That time of year thou mayst in me behold
When yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hang
Upon those boughs which shake against the cold,
Bare ruin’d choirs, where late the sweet birds sang.
— Sonnet 73, Shakespeare.
In the northern latitudes, autumn is the season of harvest festivals celebrating the bounty of the Earth and the providence of the gods. Then, in the darkening days, we see in the dying of the green Earth echoes of our own mortality. Thus we see, after the harvests are gathered, celebrations of our ancestors and our departed. It is not entirely coincidental that DÃa de los Muertos is close in the calendar to the Feast of All Souls, both celebrations happening in their respective cultures as the land enters its winter dormancy.
Which causes your ever-curious MOAS to ask: Do the colder months inspire you to create different things? What foods to you prepare that you wouldn’t want on a sultry Pennsic evening? When frost sparkles on the grass, does it inspire garb? Jewelry? A poem?
Many cultures have stories of the Trickster god bringing light or fire to humans. Have you heard how Raven brought us light (First Nations)? What about how Loki tricked Thor into striking the trees of Midgard to give fire to the humans? The Greeks, on the other hand, just accused Prometheus of stealing it. How do fire and light inspire your work? I look forward to seeing, hearing, eating, and drinking your inspired creations!
I just returned from Midrealm Bardic Madness. To the best of my knowledge, I’m the first Kingdom MOAS to attend – and it did not disappoint. Performing artists from as far away as Meridies and North Dakota were there to meet the challenges of the day. Whether you
perform or not, it’s an event well worth attending. By the time you read this we’ll have had RUM, Dancer’s Revolt, and Midlands Artisan’s Day. I’m extremely proud of the support we give to the arts here in the Midrealm.
Finally, I’m looking for a new Regional MOAS for Constellation so that my long-serving deputy can enjoy a well-earned retirement. If you or someone you know is interested, please check the Midrealm Job Openings page.
In service,
Tommaso Franceschi, OL
Minister of Arts & Sciences of the Middle Kingdom