Destiny & Free Will, Week II [Monday, Period 4]

[atreideslioness]

The class met in the Danger Shop today, as handwavily ordered.  The room was set to a giant circle, with plenty of overstuffed pillows for laying on in the center.  Along the edges were small round tables, each with two chairs and various items placed upon them. 

Once the bell rang, Ghanima looked up from where she was sprawled on the floor playing with some cards and smiled.  "Destiny," she began with preamble, dropping the cards and pushing to her feet.  "Refers to a predetermined course of events. It may be conceived as a predetermined future, whether in general or of an individual. It is a concept based on the belief that there is a fixed natural order to the universe." 

"Destiny may be seen either as a fixed sequence of events that is inevitable and unchangeable, or that individuals choose their own destiny by choosing different paths throughout their life."  Ghanima paused to smile at them briefly.  "Confusing, isn't it?"

"Many Greek legends and tales teach the futility of trying to outmaneuver an inexorable fate that has been correctly predicted. This form of irony is important in Greek tragedy, as it is in Oedipus Rex  or Thornton Wilder's The Bridge of San Luis Rey, where in spite of all the character's attempts otherwise, it does not preclude a horrible fate," she said,  wandering the room to pass out a handout on Oedipus.

"Some believe that one's destiny may be ascertained by divination. In the belief systems of many cultures, one's destiny can only be learned about through a shaman, babalawo, prophet, sibyl, saint or seer. In the Shang dynasty in China, turtle bones were thrown ages before the I Ching was codified. Arrows were tossed to read destiny, from Thrace to pagan Mecca. In Yoruba traditional religion, the Ifá oracle is consulted via a string of sixteen cowries or oil-palm nuts whose pattern when thrown on to a wooden tray represents the 256 possible combinations whose named "chapters" are recited and verses interpreted for the client by the babalawo."  Ghanima grinned and waved her hand in the international 'blah blah blah' manner.  "Every society has their own way of fortelling a future, from worm entrails to crystal balls.  My empire put its fate in the hands of a family that can walk the veils of time, forward and back, to see what lies beyond, and now they're stuck with the future that the Mahdi chose.  Oracles can be a tricky bunch, and you must always assume that they may have a hidden agenda of their own."  

"Today, it's time for you to face your destiny."  Ghanima gestured to the tables ringing the room.  "Pair up, wander around, and pick a method of divination that speaks to you.  Read your own destiny, or that of your partner, and then discuss if you agree or disagree with the results you obtained."

[OOC: OCD UP.  Up way-early, so I don't miss it tomorrow.]

Comments

Sign-In #2

[atreideslioness]

In a futuristic fashion!

Re: Sign-In #2

[a-demosthenes.livejournal.com]

Valentine Wiggin

Listen to the Lecture

[atreideslioness]

Take notes, pass notes, chat... it was all your destiny, anyway.

Re: Listen to the Lecture

[weetuskenraider]

Tahiri wasn't sure how she felt about any of this; she had enough confusing information about possible destinies (and ones that weren't going to happen now, either, thanks for that, Master Ikrit) to deal with as it was.

Re: Listen to the Lecture

[kestrelswolf.livejournal.com]

Firekeeper knew something of divination after her time in Liglim, as they'd used animals to read omens for many things. However, the mention of using entrails- animal sacrifice- was an entirely unwelcome reminder of Dantarahma's cult. And so it was that she listened quietly, one hand fisting Blind Seer's fur for what comfort the familiar sensation could offer.

Re: Listen to the Lecture

[walks-two-paths.livejournal.com]

Savannah was taking notes and very relieved that things seemed to be getting back to normal.

Re: Listen to the Lecture

[trigons_child]

Raven was far to afraid of her destiny to want to risk a reading, but she listened attentively to the lecture.

Re: Listen to the Lecture

[momslilassassin]

Ben was finding the fringe on the pillow he was sitting on absolutely fascinating.

But just because he wasn't making eye contact didn't mean he wasn't listening to every word that was being said.

Re: Listen to the Lecture

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

...Liir was a little wary. This kind of thing was dangerous, after all. He was just glad that there were no giant glass globes to be found.

Re: Listen to the Lecture

[a-demosthenes.livejournal.com]

Valentine was making the attempt to be attentive and open toward all these various forms of soothsaying, but she just didn't have it in her. Every single one of them just sounded like another form of manipulation. After all, the future in her world was dictated by generals who played games with children, and children who played games with words. She couldn't help being unimpressed with the whole thing.

Re: Listen to the Lecture

[glacial_queen]

Karla was pouring over the different divination options. Dreams were big, of course, but none of the other cultures used weaving. Odd, considering how often the term 'threads of Fate' was used.

Re: Listen to the Lecture

[finding-x-dream.livejournal.com]

Agnes took detailed notes, and then frowned and chewed on her pen. She raised a hand. "This Oedipus story?" she asked. "Did it actually happen?"

Class Discussion

[atreideslioness]

Sound off! Look over your handout, and discuss the fate of Oedipus. What does the playwright say about destiny and free will?

Re: Class Discussion

[thatsamilkshake]

"I'm not sure what the writer thinks," Francine said, arms crossed and pulled back in her seat a bit, "But I think Oedipus got screwed." Yes, yes, Francie. That was part of the problem. "He got manipulated."

She might have had some issues.

Re: Class Discussion

[trigons_child]

"The Oracle caused everything that befell Oedipus," Raven said thoughtfully. "Every crucial turning point in his life related to consulting the Oracle. If at any point the Oracle had not been consulted, the tragedy might have been avoided."

Re: Class Discussion

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

The story felt familiar, in a terrible sort of way, but he shook that off to speak.

"It seems that for all that each oracle and soothsayer could give him a piece, no one gave him enough to actually help him. Each one only gave him enough to get him into worse trouble; their knowledge was shallow and ultimately, more harmful than ignorance.

"I'd almost think it would say acting against 'destiny' is acknowledging it's truth."

Activity: Pair Off!

[atreideslioness]

At various stations around the room, Ghanima has set up various fortune telling equipment. Tarot cards, books on chiromancy, crystal balls, the I Ching, and various types of runes. Pair up, and either try to divine your own destiny, or that of your partner, and discuss.

[OOC: As it says, have fun! Feel free to handwave, mod the equipment on your table, or use the power of the internet to get a reading for your character.]

Re: Activity: Pair Off!

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

Poking a bit at the tarot cards, Merlin waited for a partner. Really, this couldn't be any worse than a bloody dragon telling you.

Re: Activity: Pair Off!

[wantstobehuman.livejournal.com]

George eyed a few of the different options, but decided to take a look through one of the decks (http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/universal-waite/).

[That's my deck! I'd be more than happy to pull an actual spread for someone and have George muddle through it. :D ]

Re: Activity: Pair Off!

[kestrelswolf.livejournal.com]

Firekeeper frowned at the various methods of divination. Or, well, mostly she was frowning at the instructions for same.

Honestly, she was no aridisdu. She barely placed any meaning on such things, let alone knew how to read these so-called omens. Would her own future even be readable by these methods anyway?

Re: Activity: Pair Off!

[walks-two-paths.livejournal.com]

Savannah was examining one of the rune sets as it was something she had recently started studying.

Re: Activity: Pair Off!

[momslilassassin]

Ben glared at the tarot cards in front of him as we waited for someone to join him.

Talk to the TAs

[atreideslioness]

When they tag in.

Re: Talk to the TAs

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

Merlin was there, of course! And very glad nothing of his changed over the weekend.

...riiiight.

Talk to Ghanima

[atreideslioness]

She's around.

Re: Talk to Ghanima

[not-jaded-yet.livejournal.com]

Jennifer made sure to talk to the teacher.

"I'm okay now. As you can see," she said.

OOC

[atreideslioness]

Okay. So. I completely lack internet right now, and am at the mercy of the public library system and what wifi hotspots I can find. If you'd like Ghani somewhere, please email me, otherwise I'll try to get on AIM after class.

Or if you can tell me how to fix my internet-stealing connection voodoo, you will be my new best friend.

Re: OOC

[gotyourmateria.livejournal.com]

I feel your pain.