Deoch Mass 12-29-2021 - End of another cycle.

We stand here today at the end of the 23rd cycle, nearly 185 years since Deoch finished The Spark and created the first Aisling. In these rare days before a cycle turns over, I like to take a moment and appreciate our continued time together here in Temuair.

Here is a simple message that I wrote many decades ago that I have oftentimes repeated during my last mass of each cycle as a way to look back before moving forward...

I want you to think about the time you have spent walking Temuair in this past cycle… about the faces you have encountered; about the friendships you have made or rekindled. Those memories and those feelings wouldn’t have otherwise been made absent your presence here. Know that you have enriched the lives of others, in a way that is uniquely your own. In times of great darkness, draw strength knowing that there are those that you have encountered in this existence that remember you fondly and appreciate your companionship.

To that end, think of those that have come before. Those you did not see these past eight Deochs. Although they are not with us, let them occupy your minds during this time of remembrance. The memories you have made together and the feelings that you shared. These moments are the thread of our lives. Vital are these past threads as they helped weave you into the person you are today; countless interconnected strands forming a multicolored tapestry created little by little during your time here in Temuair.

Go into this new cycle thinking about the future, what lies ahead as we continue to navigate an uncertain fate here in this dream. There is still time to make an impact in the community if that is something you aspire to. Still a chance to contribute your own distinctive addition to the legacy of Aisling kind; a legacy that has been built up by so many that came before. 

Let us be thankful for one another and for this gathering place. Let us look to Deoch for guidance in the upcoming cycle. I look forward to being with you all in the time ahead; let us continue to shine the Spark for as long as the gods deem this dream drift the aether.