2016.12.22 13:00 - Light Hands Make Good Work

The Guardian for this meeting was Aphrodite MacBain. The comments are by Eliza Madrigal.

Agatha Macbeth waves
Eliza Madrigal: Hi Aggers, you look adorable
Agatha Macbeth: I am :)
Eliza Madrigal: :) you are
Agatha Macbeth: Where did Aphie go?
Eliza Madrigal: She is standing on the steps
Agatha Macbeth: She was
Agatha Macbeth: Gone now
Eliza Madrigal: still there, to my sight
Agatha Macbeth: Oh I see her
Eliza Madrigal: which reality to believe? ^^
Agatha Macbeth: Or rather her tag
Eliza Madrigal: :) she's in a cute christmasy outfit too
Agatha Macbeth: Yay

Agatha Macbeth: How's George?
Eliza Madrigal: sooo cute
Eliza Madrigal: I can't take it, unbelievably precious
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Agatha Macbeth: Like me then :p
Eliza Madrigal: quite similar to you. do you collect socks too?
Agatha Macbeth: I lose a few
Eliza Madrigal: George hoards them
Eliza Madrigal: underneath beds
Eliza Madrigal: and he whines while he tries to bury them in blankets
Agatha Macbeth: Must be tough when you have four feet
Eliza Madrigal: :)

Eliza Madrigal: Hi Aph :)
Aphrodite Macbain: Hello
Agatha Macbeth waves to Aphie
Aphrodite Macbain: waves back
Agatha Macbeth: How are the elves?
Eliza Madrigal: I love your clothing, Aph. So often I can 'feel' the textures of it by just looking
Aphrodite Macbain: busy
Aphrodite Macbain: thanks- it's all free
Agatha Macbeth: Keep 'em at it I say
Agatha Macbeth: Brucie :)
Aphrodite Macbain: a place call !gO!
Eliza Madrigal: well that won't do... I have too many lindens
Eliza Madrigal: Hi Bruce :))
Aphrodite Macbain: hey Bruce
Agatha Macbeth: How can you have too many?
Bruce Mowbray: Heya, good people.
Eliza Madrigal: from keeping the retreat house property but not shopping
Agatha Macbeth: Did the clothes shops all shut?
Aphrodite Macbain: no
Eliza Madrigal: I finally bought a gown, but then couldn't wear it today
Agatha Macbeth: Aww

--BELL--

Aphrodite Macbain: are you kidding- they are working away to be open until the last minute
Eliza Madrigal: Hi Tura :))
Bruce Mowbray listens empathetically with inner light.
Tura Brezoianu: hi everyone
Agatha Macbeth: G'day Tura
Bruce Mowbray: Namaste, Tura.
Agatha Macbeth: Tura ra bum di ay
Aphrodite Macbain: Hi Tura
Bruce Mowbray looks for santa hat.

Agatha Macbeth: Snow use
Aphrodite Macbain: moans
Agatha Macbeth: Feeling ill Aph?
Eliza Madrigal: :))
Eliza Madrigal: I'm not sure if Mick will make it today... family demands and such
Bruce Mowbray: Dentistry problems again, Aph?
Agatha Macbeth: Awww
Agatha Macbeth: Our Micko
Eliza Madrigal: I could be wrong, we'll see
Aphrodite Macbain: It's Agger's puns.....
Aphrodite Macbain: teeth are fine
Eliza Madrigal: lol
Bruce Mowbray ponders "Red of tooth and claw."
Agatha Macbeth: Why for two puns
Aphrodite Macbain: what would you get?
Agatha Macbeth: Not sure, but I might do something
Bruce Mowbray: Hot crossed pups?
Agatha Macbeth: Woof
Bruce Mowbray: or hotcrossed puns?
Aphrodite Macbain: he he
Aphrodite Macbain: better
Aphrodite Macbain admires Agger's hat
Agatha Macbeth: Will come in handy if there's a fire
Eliza Madrigal: wow Bruce you are like magician santa
Bruce Mowbray: Excellent improvisation on the hat, Aggers.
Bruce Mowbray: Thanks to Sunshine for the hat, mine, I mean.
Agatha Macbeth: Spoon jar jar spoon
Bruce Mowbray: Oh dear. It's a bad typing day, alas.
Agatha Macbeth: No dragon?
Aphrodite Macbain: when is a spoon an ajar?
Bruce Mowbray: Nope. No dragons today.,
Agatha Macbeth: Rumplesnitz
Agatha Macbeth: Bleuji :)
Bruce Mowbray: When it's. . . . a spoonerism?
Bleu Oleander: hi all :)
Bruce Mowbray: Heya, bleu.
Eliza Madrigal: rumplefritz
Eliza Madrigal: Hi Bleu :)
Aphrodite Macbain: Hi Bleu
Bruce Mowbray looks for email from Aph about today's topic.
Aphrodite Macbain: you look cool

Beginning...

Eliza Madrigal: Aph, since you weren't here last week, want to intro our session today?
Aphrodite Macbain: I sent an email about an hour ago
Aphrodite Macbain: sure
Bruce Mowbray continues to look for it.
Aphrodite Macbain: Hope yoou all got my email
Eliza Madrigal: yes, nicely done
Aphrodite Macbain: let me paste what I said...
Bruce Mowbray: Continuing with the theme of inner light (see attachment) how can we spread the light out further or pull it in more deeply? Now, during the darkest and coldest time of year (in the northern hemisphere) what keeps us warm and bright? What keeps us resilient and even optimistic when the world looks so bleak? How can "make an act of self-care and an act of care for the communities of consciousness (mutually dependent elephants?) that spread out around us connected by fragile but numerous threads?" Is there a way to find an inner strength and peace that renders us detached but not uncaring? What inner action works for you?
Bruce Mowbray: ooops. Sry, Aph.
Aphrodite Macbain: Thanks :-)
Aphrodite Macbain: I was just about to post it!
Bruce Mowbray: :) yw.
Agatha Macbeth: Better too much comminication than not enough
Agatha Macbeth: with a u

Aphrodite Macbain: So, I wonder whether people have had more thoughts on the subject. For me the hardest thing is to be optimistic right now with the world in such a mess
Agatha Macbeth: It's always been in a mess
Aphrodite Macbain: How to be hopeful
Bruce Mowbray: How are you doing right NOW, Aph? I mean with your PRESENT situation....
Aphrodite Macbain: and how to think outside the box and approach things differently
Bleu Oleander: I think its important to remember that some of the world is a mess, not all of it :)
Aphrodite Macbain: Yes
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Bruce Mowbray: (sry, didn't realize Aph was introducing our topic... Sits on hands.)
Aphrodite Macbain: I do feel that we need to be coming up with new ways of doing things.
Bleu Oleander: its not necessary to focus on the mess parts all the time
Aphrodite Macbain: nods
Aphrodite Macbain: over to you....
Bleu Oleander: oh sits on hands too :)
Aphrodite Macbain: NP :-)
Bleu Oleander: :)

Eliza Madrigal: It has been helping me to detach from rigid ideas of time. What I mean is...
Bruce Mowbray listens to those not sitting on hands.
Aphrodite Macbain: sits on her hands and listens
Eliza Madrigal: if I back up from 'the world right now' and put our world issues in a wider time context, with zigs and zags, ebbs and flows, or as Obama says, fits and starts, then I find myself far more optimistic. I also feel more stable and brave, able to target expressions and not take my own image/reputation as seriously.
Aphrodite Macbain: so you feel by looking at the world differently you can make a change?
Eliza Madrigal: Really enjoying reading history lately, teaching my son about civil rights leaders, comparing our impressions and times
Eliza Madrigal: things change fast sometimes, as we've seen

--BELL--

Aphrodite Macbain: nods
Aphrodite Macbain: focussing you your children must help
Eliza Madrigal: grounding
Aphrodite Macbain: looking for the positive things to share
Eliza Madrigal: well, whatever comes up
Eliza Madrigal: in casual chats, often leads to deeper places
Eliza Madrigal: I feel a responsibility to highlight the possibilities for them
Aphrodite Macbain: Do you do it deliberately or things just happen...?
Eliza Madrigal: my kids are good teachers, son is smarter than me in a lot of ways so find great joy conversing
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Aphrodite Macbain: nice
Eliza Madrigal: and he isn't afraid to tell me when I'm on a hobby horse, etc
Eliza Madrigal: easy to get stuck in one's own views

Aphrodite Macbain: do others feel the same way? Shall we go round the circle?
Bleu Oleander: what way is that? focusing on a wider view?
Aphrodite Macbain: and on a more positive view?
Eliza Madrigal: I should admit it has taken me all month to get to this balanced place!
Eliza Madrigal: hahah
Aphrodite Macbain: Is that all?
Aphrodite Macbain: :)
Bleu Oleander: could you say a little more? not sure i'm understanding
Eliza Madrigal: well, was thrown off yugely early November :)
Agatha Macbeth ponders Liz on a hobby horse
Aphrodite Macbain: why Eliza?
Eliza Madrigal: what comes up for you Bleu? am sure it will be different than my experience

Agatha Macbeth: Hello Rid
Eliza Madrigal: Hi Riddle :)
Bleu Oleander waves to Riddle
Aphrodite Macbain: Hiya Riddle
Riddle Sideways: hi All

Eliza Madrigal: (Aph, US election quite jarring [answering question])
Riddle Sideways: time slipped past
Bleu Oleander: not sure what you're talking about I guess ... will pay closer attention ha!
Eliza Madrigal: cultivating light... seeing not just the mess
Aphrodite Macbain: yes
Bleu Oleander: seeing the glass half full?
Aphrodite Macbain: focusing, as you said on the bigger picture that includes good along with the bad
Eliza Madrigal: yes

Aphrodite Macbain: Aggers- do you want to add anything?
Agatha Macbeth: Er
Agatha Macbeth: Nope :p
Aphrodite Macbain: k

Aphrodite Macbain: Bleu?
Bleu Oleander: well, I tend to be a pretty positive person in general
Aphrodite Macbain: nods
Bleu Oleander: have so much to focus on that the messy parts seem to fade
Bleu Oleander: of course there are times when the mess hits you front and center
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Aphrodite Macbain: like in November?
Bleu Oleander: but passes and soon positive focus returns
Bleu Oleander: well I'm disappointed in our country, but Nov happened long before Nov, is you know what I mean?
Eliza Madrigal nods
Aphrodite Macbain: So your "inner light" is your natural optimism.
Bleu Oleander: we're not been focused on the right things in many casess
Aphrodite Macbain: listens
Bleu Oleander: life in an inner light
Aphrodite Macbain: :)
Riddle Sideways: brb
Aphrodite Macbain: hb
Bleu Oleander: I always sense a light within

Agatha Macbeth: People focus on what the media tells them to, which is why I avoid it
Bleu Oleander: I don't tend to follow "media" that way although I know lots do
Agatha Macbeth: You're too smart Bleuji :)
Bleu Oleander: na
Aphrodite Macbain: But we cant bury our heads in the sand either
Eliza Madrigal: finding 'things for my hands to do' is the best therapy
Bleu Oleander: just trying to not get sucked in
Bleu Oleander: there are better kinds of media than others ...
Agatha Macbeth: Reiki?
Aphrodite Macbain: lol

--BELL--

Riddle Sideways: back
Eliza Madrigal: not just responding to button pushing, but... hm, we also need to know enough about it to discern and see what is happening
Aphrodite Macbain: yes-it's important to find sources that are balanced
Aphrodite Macbain: wb Riddle
Bleu Oleander: I find exercise, eating healthy and being with lots of friends the best therapy
Agatha Macbeth: Did I see Cat or was it an illusion?
Agatha Macbeth: Hm
Aphrodite Macbain: .being healthy keeps the light shining brightly
Bleu Oleander: not getting news from FB is a good too :)
Aphrodite Macbain: :-)
Aphrodite Macbain: Discernment...

Agatha Macbeth: Yay
Agatha Macbeth: Thought so
Bleu Oleander: hi Cat
Aphrodite Macbain: :-)
Riddle Sideways: seeing Cat now
Aphrodite Macbain: Hiya cat
Agatha Macbeth: ^.^
Catrinamonblue Resident: I knowI'm very late, don't want to interupt
Aphrodite Macbain: good to see you

Facebook News and Info Gathering Practices

Eliza Madrigal re-engineered facebook feeds to get news from a few sites I hadn't been, has been a good choice for me, but thinking of making another account for that
Catrinamonblue Resident: :)
Aphrodite Macbain: Riddle do you have anything to add?
Eliza Madrigal: Hi Cat :)
Riddle Sideways: a little
Aphrodite Macbain: at this stage
Aphrodite Macbain: listens to Riddle
Bleu Oleander: FB has too much fake news and collects too much info from us
Riddle Sideways: not prepared ahead, so bare with
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Aphrodite Macbain: np
Riddle Sideways: FB friends seem to only write of the good times in their lives
Riddle Sideways: so read those
Aphrodite Macbain: Hard to find any objective media...
Riddle Sideways: re: positives/negitives
Bleu Oleander: did you know that any site you visit that has a FB logo on it is collecting info from you regardless if you are signed in to FB?

Riddle Sideways: white board right here has 4 things to do daily
Agatha Macbeth: Breathe eat sleep and what else?
Tura Brezoianu: login to SL?
Riddle Sideways: physical exercise, social interactions, mental exersizes and Positives 3:1
Aphrodite Macbain: lol
Bruce Mowbray: Love.
Agatha Macbeth: Good!
Catrinamonblue Resident: drink wine? @ Agatha ;)
Agatha Macbeth: Works too
Aphrodite Macbain: positives?
Agatha Macbeth: And Brucie's especially
Bruce Mowbray: :)
Riddle Sideways: that is from over a year ago
Riddle Sideways: some show on aging
Aphrodite Macbain: love of course
Agatha Macbeth: Lurve
Eliza Madrigal: can't really check that one off the list when done Aph :P
Aphrodite Macbain: nice Riddle. Do you have anything to add to that list?
Eliza Madrigal: sorry, listens...haha

Riddle Sideways: said the positives needed to be 3 times the negitives
Riddle Sideways: typing is slow today
Bleu Oleander: how do you keep count?
Riddle Sideways: well slower then y'all
Aphrodite Macbain: ah 3 times- the magic number
Aphrodite Macbain: plan your day to include them all
Riddle Sideways: Being a find the negitives in everything makes that a challenge
Aphrodite Macbain: maybe easier by the week

Riddle Sideways: Re: Light inner and outer
Riddle Sideways: generating and spending
Bleu Oleander: it helps me to hang out with happier people ... rubs off :)
Riddle Sideways: 30-40 years ago did a practice.
Aphrodite Macbain: you must have been 5 yrs old
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Riddle Sideways: cup hands left over right in a cup at waist and fill it with light
Aphrodite Macbain: nods at Bleu
Aphrodite Macbain: nice Riddle!
Riddle Sideways: equal parts from outer and inner
Aphrodite Macbain: mine runneth over
Eliza Madrigal tries to visualize...
Riddle Sideways: if one side had less to begin
Bruce Mowbray: A wonderful exercise, Riddle.
Riddle Sideways: then take more from the other
Aphrodite Macbain: yes!
Aphrodite Macbain: constantly balancing
Riddle Sideways: on the next breath send it
Riddle Sideways: send it out
Riddle Sideways: send it in
Riddle Sideways: spread it
Catrinamonblue Resident: :)
Aphrodite Macbain: like Tonglen
Riddle Sideways: find self doing that more often now
Bruce Mowbray nods, wonderful.
Eliza Madrigal smiles brightly, lovely
Riddle Sideways: there is a lot of force and energy in the palm of your hand
Riddle Sideways: use it
Riddle Sideways: Being is Playing there
Riddle Sideways: done
Aphrodite Macbain: lovely Riddle
Aphrodite Macbain: thank you
Agatha Macbeth: Use the force Luke
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Catrinamonblue Resident: :)

Aphrodite Macbain: Cat- do you feel you can say anything at this stage?
Riddle Sideways: Use the farce Agatha
Catrinamonblue Resident: maybe...
Aphrodite Macbain: we can come back
Agatha Macbeth: That's good too
Aphrodite Macbain: listens

Catrinamonblue Resident: I was thinking about darkness
Bruce Mowbray listens to Cat.
Catrinamonblue Resident: and how it's just the flip side :)
Catrinamonblue Resident: and how over the past number of years I have become so much more of a go with the flow person
Catrinamonblue Resident: I'm not afraid of the dark so much anymore
Aphrodite Macbain: :)
Bruce Mowbray ponders Go-with-the-flow person.
Catrinamonblue Resident: hard to explain I guess...
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Aphrodite Macbain: you have stopped being fearful?
Catrinamonblue Resident: Not really Aph
Catrinamonblue Resident: but I now know I can wait it out
Aphrodite Macbain: nods
Bruce Mowbray also nods.
Catrinamonblue Resident: that it will pass as everything does in the fulness of time
Eliza Madrigal: :)))
Aphrodite Macbain: an inner strength can emerge
Bleu Oleander: what we were just saying :)
Aphrodite Macbain: yes

--BELL--

Aphrodite Macbain: thanks Cat
Catrinamonblue Resident: :)
Agatha Macbeth: ^.^
Aphrodite Macbain: Tura?
Aphrodite Macbain: How about you. How do you find the light?

Tura Brezoianu: I don't engage with politics much, just cultivate my own garden.
Tura Brezoianu: Not my actual garden, which you could tell if you saw it. :)
Bruce Mowbray: :)
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Aphrodite Macbain totally gets cultivating her garden
Tura Brezoianu: I look at the world with detached curiosity to see what happens next
Agatha Macbeth wonders what Eden's garden is like
Tura Brezoianu: But I know I'm in a privileged position to be able to do that
Eliza Madrigal nods
Aphrodite Macbain: nods
Tura Brezoianu: With Brexit and Trump, I thought, "Well, this is going to be interesting!"
Aphrodite Macbain: you dont live in Syria for instance
Bruce Mowbray: :) !
Tura Brezoianu: Exactly
Catrinamonblue Resident: :) me too Tura :)

Tura Brezoianu: I'm sure 2017 will be interesting as well
Aphrodite Macbain: :/
Aphrodite Macbain: May you live in interesting times.....
Tura Brezoianu: ...and come to the attention of important people!
Bruce Mowbray: (ancient Chinese curse....)
Aphrodite Macbain: Thanks Tura
Tura Brezoianu: Did you know that the word "idiot" goes back to an ancient Greek word meaining "someone who avoids engagement in public life"?
Tura Brezoianu: I guesss I am :)
Aphrodite Macbain: ha!
Tura Brezoianu: done
Bruce Mowbray: (like "autistic" ?)
Aphrodite Macbain: :-)
Aphrodite Macbain: Bruce?
Agatha Macbeth: Idios = private
Bruce Mowbray: OPK.
Agatha Macbeth: OPK?
Aphrodite Macbain had no idea Agatha spoke Greek

Bruce Mowbray: What if we did not identify with our thought? -- or identify AS our thoughts?
Bruce Mowbray: Is it possible to watch and "hold" our pessimistic thoughts without allowing them take us down... ? I mean, just observing our pessimisms... as "passing show..." -- not something that we need to get stuck in and allow to depress us?
Bruce Mowbray: I might choose to identify with "inner light" rather than this or that particular thought.
Bruce Mowbray: At my Sunday school class,
Bruce Mowbray: for example,
Bruce Mowbray: I've stated that I am an a-theist.
Bruce Mowbray: and I follow that up by saying,
Bruce Mowbray: "God is the most obvious thing in the Cosmos."
Bruce Mowbray: All I have to do is listen, touch, open my eyes, taste something,
Bruce Mowbray: and God becomes obvious.
Bruce Mowbray: They have never stopped mis-undersaying me.
Bruce Mowbray: Which is fine.
Bruce Mowbray: Anyway,
Bruce Mowbray: I can BE inner light instead of these negative thoughts,
Bruce Mowbray: or is that just another hobby horse?
Bruce Mowbray: [done]
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Aphrodite Macbain: thanks Bruce
Bruce Mowbray: yw.
Aphrodite Macbain listens for other comments

Bruce Mowbray: meant to type "misunderstanding" not misundersaying.
Eliza Madrigal: seems important to have a widely varied toolbox
Aphrodite Macbain: we understood Bruce :)
Aphrodite Macbain: yes
Bruce Mowbray: Yes, multiple technologies, aggers.
Bruce Mowbray: (I meant, Eliza, sry).
Bruce Mowbray listens lightly with inner light.
Agatha Macbeth: Thanks anyway
Bruce Mowbray: :) yw.
Eliza Madrigal: just taking time to converse like this seems a garden tending practice
Bruce Mowbray: also, I loved what Tura said.

Aphrodite Macbain: It may be the old hippie in me but I feel that I have to do more than simply rest in being, I feel in some situations I have to act.
Agatha Macbeth: Hoe hoe
Aphrodite Macbain: But I dont know how to act
Aphrodite Macbain: Peace marches dont cut it
Agatha Macbeth: You do I've seen you do it
Aphrodite Macbain: nor does sending a cheque
Tura Brezoianu: I respect those who do get up and do something
Bleu Oleander: start local
Bruce Mowbray: "A time you may embrace... a time to refrain from embracing...."
Aphrodite Macbain: When Aggers?
Eliza Madrigal: that's the balance I've been working on, Aph, precisely... finding a few places for expression and hm, being 'ready' to step up if a situation arises
Aphrodite Macbain: nods
Agatha Macbeth: At Sorri...thingy
Aphrodite Macbain: It does require listening to others
Aphrodite Macbain: Sorrentina?
Agatha Macbeth: That'e the one
Bruce Mowbray: Yes, wonderful example, aggers.
Aphrodite Macbain: :-)
Aphrodite Macbain: I just sang and danced
Aphrodite Macbain: with Bruce!
Agatha Macbeth: You still did it well
Aphrodite Macbain: thanks
Aphrodite Macbain blushes
Bruce Mowbray: You also invited all of us to share the joy, Aph.
Aphrodite Macbain: Life is more fun with others
Agatha Macbeth: As Robins Crusoe said
Agatha Macbeth: Robins?
Agatha Macbeth: +on
Agatha Macbeth: Must be thinking of Robin Gibb
Agatha Macbeth: Or Robin Banks

--BELL--

Riddle Sideways: nope, never think about the BeeGees
Bruce Mowbray excuses himself from this august assembly of good souls.... going to kitchen to scrape up din din.
Agatha Macbeth: Oh I like them
Eliza Madrigal: last thought; there are times and seasons, listening to each moment freshly. My 'brave act' last week had nothing directly to do with politics but it was a way of acting on a principle or aspiration that ultimately does

Aphrodite Macbain: Thanks everyone for your contributions.. I think we have enough common light to keep us going through 2017.
Agatha Macbeth: Scrape well Brucie
Aphrodite Macbain: bye Bruce
Eliza Madrigal: bye Brucie
Bruce Mowbray: Bye for now.
Catrinamonblue Resident: Bye Bruce
Agatha Macbeth looks at Liz
Bruce Mowbray: THANKS, Aph and everyone.
Aphrodite Macbain: Are we getting together next Thursday?
Eliza Madrigal: and everyone :) have to run too... going pub crawling, lol (not really but sort of)
Agatha Macbeth: ??
Aphrodite Macbain: you look great Eliza!
Catrinamonblue Resident: Cool Eliza :) enjoy
Eliza Madrigal: thank you <3
Bleu Oleander: bye y'all
Eliza Madrigal: bye friends, thanks so much
Bleu Oleander: have fun
Riddle Sideways: oooooo pub crawls
Eliza Madrigal: haha
Aphrodite Macbain: what a fine thing to do
Agatha Macbeth: Watch yer elf Aph
Aphrodite Macbain: he he
Bleu Oleander: bye bye
Aphrodite Macbain: I will. Pesky thing!
Tura Brezoianu: bye all
Riddle Sideways: love those boots Aggers
Agatha Macbeth: Looks like that's it then
Aphrodite Macbain: they look warm
Agatha Macbeth: They come handy in the garden
Aphrodite Macbain: Uggs
Catrinamonblue Resident: :)
Riddle Sideways: by All
Aphrodite Macbain: Notice Riddle is looking more svelt
Catrinamonblue Resident: bye all :)
Aphrodite Macbain: byee
Agatha Macbeth: Tatty bye
Aphrodite Macbain: Happy Christmas everyone
Agatha Macbeth: Happy Chrismukkah