2008.12.22 07:00 - Christmas and the Bean.

Becka Finesmith was the Gaurdian. All the comments are hers.

We were joined by a new person and we did the customary introductions.

Becka Finesmith: Hi guys
Adelene Dawner: I'm a regular here ^.^
Sidona Donogal: Hi Schomer
Adelene Dawner: Hi Becka :)
Becka Finesmith: HI Sidona and Adelene
Becka Finesmith: Welcome Sidona
Becka Finesmith: Did I hear it's your first time?
Sidona Donogal: Thank you Becka
Sidona Donogal: Yes.
Becka Finesmith: First time in SL or at a PaB meeting?
Sidona Donogal: 4 days in SL , first meeting
Becka Finesmith: Hi Adams and Doug
doug Sosa: hi.
Adams Rubble: Hello becka and everyone :)
Becka Finesmith: Nice. Do you know what this is all about?
Sidona Donogal: Yes, did some reading on the net about kira
Becka Finesmith: Cool. Have you seen the Play at being wiki site?
Sidona Donogal: Yes. I liked it.
Becka Finesmith: Excellent. Well, do you have any questions? I'm quite new to but we have some old hands in Doug, Adams and Adelene :)
Adelene Dawner: ^.^
Adams Rubble: Hello Maxine :)
doug Sosa: :)
Sidona Donogal: Nothing in particular, just joining.
Maxine Walden: hi, Adams
Sidona Donogal: But thanks for the offer.
Becka Finesmith: Ok - Well, if you think of anything, don't worry about asking
Becka Finesmith: I've found everyone to be really helpful
Sidona Donogal: Sure
Becka Finesmith: How is everyone else?
Adams Rubble: Just great :)
doug Sosa: hm, let's see. :)
Becka Finesmith: lol

I was curious how many of us celebrated Christmas.....

Becka Finesmith: Does everyone celebrate Christmas here?
Adams Rubble: I do becka
Becka Finesmith: HI Crusty
Adams Rubble: Hi Crusty :)
Adelene Dawner: in a secular sense, yes.
doug Sosa: by now i think of it as celebrating the start of a new sun- yar- adventure.
Becka Finesmith: Ditto Adelene
Adelene Dawner: Though probably not, this year.
Crusty Goldshark: hi guys
Adams Rubble: Hi Fael :)
Fael Illyar: Hi Everyone :)
doug Sosa: hi crusty
Becka Finesmith: Hi Fael
Becka Finesmith: I am trying not to ake for granted that people celebrate a Christian festival
doug Sosa: blinding :)
Fael Illyar: it's not necessarily Christian.
Fael Illyar smiles.
Becka Finesmith: and beautifull
Maxine Walden: you look like the holiday star on our downtown Macy's store, Fael. The most glorious thing in town!
Becka Finesmith: Pagan then Fael?
Fael Illyar: Christmas is the time of the year (on northern hemisphere) when the day is the shortest. After that the days start getting longer again.
Fael Illyar: It's the start of the end of darkness.
Becka Finesmith: Sure. We don't celebrate summer solstice in the same way though
Maxine Walden: and yesterday was the solstice
doug Sosa: pagan sounds like a sharp word. Robert bly said "ignorance of the soul is he dark side of monotheismm.
Sidona Donogal: It is my favorite time for inner work these days.
Becka Finesmith: That's interesting Sidona
doug Sosa: saves electricity :)
Sidona Donogal: It is most easy to turn inside between Christmas and New Year
Sidona Donogal: Get new impulses for everything
Becka Finesmith: I find it harder because of all the other things that are going on around me
Adelene Dawner: Sidona... it's interesting, if that's true, that most people surround themselves with other people at this time.
Sidona Donogal: Well, I tend to draw back instead.
Sidona Donogal: I guess it depends on your family situation.
Becka Finesmith: I have just gone through a period of feeling isolated but I tend to lose that feeling this time of year
Sidona Donogal: You have this group though.
Fael Illyar ruffles Adele's fur gently.
Fael Illyar: We have the full capacity to be alone surrounded by people.
Becka Finesmith: :)
Sidona Donogal: I love that purring sound. Thank you for that.
Fael Illyar smiles.
Adelene Dawner: ^.^

Then Sidona got us started on a PaB discussion.

Sidona Donogal: Anything happend with you practicing recently?
Becka Finesmith: I think it has helped me to focus my attention on some issues i've been having
Sidona Donogal: great.
Sidona Donogal: I think focus-training is very valuable.
Becka Finesmith: the interesting thing about PaB is that I wasn't trying to focus.
Becka Finesmith: :)
Becka Finesmith: it just came naturally
Sidona Donogal: good for you
Becka Finesmith: That doesn't happen for me usually without a lot of effort
Sidona Donogal: Even better then
Sidona Donogal: Do you have people to talk about that in first life?
Becka Finesmith: not really
Becka Finesmith: I have a Daughter and a couple of friends, But I tend to not discuss these things with them
Fael Illyar: Other people focusing tend to help you focus :)
Becka Finesmith: In SL, it's the lack of physical contact makes it easier somehow
Crusty Goldshark: I have resticted spiritual companions at the moment - so this is is useful ;)
Becka Finesmith: yes Fael, I guess it does
Fael Illyar: participating in a meeting reasonably regularly keeps it in your mind :)
Becka Finesmith: Me too Crusty. This is the only contact I have of this nature
Crusty Goldshark: I am surrounded by heathens and atheists - and very nice too :)
Becka Finesmith: and recently for me it hasn't been that regular (Except Mondays) :(
Crusty Goldshark: Well Becka you can always learn to talk to trees - if you need a sensible conversation . . .
Becka Finesmith: lol
Fael Illyar: Yes, I wouldn't have anyone to discuss this type of things with without PaB either
Crusty Goldshark: Adelene your behavior - dosing off reminded me of something . . .
doug Sosa: i try to take this into every encounter,not that I talk about it, bu try tolive it. bein more aware in that wonderful focused unfocused way.
Becka Finesmith: Do you think it would be different if we knew each other in RL? I mean - We haven't sought this contact out in RL so it must make a difference
Adelene Dawner: mm, Crusty?
Crusty Goldshark: I was staying at a monastery in Scotland, whenever the lama was present, no matter how hard I tried I would dose off in meditation . . . he just hasd that relaxation effect on me . . .
Adelene Dawner chuckles.
Maxine Walden: SL may allow space for our imagination to play and to not feel the commanding presence of someone else
Becka Finesmith: Hope you didn't snore
Adelene Dawner: Becka: I'll have something to report on that in a few months. ^.^
Becka Finesmith: :p
Crusty Goldshark: 4 years later I was cured but he was dosing off . . .
Becka Finesmith: Oh? Do tell Adelene?
Adelene Dawner: Well, I'm about to move 2 miles away from Corvi. ^.^
Becka Finesmith: Cool :)
Adelene Dawner: Very ^.^
Becka Finesmith: You haven't met in RL yet then?
doug Sosa: where does corvi live?
Adelene Dawner: I haven't met Corvi RLwise, no. I was at the meetup and met those who were there, tho.
Adelene Dawner: I'm not sure that's information she's comfortable sharing, Doug.
Becka Finesmith: Did it change your perspective about anyone?
Adelene Dawner: mmm... yes and no... mostly no. ^.^
Becka Finesmith: ok
Fael Illyar: I've met a few of the regulars in RL :)
Adelene Dawner: I think it changed my perspective about me more than anything.
Crusty Goldshark: Is Moon a Teddy bear?
Sidona Donogal: What did you discover?
Becka Finesmith: I've me a couple of people in RL from other things I'm involved with and it did change my perspective of them. It made it stronger
Fael Illyar: We had a Guardian meetup at Princeton 2 months ago
Adams Rubble: We brought our RL avatars
Becka Finesmith: lol
Becka Finesmith: WIsh I could have been there
Fael Illyar: Yes, RL avatars :)
Becka Finesmith: I saw the pictures
Adelene Dawner: Sidona: I discovered how much of my mundane personality is wrapped up in what others expect me to be and do. The difference with that group of people compared to the people I usualy interact with was startling.
Sidona Donogal: That's very interesting. Expectations and how we tend to relate to them.
Adelene Dawner: Yup.
Becka Finesmith: Wow ADelene. I would say that's a life changing experience?
Maxine Walden: Afraid RL is calling me right now. Nice to see everyone. Take care and see you soon again, I hope.
Adelene Dawner: Rather. ^.^
Adelene Dawner: cya, Max.
Fael Illyar: See you later Maxine :)
Becka Finesmith: Bye Maxine
Sidona Donogal: Than again it is sometimes funny to find out my own expectations about myself.
Fael Illyar: We do tend to try to conform to people's expectations mostly. No surprises that way.
Becka Finesmith: I don't think I ever succeed on that front!
Adelene Dawner: It made me more aware of that as a factor - I'd thought it really wasn't, for me. It appears that I really do have to find or make a supportive social environment for myself if I want to do things with my life... I'd thought I could do that wherever I was. Good to know - hence the move. ^.^
Fael Illyar: Becka, I mean what people expect. Not what they tell yo they expect.
Adelene Dawner nods emphatically at Fa.
Crusty Goldshark: It is sometimes surprising that superficial qualities are no indication of worth in ones internal development. How do we recognise the real component in people?
Sidona Donogal: I guess heart and guts can help to find out.
Crusty Goldshark: Yes Sidona - I would agree
Adelene Dawner: Paying attention, Crusty. To them, and to your responses to them. ^.^
Sidona Donogal: Sometimes I am catched by beauty though and it makes me feel soooooo god.
Fael Illyar: Yes, realizing that you do not know people. Even when you think you do.
Adelene Dawner nods at Fa.
Adelene Dawner: And realizing that people change.
Crusty Goldshark: Yes being attentive too - most people are only attentive to their own chatter - so stillness is requisite for recognition . . .
Fael Illyar: That way you realize faster when your guesses are not correct.
Becka Finesmith: and recognising your reflection their behaviour towards you?
Adams Rubble: Bye all. Having trouble balancing RL and here :)
Fael Illyar: See you later Adams :)
Fael Illyar: Hi Moon :)
Crusty Goldshark: Hi Moon
Moon Fargis: ^^/
Sidona Donogal: Hi Moon
Becka Finesmith: Hi Moon
Moon Fargis purrzzzzzzzzz
Sidona Donogal: I would fall for cudeness in this case!
Fael Illyar smiles.
Fael Illyar scratches Moon behind the ear.
Moon Fargis purrzzzzzzzzz
Sidona Donogal: Thank you moon
Moon Fargis gave you lolipop 1.3 big(wear).
Moon Fargis: ^.^
Becka Finesmith: TY Moon
Red Lollipop : A nice red lollipop!
Sidona Donogal: Does anyone of you write down their dreams?
Crusty Goldshark: Sometimes
Fael Illyar: Only if I relate one to someone on SL :)
Red Lollipop : Just one more lick!
Adelene Dawner does not, as a general rule, ever remember having dreamed.
Becka Finesmith: No I don't but I do write down 9 seconds sometimes
Fael Illyar: Yes, I don't remember my dreams too often either.
Becka Finesmith: You sleep very soundly then?
Sidona Donogal: Are the 9 seconds writing collected anywhere?
Crusty Goldshark: I sometimes sleep with a light on as it induces dreams - certain foods - for example beer can also induce dreams . . .
Becka Finesmith: I don't think so although Adams writes a blog
Adelene Dawner: Not in the sense of 'not being woken up by things', if they're things that I'd want to be woken up by (phone, alarm clock, etc). But otherwise... guess so.
Crusty Goldshark: there is also an occult recipe involving nuts and numeg . . . taken before sleep for dreams . . .
Becka Finesmith: http://rubblebornthoughts.wordpress.com/
Crusty Goldshark: nutmeg
Becka Finesmith: Take a look there Sidona
Sidona Donogal: What are beer induced dreams like?
Fael Illyar: Not always soundly but I rarely remember my dreams even when I don't.
Becka Finesmith: dangerous question :p
Crusty Goldshark: LOL - dreams are dependent on ones interior state - not the beer - for me they are much the same perhaps brighter and more lucid
Crusty Goldshark: I am talking about one beer - not becoming catatonic . . .
Sidona Donogal: that should change your interiour though
Crusty Goldshark: yes :)
Sidona Donogal: :)
Crusty Goldshark: There are also herbs such as kava-kava or others that may effect dreams - cheese is another one that induces dreams for me
Becka Finesmith: Nightmares?
Fael Illyar: cheese?
Becka Finesmith: Sorry - had to do that
Fael Illyar: the dreams that I do remember, sometimes, tend to be lucid ones in that I know it's a dream but don't really act on the knowledge.
Crusty Goldshark: No the last bad dream I had the scenario was unpleasant (quite gruesome) but it had no emotional component so can not describe it as a nightmare
Becka Finesmith: interesting
Fael Illyar: except in that they don't tend to scare me.
Sidona Donogal: I am working on carrying out intentions. That takes a lot of focus, too.
Sidona Donogal: Have you ever tried that Crusty?
Crusty Goldshark: m m m. . . there is a technique in Tibetan Buddhism known as 'Dream Yoga' were one attempts to enter and interact witha lucid dream state - Also used in Western Ocultism
Sidona Donogal: I know, I meant you.
Adelene Dawner hrms at Crusty.
Crusty Goldshark: Dream intentions?
Sidona Donogal: Yes.
Crusty Goldshark: No - I am not lucid enough to have intentions under control
Sidona Donogal: Me not, too, but I am working on it. For me it is worth the try.
Sidona Donogal: Opens up a whole world.
Crusty Goldshark: I tend to use strong visualisations whilst awake . . .
Fael Illyar: I remember one dream scene rather vividly. One of my first lucid dreams after I'd read about them.
Sidona Donogal: What do you use them for?
Crusty Goldshark: yes?
Fael Illyar: It was a nightmare of sorts, I suddenly realized it was a dream and that it couldn't harm me.
Sidona Donogal: Sorry Fael. Go ahead.
Crusty Goldshark: I use visualizations to readjust components of the self ;)
Sidona Donogal: Components! I love that.
Fael Illyar: lost all fear, made a couple of changes so it no longer felt threatening and after that I no longer remember having nightmares.
Sidona Donogal: So that was a breakthrough for you!
Crusty Goldshark: In a sense our waking life is like that - little can harm us but many of us need to accept this . . .
Fael Illyar: Yes, we fear a lot of things that can't actually harm us.
Sidona Donogal: perhaps the fear itself is the most harming of all
Crusty Goldshark: How then can we develop a positive waking dream state?
Sidona Donogal: realise how much we create it.
Crusty Goldshark: bye
Becka Finesmith: Bye Moon
Adelene Dawner: I need to go, folks. See you around.
Sidona Donogal: buy moon
Fael Illyar: See you later Adele :)