The Guardian for this meeting was Lucinda Lavender. The comments are by Lucinda Lavender.Also there...Bruce, Archmage,Ewan and Storm.

Lucinda Lavender: Hi Bruce:)
Lucinda Lavender: How are you and Blub?
Bruce Mowbray: Good afternoon, Luci!
Bruce Mowbray: We're great - although a bit tired. Our paravatar spent the afternoon picking up litter at a major highway interesction today.
Bruce Mowbray: and how are you?
Lucinda Lavender: Wow that is so nice!
Lucinda Lavender: I am a little tired to from trying to clean the grease out of the oven and cabinets etc.
Bruce Mowbray: Good exercise for an old man -- and I always listen to dharma podcasts the whole time -- It takes 3 to 4 hours.
Bruce Mowbray: House cleaning -- I need to do that too, but prefer to be outside when it is this nice.
Lucinda Lavender: It is a beautiful sunny day here tho...listening to that sort of thing really makes the time go fast for me
Lucinda Lavender: yes...I will be headed out after this:)
Lucinda Lavender: :)
Lucinda Lavender: what kind of thing was the podcast about...or what was most interesting to think about?
Bruce Mowbray: The podcast I listened to today was Ken McLeod at one of his retreats --
Bruce Mowbray: on "Mind Training" --
Bruce Mowbray: I enjoying listening this way because for four hours I can give full attention to shat he's saying - without interruptions.
Bruce Mowbray: Do you know about Ken McLeod?
Bruce Mowbray: oops -- what he's saying*
Lucinda Lavender: I have heard his name...
Bruce Mowbray: sry.
Bruce Mowbray: He wrote "Wake up to Your Life"
Bruce Mowbray: teaches in L.A.
Lucinda Lavender: I see...
Bruce Mowbray: How about George Draffan -- Have you heard of George?
Lucinda Lavender: no have not...
Bruce Mowbray: He lives in Seattle and conducts workshops there -- and is a protege of Ken McLeod's
Lucinda Lavender: ah
Lucinda Lavender: and so do I...:)
Lucinda Lavender: well the seattle part anyway
Bruce Mowbray: thoght you might have heard of him since you're also from there.
Lucinda Lavender: well I am not really affiliated with a Buddhist community tho I do have a dear friend who is a nun.
Bruce Mowbray: well that would probably make you more affiliated than I am, then.
Lucinda Lavender: and she invites me to talks and shares books
Bruce Mowbray: That's wonderful.
Lucinda Lavender: it really is:)
Bruce Mowbray: I am SUCH a hermit -- I prefer to listen to the podcasts -- although I do attend a Quaker Meeting every week in RL.
Lucinda Lavender: that sounds interesting
Bruce Mowbray: and that is usually the high point of the entire week for me.
--BELL--

Lucinda Lavender: have you been doing that for a long time?
Bruce Mowbray: http://www.unfetteredmind.com/
Bruce Mowbray: Hello, Arch.
Lucinda Lavender: thank you Bruce for the link,
Lucinda Lavender: and Hi Arch:)
Archmage Atlantis: That was freakiy
Archmage Atlantis: The landing I mean
Bruce Mowbray: " what, Arch?
Bruce Mowbray: oh. How so?
Bruce Mowbray: Looked to me like your landing gear were down and ready -- some problem?
Archmage Atlantis: Yes...I'm used to a faster speed
Archmage Atlantis: The details are more hidden
Lucinda Lavender: ah..
Bruce Mowbray: mmmm. Arch already knows I've been picking up litter, Luci, so I will say something else that occurred to me while out there today. . .
Bruce Mowbray: knows*
Lucinda Lavender: nice:)
Bruce Mowbray: It occurred to me how important it is to "hold this space" in a compassionate way -- for anyone who wishes to air her/his concerns here.
Bruce Mowbray: That, it seems to me, is a primary responsibility for whoever claims a session.
Bruce Mowbray: (although I do not wish to "lay a trip" on anyone. . . ) Just thinking that for myself, actually.
Lucinda Lavender: yes
Lucinda Lavender: I want to be holder of space as well...tho my intellectual scope is not as wide as some...
Bruce Mowbray: mmmm. . . Well, for me, "to hold the space for others' might also mean that I be still -- and allow whatever needs to happen to happen without my feeling a need to "guide" or supplement it.
Archmage Atlantis: Intellect is words gone wild.......Compassion is other
Bruce Mowbray: please say more, Arch.
Archmage Atlantis: I would if I could
Bruce Mowbray: ;-) Well said.
Lucinda Lavender: :)
Bruce Mowbray: How do you folks like the Jack-O-Lantern I built this morning?
Lucinda Lavender: very nice!
Lucinda Lavender: feels like a friendly one...
Bruce Mowbray: It doesn't say much, though.
Archmage Atlantis: I don't see him
Bruce Mowbray: behind us, Arch.
Lucinda Lavender: just saw a puff of smoke or mist...
Archmage Atlantis: Ah, my mothers's side. ..... a carved turnip
Bruce Mowbray: no pumpkin?
Archmage Atlantis: Not in Scotland
Archmage Atlantis: in the 1600s
Bruce Mowbray: They carve turnips in Scotland. . . ? (That sort of figures, I guess.)
Bruce Mowbray: some special significance there, I'm sure.
--BELL--

Ewan Bonham: Hi Folks...
Archmage Atlantis: All Hallow's Eve..... *g*
Lucinda Lavender: Hello Ewan:)
Bruce Mowbray: Hello, Ewan . . . Haven't seen you for a while.
Bruce Mowbray: Good to see you again.
Ewan Bonham: Yes...i have been around...but at different groups...different times..:)
Lucinda Lavender: I seem to be having a hard time being quiet at the bell...
Archmage Atlantis: Hi, Ewan
Bruce Mowbray: Mmmm. . . well - - - what's your suggestion about when folks arrive during the bell? Greet them -- or be silent?
Bruce Mowbray: My preference is to greet them.
Lucinda Lavender: mine too...
Bruce Mowbray: ;-)
Ewan Bonham: Mine as well..CAUSE THEY DO NOT REALIZE IT IS BELL TIME..
Bruce Mowbray: Good point, Ewan.
Lucinda Lavender:  yes!
Lucinda Lavender: was going to say something about feelings and am struggling with that...
Archmage Atlantis: To greet an entity into the circle has more power
Bruce Mowbray waits and listens.
Ewan Bonham: Nice issue of priorities..
Bruce Mowbray: The bell was made for avi's - not avi's for the bell.
Ewan Bonham: Interior on one hand...Interaction on the other..
Lucinda Lavender: I like the strength of including others...
Bruce Mowbray: There is more than one "circle" here.
Lucinda Lavender: do you mean an unseen circle?
Bruce Mowbray: "Interior" expands. . . and the "circle" expands - --
Bruce Mowbray: yes, Luci, many circle of INclusion.
Ewan Bonham: Yes...
Bruce Mowbray: (another connotation of 'compassion,' perhaps.
Lucinda Lavender: curious if there are certain others we could name that we wish to include...
Lucinda Lavender: or maybe that is not needed...
Bruce Mowbray: For me, "all sentient beings" -- but I am privately thinking of specific persons, as well.
Archmage Atlantis: My thought is that an invitation does not require immediate commitment
Archmage Atlantis: Only an offer of being welcome
Lucinda Lavender:  yes
Bruce Mowbray: Mmmm.. A wonderful idea, Arch. . . I'm thinking that at the beginning of a tradition Christian worship service there is ofetn an "Invocation" -- to invite God to join in. . .
--BELL--

Bruce Mowbray: but not necessarily to "commit" the worshipers or God, for that matter, to anything.
Archmage Atlantis: nods
Lucinda Lavender: in dream circle we open the directions and this is acknowlegement around listening with the ears of the direction
Bruce Mowbray: to listen in a specific way, Luci?
Lucinda Lavender: I think everything is called forth
Lucinda Lavender: 4 leggeds, swimmers, grasses, stones, etc
Ewan Bonham: And often until someone is greeted they do not know if they are welcome..
Ewan Bonham: No matter how many times they have been to the place..:)
Bruce Mowbray hears more and more harmonics of "compassion."
Archmage Atlantis: I wondered why Storm was nearby
Archmage Atlantis: Now I understand
Lucinda Lavender: listening in a way that reminds the dreamers that there might be information in the dreams that will come forth
Lucinda Lavender: "with love and gratitude we open the gates of the North and listen with the ears of the north for the messages of the dream"
Lucinda Lavender: Arch did you know that storm will be doing work with the land around here?
Ewan Bonham: He has now moved the Town hall..
Archmage Atlantis: No not at this time......
Lucinda Lavender: I was wondering where the Kira Cafe will be...?
Bruce Mowbray: . . . and he has moved and reduced the size of the Cafe, I think -- not sure about that, though.
Archmage Atlantis: He is attempting preserve
Bruce Mowbray: It is quite close, Luci --
Lucinda Lavender: ah
Bruce Mowbray: sry -- that's the Village Hall.
Archmage Atlantis: As long as ppl think things are free, that stuggle will continue
Ewan Bonham: Hi Storm..
Bruce Mowbray: yes, Arch. It's iportant that we each contribute as we are able.
Bruce Mowbray: important*
Lucinda Lavender: Hi Storm!
Storm Nordwind: Hi everyone. Sorry to be able only to come in at the end
Lucinda Lavender: no problem...:)
Bruce Mowbray: Aye, mate!
Storm Nordwind smiles
Lucinda Lavender: How is the work going?
Ewan Bonham: And you can see, out of both tradition and regard, the first thing we did was to welcome a new group member..:)
Storm Nordwind: Much of it is done. Kira Japan needs moving, and that's about it. I have to dissolve the Cafe too. Then sell the land.
Bruce Mowbray: but your will move the Cafe, then, Storm??
--BELL--
Bruce Mowbray: you*
Lucinda Lavender: Storm we have been talking about greeting and including others...pondering doing that dulling the silent bell time.
Lucinda Lavender: during
Storm Nordwind: I have already moved the Cafe, Bruce - or rather a 2/3 prim reduced one - and I've just sent out notices about it. You can see it through the trees from here!
Storm Nordwind: A great topic Lucinda!
Bruce Mowbray: OK -- I thought so -- but could not find it easily with my present viewer.
Ewan Bonham: I see the Town Hall..
Bruce Mowbray: Hello, Sidney.
Lucinda Lavender: Hello Sidney
Storm Nordwind: Behind the hall and to the left is the Cafe
Ewan Bonham: Hi Sidney
Lucinda Lavender: ah...alot of people nearby:)
Bruce Mowbray: I found the Cafe! Thank you, Storm!
Lucinda Lavender: off to the west..
Bruce Mowbray: Thanks for the LM, Storm.
Storm Nordwind: You're welcome
Lucinda Lavender: thanks
Bruce Mowbray: Hey Storm -- you were about to comment on welcoming folks during the bell . . .
Bruce Mowbray listens. . .
Storm Nordwind: I was? Oh... no I thought it was just a great discussion topic! me is a bit braindead after working day and night on the move for so long. I'll just listen :)
Lucinda Lavender: we have talked about holding the space compassionately...
Bruce Mowbray: . . . and widening the "circle" of inclusion. . .
Storm Nordwind: How does "holding the space compassionately" appear to a newcomer when they arrive?
Lucinda Lavender: I personally have had a more stirred up week than usual so how to hold the space has been a little difficult personally
Archmage Atlantis: Ask the newest entity in attendence
Bruce Mowbray thinks we're all Old Timers here. . .
Ewan Bonham: My regrets...I must leave....this is an interesting discussion..:)
Storm Nordwind: Bye for now Ewan
Bruce Mowbray: Thank you for being here, Ewan. It's good to see you again.
Archmage Atlantis: Ewan is the newest
Lucinda Lavender: well...being greeted even when others are silent I think...bye Ewan:)
Bruce Mowbray: Ewan was my very FIRST friend in SL.
Bruce Mowbray: Way last March ;-)
Lucinda Lavender: :)
Storm Nordwind: Wow - time flies!
Lucinda Lavender: yes!
Lucinda Lavender: wondering how much different this feels arter the time...
Bruce Mowbray: i cannot recall which of us offered friendship to the other, but it was a "first" for us both -- and we were both quite shy about it.
Storm Nordwind recalls that "Time flies like an arrow, but fruit flies like a banana" :)
Lucinda Lavender: laughing
Bruce Mowbray: I have been picking up litter all afternoon- and now must go and take a shower. . . my dog is complaining about the stink.
Storm Nordwind: Oh dear!
Storm Nordwind: Your dog should use SL instead :)
Bruce Mowbray: May you all be well and happy and enjoy this weekend.
Lucinda Lavender: have a great day:) and thanks ...
Bruce Mowbray: ;-)
Bruce Mowbray: Thanks everyone.
Storm Nordwind: Great to see you - as usual!
Bruce Mowbray dies from laughing....
Storm Nordwind chuckles
Storm Nordwind: Sweep him up someone - please :)
Lucinda Lavender: and off he goes...
Lucinda Lavender: I need to go soon...the sunny day is calling...
Lucinda Lavender: my opportunity to walk
Storm Nordwind: OK! I will bid farewell to you all then
--BELL--

Storm Nordwind waves
Lucinda Lavender: waving...
Lucinda Lavender: have a great afternoon Arch:)