Having an off season/Losing the spark

[Morrigan]

Hey, even sunshine burns if you get too much.

[Angus]

"Rise, and Fall" of the Tides...
"Waxing, and Waning" of the Moon...

...everything is Cyclic, your ferver for the Fest will once again come round.

Apparently everyone has these feeling at one time or another.

[isisdy]

I felt just like that last year for AHE at TRF. I really didn't have a good time at all. I had been preparing garb and all that jazz all year and it really put very high expectations on it for me. By the time I got there I was extremely tired already and missed all of my clans activities because I just slept the whole time. During the day at faire i was thinking about my children. I have very bad separation anxiety and my youngest son was only 2 months old at time. This past memorial day weekend at Scarby I had a great time but the heat was discouraging . My fiance wants to do everything and get the very best out of it down to the last thread and that is what usually ruins faire for me the expectations to get back what I have put in preparing for it all year. This time I just relaxed and didn't put to much thought into it so it didn't feel like I was trying to turn a profit. I don't even know you ELo but I have saw your work and your on my Facebook friends , last year at TRF I saw you at the front gate and I was going to walk over to you to say hello to finally meet you. You were sooooooo busy and so far in the zone with your camera I was afraid to interupt you and missed the chance to formally meet you.I suspect that the others are right that you should slow don't abit enough to really let yourself enjoy it again.

[Charlotte Rowan]

Yes, I've totally been there. Last season was a bit of a chore for me at times. I always had fun when I got to Fest, but I didn't really look forward to it during the week like I usually do, and I skipped a lot of days. My life has changed a lot in the last year, I think that's part of it.

We'll see how this season goes...

[Lairde Guardn]

Over the years and thru many transformations of my "Faire persona" I have found that I have burnt out a few times, had to step back, take a close look and even time off from faires.   I know there are some that remember "Paddy" or "Irish" and some may even remember "TJ the worlds largest Leprechaun".  It is a hobby that I found can get exhausting.   But there has always been something that has brought in back around and reminded me of the fun it can and should be.

I know that a trip to Tennessee a few years back for Ette Two was one of those that put the joy back in faire.   Or the first time I saw Twig and watched her for over an hour playing with children and was reminded what it was really all about.   And as I travel from faire to faire and see my friends.....no,,,,, my family at the various places and get the chance to see the smile on their face and give them each a hug......It brings it all around again.......

[Celtic_Fae]

Something to try, too, if you're not ready for a total break from faire is to explore a new angle of it. If you've gone as a playtron, go as a mundane for the day. Try spelling boothies for a break, working in a booth yourself, or working with your favorite performer hawking their wares. Sometimes a fresh angle gives you fresh perspective and a new "something special/different/unexpected" to look forward to each weekend. Or, if you are ready for a break, but don't want to lose your connections, hold a weekend-long get-together with your friends or volunteer for a performer who has events outside of the festival circuit.

[Peddlin]

Hey, Sunshine -

I understand exactly how you feel, as the man in my life is somewhat legendary at faire, and when we are there, he is pretty much always "on stage". It is such a major part of his life, and that is fine, but I kind of sit on the back burner and try to keep it all in perspective. Then I start to realize that I am surrounded by a lot of wonderful people, who have come to mean so much to me. And of course, every now and then (like this year at BARF), you will meet another very special person to add to your repetoire, and it makes you realize how much "Faire" has added to your life. I have my moments, when going to faire is the last thing in the world I want to even think about, and there is nothing wrong with that, as there is a lot more out there in this big beautiful world of ours, and I think we need to experience as much of it, as possible. Faire is wonderful, as long as it doesn't become an obsession, because when that happens with anything, it gets to a point where it isn't fun, anymore. Then you need to step back, take a deep breath, and take stock of what you have in your life and just what it is that you need to be grateful for. And usually, when I start trying to look at those things objectively, I realize how fortunate I am to have my fairemily in my life, and even though it is just a "part" of my life, it is a part that I am very grateful for. Of course, there are many other parts of my life, too, and I am grateful for all of them.

BTW, thank you for my special moment at BARF this year, and for allowing me to add you to my repetoire. You are definitely one more thing for me to be grateful for.

Luvu lots!

[renfairephotog]

Please return to the topic which was "I lost my faire  groove help me find it."

[Peddlin]

Sorry, but I thought that was the topic.

[Sitara]

Sorry, but I thought that was the topic.

I'm pretty sure he was not talking to you darlin' and was in fact referring to the now deleted posts.

[renfairephotog]

Sorry, but I thought that was the topic.

I'm pretty sure he was not talking to you darlin' and was in fact referring to the now deleted posts.

correct there was this am there was the kind of drama that kills the faire spirit. posts have been removed. sorry for any confusion.

Peddlin you post is exactly the stuff the thread needed.

[Anna Iram]

This is a discussion I had with a very dear friend/fairemily member last night on the phone.
But something I thought would be interesting to bring up in discussion to everyone.

As much as we all love faire, will spend thousands of dollars, will travel hundreds of miles, there are those times, when the spark just ebs. For the first time in my life, I've had to remind myself that when I get up in the morning and drag my carcass out to faire, I'm doing it to have fun. After missing Closing Weekend of Scarby due to financial reasons, I stopped and started to think about all the reasons why I wasn't heartbroken about not being there. Due to no one else but myself, I just didn't have fun this season. It was a chore to get up and go out to faire (Rendezvous did NOT count, btw. I had a blast!). Instead of being excited, I was too exhausted or too preoccupied by everything else, that when I got to faire, I couldn't let go or get into it.

Have you ever had those seasons?

My thoughts were lost in the drama shuffle. I'll repeat them as I think they have merrit, though it doesn't seem as inspiring the second time around...

Faire, to me, is like icecream. All the yummy flavors and you think you can never get enough. Then one day...blech.

Faire should be a treat. For some that means every day it's open, and open to close. For others it might mean not a race to get to cannon every morning and perhaps leaving midday or going only once a weekend. It should feel like a treat, not a marathon.

For me I chose to take some time away and explore other "like minded" groups. There's lot's to do other than faire if it's lost it's luster.

[The Lady Mercedes]

While I may not be a performer (yet anyway lol), I do love my faire & have yet to loose the spark...perhaps its due to lack of funds that makes that day I can go every year a treat (since I missed this yr, I'm deffinetly ready for next yr!). Having said that, if you're on ren overload, perhaps you can put aside all things ren related for awhile (like maybe every year until just before faire season begins)-maybe put any books, movies, ect. away somewhere for example, or maybe just not use them, & focus on other things you enjoy. Then after a while, you'll find or see them again and you'll be like, "hey, you know, I haven't seen, read, whatever that in a while!" & lo & behold, the spark has returned! I usually only delve into the world of ren every weekend, so that along w/what I said in the beginning usually keeps me from getting overstimulated. Hope that helped a bit!

[Peddlin]

Thank you for the reassurances. I was at work, and apparently missed all the drama, but I will try to get over it.   

[Arianwyn]

I was struggling earlier this year with attending or not.....

At one point I actually announced to friends that this year I would not be going to any Faires (I usually try and attend 3, as I am in Ontario and the nearest US Faire is about 4 hours away).

What had I lost? Not really anything....my love of Faire is and was there.  I had allowed another person to intimidate me and manipulate me into thinking, almost fearing that I would be followed wherever I went.  Even to the point that I stopped logging in here or posting anything.....BUT

No more!  I am going to my favourite Faire for Opening Weekend and I am going to get my Ren Life back!!!  (yeah, that's me pounding on my chest and yelling)....

Has anyone ever had that happen, the presence of another creating intimidation in attending faire?

Would be interesting to find out....be well all!