Alternative Petrov Day ending
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Daniel Speyer
Sep 28, 2016, 9:42:06 AM9/28/16
to rationa...@googlegroups.com
I felt, both last year and this, that the Petrov Day ritual ended
anticlimactically. The themes were really good, but there wasn't a lot
of symbolism and reading long blocks of prose in unison never works
well. So I started imagining...
After the "at the present day" reading...
The next six readers rise (carefully!) and each take a candle.
Everyone else takes unlit candles and groups into clusters of 3-5
people without moving much, as the positioning allows.
Bearer of Fire: By the power of fire, I begin to be independent of the
cycle of day and night. I can make light, even in the darkest places.
The Bearer of Fire goes to the first cluster and says: Remember that
you have light within you.
The Bearer of Fire then lights the candles of each person in the
cluster one at a time. After each candle is lit, the holder answers: I
will remember.
Go to the next cluster, proclaim, light, continue until all lit.
The Bearer of Fire then goes to the other Bearers and delivers the
same blessing. Since their candles are already lit, the Bearer touches
their candle to each other candle, producing a taller flame, for about
two seconds.
Then the other Bearers give the blessing in unison, and the Bearer of
Fire answers "I will remember".
Bearer of Language: By the power of language, my thoughts escape my
mind alone. I am able to share what I know.
The Bearer of Language performs the same ritual, except that all the
bestowals are flame-joinings instead of lightings, and the blessing is
"Remember that you can both teach and learn"
Bearer of Writing: By the power of writing, I take on the wisdom of
all who came before me. I stand upon the shoulders of giants, and I
see far -- often farther than they did, though I am not a giant
myself.
Same ritual: Remember that you have wisdom.
Bearer of Science/Printing: By the power of Science, and of Printing,
I learn that truth is not the province of some small, chosen elite. It
is the birthright of all who dare to seek it. Soo to is saving the
world, not the province of kings, priests and geniuses alone, but of
any who seize an opportunity.
Same ritual: Remember that you have the right to save the world.
Bearer of Industrialization: By the power of Industrialization, my
basic needs are easily met. No longer are most fated to toil in the
fields. There is specialization. And there is surplus, freeing me from
strict optimization.
Same ritual: Remember that you can choose who to be.
Bearer of Computers: By the power of Computers, my the power of my
mind is amplified. That power from which all these others arose.
Same ritual: Remember that you are powerful.
Bearer of Fire: Today we gather in the shadow of many fears.
Bearer of Computers: May we see the day when none need fear anything
All: Be this our will
The Bearer of Computers takes up the hourglass and sets it down
solidly on its side, so that sand is not flowing.
Bearer of Computers: Go in power, my friends
All rise, stretch, wander away, turn on house lights, etc.
anticlimactically. The themes were really good, but there wasn't a lot
of symbolism and reading long blocks of prose in unison never works
well. So I started imagining...
After the "at the present day" reading...
The next six readers rise (carefully!) and each take a candle.
Everyone else takes unlit candles and groups into clusters of 3-5
people without moving much, as the positioning allows.
Bearer of Fire: By the power of fire, I begin to be independent of the
cycle of day and night. I can make light, even in the darkest places.
The Bearer of Fire goes to the first cluster and says: Remember that
you have light within you.
The Bearer of Fire then lights the candles of each person in the
cluster one at a time. After each candle is lit, the holder answers: I
will remember.
Go to the next cluster, proclaim, light, continue until all lit.
The Bearer of Fire then goes to the other Bearers and delivers the
same blessing. Since their candles are already lit, the Bearer touches
their candle to each other candle, producing a taller flame, for about
two seconds.
Then the other Bearers give the blessing in unison, and the Bearer of
Fire answers "I will remember".
Bearer of Language: By the power of language, my thoughts escape my
mind alone. I am able to share what I know.
The Bearer of Language performs the same ritual, except that all the
bestowals are flame-joinings instead of lightings, and the blessing is
"Remember that you can both teach and learn"
Bearer of Writing: By the power of writing, I take on the wisdom of
all who came before me. I stand upon the shoulders of giants, and I
see far -- often farther than they did, though I am not a giant
myself.
Same ritual: Remember that you have wisdom.
Bearer of Science/Printing: By the power of Science, and of Printing,
I learn that truth is not the province of some small, chosen elite. It
is the birthright of all who dare to seek it. Soo to is saving the
world, not the province of kings, priests and geniuses alone, but of
any who seize an opportunity.
Same ritual: Remember that you have the right to save the world.
Bearer of Industrialization: By the power of Industrialization, my
basic needs are easily met. No longer are most fated to toil in the
fields. There is specialization. And there is surplus, freeing me from
strict optimization.
Same ritual: Remember that you can choose who to be.
Bearer of Computers: By the power of Computers, my the power of my
mind is amplified. That power from which all these others arose.
Same ritual: Remember that you are powerful.
Bearer of Fire: Today we gather in the shadow of many fears.
Bearer of Computers: May we see the day when none need fear anything
All: Be this our will
The Bearer of Computers takes up the hourglass and sets it down
solidly on its side, so that sand is not flowing.
Bearer of Computers: Go in power, my friends
All rise, stretch, wander away, turn on house lights, etc.
Raymond Arnold
Sep 28, 2016, 11:07:30 AM9/28/16
to Rational Ritual
Just to make sure I understand: the primary differences here (beyond the wording tweaks) are:
a) that the speaking is mostly done by individual people, with only a few "all-together" sections
b) it scales slightly larger (Petrov Day's designed to handle 8 people, and this helps it handle a larger number), since the candle-tasks are designated to a 6 individuals
I have some comments (about this, and about how to make the climax of Petrov more compelling), hopefully later today.
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Daniel Speyer
Oct 1, 2016, 6:33:23 PM10/1/16
to rationa...@googlegroups.com
Yes to avoiding unison.
Hadn't been thinking about scalability. I don't think I've seen a petrov day that was as small as it's supposed to be.
Other goals:
I wanted more *doing stuff*. Sitting in a circle reading only goes so far.
I wanted people to have something to take back into their daily lives, made very plain.
And I wanted an unambiguous ending. To not leave people looking for the next page.
That's what I was aiming for, anyway. Being able to bring the hourglass back into it was a bonus.
That's what I was aiming for, anyway. Being able to bring the hourglass back into it was a bonus.
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