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.]