ahoy, in the world of woodworking, we oft start from the initial point, much like charting a course through uncharted waters. the preparatory steps, they do more than just diminish the risk of a wayward cut or a misaligned joint; they're the quiet, clandestine dance between the craftsman and the timber, a query into the soul of the wood itself. this sublime journey, hidden from the gaze of the uninitiated, is where true mastery begins.