Day One

"It is important to have a container for all that we sense and hear from the wild nature. For some women it is their journals, where they keep track of every feather that flies by, for others it is the creative art, they dance it, paint it, make it into a script. Remember Baba Yaga? She has a big pot; she moves through the sky in a cauldron that is actually a mortle and pestle. In other words, she has a container to put things in"
Estes
The 2008 Advent Calendar is a creative container which holds the work of Soul Food Cafe Ravens who have worked on the site for an extended period of time. This calendar celebrates the work of these creative women.

Your Allelujia Choir Master
Meet Sibyl Riversleigh

Sibyl Riversleigh by Lori Gloyd

Lady Sibyl Riversleigh is the youngest daughter of Lord Riversleigh. Her mother died at the time of her birth and Lord Riversleigh sent her to boarding school, in the City of Ladies, the captial of Lemuria, when she was only five. Lady Riversleigh was educated in fine arts at the Cyberian Mouseion and is an accomplished actress.

Lord Riversleigh never approved of Sibyl's career or her determination to remain single and he disowned her when she went on the stage at a theatre in Cyberia and established the Taverna di Muse. He hated the idea of his daughter being a rebellious Blue Stocking and was going to disinherit her.

Sadly, Lord Riversleigh, had much in common with Ebenezer Scrooge of Dickens fame. Like Scrooge, Riversleigh had a "tight-fisted hand at the grind- stone." No one liked the man. The majority of the tenants at Riversleigh "knew him to be a squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous, old sinner! The cold within him froze his old features, nipped his pointed nose, shriveled his cheek, stiffened his gait; made his eyes red, his thin lips blue and spoke out shrewdly in his grating voice."

Charles was little better. "Nobody ever stopped him in the street to say, with gladsome looks, "My dear Charles, how are you? When will you come to see me?" No beggars implored him to bestow a trifle, no children asked him what it was o'clock, no man or woman ever once in all his life inquired the way to such and such a place, of Charles. Even the blind men's dogs appeared to know him; and when they saw him coming on, would tug their owners into doorways and up courts; and then would wag their tails as though they said, "No eye at all is better than an evil eye, dark master!"

Upon the sudden, mysterious death of her father and brother Charles, Sibyl inherited the family Manor house. When she returned she found the manor house, the estate and village had all fallen in to disrepair. All joy had long been stripped from the place. Riversleigh was all but a desert, a wasteland.

One night, as she sat alone, in one of the empty rooms, shivering from the cold that filled the place, the ghost of her mother came. Her mother held her gently and explained how her death had embittered Riversleigh, She reminded Sibyl of times they had spent in the Murmuring Woods and pleaded with her to help restore joy to the old estate. She explained that this was the only way that old Riversleigh could be freed from the terrible judgment that had been imposed upon him upon his death.

To inspire Sibyl, her mother told her all about the the annual renewal festival of the Babylonians and explained how this festival was adopted by the Persians. She explained how one of the themes of these festivals was the temporary subversion of order. Sibyl listened in awe as her mother explained how masters and slaves exchanged places and a mock king was crowned. Apparently masquerades spilled into the streets as the old year died, rules of ordinary living were relaxed.

With a mission in her heart, Sibyl has opened the doors of Riversleigh. for the Christmas New Year Season. She has agreed to help create a special Advent Festival and will ensure that December is a time of sheer Dionysian joy.

No sooner did Sibyl agree to give over to wild joy than a transformation began. New life has been breathed in to the whole estate. The house is now open to artists, writers, musicians and travelling itinerants and people are arriving from all over the world. Feasts and gift giving have begun and the place is being decorated with greenery.

Under her mother's guidance Sibyl is becoming a true patron of the arts and a muse to many who come live in this old house.

Arrivals and Departures at Riversleigh

Lori Gloyd's inner critic leaves the Manor House to stoke fires elsewhere.

All sorts of interesting people, from all over the world, have begun to arrive at Riversleigh Manor, with their noisy alter egos in toe, carrying bags and generally making themselves useful. Gentle, creative alter egos like Imogen Crest. Cheshire D. Smith, Thalia or She Wolf are welcomed immediately. Some alter egos, the critics in our midst, are quickly identified by the sharp eyed Sibyl, and they are taken off to make themselves useful stoking the fires of Satan. Let's face it! Critics can be more gainfully employed fuelling fires of discontent amidst those who share their perspective of life.

 

A Room at Riversleigh by Winnie Rose Reyes

Orientate yourself by visiting some of the places that are so much a part of Riversleigh. Visualize arriving at Riversleigh along with other people. Consider what Riversleigh looks like and take the time to stand and observe the comings and goings as others appear with their alter egos. Take the time to set up a room (a Word Press blog) for yourself and your alter egos. It is going to be a long stay so those egos better get used to the idea.

Oh and by the way! You are all signed in to join in the fun on Sibyl's Blog. You can comment without being signed in but it is fun to post as well.

Make sure to join in the merriment and post your impressions of Riversleigh on Sibyl's Christmas Blog.