2010.01.10 08:00 - Guardian Retreats

This guardian session was attended by Arabella, Bertram, Calvino, Eden, Eos, Eliza, Genesis, Geoff, Maxine, Riddle, Stevenaia, and Zen. We discussed the upcoming Malta retreat, and those in the works. We then moved on to SL retreats and ways that the village might increasingly become a nurturing structure for gatherings, in-world retreats, and meditation.  

(Eliza posted this session)

Maxine Walden: hi. Calvino
Calvino Rabeni: good morning, Maxine
Maxine Walden: Looks like kneeling is a preferred stance right now
Maxine Walden: hi, Eos
Eos Amaterasu: HI Maxine and Cal and Elize

Calvino Rabeni: Hello Eliza, Eos 
Eos Amaterasu: Shhh, you'll wake the kids!
Maxine Walden: Hi jingling Eliza
Eos Amaterasu: belly dance?
Maxine Walden: ah?
Eliza Madrigal: Hi Maxine, Eos, Cal :)
Zen Arado: Hi EDen :)
Eliza Madrigal: Hi Eden, Zen :)
Zen Arado: Hi Bert:)
Eliza Madrigal: ...rings on her fingers and bells on her toes... she shall make music where ever she goes....
Bertram Jacobus: hi all :-)
Eden Haiku: HI zen!
Zen Arado: Hi Geoff :)
Eliza Madrigal: Hi Bertram, Geoff :)
Eden Haiku: HI geooff.
Geoff Baily: hi all, thanks Eden
Eliza Madrigal: Irish bellydancing... hehe
Maxine Walden: wasn't that Lady Godiva, Eliza? Maybe not...
Maxine Walden: hi, Eden
Maxine Walden: hi Bert
Zen Arado: Hi All
Calvino Rabeni: Calvino Rabeni nods to Zen
Maxine Walden: hi, Geoff
Bertram Jacobus: hi all - ups - do i sit wrong ? at the ladies side ? ;-)
Eliza Madrigal: hmm, not sure Maxine, re Lady Godiva!
Eden Haiku: Good morning everyone ;-)
Maxine Walden: hmm, me neither, actually, Eliza
Calvino Rabeni: Good to see you, Geoff
Geoff Baily: hi all cant make sit so i will stand
Geoff Baily: is that ok?
Eden Haiku: You have to come closer to the cushion to be able to sit down Geoff.
Eliza Madrigal: Geoff it takes a few tries...
Bertram Jacobus: sure geoff
Bertram Jacobus: you click it right geoff ?
Eliza Madrigal: The village hall sits across two sims.
Eden Haiku: ;-)
Eliza Madrigal: Hi Ara :)
arabella Ella: Hiya!
Zen Arado: Hi Ara:)
Bertram Jacobus: hi ara :-)
arabella Ella: Hiya Geoff!
Geoff Baily: hi so sorry abt that!!
Eliza Madrigal: WB Geoff
Eden Haiku: No problem Geoff ;-)
Geoff Baily: thanks Eliza and all of you
Geoff Baily: good to be here
arabella Ella: ;)
Bertram Jacobus: :-)
Zen Arado: somebody start something :)
Zen Arado: maybe we need an agendao or something?
Eden Haiku: So you lost you head trying the headless practice Zen?
Zen Arado: ha I have moved on again
Zen Arado: wish I could stick with one thing
Eden Haiku: ;-)
Zen Arado: am into Eckhart Tolle at the moment
Zen Arado: re-reading 'Power of Now

Guardian Topics...

Maxine Walden: whenever we get together, it seems to me, something has 'begun', but yes, it would be good to have a topic perhaps, one connected with guardian issues, since this is a guardian meeting

Eliza Madrigal: Hm, guardian topics include Malta Retreat upcoming.. Excited for all attending that!
Maxine Walden: yes!
Zen Arado: would be so nice
Zen Arado: sunshine !
Eliza Madrigal smiles
Zen Arado: amd warmth
Eos Amaterasu: 9 people attending...
Maxine Walden: wonderful, 9!
Eliza Madrigal: 3 of the group here... yes, nice gathering
arabella Ella: :)
arabella Ella: yes i am excited too!
Zen Arado: long trip fro US though?
Maxine Walden: who else is attending?
Geoff Baily: will be good I am sure
arabella Ella: how i wish you could all join us
Eos Amaterasu: Any snow there, Ara?
arabella Ella: we should be nine
Eliza Madrigal: We'll be there Ara... in the spaces around the circles :)
Zen Arado: is it disabled accessible Ara?
arabella Ella: Pema, Eos, Bert, Yaku, Lia
arabella Ella: trying to remember
arabella Ella: Wol
Eos Amaterasu: Ara, Wol, Paradise
arabella Ella: Mick
arabella Ella: padadise
arabella Ella: yes that should be it
arabella Ella: not sure about access Zen
arabella Ella: would have to check that out
Zen Arado: just wondered Ara
arabella Ella: yes
Zen Arado: these places rarely are in mmy experience
arabella Ella: but perhaps Wol could look into that since it is short notice for Malta
arabella Ella: as the next one is scheduled for October in Munich I believe
Eos Amaterasu: http://playasbeing.wik.is/PaB_Retreats has dates, etc
Zen Arado: not planning on going - just checking it out in case I might go in future
Eos Amaterasu: April 18-24 in California
Eos Amaterasu: August 1-7 in Nova Scotiea
Eos Amaterasu: October 11-15 in Munich area
Maxine Walden: Are these dates then set, Eos, so we can plan on them?
Eos Amaterasu: If you have ideas for retreat locations, for 2011, let me know
Eos Amaterasu: August 1-7 is definite
Eos Amaterasu: The California and Munich ones are not totally set and confirmed
Maxine Walden: thanks, that is one I am planning on attending, so glad to know
Eliza Madrigal is 'planning' to attend that one too
Zen Arado: well - if you want to come to N.Ireland....
arabella Ella: would love to have a retreat in N Ireland great idea ... I visited once and the hospitality is fantastic
Eos Amaterasu: Idea is to spread locations around the world, encourage local travel
Maxine Walden: very good ideas, Eos
arabella Ella: Hiya Adams
Maxine Walden: hi, Adams
Eliza Madrigal: Hi Adams :)
Zen Arado: Hi Adams :)
Eos Amaterasu: Some places need long advance notice, so need to start early
Geoff Baily: Hi Adams ;)
Maxine Walden: can imagine
Eos Amaterasu: I'll put up a tentative calendar for 2011, and we can fill in the places
Adams Rubble quietly waves hello to everyone
arabella Ella: you also once mentioned Japan didnt you Eos?
Eden Haiku: Hi hello Adams..
Eos Amaterasu: Yes, Pema suggested Japan for 2011
Eos Amaterasu: We also had a Colorado are suggestion
arabella Ella: would be lovely excuse to travel to the far East
Eos Amaterasu: and may do the same SAnta Cruz/California location
Eos Amaterasu: Yes, do a once-in-a-lifetime trip!
Eden Haiku: Lovely excuse indeed!
arabella Ella: i think some of us just hope the dates fit in with our schedules
arabella Ella: some can only travel during vacation periods
Eliza Madrigal: yes, nice to make some things if we can
Eliza Madrigal: we've also talked a bit about having SL retreats....
Eos Amaterasu: Yes... let me know such constraints, possibilities
arabella Ella: perhaps I may suggest that you could consider Japan for August 2011?
Zen Arado: I do 2 or 3 Zen retreats per year already
Eos Amaterasu: Pema says it gets hot there, but yes.....
Eliza Madrigal: Hi Riddle :)
arabella Ella: Hiya Riddle
Zen Arado: Hi Riddle
Maxine Walden: hi, Riddle
Riddle Sideways: Hi All
arabella Ella: August is vacation for many and that makes it easier to combine with a vacation too
Geoff Baily: Hi Riddle
arabella Ella: and of course i dont mind the heat ... speaking for myself of course :)
Eos Amaterasu: August retreat will be 5 days, flanked by half days for arrival/depart
arabella Ella: this August is difficult for me as i have another trip planned and i cannot change it ... a wedding in UK ... family

In-World Retreats...

Eos Amaterasu: Do you want to say more about SL retreats, Eliza?
arabella Ella: yes please Eliza
arabella Ella: if you could
Zen Arado: yes
Eliza Madrigal: Hm, Well during the first California retreat, Adams and I set aside time, a few others joined us... for non-recorded extended topic sessions really... sitting
Eliza Madrigal: it was more an experiment which Adams thought of, but I found it surprising
Eliza Madrigal: and we've talked a little about doing that kind of thing on a regular basis
Zen Arado: would they have same format as RL pab retreats and wonder what that is?
Eliza Madrigal: "we" as in pab... has come up a few times
Eliza Madrigal: Well, that's a good question
Eliza Madrigal: We can learn as we go along :)
Zen Arado: retreats I go to are mostly meditation and silence
Adams Rubble: One's experience would be dictated by what one did at home
Eliza Madrigal: yes... for instance we would sit quietly for long stretches...
Eliza Madrigal: but then stop and talk about the them a little... it was 'letting go' and what that meant at the time
Eliza Madrigal: *theme
Eliza Madrigal: So, lots of room for different kinds of structures and no-structures perhaps
Eliza Madrigal: Gathering ideas somewhere might be a nice idea itself

Adams Rubble: Maybe consider a retreat house where anyone could go at any time

Adams Rubble: very small
Eliza Madrigal: hm, yes that's a nice idea Adams
Maxine Walden: interesting idea, adams
Zen Arado: sounds good
Eliza Madrigal: Hi Steve :)
Geoff Baily: yes good idea
stevenaia Michinaga: hello
arabella Ella: Hiya Steve :)
Zen Arado: Hi Steve:)
stevenaia Michinaga: I got lost
Riddle Sideways: hi steve
Geoff Baily: Hi Steve
Eden Haiku: Steve ;-)
arabella Ella: lost in virtual space ... cool
Eliza Madrigal: :)
arabella Ella: Hiya Genesis
Eliza Madrigal: Hi Gen :)
Maxine Walden: I feel periodically lost in the virtual world, Steve. We are talking about retreats, right now wondering about SL retreats
Zen Arado: Hi Gen:)
Maxine Walden: hi Gen
Riddle Sideways: hi gen, nice entrance
Eliza Madrigal: yes, very super-hero like
genesis Zhangsun: :( sorry to interrupt
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Geoff Baily: Hi Genesis
Eden Haiku: Hello Genesis
genesis Zhangsun: I had some problems gettng here
genesis Zhangsun: tp was not working
Maxine Walden: that's a bummer, gen

Ideas for the village...

Eos Amaterasu: The village could be full of retreaty / 9-sec-y / 90-sec-y / dropping reminders
Maxine Walden: in the midst of considering SL retreats, Adams having just mentioned a small retreat house
Eden Haiku: Nice vision Eos!
genesis Zhangsun: I like it too
Eos Amaterasu: (maybe a parrot that flies around and periodically lands, saying "9 secs!")
Eden Haiku: ;-)
arabella Ella: or an ambient sound such as a gon
arabella Ella: gong
Geoff Baily: haha
Eden Haiku: A gong would be wonderful yes!
arabella Ella: not to disturb visitors
Riddle Sideways: image of strolling thru village and a cone of silence drops every 15 min.
arabella Ella: who may not know what the 9sec means

genesis Zhangsun: I just went to a conference yesterday and someone presented "artful" ways to remind ourselves to do sustainable actions such as madala digital art hanging that showed which would change colors as energy consumption in the house went on indicating lights and outlets in use

Bertram Jacobus: thats like in tothy learys island (?) the birds there "say" regardfullness " ... :-)
Eden Haiku: We could habe a bot zen monk activating the gong...
arabella Ella: cool
Maxine Walden: interesting, gen
arabella Ella: the bot monk could welcome people too
arabella Ella: dispense notecards with info
genesis Zhangsun: very beautiful and nonintrusive reminders
Eos Amaterasu: that's what some great art does
Eden Haiku: And hand out notecards...Saying he is a robot but there are real people here...;-)
arabella Ella: he he
Geoff Baily: nice idea genesis
Eliza Madrigal: Yes
Zen Arado: not sure about SL meditation - how do you all feel about it?
Eos Amaterasu: hot bot nun speaks in haiku
arabella Ella: no harm in giving it a go ... SL meditation i mean
Bertram Jacobus: comfortable zen, but must have other meditations, too ...
Eden Haiku: Ah ah Eos!
Geoff Baily: can but try Zen
Eliza Madrigal: Zen, I think one gets out of it what one puts in...
Eliza Madrigal: So if actually meditating, great :)
Zen Arado: I used to go to a lot of meditation sessions in SL

genesis Zhangsun: reminders around the village also would give a sense to a newcomer wandering through what we "are about" here

Zen Arado: but then I think - i could just as easily meditate on my own
genesis Zhangsun: and while they may not continue to meditate in SL it may introduce them to our community
Bertram Jacobus: do you have a nice seat at the computer for it zen ?

Eden Haiku: I had withdrawn from meditation practices and SL brought me back to it, PaB I mean.
Geoff Baily: its not the same Zen
Zen Arado: yes
Eliza Madrigal: It can be a wonderful tool, for some just to carve out quiet space
Eos Amaterasu: quiet space that's both alone and with others
Calvino Rabeni: The SL meditation doesn't really work well for me as a medium
Eos Amaterasu: alone in RL, with others in SL
Eliza Madrigal: yes exactly Eos
Geoff Baily: yes
Zen Arado: well in rL it is good to sit with others but I wonder if it adds much in SL
Eos Amaterasu: That's unique!
Adams Rubble: yes it does Zen
Eos Amaterasu: yes, "sangha" is real, in SL
Zen Arado: ok just wonder about it
Eliza Madrigal: I feel very relaxed in meditations with others... and like the idea of a retreat 'area' that includes a meditation place... though, I guess all of these are meditation places :)
Eden Haiku: Yes, who knows Maitreya might be sitting with us somewhere around the world, behind his own computer!
Eos Amaterasu: yes, most of the village spots have some of that quality
Adams Rubble: yes but one rarely finds anyone in the village
Zen Arado: we have a retreat area already at pab pavilion though?
Eos Amaterasu: let's set a village get together time, or times....
Eden Haiku: That is true Adams, it is very empty most of the time.
Calvino Rabeni: Sure good idea Eos
Eos Amaterasu: INvite people for tea
Eliza Madrigal holds time for meditations in other places in SL... not as much as I used to... would be happy to do that occassionally in pab
Eliza Madrigal: wonderful idea Eos
Geoff Baily: have some music
Geoff Baily: good music
Geoff Baily: that attracts
arabella Ella: we could also consider having one of these guardian meetings set aside for meditation
arabella Ella: as it seems to be a convenient time for many
Eden Haiku: That would be nice Ara
Geoff Baily: i vote for that
Zen Arado: yes Ara
Eliza Madrigal nods
Eos Amaterasu: And a theme Guardian session, on retreat / practice in SL?
arabella Ella: and perhaps Storm could be persuaded to introduce meditation music here for those sessions
arabella Ella: plus also give us a choice of pose when we sit on these cushions
arabella Ella: what i have noticed here is that female avis have a different pose from male avis
arabella Ella: even tho you cant tell much from some of the first names
Adams Rubble: click on the cushion Arabella
Geoff Baily: not so for me it seems
arabella Ella: yes?
arabella Ella: ah
Eden Haiku: Ah! Thanks Adams!
Eliza Madrigal has to go. Thank you everyone. Nice meeting :))
Eden Haiku: Feels more comfortable.

arabella Ella: :)
arabella Ella: now i get it
arabella Ella: but coincidences are weird
Bertram Jacobus: bye eliza !
arabella Ella: i noticed this on other occasions too

(End of session, more or less - guardians say their goodbyes and evaporate)