The Guardian for this meeting was Eos Amaterasu. The comments are by Eos Amaterasu.

Eos Amaterasu: Hi Aph
Aphrodite Macbain: Hiya Eos
Aphrodite Macbain: Must be about 11 your time
Eos Amaterasu: Yes, just before the witching hoiur
Aphrodite Macbain: :-)
Aphrodite Macbain: sitting by your lonesome, thinking lonesome toughts
Aphrodite Macbain: also thoughts
Eos Amaterasu: .... Hank Williams echoes through the mind.... [Jill Barber cover]
Aphrodite Macbain: :-)
Aphrodite Macbain: yes, perfect back drop
Eos Amaterasu: "I'm so lonesome I could cry..."
Aphrodite Macbain: sniff
Eos Amaterasu: How is your be-ing, aph?
Aphrodite Macbain: not great right now thanks Eos
Eos Amaterasu: or your be-witching? :-)
Aphrodite Macbain: which is that?
Eos Amaterasu: ohh, (( ))
Aphrodite Macbain: :-)

Aphrodite Macbain: Hi Eliza
Eliza Madrigal: Hi Aph, Eos
Aphrodite Macbain: You too are up late
Eos Amaterasu: Hi E!iza
Eliza Madrigal: not for long but thought I'd peek in :)
Aphrodite Macbain: I feel better with you both on either side of me
Eliza Madrigal: aw...
Eliza Madrigal: (((EosAphEliza))))))
Eos Amaterasu: beams......
Aphrodite Macbain: :-) nice. all smunched together in a hug
Aphrodite Macbain: maybe it's the weather.
Eliza Madrigal: the moon...
Aphrodite Macbain: I need to find some SAD light bulbs
Aphrodite Macbain: also breaking up is hard to dooooo
Eos Amaterasu: ah, songs in the key of blue
Aphrodite Macbain: Paradise is trying really hard to come on line
Eliza Madrigal: internet weather
Aphrodite Macbain: yes- more than any other colour
Eos Amaterasu hopes paradise comes to earth
Aphrodite Macbain: blue dominates the airwaves
Eos Amaterasu: touching and going
Aphrodite Macbain: yes- we need some paradisal pleasures
Eliza Madrigal: buddha fields...
Aphrodite Macbain: yes:-)
Aphrodite Macbain: catchig a paradisal wave
Aphrodite Macbain: catching
Eliza Madrigal: well, where three are gathered... so seems we are okay
Aphrodite Macbain: :-)
Eliza Madrigal: or is it just two or more :) wow, I'm loosing my bible verses...
Eos Amaterasu: this moment is the oven and the bread and the eating
Aphrodite Macbain: Two or more
Eos Amaterasu: (or bewitching coven)
Eliza Madrigal: stirring beneath the full moon
Aphrodite Macbain: the place, the object and the action Eos?
Eos Amaterasu: saw last night, tonight obscured
Eos Amaterasu: this situation, the three of us, this feeling
Aphrodite Macbain: double double toil and trouble, fire burn and cauldron bubble
Eos Amaterasu: of Paradise impending :p)
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Aphrodite Macbain: :D
Eliza Madrigal: and has arrived!
Eos Amaterasu: hi Para
Aphrodite Macbain: yayy- Para has landed
Eliza Madrigal: Greetings Paradise :)

--BELL--

Paradise Tennant: smiles and waves all round
Aphrodite Macbain: Now we are four and I'm getting happier by the moment
Paradise Tennant: smiles
Aphrodite Macbain: Hpw are you Paradise? Any chance of a visit to the west coast?
Paradise Tennant: I am very well thank you :) a little sleepy a busy day
Paradise Tennant: will likely be on the west coast some time this year :)
Paradise Tennant: how are you aph
Aphrodite Macbain: a little blue
Paradise Tennant: oh no
Aphrodite Macbain: in need of diversion
Eos Amaterasu: the current hue
Aphrodite Macbain: RL doesn't hold any promises
Eos Amaterasu wonders if he knows the feeling
Aphrodite Macbain: though I am investigating the possibility of going on a retreat at the Zen centre here
Eos Amaterasu: "who does it feel / to be on your own / with no direction home ?
Eos Amaterasu: how
Eos Amaterasu: who
Aphrodite Macbain: Not sure how long I should go for. Not sure if I can be in silence, with no diversion for a week
Eos Amaterasu: :-)
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Eos Amaterasu: Excellent, Aph!
Aphrodite Macbain: like a rollin stone
Aphrodite Macbain: I may try a long weekend first
Eliza Madrigal: seems sensible..
Paradise Tennant: smiles at aph and thinks of an optimum number of days of still .. to the point of happy again
Aphrodite Macbain: yes
Eos Amaterasu: it's the best possible thing, to be alone with your mind for days on end :-)
Eos Amaterasu: ha ha
Eliza Madrigal: hehehe
Eliza Madrigal: just me and my shadows...
Aphrodite Macbain: I'm afraid I'd bore myself
Aphrodite Macbain: I gather the 2nd day is the worst
Eos Amaterasu: I think even a short solitary silent retreat can be amazing!
Aphrodite Macbain: yes?
Eos Amaterasu: and seem so precious!

Eos Amaterasu: when have you given yourself a day?

Aphrodite Macbain: what happens? Do you become more and more peaceful? and does that peace last?
Eos Amaterasu: ha ha - peace?
Aphrodite Macbain: no peae?
Eos Amaterasu: just whatever comes up
Aphrodite Macbain: ce
Eos Amaterasu: which seems to be a lot, the mind being pretty productive :-)
Aphrodite Macbain: yes
Eliza Madrigal: perhaps clarity
Eos Amaterasu: war and peace
Eos Amaterasu: blue and red
Aphrodite Macbain: I'll be thinking of groceries to buy and appointments to make
Eos Amaterasu: yes, more clearly
Eos Amaterasu: so maybe more bitingly
Eliza Madrigal: (the book arrived today... what I hear from wol is the best translation)
Eos Amaterasu: or more tenderly
Eos Amaterasu: the book?
Eliza Madrigal: war and peace :)
Aphrodite Macbain: war and peace?
Eos Amaterasu: don't you have enough already?
Aphrodite Macbain: It's on my book clubs reading list. That will take at least 2 months to read
Eos Amaterasu: :-)
Aphrodite Macbain: followed by Ulysses!
Eliza Madrigal: fun to see the lists come up and not add to them
Eliza Madrigal: ohhh
Eos Amaterasu highly highly recommends Life of ∏
Eos Amaterasu: 11 our of 10
Eos Amaterasu: finally a filmic story
Eos Amaterasu: in 3D
Aphrodite Macbain: Yes- good book. It's in movie form right now
Eliza Madrigal: looking very forward :))
Paradise Tennant: smiles
Eos Amaterasu: a true PaB movie!
Eliza Madrigal: Liked one review "doesn't choose between reality and unreality"
Aphrodite Macbain: good. makes a not- another cheerer upper
Eos Amaterasu: :-)
Paradise Tennant: smiles !
Aphrodite Macbain: I saw Searching for Sugarman last night. Have a look for it- it's beautiful
Eliza Madrigal: there were no films out that seemed interesting... then suddenly 10
Aphrodite Macbain: 10?
Paradise Tennant: smiles yes ..cloud atlas is good too
Eliza Madrigal: well, many :)
Aphrodite Macbain: listens intently with pen poised
Eliza Madrigal: agree, Para!
Paradise Tennant: the master :)
Eos Amaterasu: non Cylon
Aphrodite Macbain: ?
Paradise Tennant: sunny mondays
Eliza Madrigal: also a good review from a friend for "Sessions"
Paradise Tennant: searching for sugar man :)) very very good
Eos Amaterasu: (whups - that was a thought about Life of Pi being a very _human_ movie: it doesn't feel like lots of effects - it's warm, rounded, personal
Eliza Madrigal: ty for the unpacking Eos :)
Eos Amaterasu: and is a true inception
Aphrodite Macbain: warm and rounded :-)
Paradise Tennant: waltzing with retzike
Eliza Madrigal smiles
Eos Amaterasu: it leaves something behind in your mind
Eos Amaterasu: Hi Ewan
Paradise Tennant: medal of honour
Eliza Madrigal: Evening, Ewan
Paradise Tennant: smiles we have been on film fest :)
Paradise Tennant: hiya ewan
Aphrodite Macbain: medal of honour for what?
Aphrodite Macbain: Hello Ewan
Ewan Bonham: Hi folks..
Eos Amaterasu: the quality of being here
Eos Amaterasu: as reflected, sometimes, in movies
Eos Amaterasu: and in our art projects? Being clarity?
Eliza Madrigal: life projects
Eos Amaterasu: hmm, yes
Eos Amaterasu: the true dance

--BELL--

Eliza Madrigal: am always amazed when you follow an artist, visual or musician, writer, etc... they are compelled to change... the work moves...
Eliza Madrigal: even if what they are doing is well received, successful, etc.
Eos Amaterasu: ... leads in the dance....
Eliza Madrigal: Zen made a comment recently that acceptance and appreciation may be the same thing
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Paradise Tennant: smiles yes !
Aphrodite Macbain: makes sense
Eos Amaterasu: kind of like in Japanese art an object is given a space to be
Eos Amaterasu: which creates tremendous appreciation
Eliza Madrigal: ahhh, yes thats it
Eos Amaterasu: I think appreciation has a bit of play quality to it too
Aphrodite Macbain: nice metaphor
Eos Amaterasu: like our mirror neurons are lifted by accepting the being of that thing
Paradise Tennant: yes
Eos Amaterasu: and we enjoy and celebrate
Paradise Tennant: sorry getting sleepy :)) going to have to sneak off to bed :) namaste my firends :))
Eliza Madrigal: namaste paradise, nice to see you for a bit
Eos Amaterasu: _/ \_
Aphrodite Macbain: namaste
Eliza Madrigal: that's what a retreat would be Aph... space around....
Aphrodite Macbain: smiles
Eos Amaterasu: hmm, nice
Aphrodite Macbain: In some ways I have lots of spae around - I live alone
Aphrodite Macbain: but it's not the space I need
Eliza Madrigal nods
Eliza Madrigal: understand that :)
Aphrodite Macbain: I like the idea of sharing that space with others
Aphrodite Macbain: but with others who are sitting silently but supportively
Eliza Madrigal: yes
Eliza Madrigal: peer pressure but hm... spacious and loving
Aphrodite Macbain: peer support, like a sangha
Eos Amaterasu: yeah, the air gets elevated, the pressure lifts you up
Aphrodite Macbain: nice thought
Eliza Madrigal: yes

Eliza Madrigal: sometimes when I'm not working on what I need to at the house, I go to a cafe because looking focused helps me to get focused :)

Aphrodite Macbain: It is an amazing feeling, I gather, eating quietly together
Aphrodite Macbain: like whistling in the dark Eliza?
Eliza Madrigal: heheh
Eos Amaterasu: Eliza, yes, that big family room kind of feeling
Eliza Madrigal: yes
Eos Amaterasu: Aph, yes, eating formally in total silence, yes
Aphrodite Macbain: grins
Aphrodite Macbain: I wonder whether you would hear all the slups and gnashing of teeth
Eliza Madrigal: preschoolers play like this, happily alongside not necessarily playing with the same thing
Eliza Madrigal giggles Aph
Eos Amaterasu: Heh heh, six days, you said?
Aphrodite Macbain: just "being" togethr withut a need to make conversation. That sounds so nice
Eliza Madrigal: in disciplined zen settings there are quiet rituals around meals also?
Eliza Madrigal: so maybe no slurping :)
Eos Amaterasu: Functional slurping
Eliza Madrigal: hehhee
Eliza Madrigal: then I remember that in Japan, slurping soup is a sign of appreciation ^.^
Eos Amaterasu: Oryoki style meals
Eliza Madrigal: have you shared meals that way before Eos?
Aphrodite Macbain: I thought that was burping
Eos Amaterasu: Yes, I did various retreats (like da-thuns = moon periods, 28 days), where meals were done in formal oryoki style

--BELL--

Eos Amaterasu: if your life project is filled with space, acceptance, and appreciation, it is always on retreat
Eliza Madrigal smiles - amen :)
Eos Amaterasu: could we but play our lives that way :-)
Eliza Madrigal: can taste the edges of that deep play - compartmentalized retreat bursting its banks
Aphrodite Macbain: chews gratefully
Eos Amaterasu: (deep animal lineage of what chewing means (echo of Life of Pi, btw.... it keeps happening :-) )
Aphrodite Macbain: I really must see that movie
Aphrodite Macbain: and I really must eat dinner - all this talk of food..
Eliza Madrigal: great therapy Aph... getting absorbed
Eos Amaterasu: (in a way it's the best movie since "Groundhog Day" :-)
Eliza Madrigal: oh, wow
Eliza Madrigal: Hi Stevie :)
stevenaia Michinaga: waves
Eos Amaterasu: Hi Stevie!
stevenaia Michinaga: which was the best movie since Groundhog Day?
Eos Amaterasu thinks of Life of Pi that way
stevenaia Michinaga: awww, must see it
Aphrodite Macbain: :-)
Eliza Madrigal: did you see it in 3D Eos?
Eos Amaterasu: Yes
Aphrodite Macbain: Yes- getting absorbed - is really a form of diversion.
Eos Amaterasu: It's wonderful, great music, yummy
Eliza Madrigal: *yummy*
Eos Amaterasu: (I better stop!)
Aphrodite Macbain: It helps pass the time until I begin to fee l better
Eos Amaterasu: eat well, Aph!
Eliza Madrigal: Night Aph
Eliza Madrigal: take care
Aphrodite Macbain: nite
Eliza Madrigal: I'll say goodnight after the hour bell - was lovely to be here
Eliza Madrigal: and thanks stevenaia for picking up my session last night
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Eos Amaterasu: "it's wonderful to be here, it's certainly a thrill"
Eliza Madrigal: :) :) :)
Eliza Madrigal: rather fitting for the session
Eliza Madrigal: that song
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Eos Amaterasu: followed by A Day in the Life (speaking of Life Projects :-)
Ewan Bonham: Well, folks, thank you... very nice to see you all...:)
stevenaia Michinaga: :)
Eliza Madrigal: nice to see you too Ewan, quite quiet tonight :)
Eos Amaterasu: Nice to be here with you, Ewan
stevenaia Michinaga: just stopped in to end my evening
stevenaia Michinaga: seems to have worked for everyone
Eliza Madrigal: :) ritual of evening's end
Eos Amaterasu: mostly appreciating being here :-)
stevenaia Michinaga: nods, truely a ritual

--BELL--

stevenaia Michinaga: night Eliza
stevenaia Michinaga: NIGHT EOS
Eliza Madrigal: night friends, sweet dreams
stevenaia Michinaga: Night Stevie
Eos Amaterasu: thank yoiu Eliza, Stevenaia, good night