2008.11.24 01:00 - 9 sec, meditation and ritual

Gaya was the guardian for this session and she was late… leaving Becka and Sonic wondering.

Becka Finesmith: Hello Sonic
Sonic Moonites: hello becka
Becka Finesmith: I don't think we have met before?
Sonic Moonites: nope, nice to meet you
Becka Finesmith: likewise :)
Sonic Moonites: not too busy in here today
Becka Finesmith: no - I think it is too late for most people?
Sonic Moonites: yes, its early for me, im in england
Becka Finesmith: me to :)
Becka Finesmith: Sorry - The phone rang!
Sonic Moonites: no problem, i don’t usually talk that much in these meetings, how long have you been coming here?
Becka Finesmith: probably only a couple of weeks now. Are you the Gaurdian for this one?
Sonic Moonites: no, im not sure where they are today

---

Becka Finesmith: ok. Do you come here for the peaceful setting?
Sonic Moonites: yeah, and the good conversation, it helps me do my meditation practice and i find all the people here really freindly
Becka Finesmith: yes. I think everyone is very open and welcoming :)
Becka Finesmith: Do you practice the 9 seconds?
Sonic Moonites: not completely, i have got into the habit of doing breath meditation whenever i have a space moment (which ends up as a lot!) so i do many small meditations a day
Becka Finesmith: Cool. I used to meditate for an hour a day. Recently, I have had difficulties doing that so when Pema told me about the 9 seconds, it was very attractive
Becka Finesmith: I still haven't managed to make it as regular as I would like but I'm getting there.
Sonic Moonites: yeah i find it tough to keep going too, sometimes life can get in the way
Becka Finesmith: It has made me think about things a little more deeply though
Becka Finesmith: yes. I have a commitment problem (I won't go into). I have committed to doing the Monday afternoon sessions morning SLT time) to try and overcome that
Becka Finesmith: so it helps in other ways too :)
Sonic Moonites: thats great, its sometimes great to use SL to help you overcome RL difficulties
Becka Finesmith: yes. Those that I talk to that haven't been in SL before seem to think thats quite funny. I've got comments before about "get a real life" which I find quite funny really
Becka Finesmith: I think, like meditation, you have to experience it fully to understand
Sonic Moonites: yeah absolutely, everybody on here uses it differently, for me its a tool to meet people who are interested and further other interests(and i dont get what is so great about RL ;) )
Becka Finesmith: I kind of use it in the same way. I like to say it "augments" my real life. I have probably learnt more about myself from beng here then I do in RL
Sonic Moonites: yeah, it helps break down your barriers when you’re not restricted by RL social norms
Becka Finesmith: Yes. And looking in from the outside you can actually see some of your behaviours which is probably partly what we try and do with meditation.

---

Sonic Moonites: I see you do alot of studying!!
Becka Finesmith: lol - Yes. I'm heavily into it at the moment as well as working full time
Becka Finesmith: Study probably takes at least a 3rd of my week.
Sonic Moonites: yup, I wish i had used SL when i did my music degree, it would have been good to put on performances in here
Becka Finesmith: Can't you do it now?
Sonic Moonites: but i know how much time and effort studying is! ;)
Sonic Moonites: yeah but i wouldn’t be getting marked for it ;)
Becka Finesmith: lol Perhaps for the love of performance and the pleasure of others?
Sonic Moonites: oh yeah of course!
Becka Finesmith: :)
Sonic Moonites: its easy to forget when you do something for 3 years that all your music is marked and it becomes your livelihood, its easy to forget why you did it to begin with

---

Becka Finesmith: So the thing you like about coming to these sessions is the interaction or hearing about others experiences?
Sonic Moonites: both really
Becka Finesmith nods
Sonic Moonites: it helps me to balance my own thoughts with the views of others
Sonic Moonites: how about you?
Becka Finesmith: yes. I think that. Seeing people explain things differently is a big help. Knowing that you are in an environment where you will not be judged if you discuss one of your own shortcomings
Becka Finesmith: is very comforting
Becka Finesmith: And I think I have many but I realise that one of the goals is to accept that we can't be everything to everybody
Sonic Moonites: yeah absoulutely
Becka Finesmith: SO it is as much finding myself and finding Being for me
Becka Finesmith: "as finding Being"
Sonic Moonites: yeah, some of the things people say on here are useful and directly applicable to real life...I find the encouragement to be more thoughtful and spiritual a great help-which in turn helps me to understand myself better

T_T so late… I was.

Sonic Moonites: hi Gaya
Becka Finesmith: Hey Gaya
Becka Finesmith: I agree Sonic
Gaya Ethaniel: _/!\_
Faenik: why not?
Sonic Moonites: so what have you discovered while you have been meditating becka?
Sonic Moonites: have you noticed much?
 Becka Finesmith: yes. I do two types.
Becka Finesmith: One is assisted with an audio track from a company called "brain Sync" I found some years ago
Becka Finesmith: During extreme periods in my life, I've used that very heavily and it really helps me to refocus
Becka Finesmith: You listen to a half hour soundtrack of ambient music with different alpha, beta etc waves imbedded
Becka Finesmith: It kind of massages your brain :)
Gaya Ethaniel: ^^
Becka Finesmith: And I do 1 hour meditative sessions where I try to calm everything down
Becka Finesmith: (My mind is always talking to me about all sorts of things)
Becka Finesmith: It gets overwhelming sometimes
Sonic Moonites: yes, that’s great i also find the guided audio tracks extremely useful as can sometimes feel a little lost on my own
Becka Finesmith: yes. These don't actually have audible voices in them that tell you but they do carry affirmative subliminal messages
Becka Finesmith: that is a little scary at first but I think it really helps;
Sonic Moonites: yeah, do you use affirmations?
Becka Finesmith: I think they carry though. I certainly feel more relaxed and focused and positive after listening to them. The one I use the most is called "deep relaxation". It really helps when I am stressed out.
Sonic Moonites: yeah, i think when you get into the habit of something, simply the ritual of doing is is associated with relaxing, as well as all the other gains
Becka Finesmith: The "quiet mind" meditations allow me to "see" beyond myself and ultimately, although not in the moment, seem to organise and refresh
Gaya Ethaniel nods
Becka Finesmith: It's interesting you say about ritual. I think that is important
Becka Finesmith: It gives you a sense of belonging to something which we all need
Becka Finesmith: I'm sure it's why so many disciplines have associated jargon.
Faenik loves wells!
Becka Finesmith: it's a verbal ritualism that gives a subject purpose and meaning
Becka Finesmith: of it's own
Sonic Moonites: yeah
Sonic Moonites: you also become part of that culture
Becka Finesmith: precisely.
Becka Finesmith: OK - I have to leave unfortunately :( It's been nice to meet you Sonic. See you soon Gaya :)
Gaya Ethaniel: Have a good day Becka
Becka Finesmith: Thank you Gaya
Becka Finesmith: namaste
Gaya Ethaniel: Thanks for the log also ^^
Becka Finesmith: My pleasure :)
Becka Finesmith: Bye
Gaya Ethaniel: Take care
Sonic Moonites: Rl called and i missed becka leave ;(
Gaya Ethaniel: ah... I'm sure she's ok with that

Sonic and I stayed on a little while discussing our experience of SL.