Deoch Mass 11-20-2019 - The Eulogy, Sacrifice of Danaan, and Deoch (Part 2)

Today, the next step on our speculative journey of the Eulogy, Danaan’s sacrifice, and how everything is related to Deoch and the Aisling Spark.

If you were here during the last mass, I recalled how the three goddesses worshiped during the Eulogy are all aspects of our dear Danaan. And how each set of prayers from these races gives us insight into the three rites she performed to sacrifice herself and seal away Chadul.

I ended with the suggestion that there is a darker truth underlying the celebration of the Eulogy. Let us shine a bit of light on that deeper mystery today in our effort to tie everything back to Deoch.

If you listen closely during the prayers of the three races for this part of the Eulogy and the upcoming Redemption ritual, you will hear an understanding of Danaan’s sacrifice that these races have always known. Speaking about their patron Goddesses, they say:

“You sacrificed Yourself to the abomination whose age is greater than this stone.”
“You sacrificed Yourself to the abomination whose age is greater than this hidden garden.”
“You sacrificed Yourself to the abomination whose age is greater than this hexagram. You uttered command to the Six. It would be Your last.”

To those not fluent in Temuairian history, these are subtle references to the League of Darkness and their Pact of Anaman. A group that dominated the Ninth Aeon of Temuair.

A bit of a side note that you will sometimes hear Historians attribute someone’s turn to evil to them joining the ‘Anaman Pact’; I find this to be a flight of fancy. The actual Pact of Anaman was a dread agreement between six lords and one ‘agent of otherworldly chaos’ that granted the men one thousand year lifespans and the unification of Temuair. It is not something open to joining, as the history of actions taken by the Loures council have come to teach us and confirmed by the Eulogy prayer of the Kobolds who confirm when they reference ‘the Six’.

But I digress, it is a matter for historians to debate exactly whose allegiance the League of Darkness actually belongs and exactly what this mysterious power of chaos was that they formed a pact with.

What matters in our look at the Eulogy is that Danaan sacrificed herself to a powerful abomination that had sway of the six lords of the Pact of Anaman.

This all begs us an answer to the question: ‘why would Danaan make such an agreement?’. If we are to make a mortal analogy, we might say that it sounds like a move of desperation. Perhaps the Shadows War taxed Danaan’s power to the point where She didn’t have the confidence to prevail in inevitable battles ahead after the Light defeated the Darkness of Chadul the past two wars? Perhaps there is another unknowable reason Danaan had in mind... all we do know is that She made the sacrifice in a trade-off to seal away Chadul.

Regardless, what does this all mean? It sounds like Danaan made an offering to an abomination of chaos in exchange for sealing away the Darkness of Chadul. That doesn’t necessarily seem like a sound decision, does it?

Well, that is where Deoch and the Aisling Spark come into view. Next double-moon, please join us for the conclusion of this series of unorthodox sermons. And do not forget the Eulogy is upon us now, go and pay your respects alongside the Mukul, Kobolds, or Grimlock.

Deoch Mass 11-6-2019 - The Eulogy, Sacrifice of Danaan, and Deoch (Part 1)

At the turn of the Deoch, the Eulogy will once again be upon us. In Pravat the Grimlok worship Adranuch, their Lady of Gold. In Astrid the Kobolds worship Arpina, their All-Mother. In Mehadi the Mukul worship Matrika, their Goddess of the Sun-heart.

These three races have maintained an open invitation for Aislings to participate in their sacred rites and many wayward Aislings return every cycle to join in. However, we have been going through the motions for so long that one can almost be forgiven for letting the importance of the rituals and why they are performed slip from the mind.

For the next couple of sermons leading up to the Eulogy these sermons will be a little different than normal. I will attempt to do justice to this forgotten lore: the Eulogy, Danaan’s sacrifice, and how deeply connected with our beloved Deoch and the creation of the Aisling Spark everything is.

But for today, just the basics:

When you give your Eulogy with one of the three races, you will hear the prayer they offer. That prayer accounts a rite that each goddess performed, each distinctly different. Adraunch worked the earth and imbued it with power. Arpina drew an ancient octagram and united the Temuairian Gods. Matrika gave her blood to give life to the land.

As most of you might be aware when Danaan sacrificed Herself to seal away Chadul, she did so in three rites. This is not a coincidence. The goddesses worshiped by these races are all aspects of our dear Danaan and each race gives us insight into an aspect of her sacrifice.

When you participate in the Eulogy you are given a relic representing a rite the goddess conducted. A rose, a cross, or an octagram. A few summers from now follows the Redemption where your relic is imbued with the Spirit of Danaan. And finally it all comes to a conclusion after yet another summer with the Adoration where your relic is united with relics of the other two races to renew the sacrifice Danaan made for Temuair.

That is all most people need to know, all they really care to know. But these rites hide deeper, darker truths. And how does Deoch, an instrumental part of it all, fit into Danaan’s Sacrifice?

More on that next double-moon.

Deoch Mass 10-30-2019 - Anniversary

I only have time for a short few words today, but I wanted to be here to mark the one cycle anniversary of this Mass. By the grace of Deoch’s inspiration, I have held thirty-two sermons in that time.

I want to express a sincere thank you to those of you who have shared this journey with me. I am genuinely humbled by every Aisling that has brought themselves to Suomi to attend this mass over that time. I am thankful that there is still a demand for religious worship in Temuair, not just those that come to this particular mass but thankful for those that hold and attend masses to the other Temuarian gods as well.

I must admit having my share of doubts in the early going when oftentimes this temple stood empty as mass time arrived, but those doubts vanished when even a single Aisling came wanting to hear word of Deoch.

The tradition of worship survives even in this old age. It is a remnant of the old ways of Temuair. Perhaps Aislings of today think it a quaint anachronism, something that no longer belongs, but it has always been a large part of my life here in Temuair and I am immensely grateful that many of you choose to uphold this old tradition with me.

I am not here for myself, I am here for all of you. It is my pleasure to serve you to the best of my ability. If there is some way I am able to do better, please let me know. For there is another cycle ahead of us, filled with the worship of Deoch.

 

Deoch Mass 10-23-2019 - Dreamers

Aisling. A term meaning ‘dreamer’ in the old tongue, given to describe those of us reborn with the Spark. Fitting, isn’t it? We Aislings have dreamed countless contributions to Temuair of all sorts and enriched Temuair with an identity it would not have had otherwise… a Legacy that will stand long after this land fades into the void.

But imagine for a moment that our name was given to us for a much more literal reason.That our existence as Aislings -- as dreamers -- was made possible by bringing the dream of another to the land of Temuair through the Aisling Spark. A dream that is fused with a Mundane to create… us, the Aisling.

This is a theory that Aisling Philosophers have been whispering since the first dawning: that this type of connection is the true nature of the Aisling Spark. It is a theory nearly heretical at its core, but doesn't the concept of Heresy, the idea that another existence can manifest into the minds of Aislings, which was formerly enshrined within the very laws of Mileth and Rucesion bely the possibility that this theory might reflect in a shard of truth?

There are interesting philosophical lines of thought to explore here, but beyond that… even if our lives are a combination of another’s dream and a borrowed body,… what does it matter?

I am an Aisling living in the lands of Temuair. It is an existence I have cherished for a long, long time… My life here is independent, unique, and unlike any other. Regardless of how I came into this world; Temuair and its people have fundamentally changed me over time. I have loved and lost, laughed and cried, rejoiced and been hurt more times than I can count. I am willing to accept that my life here sprang from a simple dream, but I refuse to accept the existence that I have built is just an afterthought.

This journey over the many decades has changed me so significantly that I bare almost no resemblance to the awoken dream that laid eyes on Temuair for the first time as a hybrid of new life created through the gift of Deoch.

I hope you, too, feel this way. That your life here is more than a dream destined to be woken up from and forgotten. Let your time here in Temuair change you and alter whatever expectations you had when you first saw with new eyes. This is the unique ability this land wields: providing those with a life they never expected.

Deoch Mass 10-16-2019 - Our Unique Voice

The first time I stood at the head of a Deoch congregation, I was little more than a handful of Deochs an Aisling. My mentors, Casiell and Carnaugh, saw I had a passion for Deoch and they encouraged me to start my own mass and help fill out an already robust Deoch Mass schedule.

When the sun of my first arrived, I came to the temple and stood with my back up against the very statue. To put it simply… I was terrified. The few people that were in attendance were all older and wiser than I, by far. What I offered as my sermon were stuttering, disjointed thoughts pieced together from my still nascent understanding of Deoch and my own place in Temuair. After it was over and the temple had emptied, I told my mentors that I felt as if I wasn’t worthy to hold worship in Deoch’s name in front of these people so much better with words than I was.

It is what one of them told me in my moment of most need that I want to share with you today. He said: ’As Aislings it is the unique voice that each of us has, not the words themselves, that makes us special.’

Not exactly a straightforward bit of sage wisdom, but it has been one that I have thought about in the many decades since.

In time I believe came to understand what he was trying to tell me. Every one of us, should we choose to find and use it, has our own unique voice that gives sound to our passions and emotions. Anyone can use words to any end, that in itself is not difficult. But when someone finds their unique voice, their words take on a transcendent power.

The voice of a poet can stir the soul, the voice of a politician rallys others to their cause, the voice of a teacher grips the imagination of their students.

My mentors heard my passion and guided me to use my voice as a preacher to inspire faith. I am grateful for their prompting, I am here today because of the belief they had in me.

As it was in my case, it is often times that others see our strengths before we can ourselves. Perhaps there is someone you know that needs a similar prompting to use their own unique voice? If you see the passion in another, encourage them and help them find where their voice rings true. It is the many unique voices in their suited place that brings harmony to Temuair. And there is always room for another in the choir.

Deoch Mass 9-25-2019

The land was primed for a rich harvest after the first planting. Each seed explicitly chosen and sewn unerringly straight in virgin ground, rich with the potential of untapped nutrients.

As expected, the first harvest grew full. Bounty flourished from every sprout and the people wanted for very little. Some now call it the Golden Age. Enabled by the one who planted the first seed and continued by those that reached unimpeded toward the Light.

But no field ever remains isolated… they cannot. Their nature is not so idyllic; they must open themselves to the winds of change to survive and to grow.

And so it was done. The winds came and carried new seeds that planted themselves outside of the neatly ordered rows. Many balked at the disorder and the new types of sprouts that grew.

Still, the winds continued. The once orderly field that only grew perfect golden fruit now contained a rainbow of colors, not only new kinds of fruits but also vegetables of all varieties...and, inevitably: weeds. There was an exodius of those that refused to tolerate it.

The work of the harvest was no longer simple and the bounty no longer effortless. Each new, unique type of sprout needed a different path to reach the light. It was work that not everyone willing to do. Many sprouts languished and never produced because they weren’t cultivated.

Those that were fostered by the first planter grew fewer, but some adapted and taught old ways to newcomers. And from these: many tried to encourage the growth of these new sprouts. The harmony of the golden age was all but gone but even the chaos of colors that the field had become provided a harvest of its own.

If it had continued like that; it wouldn’t have been so terrible. It wasn’t perfect but there was beauty in what it was.

However, the harvest that was once robust and plentiful slowly became sparse and withered… stagnation. Sprouts still grew but most never discovered reason to flower.

The once bountiful harvests faded away. Many people tried to place blame for the state of the field. Endless chatter of who did what and who did not. The simple truth is that there was plenty to go around.

The field now sits largely fallow, a place where beautiful things once grew abundant. But the soil is ripe for new planting. It always has been. But it requires effort from those willing to see it though. Nourishing new sprouts, encouraging their growth, and helping them find their unique way upward toward the Light.

If enough walk this path, it becomes a new tradition. Something that is repeated and passed on. It is this tradition that has been missing: the one that returns the fields to bounty.

 

Deoch Mass 9-18-2019

It is an honor to stand here, giving praise to Deoch once again.

May you embrace that which makes you an Aisling, the gift of Deoch and the Inspiration that you have fostered within yourself.


This is the path that we walk to cleanse our mistakes:

Admission; learn a lesson
Apologize; forgive yourself
Move forward to the future.

In our time here in Temuair, we have all made mistakes. Many of those come with a Scar of Sgrios. A reminder of those times we slipped up and got dragged away from the realm of the living. The price for our salvation; a bite from the God of Death rendered from the very core of our being.

Sgrios’s Scar is a reminder of that mistake. Rarely do we get hung up on mistakes like these, because of how deceptively simple it is to cleanse away and continue with life.

But there are many other mistakes we make that do not provide such a persistent reminder to walk the path. Mistakes that are not always as easy for us to cope with, those that hurt those closest to us and even sunder the confidence we have in ourselves. These kinds of mistakes bring scars of a different nature. Scars on the psyche, not so easily cleansed.

However, like the simple ones, we work through these mistakes in the same manner: Reflect upon them, apologize to others, forgive ourselves, and finally continue on.

But it is not always a simple path to walk. Sometimes we go through these steps slowly or not at all, stubbornly allowing our pride to hold us back. I have learned well just how powerful that feeling can be in the face of my very own mistakes... to which there has been a great deal during my time in Temuair, especially in my younger Deochs.

But disarm pride by reminding yourself that the path isn’t walked to hold us to account for our mistakes. That is done regardless of our actions. This path, instead,offers freedom of the mind. A release from the burden that we hold on ourselves because of our mistakes and their consequences.

Find inspiration from Deoch and in yourself to always walk this path whenever you make a mistake, no matter what it is. Cleanse the scars that are heavy upon you and move forward, ready for what’s next.

Deoch Mass 9-11-2019

I only have some short words this double-moon… perhaps ones a bit cliche, but thoughts on my mind all the same.

It is common to hear about the importance of appreciating the people in your life while you are able. But even still, it is likely all of us have felt that pang of regret when our chance to partake in someone’s knowledge and kindness has passed.

There is a great deal of grief and sadness in that kind of regret; a panic that overcomes the body and mind. But it is a regret that slowly fades away to the realization that those who have passed on leave countless impressions upon us.

Like a library full of books that have only received a cursory reading; these left impressions are a treasure for reflection and meditation. Those old books on a second reading can reveal new insight from old experience. Hidden wisdom, affection, and humor; things we did not fully see or understand the first time around; shown in a new light.

It is in this way that the people who have left impression upon our lives stay with us. We are always able to pick up an old book from our shelf and look for something new, long after the author is gone.

Deoch Mass 8-28-2019

It is an honor to stand here, giving praise to Deoch once again.


When the Mundanes speak of our deeds -- our ‘legend’, as some are wont to call it -- you can learn a great deal. The mundanes whisper of fantastic beasts Aislings have slain, sing about storied political careers, and tell tale of visits to far-off places. Sometimes mundanes are quite verbose about certain individuals and have a long list of deeds about them. Some bits more interesting than others. Mundanes, such as they are, cannot experience Temuair in these ways so they tell tales of Aislings instead… thus our legends are born.

But when the Mundanes speak of our legends, that is only a small part of our stories. There are the intangible things that they never speak of that could fill volumes. 

The examples are nearly limitless...

The path from stranger to trusted friend, circumstances always different but amidst the same backdrop that you bring to each relationship.

Long evenings in the tavern drinking with friends and guildmates; bringing joy to one another’s hearts in this land of darkness.

The revelry of competing in the arena and forming camaraderie with your fellow combatants.

And although they are quick to talk about who loves who… maybe their favorite topic to exchange word of… what is unsaid tells the actual story as the title of love is meaningless compared to the act of it. How that love came to blossom and how you show one another your affection.

None of these moments… these feelings... will you ever hear the Mundanes gossip about. From the heartwarming days to times of unthinkable sorrow. When you share experiences with others, you feel one another’s emotion. The joys of being an Aisling.

These things tell more about each of us than the talking of the Mundanes ever could. They are the long journeys that bow away to the celebration of the destination.

Let that unsung journey be the true legend that defines you. Not the murmuring of the Mundanes but the feeling you leave in the hearts and minds of the peers you encounter through your time in Temuair. When this world eventually fades away under the waves, it will be those things that you will truly be remembered for… not the ‘legend’; the person.

Deoch Mass 8-21-2019

This is the second in a pair of simple thoughts about Deoch’s allies. This double-moon... Sgrios, the God of Death, Destruction, and Decay.

The mundanes themselves speak of Sgrios in terrifying terms, they call him an abomination who feeds on the living as well as the god of plagues. But his status in the minds of Aislings is not as hard set. Thoughts about Sgrios are wildly varied and the view that holds control within the temple itself has changed hands repeatedly throughout the ages, sometimes creating intrafaith power struggles.

In the early Deochs, the worshipers of Sgrios embraced dark impulses and he granted them the ability to indulge. Summoning attacks were common and deadly as worshipers saw it as glorifying Sgrios and providing him sustenance. It wasn’t long before the worship of Sgrios became synonymous with the worship of Chadul. Even as Sgrios’s power to summon waned, acolytes banded together into large summoning armies to continue this dual worship by slaughtering as many Aislings as they could with surprise attacks on peaceful gathering places.

Over time, however, a softer view of Sgrios that was the minority started to rise. To these people, Sgrios was worshiped not as an ally to Chadul or as an evil force at all; but instead as an essential part of all life: the end; the completion of a cycle. Some also see his role as that of a protector; sending Aislings back from the dead with a mark of reminder upon their souls. It is these people that tempered the view of Sgrios much to the chagrin of some and to the relief of others.

These days, hearing that someone is a worshiper of Sgrios doesn’t instantly draw suspicion. Perhaps a credit that a milder view of Sgrios has won the great debate over time.

As an outsider who has watched these opposing sides and many shades in between clash over the cycles, it is difficult for me to fully commit myself to any one view. And maybe that is the point that we can learn from looking at the Sgrios fellowship. How one group worships should not prevent anyone from worshipping their own way.

For myself, I have come to believe Sgrios represents an ever constant reminder. It is certain that one day death itself will come for Temuair. On that day, Sgrios may likely be euphoric in his feast. But to worship Sgrios means to respect him and his domain over Temuair’s inevitable denouement. With this in mind, he becomes less of a predator waiting to pounce and instead our companion. Reminding us that we must cherish each moment fully. Because these moments do not last forever. Death comes for us all in the end and what we leave behind is not as important as how we lived each of our moments.

When Sgrios delights in the spread of Death granted to him at the end times, may it pale in comparison to the joy and happiness we have shared with one another thanks to Sgrios’s reminder that none of this will ever come again.

Deoch Mass 8-14-2019

It is an honor to stand here, giving praise to Deoch once again.

I am just returning from some traveling so as I get settled back, these next two sermons will be a little different; musings on Deoch’s allies: Glioca and Sgrios. Not that you needed a reminder, but I am a Deoch priest. I do not speak for the clergy of any other temple; so what I may say here over the next double-moon does not necessarily reflect the beliefs of those fellowships.

As we are told, Glioca is the daughter of Danaan. To put the legends simply, Glioca is an essence that sprang from Danaan and formed into its own. We know that she is gentle, she does not know hate, and her love is eternal and never yielding.

Of all the deities Aislings choose to follow, those that devote themselves to Glioca have the most expectations laid upon them. Being the followers of the goddess of compassion, others look to them to show this kindness… often times en masse.

As a follower of Deoch, my brothers and sisters of Glioca are the ones I look toward for inspiration to keep improving myself. For when I look at them, I see their ongoing attempts to better reflect the light of Glioca’s moon. They put so much effort into being compassionate, responding to hate with kindness, and attempting to be unfailingly patient and kind to everyone they meet. It can be a humbling experience for me.

Inevitably, I also see their disappointment when they do not always live up to Glioca’s example or when their efforts are met with hostility from others.

It is our nature that sometimes we expect too much of ourselves. We can forget that the gods are deities for a reason, they are capable of states that we ourselves can only dream of. Falling short is not a failing to Glioca, she does not ask for or expect perfection. Glioca loves every effort expended and finds success even in what we consider failures.

Maybe with this in mind, Gliocians ability to recover with ease is what inspires me most of all. To them, showing love and kindness is its own reward and because of it they are rarely without a reason to get back up after being knocked down.

There is no more difficult a deity to aspire to than Glioca; I pray that we all continue to try regardless of that fact. Those of us here in the Deoch fellowship value our Gliocan allies, our stalwart companions on the path of Light.

Deoch Mass 8-7-2019

I have only a few short words today, more of an endcap to my previous sermon.

After seeing so many old friends and bright sparks that appeared recently, I confided in a friend that it was all very bittersweet.

How exceptional it was to see and talk to those bygone Aislings who have influenced Temuair in such significant ways. To once again share a laugh with friends who I thought were gone forever is a treasure I will carry in my heart for another twenty cycles. All of it brings to mind precious memories that harken back to a brighter age.

But these thoughts can carry a slight sting of pessimism when the veil fades away. Knowing that the state of Temuair is not quite as it was. That feeling is not entirely unwelcome, however. It gives us a purpose and a goal to strive for.

Our future is created through our choices in the present. Just as the harvest grows through the nurturing of the seed; future Aislings are raised on the inspiration and kindness of their peers. If we do not foster a proper environment for newly sparked Aislings to grow, they never will.

We stand with a simple choice. We can choose to struggle to create a better Temuair; to provide sustenance for those that drink in creativity and crave imagination so that they may bloom and in-turn provide nourishment for others... or we can choose not to.

The choice determines our future. This land can reflect the greatness of its past if we choose to make it so. 

((No screenshot due to my laptop being terrible))

Deoch Mass 7-31-2019

It is an honor to stand here, giving praise to Deoch once again.

Let us worship together the fire of inspiration in the full light of the moon with the knowledge that some things, once gone, never come again.


When we first dreamt as Aislings, we all took our first anxious steps into the Mileth Crypt and hunted the nearly harmless pests while we learned to walk in our new form. From there we all took on roles that best suited our skills and personality: artists, preachers, combatants, teachers, politicians and writers of all kinds. Each of us forging our unique story that could only be written here in Temuair.

As we grow older our stories get longer and we make appearances in the stories of others. The desire to keep writing new chapters gives us genuine meaning to a continued life. Each contribution another link forged in an unbroken chain: a community that extends back an unthinkable sixteen decades. The legacy of our people: the Aislings, the people of stories.

There is a chance you may see a few old faces around Temuair in the upcoming days; Aislings of legend, renown for their incandescent Sparks. Hear their tales and their stories. You will find that they are no different than you. They too swatted at mice and spiders while stumbling their way through the crypts. But, they wrote their stories long and they wrote them well and for that we revere them so highly.

Many have said that Temauir grows dim, that the Light has all but left these lands completely. As a matter of numbers, it is not entirely untrue. We have lost many of our brightest peers to time as they close their books and set their quills down forever. But do not lament the nature of things. It is inevitable that the sun must set. If Temuair is to slowly fade into the dark, then it is up to us that remain to light up the night.

It is said that as Danaan is the sun, Glioca is the moon. In this way, it falls to us to emulate Glioca, to be a reflection of the brightness that came before. As the moon, we have basked in the Light of the Sun, reading and learning from the stories written by our forebears. Now, we must continue them in a way that only we can.

The legacy of our people, the unwritten parts of the story, falls to us that remain. Light up the night with the fire of your inspiration and we will continue the story together.

(Words as written, not as delivered)

Deoch Mass 7-24-2019

It is an honor to stand here, giving praise to Deoch once again.

May you embrace that which makes you an Aisling, the gift of Deoch and the Inspiration you have fostered within yourselves


Deoch has blessed me with a life of inspiration. Not only that which has come forth from my own Spark, but also an endless bounty from other Aislings expressing their inspiration in countless ways.

The older I get, the more steadfast in my devotion to Deoch I become. And with the perspective looking back on a long life has granted me, I can see that my connection to Deoch’s gift has been refined quite significantly over time.

When I was young, I had little control over it. Often times it felt like a freshly tapped geyser erupting out from the ground, the inspiration for new ideas came faster than my ability to bottle them could muster. Oh, how blessed I thought I was! With countless half written parchments for projects partially finished before inspiration lashed out so fierce that I had to turn to a blank slate and a new idea.

Many ideas were put into action without proper refinement as I was so intent on finishing one thing and immediately moving on to the next so I could do as much as possible.

It has been with age that I have gained consideration. I came to learn my younger self was not blessed by Deoch with limitless inspiration that was being washed over me. No, I was instead a foolish glutton that was gifted an open well and decided to submerge my face instead of drawing from a cup. I still had my fill, but so much potential was wasted in the process.

In my youth, inexperience and inability to moderate became exhausting. Drenching oneself in inspiration without proper control leads eventually to fatigue. I have both experienced this myself a few times but also seen it happen to countless others. The wellspring of inspiration is not an endlessly replenishing resource. Over exert it without consideration and the well eventually draws empty. Many creative Aislings are lost in this way, they try so many things so quickly that their Spark can’t maintain it. They end up becoming disconnected from Temuair for a time… or forever.

I have been there myself. Disappeared from Temuair for ages and returned; with a well that is replenished. Luckily, time has granted me patience. The patience to savor each sip from the Deoch’s well. To give each flit of Inspiration its due consideration and full attention. To thank and praise Deoch for his bounty and not just mindlessly become drunk with it.

We are all here today because of Deoch and his contribution to the Aisling Spark. Repay him by using his gifts wisely. Our community is improved by inspired Aislings making their mark over a long period of time. Make every draw from your well count.

(remarks as written, not as delivered)

Deoch Mass 7-10-2019

It is an honor to stand here, giving praise to Deoch once again.

May you embrace that which makes you an Aisling, the gift of Deoch and the Inspiration you have fostered within yourselves


As we know, Deoch has been known as different things throughout time. During his servitude to Chadul, Deoch was the god of Debauchery. And, of course, we praise him now for being the god of Inspiration and Creativity. But there is one thing Deoch is occasionally called that you may not have heard yet.

Outside, you’ll see a very old, dilapidated signpost that points at this temple and says: Temple of Deoch, God of Rapture. It is an old view of Deoch, one that existed as a way to bridge the contradiction between his former nature and his current one.

You might ask: How does Rapture bridge Debauchery and Creativity?

When it comes to Debauchery, Deoch’s link to Rapture was entirely physical. Deoch’s Debauchery was unbridled and sinister. Among his many temptations, Deoch used his dark magic to craft fruits that were the largest and most colorful Temuairians had ever seen.

Deoch welcomed all to feast with him, tempting the Dark’s embrace to those willing to turn away from the Light. Those that did so found that those fruits weren’t only as flavorful as they looked but once eaten they gripped the body in a perpetual state of ecstasy. After one bite they could think of nothing else and the more they ate, the more lost they became in their own minds as their physical pleasure took priority. With the promise of more fruit, the enthralled practiced depraved rituals of the flesh to Dark powers with lecherous abandon. A rapturous but ultimately damning arrangement for those foolish enough to engage with a god of Darkness as the magics eventually warped them beyond all recognition into true beings of Darkness. Thralls of Chadul.

Like many things, when Deoch forsook the Darkness, this link to Rapture also changed.

When Deoch completed the Spark in Danaan’s absence, he performed what is still the most unthinkable union: a harmonious melding of Light and Dark energies. This act was the apex of creativity; an accomplishment so inconceivable that it transformed Deoch into the god of Inspiration.

Surly Deoch must have felt it in that moment, just as many of us have felt it at many points during our lives. The rush of mental triumph, the pleasure of a unique and creative endeavor being fulfilled. Something that only we, ourselves, could have created given form by our hands. This is intellectual side of rapture. The spark that flits from a simple idea and grows into a flame of elation inside of us as we bring that idea into creation.

This connection to Rapture is the mythos that was created to explain Deoch’s dual sided nature immediately following the birth of the Spark. The one that tried to explain how a god can transform so completely that he becomes unrecognizable to his former self; that there must be _some_ connection between the two. It has never been a widely practiced view, but it is a view of Deoch all the same and, as with all things, something to think on.

Deoch Mass 6-26-2019

This double-moon's mass was given by Deoch Cleric Serrah. The following is the transcribed version written by Landon.

It has been several Deochs since I’ve held my first and only mass.  This may seem a bit unorthodox… but I think our lord Deoch sparked an idea inside me through a conversation with a friend. 

It is my belief that the Aisling Spark is what determines the success of Temuair and in turn the potential demise. Our Lord Deoch takes form as a forever flame and I believe each of us has something similar burning inside of us. Things that drive us, that makes us achieve our dreams and aspirations. Things like friends and family. While we all come from different backgrounds and have different beliefs, I think in this day and age it is detrimental to our survival if we don't take the time to learn what each other's passions are.

I know, for myself, that what keeps my spark alive is the (Suomi) Troupe. I long for it, I live for it. I believe that what I do makes a difference on so many different levels.

What drives each of you?
What keeps your spark alive?

I think we all engage in our spark for one reason or another
What I feel is even more important is that we share our dreams and passions with each other; collaborate and achieve. As such, I encourage you all to take a moment, later this moon or the next and ask your friends, families, your peers -- whomever -- what keeps their spark alive, what keeps their essence here in Temuair. 
You never know what your words will spark in others as these thoughts from me were sparked by a conversation I recently had in the Shrine of Glioca.

Thank you.

Deoch Mass 6-19-2019

It is an honor to stand here, giving praise to Deoch once again.

May you embrace that which makes you an Aisling, the gift of Deoch and the Inspiration you have fostered within yourselves


Awhile back, I spoke about the darkness inside our own minds. An insidious predator patiently waiting for a stray feeling to latch on to and feed off of; that opportunity to grow into something more than just a shadow in the back of our minds.

We talked about how that shadow can grow into a maelstrom of dark clouds circling us, trying to drag us under the waves of despair. And also how sometimes, when our own light is at its dimmest and no longer capable of guiding us, it takes the Light of another extending through the darkness to help guide us to safer waters.

But the truth is, it is not always as simple as reaching our Light out to rescue someone caught in their own Darkness. For the Dark uses fear, panic, and dread on its victims to keep them enthralled. Hopelessness paralyzes to the point where they can no longer even recognized the Lights searching to help them.

Those of us on the shores have a responsibility to do more than reach out once and say we did our part. As brothers and sisters, we have a duty to hang our lanterns on high, shining out to all. Not just as vigilance for sailors lost on dark seas, but to all those coming and going on the seas of life. Because a Light that is always burning is an ever present beacon and a constant reminder to others that our Light will be there when others are not.

It is in this way that we can help save one another. For the weakened Light inside a broken mind also searches for stray thoughts to take ahold of. Even those battling an overwhelming mental battle while drifting helpless will still offer a stray positive thought…

a good friend...
a promise made...
a smile from someone we trust...

in whatever form that stray thought takes, if it has the fuel to kindle the Spark, that could be just enough for the Light to turn the ship toward land and save that someone who thought they were beyond salvation.

Think on these things for the next double-moon. Have you inspired positive feelings in those around you? Often times it seems a simple thing. But you never know when those thoughts you have fostered might help guide those who have lost hope in their moment of most need.

The darkness is our greatest enemy. It is a powerful foe on both the field of battle and in the recesses of our minds. It is something we survive together, in whatever form it takes.

(Words as written, not as delivered)

Deoch Mass 6-12-2019

It is an honor to stand here, giving praise to Deoch once again.

May you embrace that which makes you an Aisling, the gift of Deoch and the Inspiration that you have fostered within yourself.


If there is a trait in common for all Aislings that stay in Temuair for an extended amount of time, that trait would be ‘unmitigated stubbornness’. As much as this land can provide a bounty when sewn with the proper seeds, it is also taxing on those that believe in its ability to thrive and grow.

It is easy to see the potential that Temuair offers its inhabitants, but it can be frustrating when that potential isn’t utilized in the way that we think it should be. This frustration drives many away from these lands in search of more fertile pastures. Often angry and disheartened; you cannot really blame them. It is not as if we don’t feel it too, we certainly do, but it is that stubbornness that keeps us here despite those feelings.

Yet, it is not only that obstinate nature keeping us here. What you’ll also find among older Aislings is the willingness to adapt to new circumstances and new faces. Old hearts living new lives; we’ve seen friends fade away and we’ve befriended new generations repeatedly; the always moving cycle of community. Not better nor worse, but always different.

But it matters little if you are a stubborn old soul like myself or someone who stepped into Temuair for the first time today. The way this community survives is not only the belief that things will get better tomorrow, but by helping to make it better. In that way, each next harvest will be a little sweeter than the last.

We must promote a community that encourages a new generation of stubborn Aislings that continue to strive see Temuair better than it currently is. Because once Temuair loses its ability to create those stubbornly dedicated to it, the harvests will dwindle down to dust.

We all share the same goal for tomorrow: a better Temuair. Be stubborn enough to demand better; from each other and from ourselves. It is in this way that we make a difference; fruit of Temuair is nourished by the life we put into this land.

(Words as written not as delivered)

Deoch Mass 5-29-2019

It is an honor to stand here, giving praise to Deoch once again.

May you embrace that which makes you an Aisling, the gift of Deoch and the Inspiration that you have fostered within yourselves.


Deoch has never had the traditional ‘testing’ requirements for admitting worshipers that most of the other faiths implemented. At most, priests of Deoch would make sure that worshippers at least had a very basic understanding of Deoch and his relation in the octagram of faith before admitting new members. If they could recite the allies and enemies, that was more than enough to admit someone. But just knowing those details didn’t impart a knowledge of the these relationships and why they exist.

So, for this moon, let us go back to basics a little. Deoch’s allies are Glioca and Sgrios; knowing the origins of Deoch and His evolution, it is a fitting triumvirate.

I think it's proper to remember that it is always a tricky proposition to attempt to explain things about the Gods. To put it simply: The gods are unknowable in ways that we will never comprehend; what we do know about them we know because of legends, myths, and the occasional fleeting interaction. So, this view that I present to you may not be the view that other priests have about their particular god or a view that you come to identify with over time.

That being said...

Sgrios, the god of Death and Decay, is paradoxically is the simplest God to encounter but yet the most difficult to truly understand. Death and Decay are wide ranging and unrelenting; there is not a speck in the oceans of the sky that has not been witness to his power at work. Perhaps not surprisingly, Sgrios’s wide ranging influence leads to Sgrios worshippers having the most diverse set of beliefs of all the faith, and believe me -- they are _quite_ variable. You’ll find views ranging Sgrios from simply being a cog in the greater machine of life … what could be considered a second age view of Sgrios. To him being an active assistant to Chadul’s dark intentions who commands and relishes in murder done in his name -- a more classical view of Sgrios. And then everything in between.

But, the reason that Deoch and Sgrios are allies isn’t all that complicated to understand; their bonds are familial. Much like Deoch, Sgrios is a Dubahamid creature forged of Darkness. Although Deoch’s allegiance has changed, they remain brothers in the truest of sense.


On the other hand is Glioca, the goddess of compassion. She is widely considered to be the closest remaining deity to the Goddess of Light, Danaan. She may be the easiest of the gods to understand but the hardest to find in practice. Her fellowship is the most populous of all the Temuairian religions thanks to the temple’s location in Mileth, but despite the large numbers of her fellowship, it can be difficult to find those that practice true compassion. But, should you be lucky enough, Glioca's most faithful are the kindest and more helpful of all Aislings as they strive to follow their patron's spirit in all things.

Deoch and Glioca’s relationship is one that is isn't all that hard to comprehend either.  When Deoch broke his unbreakable bond to Chadul, he did so with the power of Glioca's domain. It was his Love for Danaan that gave him the power to break away from the darkness and his compassion for her unfinished work that drove him to finish the Aisling Spark.  If there is an analogue for Danaan as to Chadul and Sgrios, Glioca would be it. When Deoch crossed over and forsook his servitude to the Darkness; perhaps, he formed this ancillary bond with Glioca as a need to mirror his previous allegiances.

Deoch walks the fence between two worlds, not fully of the Light nor the Darkness. His position on the octagram reflects this duality. The study of this information isn’t required to join or even worship Deoch, but should you be interested, the study of the gods is a compelling path to take.

(Remarks as written, not as delivered.)

Deoch Mass 5-22-2019

It is an honor to stand here, giving praise to Deoch once again.

May you embrace that which makes you an Aisling, the gift of Deoch and the Inspiration that you have fostered within yourself.


This temple, in one form or another, has existed for over twenty cycles. In that time countless Aisings have walked these halls. Some of them stepped in once and never returned. Others have worn a deep path and become a part of the history of Deoch’s temple.

It wasn’t long ago that the Temuairian temples had fallen silent. When I had first started to dream in Temuair again, I thought on this state of affairs for awhile. I considered that maybe everything worth saying had been said or maybe people had heard enough and the worship of the Temuarian Gods had run its course. After all, laws keep being made even if nobody is actively worshiping Gramail; the flowers still grow if there isn’t a Cail mass every double-moon, and new Aislings are still born if there is no one giving a sermon to Deoch.

But I was told about a Sgrios Mass that was trying to get something started so I decided to attend. And I saw that people came to hear the word of Sgrios.

A few moons later, someone held -- such as it was -- an impromptu mass to Glioca and people came to worship. Then Luathas and Fiosachd and the same happened there as well. The congregations were small, sometimes only a few people, but people came all the same.

When I started this (mostly) regular mass to Deoch. Attendance was small at first -- as it as always been here in Suomi -- but grew over time. Not because anyone is making it a point to come and listen to me speak or because they get some kind of real reward for coming… no, instead we gather because of the draw of community. The communal atmosphere of welcoming one another by being in the same space for the same purpose… giving praise to Deoch together.

The crowds may not be as large and the speakers not as grandiose as they once were when the first Aislings were still young. But no matter how small our numbers get, the draw of community only gets larger and more important as we move forward together.

History continues. I hope you will all continue to add your footsteps to this temple’s history along with me as we keep the worship of Deoch alive here in Temuair for a long time to come.

(Remarks as written, not as delivered)

Deoch Mass - 5-8-2019

It is an honor to stand here, giving praise to Deoch once again.

May you embrace that which makes you an Aisling, the gift of Deoch and the Inspiration that you have fostered within yourself.


Deoch started as the god of debauchery, a lord of dark under the Dark god himself. He did not conquer through force like his Dubhamid kin, he seduced and tempted good people into becoming willing slaves and then damned them to a life of enslavement as a consequence. Let there be no mistake: in those days, Deoch was cruel and, true to his nature at the time, he reveled in his work under Chadul.

Now, we know Deoch as the god of creativity and inspiration. Deoch forsook his servitude to Chadul and completed the unfinished the work of Danaan, the Spark, giving birth to an entirely new type of people that shatter predestination with their every step: we Aislings. In doing this, Deoch did the impossible, he melded the existing energy of Danaan’s Light with his own Darkness to create something never before conceived; the height of inspired creativity.

It is wise to think on this dramatic change in Deoch’s nature. The legends tell us that it was Deoch falling in love with Danaan that triggered that change. If love can turn a God away from the Darkness in such a way, surely there is hope for even the most evil and loathed among us.

We Aislings have been here over twenty cycles. In that time, there are countless among us that have felt wronged by others; maybe we even consider the wrongs done onto us as malicious acts perpetrated by someone whose only goal was to wound us.

But remember Deoch’s example… if gods can change, surely we as Aislings can as well. Do not allow old wounds to fester into everlasting blind hatred. We have all given Deoch a second chance, perhaps there are those you know that are also in need of a second look.


Among us are hundreds of brothers and sisters connected through Deoch’s gift. All capable of redemption. Give them that chance and you grow your Spark stronger… our community stronger... as a result.

(Remarks as written, not as delivered)

Deoch Mass - 4-24-2019

It is an honor to stand here, giving praise to Deoch once again.

May you embrace that which makes you an Aisling, the gift of Deoch and the Inspiration that you have fostered within yourself.


We gather here on the moon when the evening star of Hesperos aligns with the smile of Danaan, the sun. The three priests of the Mukul, Grimlock, and Kobolds gather for the rite of the Redemption. A holy ritual to each of their most revered gods. Matrika... Adrunuch... Arpina. Each a different name worshiped by different races for different reasons. But… all a single entity: Danaan, the Goddess of Light.

There have been many confused by this rite in the past. It is a part of an arc that started three summers ago with the rites of the Eulogy, an honoring of Danaan and her sacrifice. When Danaan sacrificed herself to seal away Chadul and end the Shadows War, she did not do so just for us; her nascent, unfinished creation. She did so for all life and creatures the land over worship her for this sacrifice.

It is the evening star of the former Undine bard Hesperos that amplifies Danaan’s power during this alignment, as he walked the footsteps of Danaan when he sacrificed himself to save his daughter Kalliope all those years ago and earned a place in the skies besides the Goddess.

When we reflect on the Redemption; we again honor Danaan’s sacrifice. Without this sacrifice; today is much different. There is only stone earth, crops withered to nothing, a land without beauty or color and Gods either dead or in hiding. Through the power of Danaan, the essence of fertility, healing, and rebirth, she guaranteed that future did not come to pass.

But we do not only stand in remembrance during the Redemption, for during this ritual we also ask Danaan for the strength to lift ourselves out of the Darkness.

During the redemption ritual the relics we gained three summers ago are imbued with the Spirit of Danaan. The Redemption is about the unlocking of potential… not in just these relics but in ourselves. This ritual calls us into action to become the redemption. To be the flower that rises out of the filth; reflect her Light through our thoughts and actions. Danaan is redeemed through every action we take that keeps the looming Darkness at bay.

Do this in whatever way you can and when the final rites come next Deoch, you truly will be worthy of the Adoration of Danaan.

(Remarks as written, not as delivered)

Deoch Mass 4-17-2019

It is an honor to stand here, giving praise to Deoch once again.

May you embrace that which makes you an Aisling, the gift of Deoch and the Inspiration that you have fostered within yourself.


Just some short thoughts for today...

To put it simply: we were all once Mundanes until being granted the Spark by Deoch, birthing us into this new life. Through this gift, our former Mundane selves became something fundamentally _different_, we became Aislings.

Before the Spark, our lives were not so unlike the flotsam on the waters of the oceans. Subject to the whims of whatever would act upon the flow; simply riding the seas of change where we would eventually sink into oblivion. But as Aislings, we were given autonomy; we were given the gift of struggle. Against the tide, against the waves, against the destiny that others would try and place upon us.

As an Aisling, you are an unknown variable. Be it the unknown schemer who plans on impacting history or the very machinations of the Gods... everything is planned and everything is certain until an Aisling becomes involved.

Temuair is molded by our actions and its future hinges on the impact we wish to make. Each of us is a nation of thoughts, sovereign. But what good is that internal choir if we do not share and learn from one another? To learn and to grow beyond our own means is core to the Aisling experience.

Our time here in Temuair is purely what we decide to make of it. Deoch was inspired to finish Danaan’s work and create the Aisling. What will you create? Who will you inspire? The answers we each individually have to these questions will determine our collective future here in Temuair.

(Comments as written not as delivered)

Deoch Mass - 4-10-2019

It is an honor to stand here, giving praise to Deoch once again.

May you embrace that which makes you an Aisling, the gift of Deoch and the Inspiration that you have fostered within yourself.


If you were here when I first revived my mass about five Deochs ago, you will have heard the tale I’m about to tell you. But it is an important one, so I like to recite it a few times per cycle.

It is a tale I learned when I was but a new priest well over a century ago and I offer it here for you today so that you may carry it forward and tell it amongst yourselves so that none of us will ever forget the tale of how the Aisling Spark came to be. 

Deoch was a shifting, shapeless being of Darkness and he held incredible power, much more than that of a normal Dubhaimid creature that crawled the lands at the time. He was one of the favored of Chadul and was deployed not to decimate the enemy but to tempt them -- to lure them -- to the side of Darkness. If Deoch at the time was a mindless drone like that of his lesser brethren or not, we do not know for certain, but regardless during his mission he stumbled onto something unexpected that would change his very nature forever. 

One day, Deoch encountered Danaan seemingly by chance. She was cloistered away; no allies protecting Her; She was alone, vulnerable, and looked to be calmly working on something that was taking her full attention. Being the powerful force of Darkness that he was, this would have made a tempting target for Deoch but he did not take the opportunity to destroy his vulnerable foe; instead something compelled Him instead to watch in secret.

What he saw was Danaan pulling threads of Light out of thin air and weaving them into something which Deoch could not see from his vantage point, but still he remained motionless. Transfixed by the Goddess and Her task.

For days... months... years... time passed. This time changed Deoch; Chadul called to him many times but he did not answer, -choosing- to forsake his servitude to his Dark lord instead of pulling his gaze away from Danaan and the mysterious work She had occupied Herself with.

Over a century had passed since Deoch ignored the call of Chadul until one day Danaan disappeared, mysteriously and without warning. In the years leading up to this, Her work had started to become frantic as if She was working against a deadline. Deoch, either through habit or cautiousness, continued to wait. But (Goddess Danaan) She did not return. He slowly emerged from his hiding place and stood before the creation Danaan had left behind. It was a Spark; delicate in its weaving yet strong but… incomplete. If something wasn’t done, it wouldn’t be long before it winked out of existence. The work Danaan had done would unravel and be lost forever.

Deoch knew he couldn’t let this happen -- he loved Danaan and this Spark was all that remained of Her. Filled with sorrow at the disappearance of the Goddess He started to work, inspired by the dedication he had been witness to for so long. Although he wasn’t able to see the full picture of how She had been weaving this creation, the decades he had been watching her outside motions he was certain he could at least approximate her design.

For us, it would seem not much but a blink of an eye, but in that moment Deoch spent lifetimes completing Her work. A delicate blending of style and form of two very different creators. An impossible union of Light and Darkness. When he stepped away, satisfied with what he had done, he thought back on his time watching Danaan and he smiled for the first time as a brilliant flash enveloped him and thus the Aisling Spark was born. 

Deoch Mass - 4-3-2019

It is an honor to stand here, giving praise to Deoch once again.

(Aisling Kurei gave the opening prayer)

From the first awakening and throughout our entire lives, we Aislings are looking for someplace to belong. Unlike the Mundanes from which we are sprung, we Aislings were gifted by Deoch with autonomy; we are able to decide our own destiny and freely seek out a place where we fit.

You are likely in a guild because you feel like you belong there and if you are here maybe it is because you feel like you belong in Deoch’s fellowship or an allied one... or you just like listening to old Aislings talk a lot.

Sometimes, where we feel like we belong changes over time. About the guild we are in, the temple we worship, the people we daydream alongside, or even whether we belong in Temuair at all.

Even if you still feel like you belong, sometime something calls you elsewhere. But change can be difficult and the decision to change even more so.

I was initiated into Deoch’s fellowship in the seventeenth Deoch by a wise priest named Carnaugh. Despite every temple being much more prominent and easily accessible, I felt the call to worship Deoch. I devoted my time as an assistant to High Priest Morrigan’s mass and eventually became a Minister in my own right.

I never stopped feeling like I belonged in Deoch’s fellowship, but through my time with Deoch I found a connection with Danaan and before long a new calling pulled at me. I embraced this calling and left Deoch’s fellowship for a time; but I never lost my passion for the word of Deoch and eventually found my way back again.

The process is a lesson that I took to heart. Should a calling beckon me elsewhere, I do not need to be afraid to follow it. Because no matter what, I will still find my way back to where I belong in the end.

It is not unlike how I still find myself walking in Temuair after these many, many decades. There is a part of me that belongs in Temuair and even though I have been called away many times; yet, here I stand before you today.

It is the core of what makes us Aisling. Always searching for that place we belong and following whatever path we have drawn for ourselves. Do not fear the unknown, for Deoch is with you, and through His gifts. instilled within you, you will always find your way to where you truly belong. 

(Remarks are written, not as delivered)

Deoch Mass - 3-20-2019

It is a honor to stand here, giving praise to Deoch once again.

May you embrace that which makes you an Aisling, the gift of Deoch and the Inspiration you have fostered within yourself.

There were more than a few occasions in the distant past where I was thrown out of masses because I was a priest of an enemy deity. Honestly, I wasn’t all that surprised, it wasn’t uncommon for there to be open animosity between those of opposing faiths. Perhaps that sounds strange now because these types of hatreds are all but non-existent in the present day.

I have talked with priests of nearly all religions contemplating reviving their temples and they have expressed nothing but enthusiasm for getting as many attendees as they can, regardless of where they come from.

Be it out of necessity because of our smaller population or some sense of genuine togetherness…. things are different than they used to be and I am happy for it.

But that is not to say that I have always been an idealist.

Back when I was but a newly Sparked Aisling, I joined Deoch’s fellowship early on. For a long while, I turned away from people who walked with enemy gods and even Gramail followers… especially Gramail followers. I recall delighting in finding a cache of Fiosachd prayer necklaces; not simply because I could offer them up as tribute to Deoch but instead because I was getting the opportunity to destroy something from a fellowship I loathed simply because that’s what I thought I was supposed to feel.

And yes, maybe in my more rebellious days, I tried to attend enemy masses simply because my presence would stir up trouble.


But...

This is a Luathas prayer necklace. This necklace belonged to my wife, Flyss, a Luathian Priestess, and she left it to me before she crossed the veil. It wasn’t until I first met her that I began to understand a very simple concept that I had been avoiding… we are all children of Deoch; we are all Aislings.

I wear this necklace not just in memory of her but also as an important reminder that the hatreds that stem from our differences aren’t as strong as the bonds of similarity that we share.

Now the Aisling population is smaller and more tight knit, but let us not be content with the status quo. Let us continue to welcome new Aislings into our community and if, by some chance, our numbers begin to swell again… let us remember to teach that simple truth: We are brothers and sisters of the Spark, we are a family.

Let us never forget that.

[Remarks as written, not as delivered.]

Deoch Mass - 3-13-2019

It is a honor to stand here, giving praise to Deoch once again.

May you embrace that which makes you an Aisling, the gift of Deoch and the Inspiration you have fostered within yourself.

It has been one hundred and sixty two Deochs since the dawn of Aisling kind. That is an astonishing fact to think about. I can assure you that even the most forward thinking Aislings of that first crop could not have imagined that Temuair would still be here after all this time.

If there has been one constant during this long road it would be that many Aislings through the cycles have left Temuair dismayed by what they saw as a degrading of the Aisling Spark. Every new generation starting with the first had Dreamers that found faults with their peers and prophesied 

the end of Temuair. Yet despite everything, just as the Light stands against the Darkness… just as we all stand here now... the Aisling Spark Endures.

Twenty cycles since the dawning and there are Aislings still shining their creativity and inspiration in Temuair. Smaller numbers, yes, but still motivated and exercising the gifts of Deoch with words and actions.

Sometimes I feel like a Dreamer whose time has long passed but yet I find myself continually surprised by encounters of kindness and heartened by the creativity of those Aislings who still find their way into Temuair . These encounters leave me inspired and hopeful that Temuair will continue to defy those that forecasted the end of the Spark.

Those of you that remain, Temuair is in your hands. Continue to surprise those that heralded the doom of this world. Your Light illuminates Temuair and the Aisling Spark endures because of you and your actions.

Go forward and spread the word of Deoch. Mass is cast.

[ Remarks as written, not as delivered. ]

Deoch Mass 3-6-2019

It is a honor to stand here, giving praise to Deoch once again.

May you embrace that which makes you an Aisling, the gift of Deoch and the Inspiration you have fostered within yourself.

Darkness. 

There are two types that we face every day; that from within and that from without.

Unlike its ghastly extravagant scions on the battlefield, the Darkness inside of us is subtle and patient. It is insidiously watching for a stray thought or feeling to latch on to for its opportunity to grow into something bigger.

And once it gains control it can be stifling, controlling, all encompassing. A relentless predator, from which escape is no easy task.

The Dark delights in solitude and in denial, because it knows .. it fears... the power of the Light. It knows that it can’t snuff out even a dim light of its own accord. And once exposed, the Darkness is vulnerable to outside Lights coming in aid.

So, for those of us struggling with the Darkness inside, I say: do not hide your struggles. Share them with someone you trust, so that they may reach out their hands to you and connect their Light to yours.

Sometimes the Darkness swirls as fierce as the Maelstrom. It’s roar and winds do not subside quietly in the face of opposition. But within that storm, the Light persists… boosted by Lights bonded together… to await the break in the storm that sits over the horizon.

Go forward and spread the word of Deoch. Mass is cast.

[ Remarks as written, not as delivered. ]

Deoch Mass 2-20-2019

It is a pleasure to stand here, giving praise to Deoch once again.

May you embrace that which makes you an Aisling, the gift of Deoch and the Inspiration that you have fostered within yourself.

Soon, I will start giving this mass every double-moon ((every Wednesday starting on March 6th)) at the same time you are here now. Back a long time ago, this was the standard schedule for masses all over Temuair. At one point, across the eight faiths, there were more than twenty masses every double moon… it is almost hard to imagine but it is indeed true! So much inspiration and wisdom flowed from the Temples back in those days.

Things have been bleak for the religious temples in Temuair for quite some time. But, just as the light endures through the darkness, the Temples have endured and now are making a comeback. It is not just I starting a regular mass time, but priests from Fiosachd and Luathas have announced their intentions as well; there have also been rumblings from the sleeping giant that is Glioca temple. Regardless of what religion you belong to, I encourage everyone to attend these masses and refresh yourself in the creativity of these dedicated priests.

In preparation of once again holding this regular mass, these are the things I try and keep in mind

Inspiration cannot be faked. When something begs to be said, the words will flow like the ink to the paper. This process cannot be forced, people will know just as the reader who sees writing created with too little ink. The words will not be as bold; not as complete.

It is inevitable that there will be times when the ink well is empty; like inspiration has left you. When this happens -- and it will happen -- know a simple truth: you must be inspired in order to inspire others. As I talked about at my last mass, the inspiration and creativity within us is not an ever flowing wellspring. It cannot be used endlessly and recklessly. Just like our bodies, it requires replenishment or else it will grow dry and empty.

So, what is it that inspires you?

For me, it is a combination of things old and things new. I often think about friends I have made during my long time in Temuair and I reflect on the things they taught me. And if I’m not in a reflecting mood, I enjoy the creative spirit of others that continue to inhabit Temuair: the work of the Suomi Troupe, teachers at the college, and the priests attempting to revive their temples.

Whatever it may be, find what inspires you and drink it in, replenish your own creativity, that which makes you an Aisling. So that you may do the same for others. That is how we rebuild this community -- together.

Go forward and spread the word of Deoch. Mass is cast.

(Words as written, not as delivered)

Deoch Mass 2-6-2019

It is a pleasure to stand here, giving praise to Deoch once again.

May you embrace that which makes you an Aisling, the gift of Deoch and the Inspiration that you have fostered within yourself.

Deoch was a being born of pure Darkness. Cunning was Deoch, the servant of Chadul. He did not serve on the front lines of battle; instead, as a god of Debauchery, Deoch was used to entice people to the side of Darkness; make them willing and eager servants of the Dark. In this way, Deoch was much more powerful a weapon than the regular Dubhamid who conquered through fear, terror, and destruction.

We do not know how many for certain, but we can surmise that many, many people experienced torturous service and fates worse than death because of actions that Deoch had taken. Some might say -- indeed, I would say -- that Deoch was a terrible and loathsome monster. Truly deserving of high ranking among the armies of Chadul.

But the full story of Deoch teaches us one important truth. Even in Deoch, a creature born of pure darkness responsible for the deaths and enslavement of countless lives, there is redemption.

At a mass a while back I told the tale of how Deoch found Danaan, his mortal enemy, alone and vulnerable. He remained in hiding, but continued to watch. Bathed in the Light of Danaan; Deoch, had his first true choice and that choice was to shed his shackles to Chadul and forsake his servitude to him.

When Deoch stepped forward to finish the work on the Aisling Spark that Danaan left behind, He created us with the ability to choose, much like he did when he cast off his servitude to Chadul. Unlike Mundanes whose lives are predetermined, we Aislings have our own free will to determine our own destinies.

When deeds and actions are done through control, nothing is gained or lost. But when someone chooses their own path and their own action, that impact changes everything.

This is the lesson Deoch learned and he passed it on in his creation of us.

Every time we make a choice, just as he did, to turn away from the Darkness… that Darkness grows weaker. Through our ability to choose, we Aislings have largely been a tide of Light against the Dark. Not because we have to; but because we choose to.

In this way, my friends, we are the Redemption of Deoch. For all the suffering, grief, and pain that Deoch caused as a servant of Chadul; Deoch, our co-creator, is redeemed through our actions.

Let us think on this as we go about our lives these next set of moons.


Go forward and spread the word of Deoch. Mass is cast.

(Remarks as written not as delivered.)