fandomhigh | Good Omens...And Bad: Prophecy in Theory and Practice, Class Five

Monday, October 2, First Period

Scones and cookies, tea and coffee, are set out on the table. Each student is given a packet of handouts as they enter.

"First, a bit of business. It would seem I am in need of a new TA to assist Miss Halliwell. If anyone thinks they might be interested, please see me after class. Now, today's lecture is on dream interpretation, which is probably one of the most common forms of divination. Everyone dreams, although not everyone dreams prophetically. However, for years psychologists and philosophers have looked to the symbols found in dreams to understand both the mortal mind and to look for insight into the future."

Lecture:
"First of all, there are a handful of common themes for dreams: Animals, Birds, Body Parts, Bugs, Characters, Colors, Feelings, Food, House, Numbers, and Places. Most of your dreams are going to include at least one of these themes. Additionally, there are six types of dreams that nearly everyone, at some point in his or her life, experiences. These are Naked, Chase, Teeth, Flying, Falling, and Exam. The interpretation of these common types is fairly universal to most people.

Moving on to the concept of prophetic dreams, we can look at the symbols, which some psychologists believe are shared through a collective consciousness, to predict things that might happen. This is the commonest sort of prophetic dream, far more likely to occur than a 'dream vision'. Although those happen as well, and I know for some of you, perhaps more frequently than most. What we'll do today is discuss possible interpretations for some of your dreams. And don't worry, you don't have to share the very personal ones. But I do hope you've all been keeping up with your dream journals, and have something you'd like to share for discussion."

Aziraphale indicated some of the handouts, which included two Dream Dictionaries.

"I want each of you to describe a dream you've had, it can be simple or silly or commonplace, and we'll pick out a symbol from your dream and interpret it for you. Also, you'll find in your handouts that I've given you a list of interesting facts about dreams."

Homework: "Next week we'll be reviewing the material we've covered thus far, so I want you to come prepared to ask questions. Following the review, there will be a short test."

Syllabus
Class Roster
Classes Linkdrop

[ooc: The Dream Dictionaries are not all inclusive, so you may have to be creative in how you look things up. ~~For instance, neither offers an interpretation for 'giant lobsters'. Don't ask.~~

~~Please wait for~~ OCD threads are up. May be SP until evening EDT.]

[ooc #2: And now, in the correct location. *headdesks*]

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Still feeling a little uneasy about sharing dreams, Sam went for one of the most mundane ones he could think of.

"I have this recurring dream about me, Dean, and my dad where we're out doing some sort of training, and I'm always unprepared. It changes a little every time; like, sometimes we'll be out in hot weather and I'll be wearing winter clothes, or we'll be practicing shooting and I'll have brought a water gun, or something like that. But, it's always the same basic set up."

God, Dawn knew what Sam was talking about.

"I think it's just about you being a bad shopper."

"Yeah, maybe that's it," Sam said, laughing lightly. "It all about my deep-seated fear that people will figure out I'm horrible at shopping."

"Well, they know now," Dawn glanced around the room, "so maybe you can stop having the dream. Besides, you're a great shopper."

Sam smiled. "I'm glad you think so. And maybe talking about it is the key to making the dreams stop."

"Maybe," Dawn smiled back hopefully, then whispered, "Or someone might have to find a way to distract you from them."

Sam tried not to grin too much. He really did. But the idea of distraction brought all sorts of images to mind, many of which were not particularly class appropriate, and the grin was unstoppable. "I think I'd appreciate that very much," he whispered back.

Dawn was blushing a little, but she had long hair to hide behind. "Anything I can do to help out my roommate."

"You're very much the best roommate ever," he replied.

"I don't know...I may have competition."

Re: Class Participation

likethegun - 2006-10-03 03:49 (UTC) - Expand

lilpunkinbelly.livejournal.com - 2006-10-03 03:52 (UTC) - Expand

"Is that like the dream where you have a test in a class you've never even gone to?"

"I think it might be something along those lines. And like having a dream about showing up for class naked, which I'm thankful I've never had."

". . . I actually probably wouldn't worry about that."

"Having a dream like that, or accidentally showing up naked to class?"

Nadia shrugged. "Either, really. Unless it was cold."

Sam snickered. "If I have a dream tonight about being naked and cold in class, I'm blaming you."

Dean hadn't realised just how deep some of Sam's insecurities ran and made a note to see what he could do about it. In the meantime though....

"You have deep seated anxiety about never having been a boy scout," he told his brother.

Sam smirked at Dean, thankful that he wasn't saying something closer to the truth, at least out loud. "You know, I do think that not being a Boy Scout made me miss out on a crucial part of childhood."

"We probably could have taught them a thing or two," Dean said. "They would've had to invent whole new merit badges."

"Start a fire? No problem. Use a bow and arrow? Got it. Hunting? Yeah, we've got those skills covered."

"It's the grave digging and silver bullet making that they'd have to invent new badges for," Dean said grinning.

"I think we'd have to convince them that those are badge-worthy skills first."

Dean grinned. "Dad could come in and teach a Hunting class?"

"I'm sure that would go over very well with the God-fearing boy scout crowd," Sam said, laughing again.

"I think we've already had this discussion last week." Pippi said.