Meh. More going on than I want to write in detail, but it involved needing to be able to do multiple things at once... Testing a complex ritual because someone had a divination or something that said something bad was going to happen, and it had to be tested immediately, even though a large group ritual was about to start. Had to let myself in the proper gate, carry something from that gate around to where I was supposed to be, then go around the outside to return the item to the original gate... where was the gatekeeper? And there was someone in my position (who wasn't the gatekeeper), helping out which is good, but I hadn't known there would be someone there. And there were some helpful newbies near my spot who stopped me to offer to help in the future, if I could spend the time training them (um, chatting at a ritual? really, really new people...).
Oy. I felt bad because someone had had to cover for me, like I wasn't doing my job. And in real life we have folks in the SCA all the time, who instead of looking at what's happening so they can see where the problem spots are and ask about learning about those things, they expect to be spoon-fed -- give them a list of things, so they can check out the menu first, and be led through the process. Mind you, I do sometimes take on people and have them shadow or assist, but... it isn't how I ever worked, so I don't quite understand passive volunteerism. Actually, I don't really understand passive living, for that matter...
First Note: None of the above is in reference to folks in our study group. Although we may all be at different stages of study, experience, skills, everyone is an active learner. Thank goodness for that!
It's a little different with learning about ritual and magical things than what I think of as more everyday activities, because it isn't quite as obvious or simple, if you don't have much background in this kind of thing, as stepping in to help serve tables or wash dishes. Not that I had much trouble with learning these things (aside from memorizing specific wordings), but it isn't everyday stuff for everyone, so I understand that. I still remember being surprised at a woman who came into So-Fro Fabrics years ago, who didn't know how to sew and needed to make a shepherd outfit for her son. I mean, she was older than me, so I figured she must know how to sew! Shows my naivete, I guess.
And while it's highly unlikely that what happened in my dream would happen exactly like that in real life (trust me) -- it's certainly possible for a lot of stuff in general to be happening all at once. So I guess I better get cracking!
Hm, maybe it's time we get more into the roles that people play in a grove. CF noted that this is on the list, discussing the officers' duties. People are getting more practice in the different positions in the rituals, but maybe time to work on some of the nitty-gritty... or maybe I can write some stuff up. Or both. I'm glad people are getting practice in the different positions for rituals though, because it means that if/when some happens, like my having to be somewhere else for some reason, there will be someone who can take my place. Redundancy is a good thing! And everyone gaining more confidence is also a good thing!
Second Note: Didn't recognize anyone in the dream except one, who looked familiar but I wasn't quite sure who it was until I woke up. The man who stood in for me until I could get to and stay at my station looked to be JMG. I was little thrown off the the headgear, which wasn't the usual nemyss. I think it was a gold and red band, like a coronet type of deal, or maybe it could have been a cap of some sort... he has dark hair and it was dark above the red and gold, so it could have been his hair or the top of the hat. Definitely metallic gold and garnets or other clear, deep red stones. But he was wearing the green tabard that JMG wore at BTW last November. Weird... and makes me want to _really_ make sure I'm getting things done on time...
Third Note: Spent a little time today re-reading some of Judy Harrow's book, Spiritual Mentoring, before going on to parts I haven't read yet.
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2 comments:
Interesting. Without the full specifics of course:
The only thing I can say about the grove is that we can't rush people beyond their capacity. You have previous experience, as does Lyle. I have my decades of solitary work and being an observer at others...the rest of our lot has effectively no experience, saving only our other Apprentice.
Getting to the nitty gritty of what the Officers places are is something we'll get to. I don't plan to swap things around much anytime soon anyway, beyond the necessary bits of when one of our Apprentices lead the rituals and the necessary shuffling that follows. As Apprentices become Companions things will stabilize somewhat, until the next lot of Apprentices are ready.
We'll go as fast as we can, but we can't really go much faster than the least experienced can move. All things in their time, as the saying goes.
That being said, I have to admit I have my own concerns as to where things stand, in many ways. I just don't articulate them much. O-o
Good post.
Oh, I'm think things are progressing quite well in the study group... I think I need to be more aware of the possibility of the types of people we may be mentoring in the future. Also, interesting things happen in larger gatherings of people, like at conferences and such.
On the officers, I was thinking that at some point we could go over the offices a bit, even though we won't be actually changing officers in the near future. But perhaps that will simply come up naturally, rather than being scheduled. Seems like that's how some of our discussions in the study group go anyway, and to the groups' benefit.
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