What do you do during long vigils?

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[Juni]

I have a vigil coming up, where I need to stay awake from 1:40pm in the afternoon until 9:00am the following morning. There are some periods where I'll have a lot going on, but from 2:20am through 4:10am, and then from 4:10 to 8:50am, I've got a whole lot of nothing. To compound matters, I will be sitting in the mostly dark and somewhat cold, and I've not stayed up all night in a while.

So: what do you do during long vigils to keep yourself awake? Are there activities that you specifically refrain from? I intend to stay away from the computer- this is a somber vigil- but I'm not sure what would really be appropriate.

[Finn]

So: what do you do during long vigils to keep yourself awake? Are there activities that you specifically refrain from? I intend to stay away from the computer- this is a somber vigil- but I'm not sure what would really be appropriate.

Hmm. It's difficult for me to say because unfortunately I tend to use distracting activities. My vigils are rarely somber: perhaps because I tend to only hold them once or twice a year (winter solstice and maybe Imbolc), and they particularly tend to be all about the return of light, joy, and art to the world.

So, I tend to have movie and TV marathons more than anything. I can't fall asleep during movies or TV. Sometimes I read, though depending on the story my mind will wander and my eyes droops in the wee hours. Sometimes I crochet, particularly when watching late night TV, as it keeps my hands moving and my eyes open in a way that watching TV alone won't work.

And sometimes I put on my iPod and headphones and dance, dance, dance. 

[Juni]

My vigils are rarely somber: perhaps because I tend to only hold them once or twice a year (winter solstice and maybe Imbolc), and they particularly tend to be all about the return of light, joy, and art to the world.

I think the reason that I have so much trouble with joyful vigils is just that: there is nothing joyful about me when I've been up all night. I'll see the return of the light when I wake up!

I think I also associate long nights with death anyway, though- it is only when waiting for news of a loved one that I have ever spent the whole night up. I can party for hours, but I love my sleep, and a "late night" out (or in) is rarely later than 2am.

It's times like this I wish I knew how to knit!

[Aster Breo]

It's times like this I wish I knew how to knit!

Are there other craftsy things you do know how to do that might serve the same keeping-the-hands-busy and keeping-the-eyes-open purpose?  Maybe beading or something like that?

A vigil would be a great time to make a set of prayer beads... 

~ Aster

[Juni]

I do bead weaving, but unfortunately I am low on supplies and even lower on cash at the moment, so restocking in time is unlikely.

I will probably spend some time working on the prayers for my latest prayer bead set, but I haven't bought any of the beads yet (yay for no money?) so construction will have to wait.

[Finn]

I think the reason that I have so much trouble with joyful vigils is just that: there is nothing joyful about me when I've been up all night. I'll see the return of the light when I wake up!

Don't get me wrong, I love my sleep too. I think my logic runs something like this: if I'm going to stay up all night I may as well do things that would otherwise make me feel unproductive or bad if I did them all day--like watch House marathons... 

Things like that bring me joy, so I happen to be in a joyful mood while I'm keeping vigil.

[Aster Breo]

I will probably spend some time working on the prayers for my latest prayer bead set, but I haven't bought any of the beads yet (yay for no money?) so construction will have to wait.

Hmmm.  I suspect "yay for no money" is a pretty common feeling.  

Here's a thought.  I know there are several of us on TC who bead and who are thinking about doing prayer beads.  I've tried a few times and haven't gotten it "right" yet.

I wonder...  Maybe we could figure out a way to pool our resources?  I have a bunch of beads I don't especially want -- mostly stones, but some wood and other materials.  Some are the leftovers from other projects and some are strings I thought I wanted but haven't used for anything yet.  And I have half a large Ziplock full of seed beads and other small glass beads.  I'd be happy to share them, since they're just sitting in a box not doing anything useful.

Maybe we could create a craft supplies cooperative?  

What kind of beads do you need?

~ Aster

[NibbleKat]

I do bead weaving, but unfortunately I am low on supplies and even lower on cash at the moment, so restocking in time is unlikely.

I will probably spend some time working on the prayers for my latest prayer bead set, but I haven't bought any of the beads yet (yay for no money?) so construction will have to wait.

My coworker makes her beads for her jewelry out of paper.  Her last pair of earrings were made out of comic paper. Don't know if you could learn to do that in time for this vigil, but maybe the next?

[Juni]

I think that's a great idea- I have plenty of beads I'm not using.

For this particular project I'm doing a different bead for each god, spirit and dead, but to maintain symmetry they're all going to be 6mm and round. So I expect I'll have to purchase them all, unless by some miracle someone had the same size and shape.

[Juni]

My coworker makes her beads for her jewelry out of paper.  Her last pair of earrings were made out of comic paper. Don't know if you could learn to do that in time for this vigil, but maybe the next?

That looks really interesting- I'll have to look into it. Thanks!

[HeartShadow - Cutethulhu]

I think the reason that I have so much trouble with joyful vigils is just that: there is nothing joyful about me when I've been up all night. I'll see the return of the light when I wake up!

I think I also associate long nights with death anyway, though- it is only when waiting for news of a loved one that I have ever spent the whole night up. I can party for hours, but I love my sleep, and a "late night" out (or in) is rarely later than 2am.

It's times like this I wish I knew how to knit!

one ball of kitchen cotton and one pair of size 6/7 needles can make a lot of dishcloths - and they're more environmentally friendly AND more effective than most other kitchen cleaning items!  (Sponges, paper towels, etc).

Sounds like a good time to learn.

[Aster Breo]

For this particular project I'm doing a different bead for each god, spirit and dead, but to maintain symmetry they're all going to be 6mm and round. So I expect I'll have to purchase them all, unless by some miracle someone had the same size and shape.

I thought I had more in the way of 6mm round beads, but I only have a few kinds of stones in that size/shape: some beautiful crackly white quartz, some black onyx, and some black and white jasper.

I'm happy to send some to you, if they'd be helpful.

~ Aster

[SunflowerP]

Here's a thought.  I know there are several of us on TC who bead and who are thinking about doing prayer beads.  I've tried a few times and haven't gotten it "right" yet.

I wonder...  Maybe we could figure out a way to pool our resources?  I have a bunch of beads I don't especially want -- mostly stones, but some wood and other materials.  Some are the leftovers from other projects and some are strings I thought I wanted but haven't used for anything yet.  And I have half a large Ziplock full of seed beads and other small glass beads.  I'd be happy to share them, since they're just sitting in a box not doing anything useful.

Maybe we could create a craft supplies cooperative? 

I've been "thinking about", as in "not getting around to doing", a set of devotional beads for an embarrassingly long time (I could probably find out just how long by using TC's search, but I suspect that'd be even more embarrassing).  This idea feels like I wasn't just procrastinating but waiting, without knowing what I was waiting for but this could be what.

Sunflower

[MarieBay]

I have a vigil coming up, where I need to stay awake from 1:40pm in the afternoon until 9:00am the following morning.

Cleaning is also a fantastic thing to do during all night vigils, so long as you don't bother your neighbours with the vacuum 

[Juni]

All three of those would work, actually- the white quartz would work for one of my Revered Dead, the black onyx would work for my Forgotten Dead, and the black and white jasper would work for the Junior Horae. And for this particular project I only need one bead of each. That would be wonderful of you, Aster! Just don't rush- I have a lot of beads to pick up, so it'll be some time before I'm ready to string.

Thanks a bunch!

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