"What Drives You?" AKA "The Crossroads of the Eight Faiths" ((Inuyoko Mass #4))
*Looks around the room*
What drives you?
It's perhaps a loaded question, but it is one that I feel is important to ask ourselves now and again. In my estimation, what makes the worship of Deoch so special is that it is unifying. Not just in the sense of balance, though I've spoken in previous Masses about the light and darkness that exists within each of us, and alike within the gods... the freedom we have that allows us to affect the world around us, and our friends and foes.
It ties in to what I believe about the universality of Deoch's influence. Sgrian High Priestess Paramour (who is generously here now) gave a lovely Mass recently about the facets of death and how it impacts us. Death is one of these drives. Perhaps it is a desire to make the most of the limited time we have here in this world that causes one to create, to assist, to adventure. Perhaps it is a promise made to a loved one who has been lost.
For those who are called to Glioca's service, the intoxication of love may be a guiding force for you. It can bring us to do great things, to exceed even our own expectations of ourselves. Compassion, too, may motivate us. To see a young Spark embarking on a fresh journey, and thinking back to our own past at that stage, we may go forth to assist them, forgetting our own expense to enrich another's path.
Ceannlaidir, that misunderstood avatar of war and conflict...We may think that there is no inspiration to be had in such things, but in truth, there are times when it is all but required of us to stand up, and to take even violent action in the defense of the weak or downtrodden. Whether for or against, there is so much passion that is riled by the call to war. Resistance to tyranny and genocide are noble things for one to be inspired by, and to be called to action for.
For a Deochan, it may be hard to imagine a kind thing being said about Fiosachd and his pursuit of wealth. But in truth, it is not just personal enrichment and selfishness that need be exemplified in that pursuit. For as a society we may be wealthy, and with the right motivations we can use that wealth to lift up everyone. I've seen it plentifully this past Deoch, and I am grateful for everyone who follows that call.
Luathas, too, is not exempt from the font of inspiration we treasure. While blind fealty to divine knowledge may find itself lacking, we cannot expand ourselves and improve our world without understanding the things within it. And with no new knowledge we can only stagnate, and destroy our ability to move forward.
Cail represents a balance that can sometimes threaten us with complacency, but I think that is a misunderstanding. Nature itself is not always orderly. It is as often as not chaotic and there is beauty in that chaos. There is little limitation to the inspiration that can be derived from nature, and respecting it is essential to our essence, regardless of our specific goals.
Lastly, I speak on Gramail. An old god, and often spoken of as our opposite. Though there is a limitation imposed by law, there is certainly freedom in justice. Without justice, without diversity, equity, and inclusion, we risk denying even more freedom to our friends, our neighbors and comrades, to ourselves. There is a reason why it is Gramail and Deoch who stand so close together in the halls of Kadath, tying themselves to our vitality and our magical essence. They stand as opposites, but not as enemies.
This is what I believe to be true about the nature of the gods. All of this is to say what? It is to say that we as Deochans stand at the crossroads of all faiths. Not to imply that ours is a superior faith, or above any others, but just that we at once give to and rely on all the others. Ours is the religion of the Spark, of everything that makes us Aislings, and for that reason we embody everything that our world holds within it.
To wrap up and to bind all of this together a bit, I want to share a quote from a person I encountered when I was doing research for my recent college submission. A young musician named Eiddel, who grew up in Abel, and who often makes music that sounds rather out of place in the typical styles of Temuair. I asked her if she had any wisdom about the creative process she'd like to share, especially because Abel as a port town has a rather eclectic musical culture. She said "The best thing about making music these days is that you can do anything. The hardest thing about it is that you can do anything." A rather confusing sentiment at first, but I understood her meaning in time...Presented with a blank slate, a canvas without restrictions, you may find yourself paralyzed with indecision. However, if you are able to focus on something that drives you, then like the shavings from a slab of stone being chiseled away by a sculptor, your goals will become clear. Wherever you find that inspiration, you will inevitably follow the calling that Deoch has presented for you.
Mass is cast.
Comments
Post a Comment