Prophecy in Theory and Practice, Class Two (09/11)

[a-phale.livejournal.com]

Tuesday, September 11, Second Period

Just as last week, today there was a table set in the middle of the room with lots of breakfast goodies, coffee, and tea. Along with the usual circle of armchairs, there were also a number of large cushions stacked against the walls, and a large wicker basket holding a variety of small handwavy items. Aziraphale was sitting in his chair, reading, but he set the book aside once the class was assembled.

"First of all, my apologies for not holding office hours yesterday. To make up for it, I'll be in my office today after class, if anyone needs to see me. Please be sure to turn in your homework from last week before you leave at the end of class."

He picked up his teacup, took a sip, and then began the lecture.

"Now, today we'll be discussing meditation. Not so much the types that you find in yoga classes, or religious enclaves. But the sort that will help you focus your mind and aid you in obtaining and translating predictions."

Aziraphale gave a brief lecture on meditation, the four basic elements, and some simple techniques.

"Now I'm going to put you into pairs, and I'd like you to try your hand at a meditative exercise. It's not important that every one of you do this the same way, so long as you work in the four basic elements: a quiet place, comfortable posture, an object to focus on, and a passive attitude. You may pull your chairs into the corners, or use some of the cushions I've provided." He waved his hand toward the cushions, and then indicated the basket of handwavy items. "In the basket you'll find a collection of things you might find useful as a focus object. Please choose one, unless you have something on your own person that you prefer to use, such as a piece of jewelry.

"For this exercise, you and your partner will find yourselves a place to sit apart from the other students, and one at time take your turn in attempting a meditative state. Once you've reached a point where you would consider yourself relaxed and focused, tell your partner what images, sounds, or scents come to mind."

As promised, he broke the students into pairs, noting that one would have to work with him, since there was an uneven number in the class.

Anathema Device & Eve Levine
Annette Hargrove & Chris Halliwell
Wyatt Halliwell & Savannah Levine
Neil Perry & Andrew Wells
Andros & Aziraphale Lana Lang

"Your homework assignment for next week is to write a brief essay on the following:

Where do predictions come from? If you were to use one of the methods of fortune-telling that will be discussed in this class to generate a prophecy, where do you think the information would come to you from?

[ooc: There is a description of the classroom here, as it's not arranged in the typical classroom style. The only requirement is that you tag the Sign In thread, but interacting with the other students in discussions and exercises is strongly encouraged. It'll be much more fun that way! Please wait for the OCD is up, but I am off to bed and will catch tags in the morning.

Class Roster
Syllabus
Class Requirements
Linkdrop for previous classes

Comments

Meditation Exercise: Neil Perry & Andrew Wells

[a-phale.livejournal.com]

Neil Perry & Andrew Wells

Re: Meditation Exercise: Neil Perry & Andrew Wells

[wannabe-pan.livejournal.com]

Andrew grabbed a cushion moved to a quiet corner. He had selected a set of Chinese mediation balls from the basket.

He couldn't help but grin as he waited for Neil, absently twirling the two metal balls in his right hand.

Re: Meditation Exercise: Neil Perry & Andrew Wells

[iftheseshadows.livejournal.com]

Neil had chosen a handsome crystal and carried it and a pillow over towards Andrew.

He couldn't help pausing and then grinning with an experimental wickedness.

"Showing off?" Neil asked, nodding towards the way Andrew was fondling his the balls.

Re: Meditation Exercise: Neil Perry & Andrew Wells

[wannabe-pan.livejournal.com]

The balls clanked together, setting off the miniature chimes within.

Andrew glanced up at Neil, shrugged and replied, "I could use more practice."

Re: Meditation Exercise: Neil Perry & Andrew Wells

[iftheseshadows.livejournal.com]

That caused both of Neil's eyebrows to go up but then he blushed furiously, a bit embaressed by his attempt to be suggestive and sat down on the pillow.

"Your technique looks okay to me," he muttered, eyes down as he got comfortable.

Re: Meditation Exercise: Neil Perry & Andrew Wells

[wannabe-pan.livejournal.com]

Andrew placed the meditation balls back into their box and scooted closer to Neil. "I've missed you," he said simply, smiling.

Re: Meditation Exercise: Neil Perry & Andrew Wells

[iftheseshadows.livejournal.com]

That made Neil smile and he gave a small scoot of his own so that their shoulder's brushed.

"I've missed you too," he said softly. "Been getting into the swing of classes once more but ... yeah."

Looking down at the crystal in his hand, he peeked back up at Andrew and grinned.

"I didn't get a roommate for this semester."

Re: Meditation Exercise: Neil Perry & Andrew Wells

[wannabe-pan.livejournal.com]

Andrew bit his bottom lip and inclined his head towards the other boy. "Yeah?"

Re: Meditation Exercise: Neil Perry & Andrew Wells

[iftheseshadows.livejournal.com]

Neil squirmmed a little but it only seemed to end up with his being closer to Andrew.

"Um, yeah. So it's nice and quiet and ... just me," he said, the pause telling before he scrambled to qualify it. "If, I mean if you wanted to come by and study or do homework or ... something"

Honestly, he'd always been much smoother and cool with the girls he escorted to dances and the like. But then, they hadn't meant anything.

Re: Meditation Exercise: Neil Perry & Andrew Wells

[wannabe-pan.livejournal.com]

"I could use a nice place to come study or, um, meditate," Andrew replied.

He reached for Neil's hand, figuring it would be a much more meaningful meditation object than the metal orbs.

"So shall we try this thing?"

Re: Meditation Exercise: Neil Perry & Andrew Wells

[iftheseshadows.livejournal.com]

Reached over, Neil threaded his fingers with Andrew's and it was on the tip of his tongue to ask if Andrew meant the meditation thing or the thing thing but then he realized ... the answer was the same to both.

"Yes," he said, smiling warmly at the other boy and giving his hand a squeeze.