Nature & Nature Magic (Thursday Afternoon, The Park, 5/25/2006)

[romanywitch]

"Guys, I'm Jenny Calendar, and if you hadn't figured it out? This is Nature and Nature Magic. With any luck, it won't start raining, but if it does?" She points over at a stack of umbrellas. "Help yourselves. Given that I've got a new and eclectic mix of students here, let's go with the basics, and then get into something more. Why don't you guys all introduce yourselves, tell us a bit about where you're from, and why you've signed up for this class."

"For starters, let me explain what I want to do: Magic is intimately tied in with nature. I generally work with my laptop, but everything I do with that? Still originated with nature and got ported over to the computer, generally without cramming it full of funky code that looks like it was written by a bunch of drunk monkeys given typewriters and told to produce Shakespeare. Generally. Depends on how complicated it is. But! To understand a lot of magic, you have to understand how it works with nature, and not generally against it.

There aren't too many rules in this workshop, it being summer and us wanting to take things easy. First off, try not to overdo it with the non-workshop related magic. I don't know what level of talent y'all have, but trust me, I'm sure you'll all impress me over the course of the workshop. Second, if you're a non-magic user, chill. This is all basic stuff here, and I'm not going to ask for anyone to conjure an oak tree from an acorn. Which, now that I think about it, may disappoint some of you." Because Jenny was fairly familiar with the nature of Fandom High's seriously overachieving bunch, really, not because she knew Willow. No, really.

Last? If you're not fond of magic or witches or whatever we've got here in the way of magic users, keep it to yourself." Jenny glanced warily at Macbeth presuming he's there, as he's signed up for the workshop, and grinned at the wee little dagger if it was around. "Because if someone decides to bring the vengeance while my back is turned? Or even while I'm watching. Well, if you deserve, my sympathy will be limited.

So. Let's get started."

{{OOC: These are the IC rules only. I trust you guys on an OOC level to have fun and go nuts and break the IC rules if you want without going overboard. If you're worried about something, don't be. We'll talk about it and figure it out.}}

"The ancient Greeks thought that everything in nature was created from four basic elements. The idea originally came from Empedocles somewhere around 450 BCE. The basic elements are earth, air, fire, and water--not a shock to many of you guys, I'm guessing.

Each element has its own properties: Fire is hot and dry, Earth is cold and dry, Air is hot and wet, and Water is cold and wet. Those of you who didn't get that Fire was hot and Water was wet? Can I ask if you're on something, and how good is it, and where I can get some?

Later, Aristotle introduced the concept of 'aether,' and the Pythagoreans introduced the concept of 'idea,' both of which were considered to be a quintessence, or fifth element. That concept survives today in the form of 'spirit,' which pretty much combines aether and idea into a fun mishmash of philosophy.

Other fun ways of looking at elements: Taoist philosophy has Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water, but no air. Samkhya philosophy--from Hinduism--has the Tattvas of Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and Aether, and a whole lot of other stuff we won't be getting into. Japanese philosophy meshed both of those and goes with Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and Void--and sometimes has a sixth element of Consciousness.

I've put some information online for you guys, if you're looking for extra reading on the elements. We're going to be focused mostly on practice, rather than theory, this summer."

Jenny nodded at a bunch of supplies she had set up. "Today's just the getting to know each other, yourselves, and nature session. Group up or work singly--though I'd prefer groups--and play."

There are buckets, of dirt, watering cans, and seedlings of various species of beneficial herbs and flowers for everyone to plant their own container garden. There are also marshmallows, twigs, and chocolate and graham crackers set up near a small bonfire in a pit, prisms and wind chimes hung on the branches of nearby trees, and a large glass bowl full of goldfish sitting on a card table she'd brought out and set up.

OOC: Here is the syllabus and roster for this workshop. Also, fun wiki link to classical elements in pop culture.

Wait for the OCD! Yay, OCD! It's done now, and barring unforeseen work emergencies, the play shouldn't be too slow.

Comments

Introduce Yourself

[romanywitch]

Who you are and why you're here.

Re: Introduce Yourself

[willbedone.livejournal.com]

"Willow Rosenberg," Willow said, giving Jenny a little wave. She had in no way rehearsed her introduction here, except for the part where she totally had. "I'm interested in magic because I know people who've done magic to make good things happen, and I'd like to make good things happen too. If I can. With practice. And the right books."

Skipping the part where she'd already done tons of magic? Willow? Nahhh.

Re: Introduce Yourself

[lilpunkinbelly.livejournal.com]

"Dawn Summers," she waved to everyone. "And I'm here to learn what I can, because magic's a big thing where I'm from."

Dawn absolutely didn't glance quickly at Willow. Not the same Willow.

Re: Introduce Yourself

[likethegun]

"I'm Sam Winchester," he said, joining the waving bandwagon as he tried to figure out exactly how much he should admit. "I'm here because I want to learn about good kinds of magic. I've seen what can be done with the bad kinds, so I figure it's important to learn about something that'll balance all that out."

Re: Introduce Yourself

[thenamesxander.livejournal.com]

"Xander Bly," Xander introduced himself. "I'm here because I'm a sorcerer in training, and my powers are closely tied with nature and plants, so I'd like to understand more about how it works."

Re: Introduce Yourself

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

I'm Lana Lang. I don't have any magic abilities or anything. I just thought the course sounded fascinating."

Re: Introduce Yourself

[greenmagebriar.livejournal.com]

"My name's Briar Moss and I'm a plant mage."

Re: Introduce Yourself

[lovechildblair.livejournal.com]

"Hi, I'm Blair Sandburg." Blair bounced excitedly. "I have no magic abilities and judging by Hank..." He held up his tiny pot of dirt. "I have no nature abilities either. But I'm eager to learn about both!"

Re: Introduce Yourself

[narglette.livejournal.com]

After a few moments of staring off into space, Luna recalled what she was supposed to be doing rather than letting her mind fly free on obscure lines of thought.

"Hello, I am Luna Lovegood." She gave a small, serene smile. "I selected this course so that I might learn new methods and means of magic." She forgot to wave. It wasn't on purpose, she'd just got distracted by the prisms.

Re: Introduce Yourself

[grand-fallguy.livejournal.com]

Tim smiled at Ms. Calendar's intro to the course. "Hi, I'm Tim, from New York. I'm taking this course because not long ago I was given a magic wand for the protection of the Fae, and I'm not really sure how to do anything with magic. I'm just hoping to gain a better understanding of it I guess."

Re: Introduce Yourself

[sea-incarnadine.livejournal.com]

Macbeth glanced around, somewhat on the paranoid side.

"Tha-- ... Just Macbeth. And I'm here because I wasn't really paying attention when I chose my workshops, I guess. It didn't seem to matter where I was, so long as I was somewhere."

He grimaced and wished there was a desk that he could slouch into. Being outside, there was no such luck.

Spot seemed extra chipper today, wobbling about in a weetiny hello to his friend, the lady that Macbeth had made an arse of himself in front of. ♥

The Elements

[romanywitch]

Plant a container garden, make s'mores, play with the goldfish, or have fun with the wind chimes and the prisms. Or do something else element related. Or just have fun.

Re: The Elements

[willbedone.livejournal.com]

Magical herbs of her very own? Willow was all over that. She got down to start working with the pots and the dirt. "Do we get to keep these when we're done?"

Re: The Elements

[lilpunkinbelly.livejournal.com]

Dawn was torn. The goldfish were cute, the wind chimes and prisms were cool, but there was junk food.

Junk food won out, though she did make sure to wave to the fish as she toasted her marshmallow.

Re: The Elements

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

Lana settled in to make a container garden, carefully putting together all the things she thought she'd need.

Re: The Elements

[greenmagebriar.livejournal.com]

Briar began working on a container garden.

Re: The Elements

[likethegun]

Getting to play with dirt was a far too enticing option for Sam to ignore, so he headed for the pots and herbs.

Re: The Elements

[lovechildblair.livejournal.com]

Blair headed towards the goldfish first, kneeling down to greet them.

Re: The Elements

[narglette.livejournal.com]

Luna wandered over to a spot under the trees.

The tinkling of the chimes and flicker-flash of the prisms' rainbows delighted her.

Re: The Elements

[grand-fallguy.livejournal.com]

Tim waved to Lana and Willow as he sat down by the plants and dirt and stuff. "So," he asked no one in particular. "Which herbs do what?"

Re: The Elements

[thenamesxander.livejournal.com]

Xander, of course, headed right for the container gardens. Glancing thoughtfully at the herbs for a few minutes, he eventually selected a few and started planting.

Re: The Elements

[sea-incarnadine.livejournal.com]

Macbeth contented himself to play in one of the buckets of dirt, somewhat ignoring the seeds in favor of distracting himself by digging little holes and filling them in again.

He seemed somewhat distracted. Mostly, he just needed something to do with his hands to keep him from doing stupid things with his mouth.

Talking And Stuff

[romanywitch]

Whatever doesn't fit with this session's theme.

After The Workshop

[romanywitch]

In case you want to talk to Jenny privately.

Re: After The Workshop

[grand-fallguy.livejournal.com]

Tim approached and cleared his throat, looking only slightly nervous.

OOC

[romanywitch]

Because duh. ;)

Re: OOC

[narglette.livejournal.com]

Hmmmm, am debating whither to have Luna ask about "on-line". Hmmmm.