In a clearing in a forest of oaks that have seen two hundred winters, where on most nights one can turn a full circle and see no sign of civilization, the sun has just set and the full moon is rising. Six human figures in long hooded cloaks stand in a circle around a seventh. The central figure wears a ceramic mask under their hood, a symmetrical human face painted with fractal geometries that render the facial features incomprehensible in the shifting light of the moon through the trees and the lanterns on their poles around the clearing's edge. 

The leader of the ceremony lifts their masked face and declaims, "We gather here to invoke the four Muses, to summon them within ourselves and emulate them, to guide ourselves in their patterns. Do all present will that it be so?"

"We will it," chorus the six.

The leader turns counterclockwise to face the east, and the others follow suit a moment later and speak in unison. "We call on Shora, the muse of keen observation!"

One of the people in the circle holds up a photograph of a spiderweb glittering with morning dew. "I bring this offering to Shora, and seek their aid in my current proof, that I may see a clear path through the web of truth to my goal."

The group turns, again counterclockwise, to face the west. "We call on Katura, the muse of abundant design!"

Another person holds up a skein of rich red yarn as soft as a rabbit's fur. "I bring this offering to Katura, and seek his aid in knowing how best to use it."

The group turns to face the south. "We call on Lerek, the muse of careful planning!"

This time two people lift their hands from their cloaks. The first holds up a woven belt. "I brink this offering to Lerek, and seek her aid in planning the next pattern." The second holds up a printed page. "I bring this offering to Lerek, and seek her aid in plotting the sequel."

The group turns to face the north. "We call on Gahapi, muse of precise execution!"

Again, two people make offerings. One brings a diagram of a software system and seeks aid implementing it; the other brings a collection of pieces of stained glass and seeks aid assembling the planned window.

The leader of ceremonies turns through two full circles clockwise and prepares to speak the concluding words, but the wind whips up too loud for anyone to hear them, and the shadows grow more frantic in their dance . . . 

In a clearing in a forest of oaks that have seen two hundred winters, where on most nights one can turn a full circle and see no sign of civilization, the sun has just set and the full moon is rising. Six human figures in long hooded cloaks stand in a circle around a seventh. The central figure[H] wears a ceramic mask under H's hood, a symmetrical human face painted with fractal geometries that render the facial features incomprehensible in the shifting light of the moon through the trees and the lanterns on poles around the clearing's edge. 

The leader of the ceremony lifts H's masked face and declaims, "We gather here to invoke the four Muses[A], to summon A within ourselves and emulate A, to guide ourselves in A's patterns. Do all present will that it be so?"

"We will it," chorus the six.

The leader turns counterclockwise to face the east, and the others follow suit a moment later and speak in unison. "We call on Shora, the muse of keen observation!"

One of the people in the circle holds up a photograph of a spiderweb glittering with morning dew. "I bring this offering to Shora[B], and seek B's aid in my current proof, that I may see a clear path through the web of truth to my goal."

The group turns, again counterclockwise, to face the west. "We call on Katura, the muse of abundant design!"

Another person holds up a skein of rich red yarn as soft as a rabbit's fur. "I bring this offering to Katura[C], and seek C's aid in knowing how best to use it."

The group turns to face the south. "We call on Lerek, the muse of careful planning!"

This time two people lift their hands from their cloaks. The first holds up a woven belt. "I brink this offering to Lerek [D], and seek D's aid in planning the next pattern." The second holds up a printed page. "I bring this offering to Lerek[D], and seek D's aid in plotting the sequel."

The group turns to face the north. "We call on Gahapi, muse of precise execution!"

Again, two people make offerings. One brings a diagram of a software system and seeks aid implementing it; the other brings a collection of pieces of stained glass and seeks aid assembling the planned window.

The leader of ceremonies[A] turns through two full circles clockwise and prepares to speak the concluding words, but the wind whips up too loud for anyone to hear A, and the shadows grow more frantic in their dance . . .