The Guardian for this meeting was Storm Nordwind. The comments are by Storm Nordwind.
Waking, not too early, to Being, to the dawn, to the snow, or to consciousness...
Waking to Being.
Arisia Vita: welcome Storm
Storm Nordwind: Good morning :)
Xs Andree: good morning. I have my tea now. Hey Ari!
Xs Andree: it is so good to see you this morning.
Arisia Vita: I feel the same way
Xs Andree: well I imagine so, if I woke up one morning and couldn't see myself I might be a little disturbed.
Xs Andree: ...or maybe not.
Xs Andree: hmm, I didn't see myself this morning at all
Arisia Vita: oh?
--BELL--
Xs Andree: i didn't see any 'things"
Arisia Vita: Disciple [to his blind master]: My sadness is for you. Never to see the clouds, never to see the sun on the water, or the plumage of a bird. Blind Master: Yet it is sometimes eyes that blind a man. Because he can see, he does not look. Is the bird only the color of his plumage? Disciple: None should think so.
Xs Andree beams
Xs Andree: second day i've woken to being
Arisia Vita: you are lucky
Xs Andree: perhaps it is no wonder when i rest i rarely dream, then.
Arisia Vita: perhaps you dream, but just forget what you dream?
Xs Andree: that could be as well, I used to think that, and wish I could remember them.
Arisia Vita: it is good that you believe your dreams pleasant enough to remember
Xs Andree: I'm not afraid of the nightmares anymore.
Arisia Vita: that pleases me
Xs Andree: I miss the dreams, I do have them from time to time, or i remember having one.
Arisia Vita: I am much like you
Xs Andree: i should tell you, i had the best time tonight.
Xs Andree: last night
Arisia Vita: I am glad you did
Xs Andree: me too.
Arisia Vita: may tonight be even more pleasurable :)
Xs Andree: tonight could just be peaceful and i would be fine. Last night was wonderfully emotional.
Arisia Vita: I am so glad
Xs Andree smiles
Xs Andree: I love you Air.
Xs Andree: Ari too
Xs Andree: and Storm :P sorry, don't mean to leave you out.
Arisia Vita: as I do you
Storm Nordwind chuckles
Everything is best.
Arisia Vita: Spock often tried to purge himself of emotions, why?
Arisia Vita: If facts are the seeds that later produce knowledge and wisdom, then the emotions and the impressions of the senses are the fertile soil in which the seeds must grow. - Rachel Carson
Storm Nordwind knows very little about Spock :)
Arisia Vita: I watched a lot of Star Trek when I was young(er)
Xs Andree: In the new version, they show how spock chose not to undergo the ritual and go into starfleet instead
Storm Nordwind: "The ritual"?
Arisia Vita: yes, he felt a calling....
Arisia Vita: The Vulcan ritual to purge all emotions
Xs Andree: The answer is the same as his fathers. they loved the same woman. I think Spock tried to not purge himself of emotion, but wrestled with the human tendency to let them rule his actions.
Arisia Vita: interesting Xs, ty for sharing that
Storm Nordwind is happy just to be happy :)
Arisia Vita: you are wise Storm
Xs Andree is happy to be as fully emotional as she is, no matter what that emotion is.
Arisia Vita: The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes their way.
Storm Nordwind: That sounds like the best to me!Ari :)
Xs Andree: oh, I dunno, happiness has a way of making everything best.
Xs Andree giggles
Storm Nordwind: Like the meat
Storm Nordwind: http://www.101zenstories.org/everything-is-best/
Arisia Vita: ty Storm
--BELL--
IMAGE
Storm Nordwind: I thought I'd just share with you the view from my window this morning :)
Arisia Vita: frosty... :)
Arisia Vita: ty for sharing that
Xs Andree: omg
Storm Nordwind: Snow
Xs Andree: fffrrraaactallllls
Xs Andree noms
Storm Nordwind: The first couple of inches of the winter
Xs Andree: congrats! I'm so looking forward to snow this year.
Storm Nordwind: Another 5 expected tonight or tomorrow I think
Xs Andree: I hate the cold.
Storm Nordwind: It's not really very cold here today. Only snowy
Xs Andree: I grew up in arizona
Xs Andree: give me 3% humidity and 110 degrees and i'm at home
Storm Nordwind: Ah. It's 27°F here right now ;)
Xs Andree: that isn't so bad, tbh
Storm Nordwind: exactly
Xs Andree: i could walk barefoot for a little in that.
What is grace?
Storm Nordwind: How has discussion of this week's theme been? I'm afraid I've unexpectedly missed everything so far.
Xs Andree: We've spoken a lot, it has been said that deception is seated in intent
Xs Andree: it has been said that it arises from the self
Xs Andree: in perception
Xs Andree: which is never perfect
Xs Andree: Vivid dreaming has been discussed a lot as well.
Storm Nordwind is not sure what "perfect" is ;)
Xs Andree: I'm not sure it exists, either, but i am certain grace does.
Storm Nordwind: What is grace?
Xs Andree: We talked also about people who try to pass themselves off as something they aren't, if that is deception or just another truth
Storm Nordwind: You mean like role playing? Or just being a politician? ;)
Arisia Vita: is that really an "or" question?
Storm Nordwind chuckles
Xs Andree: Grace, to me, is what accepts without judgement or expectation. in judaism, perfection is symbolized by 7, and 8 is grace, being one more than 7.
Arisia Vita: what is 9?
Xs Andree: Grace is greater than perfection, it is that God created a perfect world in 7 days, and then there was still another day after...and another day after..and another day after.
Storm Nordwind: So you would see grace as being similar to Epoché?
Xs Andree: ㋡ I love Boxy
Xs Andree: Yes, and because of boxy, I know what Epoche means, or at least I have been introduced to it.
Storm Nordwind smiles
Arisia Vita: there are so many "gifts" wrapped up in boxy... :)
--BELL--
Storm Nordwind: I wonder how many he's aware of :)
Ten of Swords.
Storm Nordwind: The first thing that strikes me about deception is how to identify it. And for that, I wonder if first one has to have some experience of what is real or true.
Xs Andree: I don't know what "truth" is. But many times I have felt it. But if I examine it, it vanishes. If I try to put words to it, it fossilizes and is not what it was
Storm Nordwind nods
Xs Andree: and then all I have are dead bones with the shape of truth, but they are not truth anymore
Storm Nordwind: So how could you ever recognize deception?
Xs Andree: only in myself.
Arisia Vita: Believe those who are seeking the truth; doubt those who find it. - Andr Gide
Xs Andree hugs Ari
Xs Andree: Where have you been! I missed you!
Arisia Vita: I missed you too
Xs Andree: I"m sorry i've been gone so long, the swords in my back had me pinned to the sky. i had to remain there for the ones I loved.
Storm Nordwind: Sounds like the ten of swords
Xs Andree: reversed, drew for me by my best friend last night.
Xs Andree: just one card
Storm Nordwind nods
Arisia Vita: ten of swords?
Xs Andree: and I thought of my doll keys, and how everyone said they look like swords
Storm Nordwind: It's a modern tarot card
Xs Andree: even as far back as 2008
Arisia Vita: ah, ty
Storm Nordwind now only uses Morgan's Tarot. And the Kuan Yin Oracle.
Xs Andree: i don't use tarot or devices, nor do i try to divine
Xs Andree: But sometimes when I trust someone, i will let them do so for me
Storm Nordwind nods
Xs Andree: I have been uriel pinned to the sky with wings made of swords
--BELL--
Storm Nordwind remembers Uriel and smiles
Arisia Vita: welcome Liz
Storm Nordwind: Good morning Eliza!
Eliza Madrigal: Hi! Sorry to arrive in the bell... thought my timing was better this morning ^^
Storm Nordwind: You are set against my window scene... but it looks so good behind you I'll keep it there
Xs Andree giggles and looks
Eliza Madrigal: window scene?
Xs Andree: It is good to be with you this morning, Eliza
Storm Nordwind: The view from my window this morning
Eliza Madrigal: and also with you Xs :)
Storm Nordwind: If you sit back there is looks nice around you :)
Eliza Madrigal grins
Xs Andree: I'm so haapy this morning.
Xs Andree: I missed it, I didn't see it.
Eliza Madrigal: was this taken in your neighborhood recently ...nice
Storm Nordwind: Out of my window that I look out of right where I'm sitting - an hour ago
Eliza Madrigal: wow
Xs Andree: Yesterday I woke to golden haired dawn looking in my window, with lemon lime leaves and a fresh damp breeze
Storm Nordwind waves siren fingers at Eliza and whispers "Come back to Colorado..."
Eliza Madrigal smiles
Eliza Madrigal: Hi Aph :)
Eliza Madrigal: it is still so warm here.... but the winds are astounding... thanks to hurricane off-shore
Storm Nordwind: And now Aph looks good against it!
Eliza Madrigal: it is the welcoming spot
Aphrodite Macbain: Hi - this is a poetic group!
Eliza Madrigal tastes lemon lime leaves in the air
Xs Andree: Good morning Aph!
Aphrodite Macbain: thank you. it's nice to sit on grass
Aphrodite Macbain: good morning Xs
Aphrodite Macbain: wonders what leaves are doing in the air- perhaps it's fall here too
Waking early, but not too early.
Eliza Madrigal: :) rested up, Aph?
Aphrodite Macbain: yes- I think I am finally caught up - thanks for asking
Aphrodite Macbain: I like waking up at 7AM rather than 4AM
Aphrodite Macbain: so far my morning consists of pale grey skies, two cats and a cup of coffee
Eliza Madrigal: someone told me that 5 am is the time to have a best thought of the day
Eliza Madrigal: :) people come up with the funniest things
Xs Andree: :P
Aphrodite Macbain: indeed.My best thoughts are dreams then
Storm Nordwind: Ah... so that is why I wake at 5am. It's not the alarm after all!
Eliza Madrigal smiles
Xs Andree: Einstein used to hold a bell in his hand before he'd go to sleep, so when it fell, it would wake him, and he'd get up and write down the first thing that came to mind
Aphrodite Macbain: I never wake up to an alarm- it would be too jarring
Aphrodite Macbain: I'd be grumpy the rest of the morning
Aphrodite Macbain: unless I have to catch a 7AM plane
Eliza Madrigal: yes I've heard that too... and also that simply napping a bit after taking in a lot of information is greatly helpful to integrate/incubate
Aphrodite Macbain: yes, I used to do that before exams. Read and read and then sleep
Eliza Madrigal: works for me I guess.. but I wouldn't know otherwise... just seems to be a natural response
Aphrodite Macbain: It is as though the sleeping was "baking it" into your memory
Eliza Madrigal nods
Aphrodite Macbain: What's up today. Anything new and exciting?
Xs Andree: I would like to share with anyone who is moved to see, this is not peace, though, so if you wish to enjoy the morning as is, be warned, this is not for that.
Xs Andree: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgw9g18Q9Zc
Aphrodite Macbain: thanks XS
Eliza Madrigal saves for later :)
Aphrodite Macbain does too
--BELL--
Aphrodite Macbain: are you dancing?
Eliza Madrigal: are you asking?
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Aphrodite Macbain: sorry wrong box!
Eliza Madrigal: hehehe
Aphrodite Macbain: lol
Aphrodite Macbain: I cant be trusted
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Consciousness.
Eliza Madrigal: as for interesting, I am reading a great book... "sleeping, dreaming, and dying" ... conversation between analyst, neuroscientist, philosopher, dalai lama... about consciousness
Aphrodite Macbain: what is that beautiful image behind me- I've just noticed
Eliza Madrigal: some of it is kind of geeky but for those that like that sort of thing ^^
Aphrodite Macbain: I should get it- it sounds fascinating
Xs Andree giggles at Aph
Xs Andree: Eliza, i'm never going to be able to keep up with all the books
Eliza Madrigal: I know... nor I... I put aside ten others to read this one :)
Eliza Madrigal: the reason I mention it is recurrent themes with dreams and self inquiry
Aphrodite Macbain: what new things have you learned from the book eliza?
Arisia Vita: It's been great being with you all but I need to tend to some rl now...be well and happy till we meet again, which will be soon I hope...
Eliza Madrigal: K Ari, be well :)
Arisia Vita: bye for now...
Storm Nordwind: Be blessed Ari :)
Arisia Vita: I already am...
Arisia Vita: ty
Eliza Madrigal: well right now it is very fashionable to compare the ways that science and buddhist 'philosophy' are similar but this book goes into helpful distinctions
Aphrodite Macbain: smiles and waves. Hapy flying
Aphrodite Macbain: happy
Aphrodite Macbain: yes? like what for example?
Eliza Madrigal: lots of good questions - and for me it clarified things I've been puzzling about different schools of thought, so far
Aphrodite Macbain: listens
Eliza Madrigal: well for one thing, Freud's map of consciousness...
Eliza Madrigal: in which he posits unconscious/preconscious/conscious
Eliza Madrigal: there is a lot of comparison with people equating the 'foundation consciousness' idea in some buddhist schools with this
Storm Nordwind was attending to a phone call, but whispers to Aph that the image behind you is the snowy view from my window this morning
Eliza Madrigal: and the Dalai Lama goes into such detail about how it isn't, what is different, etc... and also with regard to lucid dreaming
Eliza Madrigal: and also that foundation conscousness isn't something he buys into personally, and helped clarify something for me there - but that is prob specialized (ie boring) heh
Storm Nordwind: Good morning druth
Eliza Madrigal: Hi Druth :)
druth Vlodovic: hey guys
Aphrodite Macbain: smiles- hiya druth!
Eliza Madrigal: Aph your mic is on and off
Aphrodite Macbain: ok thanks- can you hear my cat purr?
Eliza Madrigal: wish I could!
Eliza Madrigal: Xs did you catch and ninja your friend last night?
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Eliza Madrigal: morning of IMs and phonecalls.... ::::sends for own cat::::
Aphrodite Macbain whispers back to Storm- "Wow"
Eliza Madrigal: nice seeing you all :) continued blessings on the rest of your days
Eliza Madrigal waves
Storm Nordwind smiles and waves
Aphrodite Macbain looks out at the wet tulip tree outside her window and wonders when snow will land on it
Aphrodite Macbain: bye eliza
--BELL--
Aphrodite Macbain whispers bye for now. Be well and very happy!
Storm Nordwind: You too Aph :)
druth Vlodovic: ttfn
Storm Nordwind waves
Xs Andree: yes, sorry, catching up. I think I will have to read that as well
Xs Andree: Yes...I ninja'd her so well...
Storm Nordwind: I'm sorry Xs... I too will disappear before RL interrupts me further. A suspect a preemptive strike is necessary! ;)
Xs Andree: sat near her door, arrived a little early to meditate...and when her 11:11 came, "I love you" as it always has
Xs Andree: kk, hon
Xs Andree: I txted back "Ninja'
Xs Andree: and she "?"
Xs Andree: and I "Knock knock?"
Xs Andree: ...she peeks out the door and looks around, I was five feet from her, but she did not see me...
Xs Andree: and looked
Xs Andree: and looked....eyes narrowed to a sideways V
Xs Andree: aww, Eliza left
Storm Nordwind: Ah yes... I remember the long ago days of texting. What fun.
Storm Nordwind: Bye for now!
Storm Nordwind: Namaste
Xs Andree: kk, I'll tell her later