity to achieve success and financial reward.

Oh boy could that be anymore right for his point in life? He sat there, shaking his head, gulping. Wow.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MidnightSilver (Post 8638960)

Ella tapped her fingers on her desk, waiting for homework to be assigned. She looked over at Tibi. She smiled and waved; they hadn't communicated much since the train. She then looked over at James and sighed.

"Thank you, Professor!" Ella smiled. This was a great class now that she understood.

"I'm the same as you, Professor," Ella exclaimed, hand soaring up high, "I think it says it's a period of change because I just started Hogwarts. It is travel and change of residence for quite some time, right?"

Ella was grinning stupidly; it felt so good to know stuff. Aww, Ravies must feel fantasticcc.

"We do share the same Physical Transit. And it certainly does sound like it is applicable to your life right now. Good work, Ella."

Quote:

Originally Posted by AmbiguouslyMe (Post 8638981)

Tibi read through the description of B rather rapidly as that was what he had determined to be his current transit.

B: You may be more emotional and shy than usual. You have a strong need for love and can fall prey to emotional love- affairs. You have to watch for problems with health, especially related to your nervous system. You need plenty of rest. Be receptive, listen to the advice of others. There will be improvement in your career due to your sensitivity and diplomacy. Others are attracted to you and want to help you in your endeavors.

Tibi thought that sounded about right. He was naturally shy, but was feeling extra shy having started a new school and not having many new friends.

Timidly, he raised his hand, and spoke with a soft, shaky voice "my current transit is B and I think that the biggest part that I can see right now is that I have been extra shy starting a new school with people I don't know." He paused, thinking the rest of it. He opted not to share that he had burst into tears in the middle of Diagon Alley. "It also says I have to watch my health; and while I feel fine, maybe that means I need to be extra careful..." Tibi's voice trailed off. Does arithmancy predict the future? Or just help us understand the present? Tibi scrunched his face, and decided to ask.

"Excuse me professor, one more thing... does this help us predict the future? Or give us a way of looking at the present? I'm just curious how the name my parents gave me could tell me that I'd have a health problem at a certain age..." Tibi's brow creased.

"It is a predictive tool, though as I mentioned before, a rather weak one. There is a belief that the name we are given at birth by our parents is actually dictated by the universe and that your parents sort of, channeled the universe when giving you your birth name, thus bestowing it with the power to encompass who you are and who you will become."

Quote:

Originally Posted by MeredithRodneyMcKay (Post 8639012)

Sarah pulled the piece of parchment back towards her and blinked at it a few times.Why oh why did this lesson have to be so hard? With a loud THUMP she turned the pages of the textbook back to the penultimate chapter and read the meaning of the letter H, writing it down on her paper afterwards.

She had no idea how any of that corresponded to her life.She hadn't won any money, or lost any as far as she knew.Admittedly self doubt and skepticism were traits that she had in abundance, but that had always been the case not just since the age of 12.Sighing, Sarah sat looking at the words trying really hard to come up with something....anything.

Deciding that the best thing to do was ask, Sarah stuck her hand in the air and spoke. "Professor Shackleton...uh -Clark?" Yeah she really needed to get used to the new double barrel thing. "I'm having a hard time deciphering mine.I don't think any of it really corresponds to just the last two years." Biting her lip she put her hand back down and waited to be made to feel like an idiot.

OH! There was the self-doubt thing!

"What about it do you think doesn't correspond? Does any of it match? Not everything may fit the first time around. Remember that these transits cycle throughout one's life, so if pieces don't apply now, they might the next time they cycle again."

Quote:

Originally Posted by unicornkeeper07 (Post 8639052)

Rafe banged his head on the table, then lifting it revealing a long red line across his forehead. I'm never going to get this, he thought. He returned to his parchment and book and tried to figure out this physical transit stuff. He also began to doodle some Quidditch stuff all over his parchment.

Rafe assumed that his Physical change was according to his age, from what he observed with a third year. So, that meant "F", all about meditating and being a shoulder to cry on. Hmm...

Have a tendency to play the martyr during this time...

"Well duh!" Rafe said kind of loudly. He tried to look around and see what other people where doing. Everyone else seemed so much more confident than he did. This was his first class as a first year and he was completely lost.

He raised his hand again, perhaps the professor didn't hear him the first time. "Professor, I'm still not quite sure if I'm doing this right? Soul searching and spiritual growth? That's a little deep for my taste. I mean I'm only eleven!"

"You may be eleven, but this is presumably the first time away from your parents and your home for extensive periods of time. It will require some soul searching and growth to determine how to be your own person separate from your family. You may not even be aware of this growth, but it is happening daily."

Quote:

A-1
B-2
I-9
G-7
A-1
I-9
L -3

‘Ok so I’m 11 just now so my physical transit is...I!’ She turned to her book to look up what that ment.

Quote:

“Professor my physical transit is I, could this link to me leaving home and moving to Hogwarts? I’ve been really moody lately because I didn’t want to leave home, and I was stressed getting all of my things ready. And when I got to Hogwarts I was really excited, but I’m still feeling a bit homesick. Could it mean that I need to learn how to be away from home, but not miss it so much?” She really hoped she was right.

Ella smiled to herself. The professor was so kind. Those chocolates would be extra delicious.

Ella saw James trail off to the back of the room. Aww! Well, he shouldn't have done it. Oh well. They'd talk later.

james had realized that the teacher had'nt looked at his work, he new what he did was wrong but not looking over his work, that did'nt seem very profestional, although james would probably done the same thing in her place

Fred raised his hand and said, "My transit letter is which I believe seems to mean embrassing change and for me I believe thats been my transition from Durmstrang to Hogwarts which has been great. Coming to a new school means new rules new classes, new people, a totally new way of life thats so different fom my previous one but t the same time the best change ever. I am confident I'm gonna love it here.".

Quote:

Originally Posted by lemondrop13 (Post 8639154)

Tibi nodded as Professor Shackleton-Clark answered his question. He... guessed that could be true? He was a little skeptical, but he guess that was left over from when he believed that wizards didn't exist, either. This was going to take quite a stretch of the imagination, at least to start.

"Thank you, professor," he said in response, turning back to his notes to record her response.

Virgi turned her mind back on. She felt like an idiot embarrassing herself in front of James Black. She felt so bad she felt like banging her head on the wall in front of her but of course didn't. She wanted to get up and talk to James and say sorry but couldn't. O well she thought. She felt bad for James. He did not deserve it. She wanted to take all the credit for it. All of it. She didn't care how much it embarrassed her. She would do it. For friendship. Yes. Yes she would.

Quote:

Originally Posted by lemondrop13 (Post 8639154)

Well where did she begin?
"Well I do agree with it about the self-doubt, but I'm not sure that has just been for this part of my life.I've always been someone who doesn't believe in themselves enough, and I don't mind spending time on my own so the loner part is true to a certain degree.I'm not sure I get where the money bit comes into it, unless that is something, like you say, that hasn't happened in this cycle yet.Then again my H transit does go on until I'm 20, so maybe I just need to wait to lose and re-find my direction."

She bit her lip and hoped that it made sense, it certainly spilled from her mouth easy enough.

Nikki looked down at her blank parchment and began writing her work down.

Quote:

N I C O L E T T E
5 9 3 6 3 5 2 2 5

0-5, N (5)
5-14, I (9)
14-17, C (3)
17-23, O (6)
23-26, L (3)
26-31, E (5)
31-33, T (2)
33-35, T (2)
35-40, E (5)

Well that hadn't been so bad, actually it had been really easy in Nikki's opinion. Now to find her letter thingamabob. Well, she was 14 (turning 15 on February 15) so that meant her Physical Transit letter was I.

He was being lazy, that can't be all it meant there was alot more in the "B" section than what he desiphered... it can't be that hard,then again nothing for him was easy... "Professor?" he called rather quietly raising his had "Umm... I got part of it but I don't think this really corresponds to me." he said with-out any hint of confidence in his voice.this was stupid he had to ask the Professor, who he just met desiphire something about himself... "Umm... i mean there isn't anything health-wise that is wrong with me...at least i don't think there is. and i don't understand what it means when it says that, There will be improvements in my carrer due to sensitivity and my diplomacy. How would sensitivity & negotiation help me in school?" he said looking at Professor Shackleton in hope of a straight answer.

He needs to get to work, enough distractions..!
Blake pulled out a parchment from his bag, dun..dun...DUN it's torn, oh poo!
Looking at the class, he smiled sweetly at a few students around and said, "I need some parchment, anyone care to share?" God, this stuff was confusing!! Numbers make him lose brain cells, yiiiikes.

So...if her Physical Transit was A, that meant - something. Arabelle pulled her textbook towards her once more. Checking it, she read what it said on Physical Transits.

Quote:

A- You have a mental approach to practical matters. This is a period of change, activity, progress, and creativity. The letter A adds independence and leadership to your personality. There can be quite a bit of travel and possibly a change of residence. You can expect promotion and opportunities. There may also be a real breakthrough in your awareness and perspective of life.

Okay, so that means - something. A period of change, progress, creativity. Sounds like her starting at Hogwarts. Independence, Leadership. Solid qualities. But did she have them? Independence, surely, but leadership? She wasn't sure.

Change of residence. Did going to school count? Maybe.

Arabelle thoughts were getting mixed up. Everything was disjointed inside her head. She was probably supposed to be writing something, but she didn't know what.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tristin (Post 8639210)

'Someone needs parchment?' Evelyn looked up, and found someone, much older than her, looking around at everyone with a ripped paper in his hand. Smirking, she took out a clean and wrinkle free sheet from her bag. Looking up again, she frowned when she noticed how far away he was. She debated standing up and walking over to him, but she didn't want to upset the professor either by doing that. Then she thought of the next best thing, and an evil smile appeared on her lips. Blowing gently on the parchment, it flew down to the ground, gliding between chair legs and feet before coming up and landing on the boy's table. Smiling at her work, a sudden dread filled her. What if the professor didn't allow magic in the classroom? 'Good going Ev!' she yelled angrily in her mind.

R: You have much understanding and insight during this time. It is a time in which you have to deal with money, power, and authority. You have an opportunity to elevate your financial status and personal growth. This is a time in which you will meet the best and the worst. You have to exercise caution in everything you do and every decision you make. Be aware of your surroundings.

Tori wrote on her parchment. She read it over carefully and began to think. Tori tried hard not to watch the other two get punished for fear of losing her trail of thought although she felt sorry for them especailly the boy.

Virgi loved this class. Getting used to an hour long class will be hard. Virgi didn't care. She had stopped thinking and looked at James and quickly turned back around so they didn't get in more trouble.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sherbetsnitch (Post 8639155)

Abigail had been completely confused so had decided to sit quietly and try to rap her brain around what the professor was saying. And it had paid off because she actually understood. She couldn’t believe it she knew what the professor meant!

Leaning over her journal she began to concentrating on her work, biting her lip the whole time.

‘Ok so I’m 11 just now so my physical transit is...I!’ She turned to her book to look up what that ment.

“Professor my physical transit is I, could this link to me leaving home and moving to Hogwarts? I’ve been really moody lately because I didn’t want to leave home, and I was stressed getting all of my things ready. And when I got to Hogwarts I was really excited, but I’m still feeling a bit homesick. Could it mean that I need to learn how to be away from home, but not miss it so much?” She really hoped she was right.

"Yes, I do believe it could mean that. Excellent assessment."

Quote:

Originally Posted by MeredithRodneyMcKay (Post 8639190)

"Well, it sounds to me like a great deal of it fits. And the rest will probably just come with time. Be patient." Macadrian winked before turning her attention to the next student.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Walrus

He was being lazy, that can't be all it meant there was alot more in the "B" section than what he desiphered... it can't be that hard,then again nothing for him was easy... "Professor?" he called rather quietly raising his had "Umm... I got part of it but I don't think this really corresponds to me." he said with-out any hint of confidence in his voice.this was stupid he had to ask the Professor, who he just met desiphire something about himself... "Umm... i mean there isn't anything health-wise that is wrong with me...at least i don't think there is. and i don't understand what it means when it says that, There will be improvements in my carrer due to sensitivity and my diplomacy. How would sensitivity & negotiation help me in school?" he said looking at Professor Shackleton in hope of a straight answer.

"As I mentioned to your classmate, not everything may fit the first time around. Remember that these transits cycle throughout one's life, so if pieces don't apply now, they might the next time they cycle again. And just because there isn't anything wrong with you at this instant, doesn't mean your health cannot change over the course of a year, though I certainly hope it doesn't. And sensitivity and diplomacy could definitely help you in school - professors recognize these things as signs of maturity and may look favorably upon you when they need a leader for the students."

She addressed the class, "I think that's enough for today. Here is your homework,"

Macadrian flicked her wand and the following appeared on the blackboard:

Quote:

Arithmancy Lesson 1 Homework
Due: October 3rd
Worth: 15 points

1. Name the three Transit Cycles. (3 points)
2. What Transit is determined from the letters in the first name? (1 point)
3. What information does the Physical Transit specifically reveal? (2 points)
4. True or False: Only the name on the birth certificate should be used when calculating the Transit Cycles. (1 point)
5. True or False: Each letter of the name lasts for as long as half the value of that letter. (1 point)
6. Determine your Physical Transit at age 17, when you come of age. Show all of your work in determining this Transit Cycle. (3 points)
7. For the above Transit, list the textbook's description and an individualized interpretation of how you think this description might apply to your life at 17. (4 points)

OOC: Homework is due exactly two weeks from time of this post.

"Class is dismissed."

As the class got up to leave james walk up to the front of the class ready to clean the board

Matheu walked up to Professor Shackleton-Clarke after putting away all of his materials.
"Professor, I have a question," he asked. "When you perform the Physical Transit, you look at the number for that letter? Like 1 is A. Or do you look at the letter of your age? Like H."

Evelyn blew out a long breathe that she had been holding. 'Didn't get in trouble. That's good.' Packing her bag, she started out the door. 'Nice lesson.' she thought, smiling a little, weaving through the students.

Pulling a face, Jake quickly shoved all his things into his bag after noting down the homework, knowing he'd be lucky just to get half of it done. Grrrr. Stupid falling chair. "Laters," he mumbled, slinging his bag over his shoulder and heading moodily out the door.

Fred quickly copied down the homework and left the classroom with his new journal with all his notes in it in hand.

Quote:

Originally Posted by lemondrop13 (Post 8639274)

"Yes, I do believe it could mean that. Excellent assessment."

Abigail was happy she got the right answer arithmancy wasn’t really a subject she thought she’d be good at.

After taking note of her homework she packed up her bag, and swung it over her shoulder before heading out of the room.

“Thanks for a great class professor. I’m looking forward to the next one.”

Tibi began to gather his things, taking care to make sure the ink was dry on his notes before placing the parchment in his bag. Slinging his bag over his shoulder, he made his way to the front of the room.

Approaching Professor Shackleton, Tibi said, "Thank you for a great class, Professor! I'm not sure I understand it all yet, but I think I'm going to enjoy this class!" It was the kind of material that had a sort of formula to it; that he could understand. He figured the rest would come.

He looked around the room to see if he could find anyone to walk back to the common room with.

Abby writes out her full first name in her journel. She then applies the correct Pythagorean Number to each letter:

A B I G A I L
1 2 9 7 1 9 3

A= 0-1 years
B= 2-4 years
I= 5-13 years
G= 14-20 years
A= 21 years
I= 22-30 years
L= 31-33 years

I'm 17 years old, so my Physical Transit letter is "G".

Quote:

G: You are very mental. You have a strong willpower and determination. Your vision and imagination may make you quite wealthy. You are methodical, disciplined and orderly, but you can also act quickly when opportunities arise. You may well be clairvoyant.

Abby reads the meaning of her letter for a few times before she comes up with an interpretation:

"I'm going to be primarily using my mind during this cycle. With my NEWTS coming up this term, I'm going to be doing a lot of extra studying, so that makes sense. It also sounds like my future outside of Hogwarts lies in the Business World. I should consider opening a shop instead of a career with the Ministry of Magic. That's good to know. I was considering applying for Auror training or for a position in the Department of International Magical Cooperation. I'm hoping my willpower and determinination means Hufflepuff will win the House Cup this term. I would really like to see that happen." Abby crosses her fingers while she says that.