While sitting and contemplating my future in front of m'Lord Scarlatti's
statue in Cyrene, I pondered much on the five words set into the walls
of the Balcony of the Theatre Prophasia. I set out to find what each had
to do with Art, as the designers of the Theatre had obviously done
before. After months, I've come to some basic thoughts about these
words.

INSPIRATION: The seed from which all Art springs. Inspiration is needed
to spark the creative drive from which someone's work is found.
Inspiration comes in many forms, and does not have to relate to the
subject of the piece in any way. From the quiet forest, to a gentle
smile from one you love, there is always needed some form of anchor from
which to bring your work to life.

MIND: The mind is an important tool when it comes to art. The mind is
what directs what we intend to show from our work. All art has purpose.
Whether it is to portray someone/something/some idea in a good/bad
light, or meerly to please someone dear, there is purpose. The mind
develops that purpose and guides our hands toward the final product.
Without the mind, the work will have no purpose, and as such have no
meaning to anyone.

SPIRIT: A work of art is nothing without the feeling put into it by the
artist. Spirit, essentially the essence put into the work, is used to
draw in the audience to your work and convey its intended meaning. The
Spirit put into a work can make or break it, as a work with no feeling
is forever forgotten. The Artist should make every attempt to put as
much Spirit into the work as possible(be it poetry, prose, music, song,
or dance) that his/her meaning is as clear as it needs to be.

FAITH: Faith is an important part of art, and could easily bring about
the downfall of the artist. Faith is having the belief that the work you
are creating will have its intended affect on the audience. Losing one's
faith in this ability will prevent the work from ever being noticed, and
a continued loss of faith might drive a man mad.

COURAGE: Courage is an essential element to any work of art. When one
opens up his mind and feelings in such a matter, the artist leaves
himself open to criticism, hate, and attacks. He/she must be willing to
accept the consequences of their intent. If one cannot handle these
things, they will lose their ability to effectively convey the meanings
of their works.

This is by no means a complete explanation of Art, or of these
principles. But it is a start to explain the complexities of such a
subject. I welcome any thoughts or discussions on this topic, and will
do my best to answer any questions directed at me. For those who are
able to enter Cyrene and wish to look upon these words, politely ask
someone in Cyrene to take you to the Theatre balcony.

May you all be well.

Penned by my hand on the 12th of Miraman, in the year 345 AF.