"The Font of Love" ((Inuyoko Mass #24))
Hello everyone, my name is Inuyoko T’Alveni. I am a Priestess of this Shrine and a member of its clergy since deoch 53. Last double-moon, we spoke about inspiration, what it means, and had some folks share things that are inspiring to them. Today, I’d like to speak about friendship, love, and being thankful.
We know that love was what guided Deoch from the path of darkness, and away from a lust for power which undoubtedly would have consumed Him, and maybe even the world itself had fate gone a different way. And while we are grateful for the resulting gift of our Spark, we have to recognize that which preceded it. Preceded Danaan. And likely even predates Humanity itself. I’m inclined to call it an atavism, though perhaps that isn’t quite accurate. It is recurring, but it never really goes away to come back. I strongly feel that without the presence of love, that the Spark is rendered essentially inert. But I also want to emphasize that there is the type of love that we engage in, between ourselves and friends, romantic partners, and strangers, and the essence of love that exists deep within us and is fed by those experiences. Much like the Spark creates an invisible bridge between us as we work and create together, love latently creates its own tether between us and everyone else.
And this brings me to a point that I want to make about this tether. When I said that our Spark is weakened as love grows dimmer, we may be tempted to think about the things that cause us pain. We may think of a deeply-felt betrayal, or the absence of a dear friend. Maybe we are experiencing an inordinate amount of that, and it feels as though the tether can do nothing else besides snap and break. But the truth is that it can be incredibly difficult to actually break love’s influence. Who here hasn’t been deeply hurt before by someone we thought of as a dear friend? Maybe the damage to the relationship is too great to maintain it, but it is still rare for the love to completely fade. When you think back on the good times, that is love lingering. When the pain is called fresh to your mind, that pain too is love lingering.
The thing about the lingering presence of love is that it is not hanging there alone. It is connected to the entire network, and even nearly exhausted it can lift us up and support love in other areas of our life. When we are struggling from those weak parts, it can be hard to shift things. But that strength doesn’t just come from the external factors. It comes from within us as well. From reflection. Understanding that those we miss, likely miss us as well. We can allow the fonts of love to flow from our cuts to other people, and other places. In time, more connections will be made, and they will begin to fill again. Think about the things you’ve created and done that have brought joy and find the will to pursue those ventures again. Chances are, more people will be touched by your efforts, and both you and others will reap the benefits. For love’s power is multiplicative.
Deoch’s spark is not the origin of love, but its power gives us a greater awareness of it, a heightened sensation, and a stronger resilience for it. We are nearing the end of the cycle now, with only a deoch and a half left. This time of the Octave is hard for many of us, for myriad reasons. As we approach deoch 217, the year of Sgrios, we have a heightened awareness and sensitivity to endings, death, and decay. But as you endure the difficult times, remember that you are not alone, that it is a necessary part of life, and that on the other side lies rebirth, warmth, and solace. Let us all be thankful for the love that exists in our lives, spread more of it where we can, and together push through to new horizons. I am thankful for each of you, and so much more.
A flame in bitter wind.
Flickering.
Persevering.
In Deoch’s name,
We come together.
Mass is cast.
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