As I mentioned before, I often delete posts as I am writing them. I think however, these thoughts should go out.
I have had several work colleagues ask how Pennsic was. Pennsic had several high points but it was for the most part miserable. Most of it was the weather. I was there for 10 days and most days were very hot. My brain just didn’t function right in that heat. The days that weren’t very hot were very wet. That limited some of what I could do. Some of the things I wanted to do were cancelled or just not worth getting soaked for.
But more than that is why did I go and what did I learn. I went because there were things I wanted to do. I had deliveries to make and I wanted to make sure Gunnar had a good time. And I have shopping I needed to do and Pennsic would have that. I learned about the imbalance in some of my relationships and sometimes I am more generous than I should be.
I unconsciously did two things at Pennsic before I became aware I was doing them. I started telling certain people how they were important to me. I think most people were taken a little back by it but ultimately knew it came from an authentic space. Some of those people got a sample of the culmination (to date) of my A&S path in the SCA. At some point, I realized I was doing this and it felt a little like a good bye tour. That isn’t what it was or is. I may be more selective in what I go to going forward but I don’t see stopping the SCA in the future. But I learned that for some, I am merely an acquaintance, even if I thought there was more there. That is fine. Better to learn that sooner than later.
I also started paying more attention to spaces were I was truly welcome. There were fewer of them that I thought. Again, this is fine. Better to learn this sooner than later.
I made an acquaintance who said to me that (I am paraphrasing here), Pennsic is a bunch of people in the same space doing their own thing. I thought about this. I did notice that theater people tended to be at theater events. Music people tended to be at music events. Scribes huddle with their pens, inks, and colors and do their thing. So on and so forth. I mean I really noticed. I would attend commedia performance and most of the audience would be other commedia people. Not all but most.
Then I thought about me. I am at this commedia thing. I am at this music thing. I am at a thrown weapons thing. I am talking with scribes and heralds, and service oriented people, and a few cooks, glass workers, and silver smiths, and etc. I even had a good encounter with the Tuchux! If many people are in their silos, why am I not in a silo?
There are many gifts Verena gave to me but I think adopting me into her bar was among the greatest. Because the tavern keeper interacts with nearly everyone. I am not just at Pennsic (or any event) to just be with “my people”. “My people” has a bigger definition. A tavern doesn’t run without brewers, cooks, entertainment, customers, and servers, in short, everyone.
Pennsic is often called home. When you go there, they say “welcome home.” Pennsic for many is work. Some things need a large number of people to do well and Pennsic is one of the few places you will get enough people to do that. So, it is work for those who put on the battles, and the performance, and the activities so others can enjoy it. Pennsic for me is where the magic can happen but it isn’t home. I had two magical moments and that may be more than my share. Pennsic for me has been a learning experience.
I am not saying I will not go again but I can’t help but ponder the lessons I have been taught. There are other places where I am more welcome. There are other places I can make a difference. There is another place that is truly home. I will try to spend more time in those places and with those people.
Now to start work. I have some of the undertunic done but I have decided to start on the hood. One, I have made hoods before so I have some good ideas how that should work. Two, it will be one of the more visible elements of the outfit.
Here is the mock up.
I have printed the embroidery bits on Sulky so I can adhere them to the cloth, stitch the patterns, then wash the backing away. The wreath will be applique and a bit smaller than I wanted. But only a bit. It is ~8.25″ in diameter so you will see a lot of it. The apples and stick are about 3″ high by 3.5″ wide. I figure there will be ~ 15 of them on the hood itself. The hood will be lined with a darker green on the inside. I took the designs for both from the Traceable Heraldry site https://heraldicart.org/credits. My use of these images are for SCA use and for my personal use only. I have no intend to sell or represent these designs as my own.
It is nearly one year since I was put on vigil to be a Laurel. I did a small number of events up until Crystal Ball that year then I had a bunch of other things that needed my attention. I do still have some things that need my attention, like Gertie’s upcoming surgery, but seeing everyone at Pennsic has my Took side looking to emerge.
One thing I dearly missed was my friend’s vigil and elevation to the Laurelate in Atlantia. Sophia the Orange had her vigil at Pennsic 50 and I dearly wanted to be there but my other obligations took all my money and vacation time. I had Parvati make this medallion for her though and it is now in her hands.
I hope it brings her joy. I know I have several medallions so I will not be upset if she doesn’t wear it.
Rambling aside: I have sometimes been accused of fake generosity. That somehow my desire to give a gift is meant to be more than a gift. I am not really sure what is meant by this criticism. I am not sure how much stock I put in “love language” but it is clear to me that gifting is one of my love languages. If I feel like I should give you a gift, it means you are important to me. Acts of service are also a love language (doing something for someone is just a different kind of gift). Now, all human interaction is ultimately a desire for reciprocity. It is how we as social animals build bonds and a society. That said, I have been burned when someone has said they would do something for me but then didn’t. That doesn’t change my desire to gift; it just refines who is on that list.
I reminded myself of a question Master John asked me at Pennsic last year, after I was put on vigil, “What is your next big thing?” It has taken a year but I think I have it.
I have mentioned the Apple Tunic before. I have started on it FINALLY. It is intended to be FANCY. First, we will start with the under tunic, then the over tunic, then pants and a hood. I have the pattern for the tunic skirt (the tiny ones; sorry). I will tablet weave more trim. I will add beaded flowers to the hood, and probably laurel leaves, and a cloak, with the knotwork swans that Astrid made me. It will be a lot of work.
That said, who is Oswyn of Baðon still escapes me. I am weird in that my personae need to be someone who could have existed. I need a backstory. Oswyn Swann existed before the vinegrier but once I learned more about vinegar and vinigriers, the personae came into being. But who is my original persona? Cider is really not in period for him but it could be. The stained glass and fused glass I do are decidedly modern.
My glass work has suffered lately. The glass shop I had gone to is mostly closed now. I don’t have a kiln for fused glass and given my personal circumstance it is unlikely to be happen. I had made a few mosaics in the past. Why not focus more on that?
I know when I am serious about a project when I have a grand idea for it. What if I redid my deck as a huge mosaic? What if I did the knotwork swans as that huge thing? There is the hook. I will work towards that.
I also wanted a project that I could take to Crafter’s Greens, etc. I can’t really bring vinegars or ciders. Sometimes the site doesn’t allow alcohol and really, it is the yeast or bacteria doing the work so it is kind of boring to watch. I tablet weave because I need to, not because I love it. And my sewing/embroidery will have to get better to do the Apple Tunic but I don’t feel it is who Oswyn is.
But a mosaic artist? Maybe. I don’t think there is any evidence that Anglo Saxons did much mosaic. They would have known about them from Roman ruins and notable Anglo Saxons travelled and so would have seen them. There was even a section of Rome, the Schola Anglorum, that was established by English for English pilgrims. Perhaps this is what Oswyn of Nova Londini (my third persona) would have done. Travel the world as a mosaic artist.
In any case, I have several projects I would like to do with mosaics. The deck is one. Adding mosaic to my vinegar cart is another. And just making pretty things for my house with the scrap glass I have.
I explored the headspace of becoming a Peer. I think this is the wrap up for this phase: the thinking.
As of right now, I think the euphoria of the ceremony has worn off and I am considering the question: what now?
Regardless of the elevation, I knew I would be doing less SCA stuff for the next year. And I told people as much. I want to go to CiderCon in January. Gertie and I have our 20th anniversary to celebrate. We have a trip planned with friends. After my mother died, I developed a bucket list of things I wanted to do and with the small inheritance, the means to do some of them. So, I knew I would do less SCA in the next 12 months. But I am also thinking, what now?
Up until Pennsic 49, I was focused on doing the vinegrier thing. I had plans to start branching into Asian vinegars. I had plans to work more with the ciders, which I am doing. But all of this was dependent on the vinegrier being a mild success. It is like running a race; when you reach the finish line, what is next?
I find myself in my head. What does this really mean? I was asked today if I wanted my byline for a class I will teach to be Master Oswyn Swann. I initially said “no”. I wasn’t trying to deny my new status. I was trying to minimize it. I rarely call my peer friends by their titles. And when I do, it is usually playfully. But then I replied back, “Yes, Master Oswyn Swann because it is what that class is about.” It is not that I am uncomfortable with the title; I remade my SCA business cards immediately with Master Oswyn Swann. But I am not sure where I go next?
You often get the advice of “keep doing what you are doing.” As a non-peer, that was frustrating advice. You want to know how to make it to next level. You want to know what you don’t know. As much as “keep doing what you are doing” is often the correct advice, as a non-peer, you don’t want to hear that.
I was also given the advice of “keep doing what you are doing” at my vigil. Again, I think it is the correct advice but it feels hollow.
I think the juxtaposition of the two is interesting. Frustrating verses ennui. It is probably just how I am. I often get passionate about something and I am never as interesting as when I have a new passion to talk about. But some times, I have done as much as I want with that thing. Where is my new inspiration? To quote Inigo, “I hate waiting.”
I don’t think I have any meaningful insight to share here. Other things need my attention and I find myself wondering what my next step is. The advice that parses to “take some time to figure out who Master Oswyn is” initially fell on deaf ears but now is sublime. Yeah, I need to figure out who this guy is now.
My Pelican asked me this recently. I also had a conversation with His Majesty Dag about it. Can Service be taught?
I have learned a few things from these conversations. There are those who feel that service can not be taught. They feel it is something you either are called to or not. There are those who feel that proteges can not become Pelicans. This seems to be because the belief is that a Pelican is self-made. If you had been a protege, then you had service instilled in you, and therefore, you didn’t already possess it yourself.
These reasons seem to suggest that the desire for service is something innate and rare. They also seem to suggest that service must be achieved alone.
First, let’s look at the myth of the self-made man. There are no self-made people. You are part of a species that evolved to nurture its young well into maturity. At the very least, all humans have parents and a community that provides for them. There is a biological imperative to nurture. Beyond just parents, our species evolved to have complex social interactions and live in social groups. In those groups, everyone has a role and has a responsibility to that group for mutual survival. There is a hierarchy. Beyond that, our species evolved socially to specialize in labor. Because others farm, hunt, gather, and make, you don’t necessarily have to. Our modern society is built on the specialization of labor. The closest to a self-made man would be a lone hunter/gatherer. That person could potentially depend on no one going forward.
You have relied upon support from your species to allow you to be something other than a hunter/gatherer. You need to depend on others to be anything.
And helping others to be better helps you. When they perform better, you perform better. That is very basic service.
As stated above, there is a biological imperative for humans to nurture. Humans develop and maintain friendships and other connections with other humans. Nurturing is an act of service. And therefore, everyone has the innate need to nurture.
The desire for serve is innate but it is not rare. All humans have it. Therefore, it doesn’t matter if one was a protege or not, you already have the desire for service.
Next, what do we mean by service? Service exists in many forms, especially in the SCA. The service that makes one a Pelican, though, is not the same as the service needed for a Purple Fret or a Dragon’s Heart.
I have heard it said a few times that you can’t wash enough dishes to be a Pelican. The Pelican represents the height of service, but if washing dishes isn’t the service we are talking about, what is the service we are talking about? We are talking about finding a problem and solving it. We are talking about fixing a system that was broken. We are talking about providing leadership in a struggling area. We are talking about building something new that everyone now wants to be part of. This is management. This is leadership. This is service.
Management and leadership can be taught. Our military spends billions of dollars each year teaching people leadership. Our corporations spend millions of dollars each year teaching people leadership. Our leaders spend hundreds of thousands of volunteer hours teaching others to be leaders. This all happens through schools, mentorship programs, self-help materials, seminars, retreats, and countless other ways to take the well-known concepts of leadership and teach others when and how to use them.
All of these discussions seem unusual to have in the SCA. The Peerage orders are built on a system of dependents. This is mentorship. And yet, isn’t it odd to learn that some of those in the service order think that because you were mentored by someone, you can’t reach at the pinnacle of that same service order? That is unbelievable. The very symbol of the Order suggests that you must have and must help those dependents. Why is the adult pelican feeding its young its own lifeblood? So that the young will never become adults themselves? This makes no sense.
Beyond leadership though, the desire to serve others can be taught. And again, the SCA already has a mechanism to foster it. You reinforce the behavior you want. Perform service and get a reward. That reward can be as simple as a dopamine hit or a complex as a hand-drawn scroll. You are teaching people to perform service.
Coming back to the question “can service/leadership be taught?” We should be teaching it. While the desire to serve is innate and common, exactly how to do it can be mysterious. As a species, we don’t transmit memories and skills through DNA. Pretty much all of our skills must be learned and honed. Likewise, service and leadership also require training. As above, as a culture, we spend a lot of resources on it already.
The education in these areas help to enforce best practices, to expose one to rare situations, and to understand how service and leadership have evolved. There are definitely outdated and wrong ways to do it. Hence why the topics of management and leadership are ever changing. Some changes disprove entire old ways of thinking. Some changes are minor tweaks to previous models. Many successful tactics are counter-intuitive and therefore the evidence and education are needed to understand why this tactic works better than that tactic.
Basic service can be taught. The proper way to wash a dish or sweep a floor is a teachable subject. To enjoy that task can be taught. It can be done through praise, through teaching understanding on how the task relates to a larger picture, or through rewards. Management and leadership can be taught. There are whole courses, degrees, and certifications devoted to these subjects. Because of who humans are as a species, there is no self-made person and everyone has the ability and desire to nurture others.
The idea that mentorship and community are exclusive to selfless service is wrong. In fact, selfless service is defined by the idea of both. You give to others so they can be better. This builds communities. By your example, they learn to also be selfless. This is mentorship. The symbol of the Order shows it all: you give of yourself so others can thrive and become like you.
At Pennsic, after my vigil was announced, a common question was “what is the next big project?” I had been thinking about what I call the “apple tunic” for a while before this. It is time to at least start, baby steps, on that project.
First, let’s look at what I have.
This is my brown tunic set that I call my brewing tunic. The photo of the trim didn’t turn out. I wear this tunic often as it is comfortable and the sleeves roll up nicely to get them out of the way for activities.
This is another common tunic I wear. It has more my persona play in it. I claim in my persona play that Oswyn of Baðon is half Welsh and the pants are made from a blanket his mother had. The Welsh are known for some crazy color combinations. I made the trim in all photos.
This is a tunic I wear rarely. It is tight, especially in the sleeves. I have definitely put on a few pounds since it was made as well. I call this my teaching tunic. But since I am mostly teaching “messy” things anymore, I wear the brown more often. Again, trim by me.
This is my swan tunic. Until my elevation garb, it was my “fancy” garb. The swan trim was purchased from Calontir Trim but I did the tablet woven trim. I added the laurel cloak to see how it would look. Not too bad.
These are items that will be part of the apple tunic. The green hood, the apple tree pouch, the off white winnegas, and the apple necklace. I will make a laurel medallion to go on the necklace.
It is hard to see but this is the bayeux tapestry style cartoon I commissioned.
It is hard to tell but these are two different shades of red. The left is “redwood” and the right is probably “wine”. I love the dark wine one but I think the left one is more appropriate for this project.
I will need to learn how to sew properly and embroider to do this project. I will likely have to make a cloak in a different color in case I need to attend court as a laurel. So I have a lot of new skills to make a very fancy, early period set.
I spend a lot of time with Oswyn Swann. Time to give Oswyn of Baðon some love.
Saturday October 22, 2022, I sat my vigil and was elevated to Laurelate in the SCA. That was nearly 10 weeks since the Writ. I talked about the liminal space and that apparently was well-received. Now, that space is closed. Formality or no, I am now a Laurel.
I don’t have photos from the vigil. I was busy and I didn’t task anyone to do that. I should have. I transformed the space as best I could into Swann Manor. Here is the fiction I was using for the day.
I was thrilled that people wanted to do this. The comments of “Oh! I have to remember to bring a friend for Froderick’s vigil” were very touching. I am glad you all want to play with this. Strawberry even made him a fly! Froderick even got a limerick from Lucia.
There once was a froggie named Froderick
Who hung out with Oswyn – his sidekick
While Oswyn’s revered
This poor frog is not Peered.
So here’s his concil’ia’t’ry limerick
Pretty much from 9:30 on, I had a steady stream of guests. I had a few moments, literally only minutes, of time when I didn’t have a guest. Judging by the box of non-pareils, I had ~ 60 guests. Given I think there were ~ 100 people at the event, that is pretty darn good.
For the most part, the advice I was given was the standard advice that goes around. And some of it contradictory. “Wait a year before taking an apprentice” “Take an apprentice when you are good and ready” I think some of the best advice was “you have the best perspective right now. You know how people act when the Laurels aren’t around and you know what people think about the Laurels. That voice is very much needed.” Most of my guests just wanted to talk and wish me well. And that is great. At least two people had never attended a vigil before.
Several people told me how I inspired them. This was very humbling. People I look up to. People whom I think their level of art is vastly superior to mine are inspired by me? What did I do? I ruined good wine. I am not so humble that I don’t recognize what I did. As one of my guest reminded me, I built a persona and a “play” on what I made. I made a place where people could interact with that. It is what happened at Pennsic. I made an medieval experience for people. I get it. It doesn’t hurt that it is pretty good vinegar too 🙂
I had some good conversations too. Can service be taught? (I will post about that later). How do you break through the frustration people feel? Did you know you could use a chisel to make buttonholes?
I loved that I wide variety of people visited. I always felt a little weird at first when I would go to someone’s vigil as a new person. I am glad I did so. And I am glad these newer people did so. It is a celebration and even new people have insight on how a Peer might behave. After going to some, I started thinking about the advice I would give and how to offer something others did not. But I got shire-mates, friends, royalty, fellow Peers, and a small number of people I didn’t know, or at least didn’t know well.
Okay, gifts. I did get some nice gifts.
From Baron Robert and Baroness Nessa for IllitonVigil book by Dame RoanaBookmarks by DorcasPyrography box by David of LochmorrowInside box by DavidInside box by DavidLaurel pin by AvelineApple Necklace by StrawberrySwan by Samantha PeacockPottery set by Helewyse
I loved the time and attention given to each. The apple necklace will end up in the Apple Tunic set. I have hyped that thing so much. I have a lot of skills I need to learn to pull that off 🙂
The space had couches so Gertie held court over there and from what I could hear, she always had company. That is what I wanted; I wanted company and companionship at this. I was surrounded by voices all day.
Then came time for the elevation. I needed some new clothes and alterations. Laurel Guenin and some help from Sofya made the outfit work.
Belt by SofyaRuff by GueninGertie and I made the plume for this hatDoublet made by Gueninsleeves on the doubletButtons on the doublet
Then the actual ceremony itself. Several of my speakers could not attend and some of my procession could not attend. But we made it happen. For the procession, I wanted to include newer, and up and coming people. I wanted to give them a chance to be in something really cool. And it worked. I needed several items for the procession as well.
My heraldic banner made by Master Raven of AtenveltWorshipful Company of Vintners heraldic banner made by Guillemette / Redi)The nosegays Gertie and I carried.Nosegays by the Shire of Caer Gwyn
While we processed, Alzbeta spoke the words written by the Sternfeld Battle Bards, especially Mistress Lucia
A Processional Sonnet for Oswyn Swann, on the Occasion of his Elevation to the Order of the Laurel:
Wine cheers the spirit, cider cheers the soul, And vinegar doth cheer the cooking dish. So Oswyn takes stout barrels for a stroll, Makes gifts of each to tankard, sauce and fish.// His tavern at the Blue Swan Inn has grown With music, friends and laughter edge-to-edge. Now Gunnar begs a boon of Dragon throne. Would chancellor now take the Laurel’s pledge?// From lim’nal space reflecting well on deeds Of teaching, service, artful things well wrought, And wand’ring roads one’s path to peerage leads// Sage friend dawns forth from nights of sober thought. Apollo’s favor sets this antiphon with Laurel leaves on Master Oswyn Swann
And then my speakers.
Your Majesties, thank you for allowing my words to be read into your court, so that the populace here assembled can know that Oswyn Swann possesses the Courtesy of a Peer of the Realm.
Peers are called upon to treat everyone with the same respect and courtesy without bias or prejudice. This courtesy maintains and supplies the magic that enriches and sustains us all.
The Coronet of a Royal Peer does not come with an endless font of sparkle. We as Royal Peers sometimes need to be recipients of that noble largesse.
When I met Oswyn Swan, I overheard him say to someone else “Here’s the Rum that I said I would bring you.” As a reflex, I inserted myself into the conversation by asking “where’s the rum you brought for me?” I wasn’t wearing regalia, he didn’t know who I was.
But at the next event, he brought me rum. I still have it. There hasn’t been any occasion worthy of such a small but wondrous gift of magic and glitter. Y
our Majesties, I can attest to this candidate’s courtesy with the guests and residents of the Midrealm. Oswyn treats people with the courtesy expected of a Peer without fear or favor.
He is doing the work expected of a Peer.
Be it your will to welcome him into the Order of the Laurel, I, Marquesa Violante do Porto do hereby affix my name and my words and thus commend him to you.
Marquesa Violante do Porto – spoken by Her Grace Runa
Your Majesties, Thank you for allowing my words to be read in your Court at Crystal Ball.
I Count Seto, a member of your Order of the Chivalry would like to speak about the candidate Oswyn’s Perseverance.
My Liege Lords, as you both know to sit on the Dragon throne takes determination, moxie, and stick-to-itiveness!
Ah but, to become a Laurel, I dare say it takes slightly different type of dedication!
Hear me out, one must study various texts and archives to gain the knowledge to be skilled in an art or science! Oswyn has toiled to learn said level of mastery in not one but many fields!
His glass work is breathtaking and elegant! I can only imagine how many times he has bled in pursuit of perfection!
To Perform miracles such as turning wine into vinegar! We talk about things being an exact science, however, if it was that simple then everyone would be good at it! This man had the pluck to figure out such procedures, teach them to others, and then have the guts to enter his creations in numerous tournaments of arts! Tournaments where you don’t get to actually hit people!?! Or attempt to physical bend them to your will?! Instead you must use reason and research to align them to your cause…
This is true tenacity, simply amazing! Osywn is truly my peer and will make a spectacular addition to the realm & the Society!
Somewhere in Scotland, Count Seto of Shattered Crystal
Count Seto spoken by Morgana
My oath to the kingdom invokes courage and honor, and what I know of Oswyn is this: he brings ferocious courage to the kitchens where he begins his craft and abundant honor to every table and counter and wheelbarrow where he shares the fruits of that labor.
Oswyn has a kind heart and a strong mind, born to experiment and born to teach. We are lucky to have him among us. And he is truly already my Peer and most ready to be recognized as such by Your hand this day.
Master Adam Comyn, MOD
The Oath sworn by Pelicans requires that we “labor for the Common Good, to enrich the Kingdom and the Society, so that they may flourish and grow”.
I will say that Oswyn became Chancellor of Your Royal University just before the Great Plague brought all that we do to a virtual halt. It was not the job for which he signed on, nor the job he wanted to do, but eRUM was the JOB, and Oswyn and his staff delivered hundreds of classes, taught by scores of teachers, to thousands of students over months of time and effort. The eRUM became a model upon which Kingdoms beyond Your Borders built their own programs.
Oswyn has served his home group as Officer and Event Steward. He has welcomed, guided, encouraged, subsidized and transported newcomers so that they can more readily find a place in the SCA. He has created and gifted the works of his hand and his heart, whether glasswork tokens and heraldic plates, or cordials and shrubs served forth at tavern and feast, or his current passion, vinegar, with a generous and unstinting heart.
Your Kingdom is enriched by this man, my Peer, and by my honor, my hand, and my heart I commend him most highly unto Your Majesties.
Master Wilhelm Michalik, OP
[Forthcoming: Baroness Verena Entenwirth]
Regalia was presented.
Cloak by Baroness Rossa Rossinaside swaninterior of cloakhood “Wreath” by the Silver Thimble Guild, especially Lette.scroll: Words by Master Ursula, illumination by Cydeaux, calligraphy by Master Wilhelm
I can not stress enough how blessed I am to be honored with such noble friends. Thank you for a very special day.
For the past several weeks, I have been a vigilant and this past weekend (Sept 3, 2022), I was at an event and the Order of the Laurel was called up. I didn’t go with them. One of the Laurels approached me later and asked, “why didn’t you go up?”
“I am not a laurel yet.” I replied.
“A formality,” they challenged.
“An important formality,” I answered. And with that, the conversation stopped.
I have heard of times when a vigilant is basically hauled by the shirt collar up with the order or thrust into a peerage meeting before they have even been officially made a peer. To each their own I suppose but I think it is wrong. I think the time between vigilant and peer is important in many ways and when it is allowed to happen, the vigilant should be allowed to experience that time.
The making of a peer is an initiation ceremony and a rite of passage. It is the ending of one part of one’s life and the beginning of another. Western society has precious few of these anymore and we should ensure the ones we have left are treated as meaningful and important. The SCA has decided (most times) that this is important so we put people on vigil.
The whole point to a vigil is introspection. In the Arthurian sense, the vigil before knighthood was a time to pray, purify, and make one right and whole with God. For only in a state of Grace, could one be made a Knight. But still in the SCA sense, the vigil is a time to think about how one might be worthy of the honor to be bestowed, what it will mean to be a peer, how things might be different as a peer, and to process the variety of advice one will receive. We like to think of the “vigil” as that discreet moment in time that one has their “party”. But I think it is unlikely that a person will have the time to process these important questions in the few hours that the “vigil” lasts. As I am sure many peers will agree, it may take years or decades to fully understand the transformations. The vigil lasts until the person knows they are ready.
Part of being a vigilant would also be observation. How does one do these tasks? Will it be with seriousness or mirth? As a stoic or an epicurian? What tasks am I being asked to do? You look with different eyes at many things. As a non-peer, seeing the order called up has a very different meaning than as a vigilant and then again as a peer of that order. Is there an unconscious order of precedence at play? Do certain members defer to others? Do certain members hang to the back or push to the front? Are newer peers expected to speak last or first? There are many unwritten rules that could be there (regardless of whether they actually are).
Lastly, in my case, obviously, the Order knew what was happening. At any time, I could have been pulled aside and told, “so-and-so will be put on vigil today. Please come up with the Order.” That to me would have been clear sign that the distinction between vigilant and peer is a thin line indeed. I might not have access to the lists yet but everyone in the order knew that. A private word to put me on the same information level as the others would have been proof positive that I was on the same level.
I don’t really mind though. I am enjoying this time between non-peer and peer. I am looking with new eyes how things are done and what that means for me. Because I can honestly say I am not yet a peer, I have some freedom. I don’t YET have the responsibilities of a peer but I know they are coming. I can spend the time thinking, observing, and processing things without having to do something about it yet.
Others have and will argue that this is a false division. You were put on vigil because you were recognized as the peer you always were. I even asked about that. “I would like advice on how to peer.” The response was (in a nice way), “you already know how to do that because we wouldn’t have made you one without it.” There is a world of difference between what I think I know and what you think I know. I would like to hear your take on it. Maybe you will say something I didn’t know or think about. Maybe we can have a conversation about the topic using your advice as a starting point. I am new at this. Assume I know nothing. At the very least, we will then have a common set of facts to work from.
I believe part of being a vigilant is also parsing the advice given. Let’s take for instance the common advice of “don’t take a dependent for a year.” Is there something magical about a year? Is there something wrong about taking a dependent before a year? The real advice is “take the time to learn who you are as a peer before taking a dependent.” That is the parse of the advice. The advice also reinforces that a vigilant needs time to understand what being a peer means to them.
In some ways, this is a similar space as between engaged and married. Sometimes, with some people, wearing that ring changes everything about them. Sometimes, the transition is seamless. Ideally, the space between engaged and married allows for time to think, grow, process, and accept, regardless of how ready you thought you might be.
I find the space between vigilant and peer to be similar space. I am watching, learning, and thinking about a lot, even with the small amount of advice I have been given. Even with the all of the time I have thought about making it to this status. I think that is important place for any vigilant. Soon, this space will be gone. Allow me to enjoy it while it remains.
As Pennsic approaches, it is time to put up or shut up.
After a long conversation with Gunnar and Lucretia, I have a plan. I have registered to be at the A&S display on Sunday, August 7 with the poster, barrels, wheelbarrow, and vinegars. I have been encouraged to bring as much “special” vinegar as I can.
Then on Monday afternoon, I will wheel the barrow throughout Pennsic, visiting the Royal Encampments but then anyone and everyone else. I will be “hocking” my vinegar. I cannot legally sell it and none of you have ha’pennies anyway 🙂 I will have 40L of barrel-aged Pinot Noir vinegar. That should be plenty. Please (and Gertie begs you) take some. Marinate your meats in it, make dressings, make shrubs, whatever.
Hopefully, Gunnar and others will be able to take photos and video of the experience. The idea is to show how vinegar was sold in late period. I will have handouts as well to help explain what is going on. I am going to try to be in character but that doesn’t always go over well in the SCA.
Now for the question that is in my mind: why the heck am I doing this? I don’t know, really. The SCA wants to recreate the medieval period, at least the “good” parts. Once I found the woodcut showing a vinegar merchant, I wanted to do this. I wanted to make for a brief period that specific experience happen again. And our tent city of Pennsic feels like the perfect place for it.
You can also find it in my class notes are from the main page.
A few notes though. It is a pretty short paper, all things considered. The reason being that serious research on what vinegar is, how it can be made, and how to optimize the process doesn’t happen until after 1600. The bulk of it doesn’t happen until it is understood that it is a bacteria making the vinegar. So in period, vinegar is important but much like today, it is not exciting. Everyone knows you can just leave wine or ale out and vinegar will form. So it is not worth spending a lot of time writing about it.
While I have spend some time doing academic research on vinegar, it is not my focus. If I had a lot more time, then yes, I could deep dive into academic journals and cross-reference across a variety of sources to dig up all that Classical and Medieval people knew about vinegar. But that still wouldn’t be my focus. My focus is making vinegar and making it in a close to medieval way so we can have a more authentic experience. It turns out that surface methods are what most people used to make vinegar. So rather than having our feast stewards and brewers buy mass produced vinegar on a tight budget, I can provide a better product and cheaper (because it is free). That is my focus.
