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/ ]]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

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."

"Ooo!" Willow said, looking excited. "Want me to teach you how to float a pencil? Not now since we're in class but during some not-class time?"

"Yes, if you don't mind," Chris said, nodding a lot. "Bridge said he might be able to help me, too."

"I don't mind at all," Willow said. "We witches have to stick together."

Chris grinned. "That sounds awesome then."

"Yay!" Willow said. "It'll be fun."

"And infinitely more useful than this class has been so far," Chris agreed with a sigh.

"I've been enjoying it," Willow said. Then, more confidentially, "They never teach the good stuff in school anyway."

Chris leaned closer and lowered his voice. "So where do you learn the good stuff?"

"The internet, and the books Giles thinks you shouldn't touch," Willow whispered back.

"Who's Giles? And there is real stuff about magic on the internet?" Chris was actually kind of glad his brother decided to be a jerk today.

"Giles was Buffy's Watcher and boy is that a whole long story so the short version is that he knows about magic and if he ever started tutting and polishing his glasses when I went near a book I new that was an interesting one," Willow said. "And there is. You've got to get through a lot of wanna-blessed-bes, but once you get past that there are quite a few useful blogs and chatrooms. I can send you my bookmarks."

"Willow, I think you're my new best friend," Chris grinned.

"I'm happy to help," Willow replied, smiling back.

"Oh, so, we should probably actually do the assignment, huh?" Chris said.

"Right," Willow said. "So, know any gestures offhand? No pun intended."

Chris shook his head. "Nope, I haven't read anything in the Book about hand gestures to ward off evil."

"Okay, well, I know this one," Willow said, and held her hand out in front of her as though she were holding something. "Of course it works better when I'm holding a cross."

"What's that do?" Chris asked, committing the gesture to memory.

"Scares off vampires," Willow said. "At least the vampires where I'm from. That's why the cross is crucial. Which does create some awkwardness back home but fortunately my parents don't get into the supernatural fighting too much."

Chris actually wrote that down in his notes. "Parker was telling me that there used to be vampires in town."

"His name was Angel," Willow said. "Well it's still Angel but he lives in LA now. He's okay. He's got a soul, so he's a good vampire, if a bit jerky in the boyfriend department."

"He has a jerky boyfriend or he is a jerky boyfriend?" Chris asked.

~~Well yes but Willow doesn't know that~~ "Is a jerky boyfriend," Willow said. "He dated my friend Buffy and it ended in blood and tears."

"Blood and tears?" Chris repeated, eyes wide. "What did he do wrong?"

Yes, he was planning to take notes on this, too. He didn't want to screw up anything tonight.

Re: CLASS EXERCISE

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neurotic-witch.livejournal.com - 2007-01-16 02:32 (UTC) - Expand

D.A.M.M. - Monday 1/15 Period one - MANOS! HANDS OF FATE!

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