Post by Chloe Vablatsky on Jun 3, 2012 11:57:21 GMT -5
June 2012 – Ornithomancy
For this school year we will begin with Ornithomancy, or diving meaning from bird signs. This is an ancient form of Divination used by the ancient Greeks and Romans. Different birds were associated with different gods and so messages from birds could be considered messages from the Gods. A diviner in Rome that sought meaning from birds was called an Augury. This is a form of divining that not everyone will find skill in, as is with much of Divination. However with practice you may find yourself able to find meaning in something as simple as the movement of birds.
As with all Divination you must begin with a goal or a question in mind. Divination is the art of using the divine or the mundane to answer a question you yourself do not immediately know. This question can be large – such as if you will have a major change in life, or it can be small – such as the location of that pair of socks you lost. For the purposes of this class I do not care what manner of question you ask, only that you find one that has meaning to you. Meaning is important in Divination because if you don’t truly care about the answer you seek, you’ll never find it.
When divining meaning from birds there are many things to consider.
Try looking at where and how the bird is flying. Is it going up, down, or sideways? Is it not moving at all? Are there several birds, or is there just one? Is the bird struggling, flying quickly, or coasting along? Does it fly with the wind, or against it?
There are many other aspects to look at. What kind of bird is it? Owls and hawks can have completely different meanings. What color is the bird? Does it appear to be very young or does it appear to be very old? Think about what birds traditionally symbolize and what the different types of birds traditionally symbolize. A dove will mean something different than a hawk. Obviously you would be constrained to the native bird population at hand, so take caution here when dealing in absolutes.
All Divination has to do with symbols, so when interpreting bird signs consider the birds to be living breathing symbols. Consider what each action might mean, each color, and the circumstances surrounding the situation. Use those symbols to interpret the meaning to your question. It is often best to use Ornithomancy outdoors on birds that are not caged and so flying freely. This may take up some time and require patience and there are not always birds flying in the sky. Use your gut and enjoy some outdoor area for a while.
Assignment:
Years 1-4: Using Ornithomancy, divine an answer to a question of your own. It can be personal or it can be silly. Explain what you observe and why the symbols answer what you ask.
Years 5-7: Using Ornithomancy, divine an answer to a question of another’s. This will be easiest with someone you have a personal connection to though I encourage you to challenge yourself and meet someone new. Explain what you observe and why the symbols answer what you ask.
Assignment is open until June 30th.
[Copy/Paste and Google is your friend if you need assistance with this]
Out of character note to help you:
While many magical classes may be graded out of skill Chloe is the type of Professor who recognizes that Divinations does not come easily to the majority of the populace. When attempting her lessons she would encourage students to at least try and will mark good points for those who make an honest attempt at the assignment. She also believes Divinations is an introspective art and is content if students simply realize things about themselves.
As always, if a student would like to discuss an assignment or the results of an assignment, or Divinations in general, please make a thread and Chloe would be more than happy to see you!