fandomhigh | D.A.M.M. - Monday 1/15 Period one

As soon as the class was settled the teacher appears in the requisite purple sparkling mushroom cloud of moaning skull shapes.

"Greetings students! I trust the intervening week has been a fruitful one! This week the knowledge I shall impart unto you is of the Somatic variety. I speak of course of mystical gesticulation!"

Tossing back his cloak and taking a dramatic stance, Orpheus throws the horns. Surprisingly, his hand does not glow some color or other.

"No doubt many of you are familiar with MANO CORNUTA! Also known as the horned hand. Also known as throwing the goat, eeeeevil fingers, Pommesgabel, peka evil or just... the horns! This gesture is used for warding off bad luck or the evil eye. Many use mano cornuta as you would knock on wood or touch iron. The gesture is considered to be vulgar, particularly by Mediterranean cultures, we will discuss the use of vulgar images in protection later in the term. If you have been cursed, or if you are trying to enter an area with some unsettling mojo set upon it, your first recourse is to make this gesture at the person or thing that is the source of said mojo."

Byron takes a moment to make sure anybody who's taking notes is able to finish. While he's waiting he folds his legs up under himself in the lotus position. He does this from a standing position, so he is now floating in the air.

"Next we will discuss the mudra. These gestures are symbolic. Usually made with the hand or fingers, there is also Kechari mudra. This is done with the tongue. But we are going to concentrate with manual forms. Each mudrā has a specific quality that is said to be imparted to the practitioner, and they are a central part of Hindu iconography. With the onset of Buddhism, many mudrā practices were absorbed into the culture. Common hand gestures are to be seen in both Hindu and Buddhist iconography. An example of a mudra done with the hands would be the outward-facing open palm known as Abhaya (without fear) mudrā, a gesture meant to dispel the fear of the devotee. Which would be an alternative to the chocolate we discussed last week."

Handouts with instructions and diagrams for mudra float over to the TAs to pass out.

Byron goes on to discuss other hand gestures such as the sign of the cross and Pinkie Respect.

"For today's exercise I would like you to pair up, practice some mudra, and discuss any gestures from your own cultures with mystical applications. If you can not find a partner, Mr. Dornez, Mr. Drake, or myself will assist you."

[[ooc: ~~Please wait for OCD~~ Open! Wooo! \m/ ]]

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Willow gave a tentative wave, wondering if the new kid would like to pair up with her.

"Hey, you need a partner?" Chris asked, giving her a shy smile.

"Indeed I do," Willow said. She smiled. "I'm Willow."

"Chris," he replied. "Nice to meet you. Do you have any experience with this kind of thing?"

Yes, indeed, that was a geeky hopeful look on his face.

"I'm a witch," Willow said. "So some experience with magic, though a lot of these hand gestures are new."

"You are?" Chris was now in full-fledged dork mode. He kind of hoped Jo wasn't paying attention. "I am, too. Except I just found out recently and I don't know a lot about my powers."

"I am!" Willow said, sitting up with pride. "Do you know what kind of witch you are? Like do you do Hermione-style magic or Phoebe-style?"

"Uh... I don't know what Hermione-style is, but since Phoebe is my aunt, we'll go with that," Chris said.

"Oh!" Willow said. "I know you! Well not know know, but know of. I do radio. That means I know lots of names but not necessarily faces."

"You did radio on Saturday," Chris realized. "And told everyone about me asking Jo out!"

"Sorry!" Willow said. "I read the notes they give me. I didn't know it was supposed to be a secret."

"It wasn't," Chris said, glancing over to where Wyatt and Jo were working together. "And it wasn't your fault. I got yelled at by Parker for reporting about her and Weiss."

"Parker's prickly but she's nice once you get to know her and get past her Seely-related moments of insanity," Willow said.

"She's my big sister," Chris said. "Took me on a tour of the town last night and everything. She's been good to me so far."

He gave Willow a curious look. "Have you been here long? Did you know Piper?"

"Since the summer," Willow said. "I took Piper's cooking class."

Chris's eyes lit up. "She's my mom," he explained. "And I never got to know her."

"She's very neat," Willow assured him. "She was a great teacher and a good cook and a very nifty witch."

"That's cool," Chris said, smiling shyly at her. "What kind of powers do you have?"

"I can do spells and move things around with my mind," Willow said.

You wouldn't think it would be possible for Chris to be any dorkier.

But you'd be wrong.

"No way! I'm pretty sure I'm telekinetic, too. Two of my aunts were and I've moved a few things, but I can't really control it yet."