A full cycle of lunar celebrations is behind us now in Kituwah Territory. Friends and neighbors are invited to come and share in the second New Fire ceremony. Last year we decorated gourds to carry ashes from the fire to our homes. Since then, there's been a lot of development in the Territory: a garden was planted, a cookbook was started, Three Sisters Inn was remodeled to reflect how it might have looked in the year 1823, lots of great graphics were created, and so much more. I thank Sky Eyes Sequoyah for his generous help in making what we imagined only in our mind's eyes to come into visualization. I hope some of the people who participated in our past year's events will come to the New Fire, bring a blessing or a prayer, or just a simple greeting. Wado (Thank You) everyone for making Kituwah one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in all of Ancient Worlds!

Selu has been the September focus in Kituwah Territory along with ways to prepare nuts and game. I had an inspiration to offer a sunflower to Selu because the sunflowers where I live have been simply awesome this summer. As the Mother of Abundance, Selu's gifts are to be seen everywhere at this time of year. At the same time, Selu's creations are a magical mystery that we humble humans may never know. The words that go with the sunflower came to me as I considered all this. I sing them back to her now, with thanks.

In Kituwah Territory it is the Nut Moon, when we give thanks for the summer's harvest. The Corn Mother is known to Native Americans by many names. The Tsalagi know her as the beloved Selu. You can learn more about her and see some of the beautiful thank-you gifts she's received by clicking here. Anyone can leave a gift of thanks to Selu during the month of September, so if you feel inspired please join us in saying "Wa-Do!" ("thank you")

A gift from Akatena Sequoyah at the beginning of a beautiful summer in Kituwah. The June Moon is a festival of peace and friendship as signified by the strawberry. The first green shoots of corn have shown themselves, another cause for celebration. A flock of scarecrows has migrated to the land of the Tsalagi from all regions of the Ancient Worlds, enough "scareys" to match the number of crows in our fields. The festival goes on all month. Indeed there are many reasons to give thanks!

People are talking about this, after Kallistos spoke up. Something else to consider about the fading activity of groups, a constant parade of festivals, and other signs of changing times - if you've noticed mostly the same people participating in the festivals, you may have also noticed that these same people are all Patrons. They are the only ones who have enough posting power to really party. Festival times can be very frustrating for Citizens and even moreso for Novices because of their limited number of daily posts. There would be more diverse participation if other people outside of the usual cast of characters had a chance. I can think of no better way for a newcomer to introduce themselves and be introduced into their Ancient World Of Choice than through one of our festivals. With only 2 to 5 posts allowed per day, as soon as the newcomer warms up they are cut off! Of course there are grams, but only so many allowed except if they are talking to one of the busy, overworked, festival-ridden Scribes.

There is a good core group of folks at the heart of Ancient Worlds who keep the site going through their generous Patronships. Certainly I recognize the need for financial committments. But if there is going to be any hope of drawing a steady stream of newcomers in, to keep things fresh and alive, I think more allowances must be made for the new people - to encourage them, not discourage them.

Joining groups takes sesteri, and if they wish to join a group it will delay their attainment of the holy grail of Citizenship even further. In the intial flush of enthusiasm for this place, a lot of new folks probably don't realize this, not having a thorough understanding of the way things work around here, and they blow their precious sesterii on signing up with a group, (unfortunately, sometimes a group that is dead!) then it dawns on them that it will be another month before they earn more than 2 posts a day. Neighborhoods are good but still hard for newcomers to find and navigate, which is a whole other issue.

No wonder The Groups - the guts, heart and soul of serious historical discussion around here - are dying, the same people are seen at all the festivals, and the times they are a-changin'.