The Guardian for this meeting was Agatha Macbeth, sitting in for Fefonz. The comments are by Agatha Macbeth. I saw Fonzie's email saying he couldn't make his session, so thought I'd step in to do the necessary. I arrived at the pabgoda to find a couple of new faces there....

Vorder Forder: nice to meet you
Korel Laloix: Have a seat Brenna
Korel Laloix: Hey all.. Brenna is a freind, just stopped by to see what was going on...
Korel Laloix: And....
Korel Laloix: She is doing a research program on spirtuality in SL.
Bruce Mowbray: Welcome, Brenna, Fawq, and Vorder.
Korel Laloix: And is looking for some folks to talk to.
Vorder Forder: what is going on?
FawQ Resident: hi
Bruce Mowbray: She came to the right place!
Brenna Meredith: I'm looking at how people use a virtual environment for spiritual or religious practices.
Brenna Meredith: I have a notecard about the project.
Agatha Macbeth: Evenin' :)
Bruce Mowbray: Hello, aggers!
Agatha Macbeth: Brucie :)
Korel Laloix: So anyone that does not mind a chat.. please let her know...
Agatha Macbeth: Ah, thanks
Korel Laloix: HOw is everyone today?
Korel Laloix: Do we have a topic for today?
Brenna Meredith: I'm a social worker by training, and I'm looking at how virtual environments could be used to help people who are isolated in RL.
Bruce Mowbray: Hello, Wester!
Agatha Macbeth: Hello wester, hope you are well
Wester Kiranov: hi all
Bruce Mowbray: So good to see you again, Wester!
FawQ Resident: I was just passing by. What does this mean: It's a thought experiment, to see what is leftover, if we let go of what we have.
Wester Kiranov: and i'm doing very well considering the circumstances, thanks
FawQ Resident: got that from the info notecard
Agatha Macbeth: Good :)
Bruce Mowbray: Yes, good question, FawQ.
Bruce Mowbray: Every 15 minutes, we observe 90 secs of silence.
Bruce Mowbray: You'll see the notice of this at 15 after the hour, in the chat.
FawQ Resident: ok
Korel Laloix: brb
Bruce Mowbray: The standard way many of us think of this "drop" is to let go of whatever we're holding onto -- and observe whatever happens.
Bruce Mowbray: So, it's a sort of laboratory.
Korel Laloix: brb
Bruce Mowbray: But folks also use that drop to refill their coffee mugs, etc etc etc.
Bruce Mowbray: So, do your thing.
Bruce Mowbray: kk, Kori.
Bruce Mowbray: The idea of Play as Being -- is that we're a laboratory exploring reality.
Bruce Mowbray: (broad enuf for ya?)
Brenna Meredith: 'To play at who we really are'.
Agatha Macbeth: Sounds pretty broad to me :)
Brenna Meredith: It's an unofficial motto of a roleplay group I'm in.
FawQ Resident: inbetween these 90 seconds ... what do we do? talk about anything?
Agatha Macbeth: Wollie ♥
Wol Euler: evening all
Wester Kiranov: hi wol
Agatha Macbeth: Missed you yesterday
Bruce Mowbray: Hello, Wol.
Bruce Mowbray: Hey, Savage!
Bruce Mowbray: Welcome.
Savage Taurus: hi Bruce
Agatha Macbeth: and hello Savage
Bruce Mowbray: Savage is a friend of mine from Seth Brevity's classes.
Savage Taurus: hi Agatha
Bruce Mowbray: Please be welcome, Savage.
Wol Euler: yeah, didn't leave the office until 11 :(
Agatha Macbeth: Aww
Wol Euler: so wasn't home until the session was over
Wol Euler: hello savage
Wester Kiranov: hi savage. have a seat
Wester Kiranov: unless you prefer standing
Savage Taurus: hi Wol, hi Wester
Bruce Mowbray: Yes, please sit on any cushion if you wish, Savage.
Agatha Macbeth: Has anyone asked Brenna FawQ and Savage for their permission to be recorded yet?
Wol Euler: not I
Bruce Mowbray: no, not yet.
FawQ Resident: i saw that in notecard. i'm good.
Wol Euler: ty
Bruce Mowbray: ty, Fawq
Brenna Meredith: NP.
Agatha Macbeth: Ah, well we record these chats on our Wiki you see
Bruce Mowbray: ty, Brenna.
Agatha Macbeth: would it be ok to use your names in the log?
FawQ Resident: yes
Agatha Macbeth: thank you
Savage Taurus: yes thats fine
Brenna Meredith: Sure.
Agatha Macbeth: [Sorry, usual Guardian couldn't make it tonight]
Bruce Mowbray: (This is SL "law" -- we need your permission to publish your names and anything you might say in chat in our on-line wiki.
Agatha Macbeth: It's a TOS thing
   --BELL--1315
Wol Euler: as well as commonsense and common courtesy
Wol Euler smiles.

Yes that too Wol! ♥

Bruce Mowbray: Terms of Service....
Bruce Mowbray: Do we have a topic yet?
Agatha Macbeth: Er, not sure
Bruce Mowbray listens.
Agatha Macbeth: Open to offers
Bruce Mowbray: Perhaps Brenna wished to say more about her project.
Brenna Meredith: I will....
Agatha Macbeth: Yes, please do!
Bruce Mowbray: wb, Kori.
Wol Euler: good idea
Wol Euler: hello korel
Agatha Macbeth: wb K
Korel Laloix: Heya
Brenna Meredith: I am a professor of social work, as well as someone who uses SL for fun.
Brenna Meredith: I've made contact with some religious groups, and participated in services, and it really struck me how amazing it is that people take this very hedonistic place, and turn it into something spiritual.
Brenna Meredith: And how that could be useful for people who are isolated in RL.
Wol Euler nods.
Brenna Meredith: So the first part of the project is just learning more about how and why people use SL to meet spiritual needs, and practice spirituality.
Agatha Macbeth: I think it's only hedonistic in parts :p
Savage Taurus: SL is whatever you make it
Brenna Meredith: I meant that LL markets it that way.
Agatha Macbeth: Oh they would! :p
Brenna Meredith: If you look at the intro video they have up, it's all. ' meet a partner, shop, indulge your fantasies'.
FawQ Resident: ALmost like selling Las Vegas.
Agatha Macbeth: Well, that's kid's stuff innit?
Wester Kiranov: i tend to find the hedonistic parts pretty boring. I'd rather come here
Agatha Macbeth: I agree Wes :)
Brenna Meredith: There are all sorts of potential uses- to help people who are disabled, even people in hospice.
Agatha Macbeth: Oh yes
Brenna Meredith: Who tend to have a lot of spiritual questions they need to resolve.
Brenna Meredith: Or people who are geographically isolated from others who practice their beliefs.
Agatha Macbeth: Yes
Brenna Meredith: And people who've been rejected by a faith community because of their 'lifestyle'.
Savage Taurus: I find that many people in SL are disabled in some way, or older....SL is too unstructured to keep a young kid's attention like the other MMOs
Bruce Mowbray ponders folks who might live so far from RL access to things they're interested -- especially stuff like meditation groups. . .
Brenna Meredith: Right.
Bruce Mowbray: yeah, geographically isolated.
Bruce Mowbray: you got it, Brenna!
Brenna Meredith: If you're living on a ranch in Idaho, how do you find someone wh can teach you about meditation?
Bruce Mowbray: yeppers.
Savage Taurus: nods
Brenna Meredith: Or if you're caring for a family member, and can't leave them to go to a group.
Agatha Macbeth: Absolutely
Savage Taurus: nods
Bruce Mowbray: btw -- This is a wonderful introduction to your project, Brenna... Might I quickly say that there is a 15-minute Karuna Metta meditation only a short walk away from here -- before every PaB session.
Agatha Macbeth: Yes, I tried it earlier for the first time
Wester Kiranov: I think it's not just the spiritual questions, but also to find some kind of community
Brenna Meredith: That's become more and more important, as the research goes on.
Bruce Mowbray: Lokeshvara temple, Bieup (14, 96, 99) - Moderate
Brenna Meredith: I didn't include it from the beginning, but I should have. :)
Agatha Macbeth smiles
Brenna Meredith: But that's the fun of research, you learn stuff you hadn't thought of before. :)
Bruce Mowbray: ;-)
Agatha Macbeth: Yep
Wester Kiranov: because the answers to the questions don't matter as much as finding someone who will listen
Bruce Mowbray: ah yes.
Wester Kiranov: (the spiritual questions, I meant, not your reseaqrch questions :)
Bruce Mowbray ponders the difficulty in finding community for rural hermits -- like moi.
Bruce Mowbray listens.
Brenna Meredith: Korel has gotten interested in the project, and she suggested I drop by today, and hand out the notecards. ;)
Bruce Mowbray: Delighted that you are here, Brenna.
Wol Euler: ah :)
Agatha Macbeth: Bless her
Savage Taurus: I found online communities filled a similar need for me, being in a small town of folks who I have very little in common with.
   --BELL--1330
Agatha Macbeth: Can understand that Savage
Savage Taurus: smiles
Wol Euler nods.
Bruce Mowbray: Actually, I feel less "alone" out here on a rural road that gets one car per hour than when I'm in the nearest small towns . . . although folks are very good to me there.
Brenna Meredith: At night when I can't sleep, I log on...SL is always open. So that makes me think it would be useful for people who are having a bad day and needing to talk.
Bruce Mowbray: yes, indeed, Brenna.
Bruce Mowbray: I've "used" SL for that many times.
Wol Euler nods.
Agatha Macbeth: As long as they can find someone to talk with, yes
Savage Taurus: yes the friendships you make in world can be just as important to you as anyone in RL
Wol Euler: of course :)
Bruce Mowbray feels that many folks turn to spiritual communities for the intimacy . . . Unfortunately, perhaps, the same reason that some might turn to military combat.
Bruce Mowbray: (my judgment, sry).
Korel Laloix: Coudl you expalin that a bit Bruce please.
Bruce Mowbray: sure.
Bruce Mowbray: Fighting is one of the many ways to be intimate.
Bruce Mowbray: You get to "know" someone you're in mortal combat with.
Agatha Macbeth: Good point
Bruce Mowbray: Remember the Matrix?
Agatha Macbeth: Oh yes!
Bruce Mowbray: (Seth Brevity mentioned this the other day.)
Korel Laloix: Think I saw that.
Bruce Mowbray: anyway, I feel that most of us CRAVE intimacy....
Korel Laloix: Not mutch of a scifi person.
Bruce Mowbray: and will find it where we can....
Agatha Macbeth: We forgive you K
Bruce Mowbray: and "spiritual" communities are one of those places.
Bruce Mowbray listens.
Korel Laloix: I guess I dont get that...
Brenna Meredith: A participant earlier this week talked about attention-seeking- how we're all trying to get attention from others in SL.
Agatha Macbeth: Nicely put!
Agatha Macbeth nods
Brenna Meredith: Even griefers.
Wol Euler: only in SL?
Bruce Mowbray ponders "trying to get attention...."
Savage Taurus: especially griefers
Agatha Macbeth: Yes
Wol Euler: hello zon
Brenna Meredith: To get people to acknowledge we exist.
Savage Taurus: acting out because its the only way they know to get attention and virtual "street cred"
Brenna Meredith: To listen to us.
Bruce Mowbray: YO! Zon!
Wol Euler: don't we spend all of our RL time doing that too?
Zon Kwan: heya
Savage Taurus: hi Zon
Agatha Macbeth: Hiya Znk
Wester Kiranov: hi zon
Brenna Meredith: Probably, but we were just talking about SL. :)
Bruce Mowbray: yes, and your project, Brenna.
Wol Euler smiles.
Brenna Meredith: Zon, that's a notecard about the research project.
Agatha Macbeth: Do many people here do such projects?
Wol Euler: hello mick
Wester Kiranov: hi mickey
Bruce Mowbray: Hey, Mick!
Mickorod Renard: Hi Folks
Agatha Macbeth: Micko! :)
Mickorod Renard: yeaaa Wester
Agatha Macbeth waves
Mickorod Renard: cant see you yet,,but wow
Agatha Macbeth: Here's the guy to give you some deep answers ;-)
Bruce Mowbray: slow-rez is SL's way of telling us to s-l-o-w d-o-w-n
Mickorod Renard: yea..my avi needs specs
Zon Kwan: Mick
Bruce Mowbray: oh yes, Mick would be a good person for your research, Brenna.
Brenna Meredith: I just handed him a card. :)
Wester Kiranov: then you'd have to rezz your specs too, take even longer
Bruce Mowbray: (sry to put you on the spot, good man!)
Savage Taurus: may also be a way of telling us to defrag our computer :P
Korel Laloix: Mick, I am not sure that is a compliment...lol
Mickorod Renard: thanks brenna
Bruce Mowbray: heh heh
Mickorod Renard: I always take bruces comments as complements
Korel Laloix smiles
Wol Euler chuckles.
Bruce Mowbray: You see?!
Mickorod Renard: :))
Brenna Meredith: Sadly enough, I've met some suspicious people.
Bruce Mowbray: I told you Mick was a good man!
Mickorod Renard: how could I not
Brenna Meredith: Primarily among non Christian religious groups...they anticipate it's a ploy to evangelize.
Bruce Mowbray: Mick and I have worked together on a few projects...
Agatha Macbeth: You have?
Bruce Mowbray: tangential, in a way, to "spiritual" matters.
Bruce Mowbray: oh yes.
Agatha Macbeth: Wow
Bruce Mowbray: Pila's I Ching group.
Agatha Macbeth: Ah yes, of course
   --BELL--1345
Mickorod Renard: Brenna,,you will have to talk to me in plain English,,he he
Mickorod Renard: oops
Bruce Mowbray: ;-)
Agatha Macbeth: I keep meaning to go to that and always forget
Bruce Mowbray: Just join up and you'll receive notices, aggers.
Mickorod Renard: you have to consult the iching to find out when the meetings are
Agatha Macbeth: ty
Mickorod Renard: :)
Agatha Macbeth: An iching I can't scratch
Bruce Mowbray: Does everyone understand that Brenna is doing research on spiritual work in SL?
Agatha Macbeth: Yes, I do
Bruce Mowbray: Does anyone have questions for Brenna?
Mickorod Renard: yes, just read the note ty
Bruce Mowbray: kk.
Mickorod Renard: Hi savage taurus, not met you before
Wester Kiranov: hi eliza
Wol Euler: hello eliza
Bruce Mowbray: Since she has graced our little group with her presence today, I don't want to miss this opportunity. . .
Savage Taurus: hi Mickorod...nice to meet you
Eliza Madrigal: Hi Wester!
Mickorod Renard: Hi Liz
Bruce Mowbray: Hey, Eliza!
Agatha Macbeth: Liz ♥
Savage Taurus: hi Eliza
Zon Kwan: eliza:)
Eliza Madrigal: And Hi Everyone :)
FawQ Resident: hi
Eliza Madrigal: Nice to meet you FawQ and Brenna.. believe I met you Savage yesterday, hi
Savage Taurus: good to see you again, Eliza
Eliza Madrigal: ty, what are we discussing today? :)
Agatha Macbeth: wb Brenna
Agatha Macbeth: Brenna has been telling us about her SL project
Eliza Madrigal: ah, listens :)
Korel Laloix smiles.... funny how that so often brings on a low in conversation.
Brenna Meredith: The project keeps getting bigger and bigger, I keep identifying other groups that might find SL helpful. :)
Mickorod Renard: wow brenna,,I just checked your profile,,you been on sl long enough to answer your own questions
Agatha Macbeth: I'm sure there are many...
Brenna Meredith: I know one person's answers to the questions, Mick. :)
Eliza Madrigal giggles Mick
Brenna Meredith: But it's people from other traditions that know things I'd never think of.
Eliza Madrigal nods... lots of interesting groups and people in SL
Agatha Macbeth: Mm, I can believe that somehow
Mickorod Renard: ahh well, I think we concluded that we are not so different
Mickorod Renard: maybe not concluded
Bruce Mowbray: speak for yourself, Mick!
Bruce Mowbray dies from laughing....
Mickorod Renard: :))
Agatha Macbeth is thankful to realise she's not different
Eliza Madrigal: I am very different from myself a lot
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Bruce Mowbray: ahhhh!
Wol Euler: :)
Bruce Mowbray: love that , Eliza!
Eliza Madrigal: slight hyperbole... very slight...
Zon Kwan: looking form distance or very close we are not different
Brenna Meredith: If you don't feel like yourself today, who are you? :)
Mickorod Renard: I am so diferent from myself on a day to day basis I could be anyone
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Bruce Mowbray: yes, many selves....
Agatha Macbeth: You are the dream lord Mick ;-)
Mickorod Renard: I like feeling someone else
Bruce Mowbray: wonderful insight, Eliza and Mick!
Agatha Macbeth: I bet you do :D
Eliza Madrigal: dreaming has a way of loosening identifications I guess
Bruce Mowbray: oh yes, it does.
Mickorod Renard: :)
Zon Kwan: id like to be me
Wester Kiranov: loosening identifications makes dreaming easier
Eliza Madrigal: true!
Zon Kwan: but without identification there is no creation
Bruce Mowbray: me ponders methods for remembering his dreams better.
Eliza Madrigal: what an interesting angle Zon... but maybe don't have to 'keep' the identification?
Bruce Mowbray: I was reading in Rupert Sheldrake this morning that -- without destruction there is no creation.
Mickorod Renard: I find sleeping helps
Bruce Mowbray ponders "keeping" the identifications.
Agatha Macbeth: And vice versa :p
Zon Kwan: not keep, use
Bruce Mowbray: ahhhh!
Korel Laloix: HIm again... lol
Wester Kiranov: oh bruce, why do you have to make me agree with Rupert Sheldrake?
Eliza Madrigal: :) friend of yours Korel?
Korel Laloix: I just brought up some videos in here once... smiles
   --BELL--1400
Mickorod Renard: I know Rupert bear
Bruce Mowbray: "Him" is a special friend of Kori's and I respect that beyond words.
Bruce Mowbray notes how loose these "identification" are in chat. . .
Bruce Mowbray: oooops.... RL phone call... brb
Agatha Macbeth: Aww Mick
Agatha Macbeth: an old friend of mine
Eliza Madrigal: I've often been distracted with how little he looks like a bear...
Agatha Macbeth: He's a Surrey bear Liz ;-)
Mickorod Renard: I often view people as animals
FawQ Resident: bye everyone.
Mickorod Renard: especially at work
Eliza Madrigal: Bye Faw :)
Wol Euler: bye fawq, take care
Bruce Mowbray: Bye, Fawq!
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Agatha Macbeth: Bye dear
Mickorod Renard: bye Fawq
Wester Kiranov: by fawq nice meeting you
Brenna Meredith: I often view animals as people. :)
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Agatha Macbeth: I often view animals as animals...
Eliza Madrigal: appreciate Sheldrake's notion of fields... is that what you brought up Korel?
Bruce Mowbray suspects he is more "people" than most people he knows.
Bruce Mowbray: I meant my dog Bear... sry.
Korel Laloix: The vids I put up were about his rabbit habbit ideas.
Wol Euler: understood, somehow :)
Agatha Macbeth: Woof
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Bruce Mowbray: ;-)
Bruce Mowbray: "rabbit habit"???
Eliza Madrigal: oh, haven't heard about those... rabbit habbits...
Agatha Macbeth ponders rabbit habit
Savage Taurus: lol ty Mick
Bruce Mowbray also ponders "rabbit habit" --- sound good to moi.
Agatha Macbeth pictures a rabbit as a nun
Agatha Macbeth: [then stops]
Bruce Mowbray: Why not?
Mickorod Renard: I am terrible at remembering names..so I remember them as animals
Eliza Madrigal: :) Aggers
Eliza Madrigal: nuns with bunny ears...
Mickorod Renard: like' the one who looks like a goat'
Korel Laloix: Trying to find the vid again.
Agatha Macbeth: Curious image...
Eliza Madrigal: sure can find in SL :)
Savage Taurus: I think rabbits would not make good nuns, considering their proclivity to procreate.
Eliza Madrigal laughs Mick
Wester Kiranov: as long as they don't don the rest of the bunny costume...
Wol Euler grins.
Bruce Mowbray: :))))
Eliza Madrigal: hah
Agatha Macbeth: Well the faith would spread quickly
Mickorod Renard: yea savage
Eliza Madrigal: @@
Savage Taurus: haha
Wol Euler chuckles.
Mickorod Renard: he he
Bruce Mowbray: We'll have nun of that!  [laughs]
Agatha Macbeth loves to see Bruce happy
Brenna Meredith: Why is the cat the only one who doesn't wear clothes?
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Bruce Mowbray: heh heh... Bruce also likes to see Bruce happy.
Agatha Macbeth smiles
Bruce Mowbray: The "cat"???
Eliza Madrigal: cause the others do... the second they became undressed the cat would find clothes...
Savage Taurus: I knew I liked cats for a reason
Wol Euler: in the Rupert image
Wol Euler: I gather the cat isn't a character in the stories?
Brenna Meredith: Yeah, it was obvious once I said it?
Mickorod Renard: maybe its a freudean slip?
Brenna Meredith: You'd never get a cat to wear shoes like that.
Agatha Macbeth: I think the cat is just a cat
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Wester Kiranov: a freudian slip is clothes too ;-)
Bruce Mowbray: Yes, sometimes a cat is just a cat.
Eliza Madrigal giggles
Wol Euler: I'm puzzling over the difference between animals that are characters, and animals that are just animals ...
Korel Laloix: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vld-gzQVE0Y
Wol Euler: are there badgers in the stories that are not self-aware clothes-wearing characters?

Yes indeed, there are 'usual' animals such as cats and dogs in the Rupert stories, but even then they have the ability to speak!

Bruce Mowbray thinks: Fefonz is going to be really sorry he missed this session.
Agatha Macbeth smiles
Eliza Madrigal: was just thinking that I'm glad I came in even though so late
Agatha Macbeth: I'll post it for him, don't worry
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Mickorod Renard: who said ' a cat is just a cat, but a cigar is a good smoke'?
Wol Euler: jolly decent of you, old gal
Agatha Macbeth: Groucho?
Agatha Macbeth: Churchill?
Wol Euler: or Sigmund
Brenna Meredith: The top 3.
Wester Kiranov: someone who never tried smoking a cat, obviusly
Agatha Macbeth: Yay for Siggy
Mickorod Renard: that old rotund american comedien from the 30's
Agatha Macbeth: I've smoked a kipper
Eliza Madrigal: that narrows it down
Wol Euler: WC Fields
Wol Euler: ?
Mickorod Renard: thats him
Mickorod Renard: well done wol
Savage Taurus: ahh the video is about morphic resonance...seth talked about that
Wol Euler grins.
Agatha Macbeth: 'I love kids but I couldn't eat a whole one'
Bruce Mowbray: I think Freud is credited with the first part, and WC the latter. You GO, Wol!
Brenna Meredith: My youngest cats are, collectively, known as kippers.
Agatha Macbeth: WC Freud eh?
Bruce Mowbray: Yes, Savage. . .
Agatha Macbeth: Nice
Brenna Meredith: But oddly enough, they will not EAT kippers.
Savage Taurus: lol Agatha
Mickorod Renard: thats intiguing Brenna
Agatha Macbeth: They aren't cannibals Bren :p
Bruce Mowbray: I've begun re-reading Sheldrake's "Habits of the Past" --- really a refreshing viewpoint.
Brenna Meredith: But they sleep in a pile, like kippers in a can.
Wester Kiranov: if they are kippers, of course they will not eat them
Mickorod Renard: when did you read it last time Bruce?
Eliza Madrigal: admires the dream-like logic present here today :)
Wol Euler remembers a glorious breakfast of kippers and scrambled egg and strong tea, eaten at a roadside cafe with a view of the Firth of Forth bridge
Agatha Macbeth: Must be left over from yesterday Liz

Mick now throws in his usual non-sequitur, and causes some debate in the process!:

Mickorod Renard: has anyone eaten a Mandrake?
Agatha Macbeth: Nnnnnnnope
Wol Euler: nope
Wol Euler: snap
Agatha Macbeth: The insane root?

(Okay, I got this wrong....was thinking of hemlock)

Mickorod Renard: yea
Wester Kiranov: what's a mandrake?
Eliza Madrigal: the screaming plants from harry potter?
Agatha Macbeth: A kind of...vegetable?
Mickorod Renard: a spookie root that looks like a lil man
Savage Taurus: a root that looks like a person
Agatha Macbeth: Yes
Bruce Mowbray remembers "Get with child a mandrake root" -- from Shakespeare (I think).
Wol Euler: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandrake_%28plant%29

Sidenote 1:  Storm has asked to point out that this article is erroneous in parts, (quote): "The last part of the last sentence is completely wrong. Mandrake is NOT is used particularly in neopagan religions, except of course by individuals who choose to do so, but you'll find those anywhere. Germanic revivalism is not a correct term to apply to Heathenry. And Odinism is not a representative name for Heathenry, any more than Ku Klux Klan is a representative name for Christianity." (Storm Nordwind). Hope that clears that up.

Agatha Macbeth: Thanks Wol ;-)
Eliza Madrigal: I think I haven't, no
     --BELL--1415
Mickorod Renard: maybe we could make it a special session, where we all eat a mandrake and see what happens
Mickorod Renard: oops

Sidenote2:  Mick wishes it to be made clear he is *not* advocating that people should eat mandrake at PaB sessions, unless of course they wish to do so of their own volition ;-) Ingesting mandrake root can have some adverse effects on the user. The chemicals contained in the root are atropine, scopolamine, hyoscyamine.

Wol Euler: my dears, I must go,
Wol Euler: I'm falling asleep at the keyboard
Savage Taurus: take care Wol
Wol Euler: goodniht all, take care
Wester Kiranov: bye wol
Eliza Madrigal: Night Wol :) pleasant sleep
Agatha Macbeth: Schlaf gut Wollie *hug*
Korel Laloix: Ciao
Mickorod Renard: bye Wollie
Bruce Mowbray: nope --- It was not Shakespeare. It was John Donne. . . sry for the mixup.
Bruce Mowbray: http://www.luminarium.org/sevenlit/donne/song.htm
Eliza Madrigal: get thee to a rabbit nunnery...
Bruce Mowbray: Bye Woly!
Agatha Macbeth: Ah, good old Johnny

Bruce stands up

Eliza Madrigal: Bruce can you say more about what you're reading?

Bruce sits down again

Bruce Mowbray: Indeed, I have appointed rounds at a rabbit nunnery myself. So, may you all be stable and clear and happy!
Eliza Madrigal: guess another time :) Bye Bruce, be well
Bruce Mowbray: What I am reading?
Savage Taurus: lol Eliza
Wester Kiranov: bye bruce
Bruce Mowbray: (the nuns can wait.)
Mickorod Renard: wow nice Bruce
Agatha Macbeth: Read well brucie
Agatha Macbeth: Oh...he sat down
Savage Taurus: take care Bruce
Mickorod Renard: I like the poem
Eliza Madrigal: ah, no worries... you mentioned reading something... sheldrake
Bruce Mowbray: what I am reading?
Savage Taurus: yes good poem
Agatha Macbeth: Not mandrake
Bruce Mowbray: actually -- right now I am reading a great book by Brad Warner.
Bruce Mowbray: a Zen priest.
Agatha Macbeth: Ah
Bruce Mowbray: It is the best thing I've ever read on Buddhism and sexuality.
Bruce Mowbray: FINALLY -- some sanity!

Where?

Mickorod Renard: what do you find facinating ?
Mickorod Renard: you must tell Alf
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Bruce Mowbray: The chapter in which Brad interviewed a lesbian prom star --..
Agatha Macbeth: Buddhism and sexuality?
Agatha Macbeth: Whoa
Bruce Mowbray: absolutely great.
Eliza Madrigal: prom star? hehe
Bruce Mowbray: just a sec.
Bruce Mowbray: Will get the book.
Mickorod Renard: yea,,whats a prom star?
Agatha Macbeth: [This should be worth waiting for]
Mickorod Renard: ahhh,,i got it
Savage Taurus: I am guessing they wore matching suits to the event
Eliza Madrigal: glad I asked, hehe
Eliza Madrigal: there is a misconception that buddhism is unfriendly to sexuality... that most religions are actually...
Bruce Mowbray: http://www.amazon.com/Sex-Sin-Zen-Ex...tt_at_ep_dpt_4
Agatha Macbeth: 'Sex in saffron'
Bruce Mowbray: Really.
Mickorod Renard: is that a good video Ags?
Agatha Macbeth: Well....
Bruce Mowbray listens . . . while running to get the book from his living room.
Mickorod Renard: take a bicycle bruce
Agatha Macbeth waits expectantly
Mickorod Renard: keep fit,,ride a bike
Bruce Mowbray: [back]
Bruce Mowbray: with book.
Wester Kiranov: i am gettin a bit tired actually.
Agatha Macbeth: wb
Mickorod Renard: wrecks the carpet though
Eliza Madrigal: So glad to see you Wester
Bruce Mowbray: kk. THANKS for being with us, Wester.
Wester Kiranov: so bye, it was nice being here
Bruce Mowbray: May you be well!
Eliza Madrigal: but yes be good to yourself
Agatha Macbeth: Bye for now wes, take care
Mickorod Renard: bye Wester,,lovely to see ya
Savage Taurus: bye Wester
Agatha Macbeth: Be well
Mickorod Renard: are you still with us Brenna?
Agatha Macbeth: Maybe she's off researching with an alt :P
Bruce Mowbray: Chapter 16 -- "The Real Porno Buddhist" is, I think, the wisest account of sane sexuality that I have ever read.
Mickorod Renard: ahh yes
Bruce Mowbray sits on hands.
Agatha Macbeth: My my
Eliza Madrigal: how so Bruce?
Mickorod Renard: mmm?
Savage Taurus: sane sexuality....how boring :P
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Mickorod Renard: :)
Agatha Macbeth: Hmm
Bruce Mowbray: Itis an interview with Nina Hartley -- who was a porn star in the 80's.
Mickorod Renard: is that it?
Bruce Mowbray: She was raised by Buddhgist parents in Berkeley in the 70's and 80's.
Brenna Meredith: It's been great, meeting you all...but I have to leave.
Mickorod Renard: premature ,,sorry
Bruce Mowbray: so, she has a Buddhist perspective on all of it.
Eliza Madrigal: nice to meet you Brenna
Bruce Mowbray: and also has 40 porn movies to her credit.
Savage Taurus: bye Brenna
Bruce Mowbray: (credit??? YES!)
Agatha Macbeth: Bye Bren, happy research
Mickorod Renard: bye Brenna
Eliza Madrigal giggles
Bruce Mowbray: Bye, Brenna!
Bruce Mowbray: Thanks for coming!
Agatha Macbeth: Must be a fit girl
Bruce Mowbray: So, I shall leave it to you to discover for yourselves, if you wish. Personally, I found it really refreshing.
Bruce Mowbray: Now, must be off to scrape up din din.
Agatha Macbeth: I wonder if she did? ;-)
Savage Taurus: see you Bruce
Bruce Mowbray: May all be well and happy!
Agatha Macbeth: Bye Brucie, bon appetit
Eliza Madrigal: I think the heart of it is that people don't understand monasticism or opting out of sexuality... and when a requirement of deep study and 'entrance' into service seems unfair
Savage Taurus: bon appetite
Mickorod Renard: bye Bruce
Eliza Madrigal: Bye Bruce :)
Mickorod Renard: be careful what u read Bruce
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Eliza Madrigal: watch out for the mandrakes
Mickorod Renard: he he
Agatha Macbeth: Indeed
Savage Taurus: hehe
Savage Taurus: wear earmuffs
Agatha Macbeth: and the sheldrakes
Savage Taurus: haha
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Eliza Madrigal: we always begin these types of conversations
Eliza Madrigal: haha
Mickorod Renard: now then, I had better go whilst I am having fun
Mickorod Renard: thanks for a great chat
Eliza Madrigal: yeah.... me too actually... meant to pop in for just a moment
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Agatha Macbeth: It was all quite sober til Mick and Liz arrived
Savage Taurus: I need to be going as well...it was wonderful to meet you all
Eliza Madrigal: thanks everybody
Eliza Madrigal: oh sure Aggers :)
Mickorod Renard: byeeeeeeeeeee
Agatha Macbeth: Well, there ya go
Eliza Madrigal: Nice to see you here Savage
Mickorod Renard: :)
Agatha Macbeth: Yep, take care
Agatha Macbeth waves
Savage Taurus: nice to see you too Eliza
Eliza Madrigal: waves
Savage Taurus: have a wonderful day, my friends
Agatha Macbeth: Pink Lizzie :)
   --BELL--(1430)
Korel Laloix: Oh well.
Agatha Macbeth: You too Sav, bye
Korel Laloix: What you up to today then?
Agatha Macbeth: Oh, just grabbing the log for Fonzie
Agatha Macbeth: God it's laggy here
Agatha Macbeth: Are you getting shorter or am I getting taller?
Korel Laloix: I am stil at 9 on the SL scale.
Agatha Macbeth: Hmm
Korel Laloix: My ave shoes and hair combined.
Agatha Macbeth: Need to check my legs again
Agatha Macbeth: they seem to lengthen of their own volition
Agatha Macbeth: Strange...
Korel Laloix: Sl has a mind of its own...
Agatha Macbeth: Tell me ;-)
Agatha Macbeth: Anyways...
Agatha Macbeth: Be careful out there
Korel Laloix: Thanks..
Korel Laloix: Take care...
Agatha Macbeth smiles
Agatha Macbeth: Byee

Yes Fonzie, you did miss a good session there! :p

לְכָה דוֹדִי נֵצֵא הַשָּׂדֶה, נָלִינָה בַּכְּפָרִים.נַשְׁכִּימָה, לַכְּרָמִים--נִרְאֶה אִם-פָּרְחָה הַגֶּפֶן פִּתַּח הַסְּמָדַר, הֵנֵצוּ הָרִמּוֹנִים; שָׁם אֶתֵּן אֶת-דֹּדַי, לָךְ.הַדּוּדָאִים נָתְנוּ-רֵיחַ, וְעַל-

פְּתָחֵינוּ כָּל-מְגָדִים--חֲדָשִׁים, גַּם-יְשָׁנִים; דּוֹדִי, צָפַנְתִּי לָךְ

Song of Songs 7:12-13

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