June 2025: Growing Leaves
This post chronicles over a period of time my elevation to the Order of the Laurel. This process started a while ago, with the support of a number of very fine folks who have made the commitment to candidate support a part of their process, for which I am truly thankful. I’d like to take the chance to explore individual aspects of the process that I found meaningful and to help anyone in the future make some of these choices for themselves.
Preparation
Bea and I had a nice sewing day, just the two of us. She wanted to work on some sewing and I love a good body double for projects. It was here that she made me aware of the possibility of an impending elevation. Bea and I have always had an agreement to communicate openly about my progress and the major milestones of that. I tend to be very anxious and critical of myself, and she does me the very great courtesy of making sure I have time to introspect and process moments like awards and pollings. Too many years of therapy have taught me that without clear cut metrics, I rarely believe myself to be worthy or good enough for things, and elevation in particular was a pain point in this. At work, I know I’m good at my job. I have numbers and results and tangible things to say confidently that I am really good at my job. Peerage and the concepts leading to it were far less defined in my mind, and therefore, any time I was confronted with the possibility, my brain immediately began working against me to question my own value. Having the time to rationalize and adjust has always proven the best for me and I am so lucky to have a Peer who fought to give me that, and so many others who supported her in doing so.
I think the moment I realized I might be actually ready to start hoping/wanting it more actively was sitting down to work on The Foods That Built Spain. I had a laundry list of publications and books that I’ve collected over the years that I wanted to read and incorporate, but sitting down to my lesson plan, I realized I could write a full 2-hour class on the intersection of food culture and political/economic power balances in medieval Spain without any additional research and be happy with the results. That moment happened probably a week or two before Bea and I had our talk, and was really pivotal in me not freaking the fuck out this time when it was brought up.
Working on the Elevation Outfit has also been a shockingly healthy thing in this respect. At previous occasions, there were a number of people who came up to me and did the whole, “you’re next” thing. And I will admit, I did not react to that super positively. I understand fully that it is meant to be positive and encouraging, but can often work in the exact opposite way. At the time, I was coming off of my Pentathlon win with a weird balance of real pride in what I was able to accomplish and a real sense of absolute dread that I was only able to accomplish things if I had 2+ years to work on them. It made for a really weird mix of emotions and the very real fear that Pentathlon was a fluke and not an indication of my growth as an artisan. Being a Laurel to me has always been about being the best artisan and representative of my art that I possibly could be and the idea that I was leaning too heavily into my personal belief that “hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard” hit me kind of like a truck.
My solution to the above problem was to try to show myself what I could continue to do, and push into more ambitious projects. Both the Juana in White project and The Foods That Built Spain were in service to that goal. While the Juana in White project was temporarily put on hold to focus on the Elevation Outfit, I think the Elevation Outfit serves a similar purpose. It’s a complex series of garments, that are interrelated in both design and function, and had to be done in a pretty tight timeframe. I can confidently say that while I may not have needed A Sign, the way I both look and feel in this outfit have been a real moment to affirm that my accomplishments are not, in fact, just a fluke.
I made my public announcements in May and got to start having fun with the whole, '“please do not perceive me” bit of all of this. It’s my favorite part (not). I’m learning to come to terms with the being perceived thing, because as I understand it, the second I have those leaves on, I’m gonna be perceived a lot more than I think I would like on a regular basis. It’ll take some practicing, and some effort to make sure my face doesn’t have quite as many subtitles as it often does, I think.
My new feast gear!
One of the fun parts of prep was shopping! I took this as an opportunity to get a couple things I’ve been wanting for a little while, both to help make the day of easier, and bring some extra enjoyment and ambiance to the event. This included a new set of feast gear so I could have two full sets, a flat-pack stool from DuPuy that I have lusted after for years, and a new embroidered table cloth.
Evan also got some new garb, which we’ve wanted to do for a little while. The stuff he’s had so far has been very quick and dirty attempts at boy clothes on my part, and they served their function, but this is definitely better. We purchased him a piece from Historical Enterprises- he chose an adorable blue cotehardie that he looks great in and is comfortable wearing, which is great. I have dreams of getting him a bycocket to go with it someday, because that would be the cutest thing.
Clothing
The easy things to look at for an elevation were always going to be clothes. I have a massive stash of fabric that I’ve gotten from purchases and friends over the years, and it was comforting for us to be able to sit down and look through it and ask “is it finally time to use the pretty/special things?” Because ultimately, whatever the results of a polling, whatever Their Majesties and Highnesses chose, it’s just clothing at the end of the day. It’s just another outfit to make, that makes me happy and allowed me to grow and learn on another journey into Spain and it’s weird fashion.
We settled on a pretty iconic image from Christop Weiditz’s Trachtenbuch (right), with a couple of adjustments. The final outfit consists of:
The camisa from the Juana in White project, though not fully finished. It still needs seams finished and some decorative blanket stitching on the facing.
A side lacing saya with some subtle trim down at the hem and a fun experiment in applique at the neckline.
A sayuelo made of the same fabric as the saya, with hanging decorative sleeves and a glorious amount of some trims I had saved up for this occasion.
A cofia that is blinged up to hell and back with green and gold rhinestones and some freshwater pearls, and some truly beautiful silk lattice decoration.
A set of removable sleeves in a stunning gold and burgundy silk, with some matching trim and adorable buttons.
A belt with leaf trim and a couple of very meaningful easter eggs.
Because so much time and work went into this outfit, I have a whole separate post on that here.
The Vigil
My beautiful handwashing, set up by my apprentice sisters, featuring a hand towel and books from Marguerite and a gorgeous painting from Elvira.
My vigil was set up as a salon style, so I could be talking to people, hearing advice and words, and still get to spend a day celebrating with my friends. I liked not being secluded so my family could come in and out and I could see folks all day long. Marguerite and Tala did my handwashing and both of them were so supportive and amazing helping make the moment a special one that fits me. Judaism doesn’t address the concept of purity the same way as Christianity at all, and so the traditional set up for an SCA handwashing, which relies really heavily on those Christian-influenced concepts, felt weird and not like me. We were able to make it a quiet moment about preparation, mindfulness, and peace that I truly cherished.
The pre-vigil activities were always going to be the emotional climax of the day in someway. I knew going into it that having to stand around listening to people I love say nice things about me was going to pull at all the heart strings, but I did not expect how quickly I hit tearing up. Giving my belt back was the first moment. Bea and I had been on this journey together for five years, and in those five years, I don’t really know how I could picture my SCA experience otherwise. The home that our household has become, the family that it has built, is so deeply a part of my life that a world in which I am not somehow tied to them is unthinkable. I know that our paths do not diverge here, but that moment hit and it all went from there. I ugly cried my way through the rest of my speakers, especially Marguerite and Sof’ia, both of whom I love and need in my life like my right arm.
Choosing speakers happened long before Elevation Day, but was a very intentional part of my process. Every speaker I chose is an example of the kind of Peer I aspire to be. They reflect the values, the dedication, and more that I aim to embody as a member of the Order of the Laurel. Many of them are Laurels in addition to the Peerage they spoke on, and all of them are artisans in their own rights in diverse ways. Each has taught me something vital about art and the SCA, and I was honored to be able to have them speak for me. Those speakers were:
Chivalry: Sir Alherin map Bleidcu
Laurel: Mistress Marguerite Honoree du Chenau
Mark: Master Valgard av Mors
Master of Defense: Duke Ragnarr Blackhammer
Pelican: Ollamh Lanea inghean Ui Chiaragain
Populace: Lady Sof’ia Dolgorukaia
Rose: Duchess Melisande de Belvoir
Oath and Elevation Ceremony
The other big thing that I needed to think about was an oath. Oaths in Judaism occupy an interesting and complex space- as I write this, a daily study practice I partake of is in the midst of a tractate all about oaths, how one makes and breaks them, and the consequences thereof. Oaths and the keeping of oaths is part of the Ten Commandments, and therefore, not something Judaism takes lightly. Every year, the evening when Yom Kippur starts, we engage in a service called Kol Nidre- which translates to “all vows”. The purpose of this service is to absolve us of the vows we unknowingly took and may not have kept, and to acknowledge that human nature often causes transgressions of promises we made that are not always intentional. The text of Kol Nidre shows how seriously such vows and oaths are taken:
All vows, renunciations, bans, oaths, formulas of obligation, pledges, and promises that we vow or promised to ourselves and to G-d from this Yom Kippur to the next- may it be undone, repealed, cancelled, voided, annulled, and regarded as neither valid nor binding. Our vows shall not be considered vows; our renunciations shall not be considered renunciations; and our promises shall not be considered promises. (Mahzor Lev Shalem, 205).
While only the Chivalry are required to be in fealty to the Crown as bestowed Peers, I chose to include a private oath as part of my elevation. Since Jewish oaths are generally verbal and fealty isn’t really a thing we do, I decided to approach my oath with the concept of “Jewish values with non-Jewish structure.” I found an oath I like from the 12th Century in Spain, so I used that one as my structure, though I shortened it a little. For guidance on how one might be a Peer, I decided to turn to Pirkei Avot (The Ethics of Our Fathers) for content. Pirkei Avot proved a goldmine for Laurel-related sound bites and I’m pretty pleased with how it turned out.
I, Mariana Ruiz de Medina, apprentice of the Baronesa Beatriz, swear to your Majesties, that from this hour in the future, I will be faithful to the arts and learning of Atlantia, and the members of its people, in good faith and without deception. I will be patient in justice, holding the honor of my students as dear to me as my own. I will learn in order to teach, study in order to practice, and let my household be a house of knowledge and hospitality for all who would share in it. And I will help to grow all students who might wish to find joy in the arts and sciences and I will give them all the support of my time and my energy and never desist from the work of making the arts and sciences a more welcoming community. So may I be shaken out from my home and from the fruit of my labor who does not fulfill this word.
The components of this oath are:
An oath of fealty from Ramon de Tous to Pere, Bishop of Vic, from the Arxiu Capitular of Vic, via https://www.dragonbear.com/fealty.html
Pirkei Avot 1:1: Be patient in [the administration of] justice, raise many disciples and make a fence round the Torah.
Pirkei Avot 4:12: Let the honor of your student be as dear to you as your own.
Pirkei Avot 4:5: He who learns in order to teach, it is granted to him to study and to teach; But he who learns in order to practice, it is granted to him to learn and to teach and to practice.
Pirkei Avot 1:4: Let thy house be a house of meeting for the Sages and sit in the very dust of their feet, and drink in their words with thirst.
Pirkei Avot 4:1: Who is wise? He who learns from every man…Who is mighty? He who subdues his [evil] inclination…Who is rich? He who rejoices in his lot…Who is he that is honored? He who honors his fellow human beings.
Pirkei Avot 2:16: It is not your duty to finish the work, but neither are you at liberty to neglect it. This one is often written as “neither are you free to desist from it.”
Nehemiah 5:13 via https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/oath#google_vignette: So may God shake free of his household and property any man who fails to keep this promise; may he be thus shaken out and stripped.
I would also like the record to show that I could have used this absolute gem of pettiness from Aragon, and was Peer enough not to:
We, who are as good as you,
swear to you, who are no better than us,
to accept you as our king and sovereign,
provided you observe all our liberties and laws,
but if not, no.
Beautiful Art from People
Getting to receive art from my friends and family is one of the most precious things the SCA has brought to my life. The work that these people do is stunning and meaningful, and I am awed every single time.
My cote in all its glory.
Cote: Bea made me this absolutely glorious Laurel cote that I cannot stop petting and lovingly staring at. It has elements of Marguerites, elements of her own, and beautiful variegated leaves from Lanea. It is so so incredible and I love it so much.
Medallion: Bea also hit it out of the park with my medallion, which she apparently saw and just knew it had to be this one. It is a painted carnelian
Vigil Books: Marguerite is a talented bookbinder and made me not one but THREE vigil books. One was for my worthies to write down any of their words if they chose, because much like my wedding, remembering those words amidst all the emotional highs is a challenge. One was for my own notes throughout the day, and is 100% going to become my own personal SCA commonplace book. The last was my vigil book for the populace and visitors to write in, and she absolutely floored me by adding a stunning painting of my device, a copy of our family tree, and a list of my speakers. It’s on some beautiful vellum and I love all three so much.
Scroll: My scroll was made by three artisans who I have so much respect for. Lanea wrote the text, it was translated by Mistress Talia de Morales, and the art was done by Meisterin Kolfinna. I don’t even know where to begin with how much I love it. It’s in Spanish. It has not only my beloved pet cats on it, but also my twisty stoats. It includes my SCA motto from Maimonides. It has references to so many of the kinds of work I have pursued over the years. It is stunning to behold with its delicate diapering patterns and I am in LOVE with the border decoration. I love everything about it.
The scroll. THE SCROLL.
The painting from Elvira, featuring my rose and Bea’s pomegranates
Painting: Elvira made me this stunning painting that not only graced my table during the day, but I can’t wait to have on my wall as well. It’s a beautiful reminder of my family and their part in my journey.
Towel: Marguerite also made the towel I used for my handwashing, which I love so much because it feels very full circle from me doing hers. It is pictured above with her books and the painting from Elvira and it is going to be a beloved part of my presence in the future.
Sharbat: Iacobo ibn Daoud made me some delicious sharbat for my day. Sharbat is a syrup drink that comes in many flavors, and I have been obsessed since the first time he shared some with me. It’s refreshing, invigorating, and downright delightful. I received bottles of strawberry flavored and Valencian orange, and both are sensational.
Food: Lucy of Wigan, another dear friend, hosted the amazing spread of food for the day. It was full of Mariana-friendly foods, even with my weird set of dietary restrictions. Everything was thoughtfully chosen and delicious. There were some life changingly good spiced peaches and cookies that I’m still dreaming about a couple days later. Elvira also made some bomb tamales with turkey and a pumpkin and chipotle that just made my day it was so good.
Bay Laurel: My other apprentice sister Isobel gave me a bay laurel for my Laureling, which I so love. It has joined my other bay laurel on our deck to grow its leaves and prosper.
