Wow. Having just read the solstice book, and before being anchored by the rest of the articles or reading other comments—this was really powerful. I didn’t love every selection, but I strongly felt the emotional arc of the ceremony. My spirits fell the whole time, darker and darker, until the valence switched and at the end I was filled with hope. I’d love to try one of these ceremonies. Thank you.
Quality takeaways: too much Lovecraft, I liked the Litanies but I think they should be switched out each year or ad-libbed. You should be sure to indicate which songs have prescribed melodies from other works and which you provided your own melodies for—this was confusing.
Personal taste takeaways: Zombie song was a little annoying and seemed irrelevant. I disliked the phrasing of the Metalitany—“give me positive utility” sounds dumb. ‘No one is alone’ seemed out-of-place and strange to read, but perhaps it comes across different when spoken rather than read. Including Still Alive was hilarious and welcome. The song Singularity made me a bit uncomfortable but I’m not sure why—perhaps because there’s no mention of UFAI? I loved the final poem.
Definitely agree that the Litanies should be switched out each year—they’re a good place to maintain some structure yet encourage variety, so that we don’t get too attached to particular beliefs or even particular questions about beliefs.
Songs that were to the tune of a different song were actually noted—about a third of the song are parodied Christmas carols (which are labeled), another third are actual songs (sometimes obscure ones, but googlable). The confusing part is probably telling the different between obscure but googlable songs, and songs I wrote myself. Next year I’ll definitely have everything properly attributed, and probably have music notation for less familiar songs.
Curious if you felt there was “too much Lovecraft” or “Lovecraft shouldn’t have been present?” (It WILL be at least reduced next year, as I find better songs for the beginning section, but I’m wondering if there’s some “optimal amount of Lovecraft” balance to find, or if I should just scrap it as I find better things to replace it with.)
I’m intrigued that No One is Alone sounded out of place—I actually liked how its theme tied directly into the previous songs’ notion of “the end of the world is coming, and there’s no clear plan on how to stop it, and you have to figure it out on your own.” (Although I didn’t intend this or notice until just now, it even picks up with the “only me beside you” idea, as the Father and Son are alone together.)
I’m still on the fence on the Singularity song but it’s probably getting cut—a little too borderline religious sounding, and it really needs instrumentation to sound good anyway.
As for Lovecraft, I think the main issue is this: I totally get why you’re doing it—Lovecraft->‘sense of doom and hopelessness in a world governed by physics’. Therefore, you conclude, that the ritual should include Lovecraft. But the Lovecraftian sections that you actually use seem like they have been inserted because you decided you were going to use Lovecraft, not because they actually index the peculiar ‘sense of doom and hopelessness’ that justified their insertion. The two instances of this I’m seeing are the Fish Men song and Necronomicon.
With regards to No One Is Alone—I don’t think I really meant that it was out of place, but rather that it felt stilted and forced. Upon a second reading, though, I don’t mind it as much. It’s shorter than I originally thought and I’m not getting the same awkward feeling I did in the last reading, so I’ll retract my criticism. If other people have the same reaction, then perhaps give it another thought.
Wow. Having just read the solstice book, and before being anchored by the rest of the articles or reading other comments—this was really powerful. I didn’t love every selection, but I strongly felt the emotional arc of the ceremony. My spirits fell the whole time, darker and darker, until the valence switched and at the end I was filled with hope. I’d love to try one of these ceremonies. Thank you.
Awesome! Thanks!
Which sections worked and didn’t work for you, and do you know if it was more of an issue of quality or personal taste?
Quality takeaways: too much Lovecraft, I liked the Litanies but I think they should be switched out each year or ad-libbed. You should be sure to indicate which songs have prescribed melodies from other works and which you provided your own melodies for—this was confusing.
Personal taste takeaways: Zombie song was a little annoying and seemed irrelevant. I disliked the phrasing of the Metalitany—“give me positive utility” sounds dumb. ‘No one is alone’ seemed out-of-place and strange to read, but perhaps it comes across different when spoken rather than read. Including Still Alive was hilarious and welcome. The song Singularity made me a bit uncomfortable but I’m not sure why—perhaps because there’s no mention of UFAI? I loved the final poem.
Thanks for the feedback.
Definitely agree that the Litanies should be switched out each year—they’re a good place to maintain some structure yet encourage variety, so that we don’t get too attached to particular beliefs or even particular questions about beliefs.
Songs that were to the tune of a different song were actually noted—about a third of the song are parodied Christmas carols (which are labeled), another third are actual songs (sometimes obscure ones, but googlable). The confusing part is probably telling the different between obscure but googlable songs, and songs I wrote myself. Next year I’ll definitely have everything properly attributed, and probably have music notation for less familiar songs.
Curious if you felt there was “too much Lovecraft” or “Lovecraft shouldn’t have been present?” (It WILL be at least reduced next year, as I find better songs for the beginning section, but I’m wondering if there’s some “optimal amount of Lovecraft” balance to find, or if I should just scrap it as I find better things to replace it with.)
I’m intrigued that No One is Alone sounded out of place—I actually liked how its theme tied directly into the previous songs’ notion of “the end of the world is coming, and there’s no clear plan on how to stop it, and you have to figure it out on your own.” (Although I didn’t intend this or notice until just now, it even picks up with the “only me beside you” idea, as the Father and Son are alone together.)
I’m still on the fence on the Singularity song but it’s probably getting cut—a little too borderline religious sounding, and it really needs instrumentation to sound good anyway.
As for Lovecraft, I think the main issue is this: I totally get why you’re doing it—Lovecraft->‘sense of doom and hopelessness in a world governed by physics’. Therefore, you conclude, that the ritual should include Lovecraft. But the Lovecraftian sections that you actually use seem like they have been inserted because you decided you were going to use Lovecraft, not because they actually index the peculiar ‘sense of doom and hopelessness’ that justified their insertion. The two instances of this I’m seeing are the Fish Men song and Necronomicon.
With regards to No One Is Alone—I don’t think I really meant that it was out of place, but rather that it felt stilted and forced. Upon a second reading, though, I don’t mind it as much. It’s shorter than I originally thought and I’m not getting the same awkward feeling I did in the last reading, so I’ll retract my criticism. If other people have the same reaction, then perhaps give it another thought.