February 2nd
Summoning Day: Sheogorath
Today is the summoning day of Sheogorath, Daedric Prince of Madness, Fourth Corner of the House of Troubles, Lord of the Never-There, Sovereign of the Shivering Isles.
Norms swathe our fragile, mortal society together. Tightly, we hold onto these norms, whether we wish to or not. Have you not experienced that sensation when upon seeing someone in a public area doing something anomalous and strange, you feel compelled to find another set of eyes in the room? And when you find those eyes, do you not yearn to see understanding in them? You’re searching that person’s face for a facial gesture that reads “Yes, that person is being strange. I noticed it, and you have noticed it as well.” It usually comes in the form of a smile and a flash of the eyebrows. The “Don’t worry, I’m sane,” look.
Why? Why do we do this? Is it because we’re hoping we’re not the only sane one? Or are we afraid of being mistaken for an accomplice to the bizarre person we’re speaking of?
Either way, we’re falling deep into that pit of normalcy.
Many of us suffer from some ailment of the mind. Perhaps it is small like an itch that keeps coming back, annoying yet easy to get rid of. Perhaps it is hefty, heavy, and hampering. A weight on your shoulders you can’t budge. A endless dance between grief and obsession. A smothering of damp cloth. A pinprick of constant vigilance. Whatever the ailment, the stigma is similar.
Annoyance. Disappointment. Worry. Anger. Or, sometimes worst of all, Indifference.
That is why Sheogorath is such a prevalent Prince. Some say He will drag you down to His level. But what if you’re already at his level? Birds of a feather as they say. Society may deride us, but Sheogorath can provide us with a home. Some will find comfort in this. Some will wish to linger in the Isles for just a bit longer. Others will be inspired to face the world anew. Whatever the reaction, remember this: norms enfold our delicate society together. If we exist outside those norms, people will become wary. But it is not our jobs to make people comfortable. We must find comfort in ourselves.
