THE TERRIBLE OATH
We know there are certain persons for whom nothing can be a truly secret experience without a bloodcurdling initiation.
And we hate to deny anyone anything. But we’re also members of the Circus, all of us—everyone who walks through our doors and into our tent with the intention of creating a little more joy and making the world a little bit more weird, everyone is with us. We are a brotherhood of outcasts; we don’t always agree, but we seldom actually find it desirable to slay someone who exposes even our greatest secret.
Whatever that may be.
But there are those for whom something is not truly real unless there is an initiation, for whom there is no true beginning without vows and forewswearings.
Therefore we bring you… THE TERRIBLE AND SECRET OATH
We, the assembled, who shall remain nameless because we understand the meaning of the word “secret”, do hereby begin this Rite of Initiation.
We call on the spirits of greasepaint to change our faces from those of audience to those of carnies.
We call on the breath of Autumn to remind us that Change comes, and though some winds may chill us, they also remind us of the mysteries which rustle against every branch, wait behind every crack and every window or mirror.
We call on the world of brass and clockwork for the ability to bring new forms into the Tellurian, not simply mass-produced everything.
We call on the tricksters to fire inspiration into our latest acts, we call on the hours of sweat and preparation, we call on the Muses to guide us as we juggle, swing, dazzle, bewilder, bemuse, re-use, un-lose, and reinvent every night.
It isn’t always easy…in fact, it isn’t USUALLY easy. But we persevere. Fear? Pain? Hunger? Those are real, and still we continue. Still we put on the makeup and let the lights strike us through the throat, and we do what we can, because if we didn’t, who would?
No matter how difficult, we persevere.
THE SHOW MUST GO ON!
THE SHOW MUST GO ON!
THE SHOW MUST GO ON!
