Post by Judith Eastman on Jun 2, 2021 18:32:58 GMT
Hey all! Let us take some time to talk about POTM.
First of all, our outstanding POTM winner was a post by Kaya Som, included in the spoilers here. Congratulations, Kaya!
Now, we have decided to reform how we do POTM, to make it easier on everyone.
1. We will keep the POTM submission form up all month, so you don't lose noms.
2. We'll close submissions for each month (and start voting) on the 1st of the next month, so that posts at the very end of a month will still be eligible.
3. We will post POTM announcements separate from promotions, so we can have more rejoicing to go around.
Now, that being said, here's your rolling POTM submission form for the month of June.
First of all, our outstanding POTM winner was a post by Kaya Som, included in the spoilers here. Congratulations, Kaya!
{Kaya Som's winning post is here}
1300 hours, solar noon at Landing Zone 2 | Ha'mara Pavillion in the Square
A breezy pavillion has been erected in the green space of the settlement town square to serve as venue for one of the central moments of the Ha'mara festival of lights. It is a ritual known as the Unburdening where all are asked to relieve themselves of the heavy loads of resentment, fear, jealousy, regret, and anger. In full view of the Prophets, symbolized by the local solar noon, Bajorans and visitors alike may place one small stone or many into a basin of water as a symbol of what they are letting go, so that when night falls and the fast is over, they may celebrate new beginnings.
Now, the Vedek Dima Emmari is speaking.
[ Vedek Dima Emmari ]
"... and upon each stone we can place our grief and regret and all that weighs us and bends our backs to the wisdom and will of the Prophets. Only when we shed our burdens can our Pagh rise follow our true path."
He was a tall man, the Vedek, and even though he seemed to be speaking softly, his voice carried unassisted in a most steady baritone and his peculiar rolling accent.
He continued, for the benefit, mostly, of the young or non-Bajoran visitors.
"Long ago, these stones were not so small and this basin not so shallow. We waded into rivers carrying rocks pulled from our fields or rubble from fallen buildings. And into that rushing current we gave up what dragged us down to the steady and unrelenting erosion of the water. The water, like the will of the Prophets, always finds a way to cut its path, and even the sharpest stones are rounded smooth, becoming part of the river itself."
He went on like this a little longer, telling a parable of a man who carried an unjust burden.
"One day, a man was walking a rough and remote road when he came upon a Cardassian. The Cardassian was starving and liable to die of thirst. In his arrogance, he believed he needed no food or water for the dangerous journey. The Cardassian begged the man for help. 'Please, you must carry me. Is it not the way of your Prophets?'"
The Vedek lifted his eyebrows as if to ask all who listened what they would do.
"But the Cardassian did not realize that his face was known throughout the region, and that he been a cruel and ruthless magistrate during the Occupation. The man had a choice to make. If he left the Cardiassian where he lay, he would surely die. But if he took him upon his back, they could both fall.
"The Cardassian, seeing the conflict in the man's eyes, continued to plead with him. He said it was the will of the Prophets that they'd both be on this road, that the Prophets demanded mercy for all."
The Vedek paused again and continued suddenly gentle.
"Finally, the man relented, for the man wanted to serve the Prophets. He lifted the Cardassian on his back and began to carry him."
And then the gentleness ended abruptly and the Vedek ended his tale matter-of-factly, no more sadness in his voice.
"But the sun was hot and the dust was choking. After many hours, the man fell to his knees in exhaustion and both he and the Cardassian perished on that deserted road.
"In this time of Ha'mara, we are invited to Unburden ourselves. But do not carry the burdens of others, do not weigh yourself down by those who'd bring you to harm."
And with that strange tale, the Vedek smiled and called for the Unburdening to begin.
You can read the post in context here.
A breezy pavillion has been erected in the green space of the settlement town square to serve as venue for one of the central moments of the Ha'mara festival of lights. It is a ritual known as the Unburdening where all are asked to relieve themselves of the heavy loads of resentment, fear, jealousy, regret, and anger. In full view of the Prophets, symbolized by the local solar noon, Bajorans and visitors alike may place one small stone or many into a basin of water as a symbol of what they are letting go, so that when night falls and the fast is over, they may celebrate new beginnings.
Now, the Vedek Dima Emmari is speaking.
[ Vedek Dima Emmari ]
"... and upon each stone we can place our grief and regret and all that weighs us and bends our backs to the wisdom and will of the Prophets. Only when we shed our burdens can our Pagh rise follow our true path."
He was a tall man, the Vedek, and even though he seemed to be speaking softly, his voice carried unassisted in a most steady baritone and his peculiar rolling accent.
He continued, for the benefit, mostly, of the young or non-Bajoran visitors.
"Long ago, these stones were not so small and this basin not so shallow. We waded into rivers carrying rocks pulled from our fields or rubble from fallen buildings. And into that rushing current we gave up what dragged us down to the steady and unrelenting erosion of the water. The water, like the will of the Prophets, always finds a way to cut its path, and even the sharpest stones are rounded smooth, becoming part of the river itself."
He went on like this a little longer, telling a parable of a man who carried an unjust burden.
"One day, a man was walking a rough and remote road when he came upon a Cardassian. The Cardassian was starving and liable to die of thirst. In his arrogance, he believed he needed no food or water for the dangerous journey. The Cardassian begged the man for help. 'Please, you must carry me. Is it not the way of your Prophets?'"
The Vedek lifted his eyebrows as if to ask all who listened what they would do.
"But the Cardassian did not realize that his face was known throughout the region, and that he been a cruel and ruthless magistrate during the Occupation. The man had a choice to make. If he left the Cardiassian where he lay, he would surely die. But if he took him upon his back, they could both fall.
"The Cardassian, seeing the conflict in the man's eyes, continued to plead with him. He said it was the will of the Prophets that they'd both be on this road, that the Prophets demanded mercy for all."
The Vedek paused again and continued suddenly gentle.
"Finally, the man relented, for the man wanted to serve the Prophets. He lifted the Cardassian on his back and began to carry him."
And then the gentleness ended abruptly and the Vedek ended his tale matter-of-factly, no more sadness in his voice.
"But the sun was hot and the dust was choking. After many hours, the man fell to his knees in exhaustion and both he and the Cardassian perished on that deserted road.
"In this time of Ha'mara, we are invited to Unburden ourselves. But do not carry the burdens of others, do not weigh yourself down by those who'd bring you to harm."
And with that strange tale, the Vedek smiled and called for the Unburdening to begin.
You can read the post in context here.
Now, we have decided to reform how we do POTM, to make it easier on everyone.
1. We will keep the POTM submission form up all month, so you don't lose noms.
2. We'll close submissions for each month (and start voting) on the 1st of the next month, so that posts at the very end of a month will still be eligible.
3. We will post POTM announcements separate from promotions, so we can have more rejoicing to go around.
Now, that being said, here's your rolling POTM submission form for the month of June.
