fandomhigh | Good Omens...And Bad: Prophecy in Theory and Practice, Lab Four

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prophecy

Good Omens...And Bad: Prophecy in Theory and Practice, Lab Four

Friday, September 29, Second Period

Once again the furniture has been rearranged. There are large comfortable pillows and cushions on the floor, and between each set of two is a low table with two decks of cards sitting on it. One deck is an ordinary set of playing cards, the other is a classical tarot deck. There are also two sets of handouts on each table. As usual, a table of tea and coffee, scones, cookies, and tea sandwiches has been provided.

"Today's exercise is on Cartomancy, or the skill of divining through cards. Cartomancy can be done using ordinary playing cards, although many people choose to use the more ornate and specialized tarot cards. You have a choice to use either one today. Once you've gotten comfortable, I want you to follow the guidelines on your handouts and do a simple reading for your lab partner. You can choose any layout you like, although you must use a minimum of three cards. If you're not certain what to choose, consider using the Celtic Cross, which is a very common layout for general readings."

HOMEWORK: One of the handouts is actually a take-home test. Please complete the test and bring with you to lab next Friday.

[OOC: The following links can be used to generate tarot readings.]
Traditional Tarot Reading #1
Traditional Tarot Reading #2
Reading using Playing Cards

Syllabus
Class Roster
Classes Linkdrop
Lab Partner List

[~~Please wait for OCD threads.~~ Class is now in session.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"This exercise is for you, so I'll let you choose whichever you'd prefer to try."

"Um, okay. We'll try the tarot deck." She picked it up and looked over her sheet. "I think you need to shuffle it. And think of a question."

Aziraphale nodded and picked up the deck, shuffling it expertly and then handing it back with a smile.

"My question is 'What sort of day will I have today?'"

Nadia nodded and tried to concentrate on that question as she looked over the sheet. "Um, do you want to pick a significator?"

[ooc: and is there anything in particular you want revealed here, or should I let the internet choose for us? Nadia does have limited precognitive abilities, so it's possible she'll pick up on something real. . . .]

After pondering a moment, Aziraphale said, "I think we'll go with the King of Cups as a significator."

[ooc: I have no specific plans for him today, so go ahead and wing it, and I'll try and pick something from Nadia's reading to work into his day's activities.]

"Okay . . ." Nadia read out the description for the King of Cups. "Oh. That makes sense, I guess, because you're a professor." Then, again trying to concentrate on Phale's question, she started to lay out the Celtic Cross. She lay down the center of the cross, which would then be covered. "This is the general atmosphere. I guess of your day. The Six of Swords. 'A trip or journey. Travel. Headstrong attempt to overcome difficulties. Expedient manner. Success after anxiety.' So, um, I guess the theme of your day will be traveling. Though it might not be physical travel."

Aziraphale could see that. Certainly, in the most basic sense, going from classroom to town, perhaps running errands, could be considered travel.

"Well, I do have to say that the 'success after anxiety' part is heartening, my dear. You're doing well, please continue."

Nadia nodded and laid down the next card, on top of the first one. "This card represents the obstacle that stands in your way today. The Queen of Pentacles. 'Prosperity and well-being. Wealth. Abundance. Luxury. Opulence. Extreme comfort. Generosity. Security. Liberty. Magnificence. Grace. Dignity. A rich person who is generous and charitable. A noble soul.' Which sounds like a good thing, but it's totally going to block you, today. Maybe it's someone you know and that you usually really like, but is someone you should take some time away from, today."

Huh. That was an unexpected one. Aziraphale wondered who the person was, since the only person he spent regular time around was Wilson.

Who...could well fit that description.

"Interesting," he mused. "Thank you, go on."

[ooc: Must go AFK for a couple hours, back later this afternoon.]

Nadia couldn't help but notice that Aziraphale didn't seem too terribly excited by that one.

Which kinda made sense.

"Okay," she set another card down above the others. "This represents your goal for the day. Or the best result. The Page of Cups, reversed. 'Inclination. Deviation. Susceptibility. Temporary distraction. Seduction. A flatterer.'" Nadia blinked. "Your day might suck, actually. Um. That is . . . you need a break from the more serious stuff around you. Something to distract you just for today, so you can have some fun and relax before going on to the more serious stuff."

[ooc: no prob. I'll keep the reading open.]

Find a distraction, but avoid the person who could best provide that distraction? Nope, Aziraphale didn't really like that so much. Unless the person he was supposed to avoid was someone else entirely.

Of course, he also knew enough about divination to see the potential for this one to turn self-fulfilling. He smiled at Nadia. "Well...it's been a rather troublesome week, so I suppose I could use a distraction from what's been on my mind. You're doing very well, Miss Santos."

Nadia could see where this would turn self-fulfilling, too, but she continued anyway. She put a card below the others. "This is the foundation on which the whole thing, in this case, I guess the day, is based. The Nine of Cups. 'Success. Material attainment. Advantage. Well-being. Abundance. Good health. Victory. Difficulties surmounted.' So, um, you conquered something, so now you need to relax to keep your good health and well-being?"

Aziraphale's eyebrows went up, and he gave Nadia a speculative look.

"Yes...I rather think you've found the heart of the matter. As it happens, I suppose I have recently...'conquered something'. And I could very much use a bit of a rest."

This one would bear some watching, he decided, and made a mental note to keep an eye on Nadia as their other lab exercises took place.

Nadia nodded a bit distractedly and put down another card. "This one is something that needs to be released. The Tower, um, reversed." Nadia paused for a moment, just looking at the card. "That's 'Continued oppression. Following old ways. Living in a rut. Inability to effect any worthwhile change. Entrapment in an unhappy situation. Imprisonment.' So old habits or routines you need to get rid of." She smiled slightly and finally looked up from the cards. "Which is something that just about anyone needs, when you think about it."

Chuckling, he nodded. "Yes, unfortunately, you've discovered one of the problems with divination, and why it's so easy for charlatans to fake. Much of what ends up being prophecied can apply to any number of people or situations. Most of the time, it's a vague and imprecise art."

Nadia was certainly producing some good interpretations of the cards she dealt, though, and Aziraphale was pleased.

"Yeah, I can see where it would be pretty easy, especially if you know how to read people." Nadia placed the next card. "Okay, this one is something to be embraced. The King of Swords. 'An active and determined person. Experience. Authority. Control. A professional person. Sometime proficient in his field. Highly analytical person. Superiority. A person having many ideas, thoughts, and designs.' I think you're supposed to find that person, if you haven't already."

Aziraphale was pretty sure he had, and his lips twitched in a smile. "I'm rather certain that one won't be very difficult. Although it is interesting how one's ideas about the earlier cards changes as the reading evolves."

Since it made no sense to avoid and embrace the same person.

"Well, you have to get all the information, right?" Nadia shrugged and pulled out the next card. "This card represents your role, or attitude. The Devil, reversed."

She kept her fingers on the card for a moment, frowning as she looked at it. "Huh."

[ooc: I'm not making that up, it's what came up when I filled out the online tarot reading thing for Phale.]

Blinking, Aziraphale stared at the card, and then he raised his eyes to gaze at Nadia.

"Quite. Well, that's interesting, isn't it? Although I suppose there are number of interpretations one could apply to that card."

It was hard for him to suppress a smile, though. It really did look as though Nadia had a touch of talent, and he was becoming more and more interested to see how she progressed.

[ooc: *laughs* That's very cool. Really, it's been a pretty applicable reading all along, but that is a little freaky.]

Nadia shook her head for a moment to clear it. "Yeah. Of course there are."

Still something . . . strangely appropriate about that.

"It says here it means 'Release from bondage. Divorce. Recognition of one's need by another person. Overcoming handicaps. The beginning of spiritual understanding. The first steps toward enlightenment.' Which is what you're doing here, isn't it? Being a teacher. 'First steps towards enlightenment.'"

Another nod. "Yes...I do think that's part of why I'm here. And I certainly have been doing some thinking about my beliefs lately. Although I'm not certain how much enlightenment I'm likely to accomplish today."

He grinned at Nadia. "One never does know though, does one? I suppose enlightenment doesn't usually come when you're expecting it."

"Doesn't seem like it would be the same if you were expecting enlightenment. I mean, it shouldn't be something where you just kind of nod and go, 'oh, hey, I'm enlightened.'" Nadia pulled the next card. "Okay, this one is your environment and the people you're interacting with. The Seven of Wands, reversed. 'Consternation. Anxiety. Embarrassment. Indecision. Hesitancy causing losses. Perplexity. Doubt.' Which is kind of, um, obvious, right? I mean, you work in a high school."

"Oh yes, I do expect that one is quite plain. A good description of high school, in fact. And probably a good description of the classroom right now. I have to say, Miss Santos, you're doing very well. Have you ever done any reading before?"

Nadia shook her head. "It's not that hard, though. You just look at what the card means, right? And then apply that to what you might know about the person. I mean, I don't know that much about you, but I do know about Fandom,"

"Ah, well...you can certainly do it that way, although applying it to what you already know about the person doesn't guarantee you get a prophetic reading, it simply means you can help your subject find the answer to their questions. Which can be helpful, of course, but it doesn't mean what you're doing is divination."

He looked at the spread of cards on the table.

"However...I'd have to say that you're demonstrating a bit of real talent here as well. Especially as I know you don't know me well enough to fake an accurate reading."

Good Omens...And Bad: Prophecy in Theory and Practice, Lab Four

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