2010.11.05 19:00 - Various Possible Changes

The guardian for this session was Eliza Madrigal, filling in for a traveling Lucinda Lavender. :)

Eliza Madrigal: Hi Steve :)
stevenaia Michinaga: hi, busy night
Eliza Madrigal: yes quite :)
stevenaia Michinaga: seem to be a slow season at a few recent sessions
Eliza Madrigal: I wonder why... mostly the evening ones I think..
Eliza Madrigal: maybe just beautiful weather, turning cooler, people want to stroll in parks :)
stevenaia Michinaga: perhaps the early darkening
Eliza Madrigal: ah, yes that would be more likely :)
stevenaia Michinaga: was at WOl's session after the first hour this morning, she was alone, kept her for another hour, hehe
Eliza Madrigal: if it is strolling weather in Miami it is probably very cold where you are?
stevenaia Michinaga: till I was supposed to get up
Eliza Madrigal: haha, good for you
Eliza Madrigal: but what on earth were you doing awake?
stevenaia Michinaga: cat had hair balls, hard to sleep though that
Eliza Madrigal: yes :)
Eliza Madrigal: the cat foods for that don't seem to work
stevenaia Michinaga: then the search for them that follows
Eliza Madrigal: ack
stevenaia Michinaga: nothing worst than stepping on a old, cold hair ball
Eliza Madrigal: hahaha
Eliza Madrigal: I thought we'd talked about everything in pab... til just now :)
stevenaia Michinaga: :)

Eliza Madrigal: How is your tao/i ching exploration going?
stevenaia Michinaga: the strangely interesting thing that crossed those two paths recently is I was at a Tao/Chi Gong retreat on Sunday that my Tai Chi teacher offered to her students
stevenaia Michinaga: and someone that I met at one of her picnics was there
stevenaia Michinaga: hello Aphrodite
Eliza Madrigal: Hi Aphrodite :)
stevenaia Michinaga: since we met we had dinner together a few times
Aphrodite Macbain: Hi Eliza, Hi Steve. Nice to find you both here
stevenaia Michinaga: we were reading some Taoist passages from a few translation
stevenaia Michinaga: gtsy Aphrodite
Aphrodite Macbain: wonderful what are they about?
Eliza Madrigal: Oh, so a friend that you're able to study with then, right nearby?
Eliza Madrigal: Nice
stevenaia Michinaga: I am just walking around the edges of Taoism but it seems to be following me where ever I go
Aphrodite Macbain: :-)
Eliza Madrigal: :)
,

stevenaia Michinaga: but my friend was reading from the Iching
Aphrodite Macbain: what is it about Taoism that draws you?
Aphrodite Macbain: Does the I ching help decide your path?
stevenaia Michinaga: my teacher knew I was was familiar with it and I thought it was strange that she was using the iching not as Pila had been exposing us too
stevenaia Michinaga: sorry Aphrodite, I just wanted to finish
Aphrodite Macbain: please say more - this is new to me
Eliza Madrigal: your teacher was using it differently, or this friend?
stevenaia Michinaga: the Iching allows you to more deeply contemplate on a question you might have
Aphrodite Macbain: how? does it offer alternatives?
stevenaia Michinaga: no my friend was reading it without generating a hexagram around a posed question
Eliza Madrigal: ah, so as a more general inspiration?
Aphrodite Macbain makes a not to read more about the I-ching

stevenaia Michinaga: it offers me insight into question

Aphrodite Macbain: a note
Aphrodite Macbain: can you give me an example steve?
stevenaia Michinaga: sometimes I "wonder what I should expect relating to a person, or a project
Aphrodite Macbain: yes..
stevenaia Michinaga: thinking I may have an idea or a sense of thing, reading the hexagram that develops from throwing coins or sticks, whoever you generate the hexagram
Aphrodite Macbain: yes..
stevenaia Michinaga: there are 64 possible hexagrams and various possible changes within them, each offers a passage
Eliza Madrigal: I appreciate the imagery and symbolism of the i ching... natural elements and 'basic' pictures, simple yet lots to work with

--BELL--

Aphrodite Macbain: do you then work through each of the 64 possibilities?
stevenaia Michinaga: you read them and relate it to your question using wisdom from 5000 years ago
stevenaia Michinaga: no only one hexagram is generated from each "reading"
stevenaia Michinaga: and sometimes a variation of the original
Aphrodite Macbain: sounds like it encourages you to think in new ways, ways you may not have considered
stevenaia Michinaga: to you read from one "number" one of the 64

stevenaia Michinaga: yes, but it tends to be uncannily (if that's a word) insightful
Eliza Madrigal: maybe it encourages you to allow that out, Steve :)
Aphrodite Macbain: how really interesting! Have you found it useful?
stevenaia Michinaga: sometimes offering word of strength , words of caution,
stevenaia Michinaga: you should come to one of pila's sessions
Aphrodite Macbain: where and when?
stevenaia Michinaga: the has two meeting a month and is there to answer question and instruct
Eliza Madrigal: PIla is patient, must be all these years of the iching:) heh
stevenaia Michinaga: Next meeting: Tuesday November 9th at 11:30 am SLT at Arabella's place in SL
stevenaia Michinaga: just IM arabella and ask for a tp, he keeps logs of the session but they are not public
stevenaia Michinaga: he also has helpful information on his iching site
Eliza Madrigal: I've actually been reading Stim's tao book again... it was difficult to relate to when I first picked it up over a year ago...
Aphrodite Macbain: cool. I'll try and make it one day - I have tai chi at 11:45 normally. Thanks!
stevenaia Michinaga: http://www.iching.ws/
Aphrodite Macbain: thanks!
stevenaia Michinaga: Paradise, me and Pila meet the first Tuesday of the month as well at 7:30 at Paradise's place
stevenaia Michinaga: 7:30 PM
Eliza Madrigal: ah, I wonder about the relation of these things tao/tai chi/iching.... similar framework of changes and energy perhaps... but slightly diff views?
Aphrodite Macbain: Has it helped you make decisions?
stevenaia Michinaga: you just missed that on this week
Aphrodite Macbain: two meetings on a Tuesday?
Aphrodite Macbain: 11:30 and 7:30
stevenaia Michinaga: different Tuesdays
Aphrodite Macbain: oh. perfect
stevenaia Michinaga: the first and the second Tuesday, only once a month
Aphrodite Macbain: I'll try an attend the one at 7:30pm
stevenaia Michinaga: that will be in December
Aphrodite Macbain: I'll contact arabella so she can warn me!
Aphrodite Macbain: I'm not sure if I have any questions that want answering right now though!
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Eliza Madrigal: Seems a nice place to be in..
stevenaia Michinaga: I find it very nice to focus on a question for an extended period
Eliza Madrigal: questionlessness :)
Aphrodite Macbain: Yes. I like going deeper though once an important question comes up
stevenaia Michinaga: I find it usually confirms what I have been thinking in a comforting way
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Eliza Madrigal: like a nudge?
Aphrodite Macbain: I get stuck into doing things the same way each time-the most familiar way but not necessarily the best
stevenaia Michinaga: like a warm wrapper
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Aphrodite Macbain: I would find this also invigorating
Aphrodite Macbain: like no wrapper!
stevenaia Michinaga: yes
Aphrodite Macbain: out of the comfort zone
Eliza Madrigal: :) no wrapper.... nice
stevenaia Michinaga: hmmm, possible, each to their own
Aphrodite Macbain: I would think the challenge is not always to go what supports your preconceptions but with something that surprises you
Aphrodite Macbain: that stimulates you into thinking about things differently

stevenaia Michinaga: regarding your original question, Paradise and I had that discussion just last week with the session name... let me find it......
Eliza Madrigal: yes I think that that kind of practice can work either way... like a friend who acts as a mirror but doesn't always reflect what you'think' you are projecting
Aphrodite Macbain: mmm what was my original question? I keep asking so many :-(
Eliza Madrigal: haha
Eliza Madrigal: yes you do that :)
Eliza Madrigal: me too... must confess :)

Aphrodite Macbain: Eliza - I absolutely LOVE your artwork btw.
Eliza Madrigal: ah, the exhibit?
Eliza Madrigal: thank you
Aphrodite Macbain: A little Dutch child?
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Eliza Madrigal: Japanese actually... a doll
Aphrodite Macbain: with a beautiful poem by you and by someone I don't know
(poem familiar to many of us, reposted at the bottom)

stevenaia Michinaga: http://wiki.playasbeing.org/Chat_Logs/2010/10/2010.10.28_19%3a00_-_The_Tao_of_Stevenaia

Aphrodite Macbain: Thanks Steve. Love the title. :-)
stevenaia Michinaga: I did not name it
Eliza Madrigal: a little boy... the poem is something which pema shared a long time ago which I love...
--BELL--
Eliza Madrigal: I think it conjures some of what Bruce expresses in 'being' everything perhaps... dropping the 'having' so one may enter delight...
Eliza Madrigal: something like that :) anyway, thanks

Aphrodite Macbain: yes. having sort of gets in the way. Being lets things alone
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Eliza Madrigal: in an appreciative way
Aphrodite Macbain: Now I am wondering what question I will put to the I Ching...
Eliza Madrigal smiles
stevenaia Michinaga: have you done it before?
stevenaia Michinaga: any questions works

Aphrodite Macbain: something serious, not silly. No I haven't but I am interested in processes that get me to look at things in new ways
stevenaia Michinaga: pila suggests a quiet moment before the reading
Aphrodite Macbain: yes. Perhaps I would meditate on it first
stevenaia Michinaga: burn incense
stevenaia Michinaga: nods
Aphrodite Macbain: For me it would be something about what I am going to do next
stevenaia Michinaga: pondering the smoke helps
stevenaia Michinaga: pondering
Eliza Madrigal: or what next is going to do...

Aphrodite Macbain: I actually find walking in the Park helps
Eliza Madrigal nods... me too
Aphrodite Macbain: hmm but I have very little concernon what next is going to do!
Eliza Madrigal: hehe
Aphrodite Macbain: not concern , control. Why did I say concern?
stevenaia Michinaga: :)
stevenaia Michinaga: the fingers tell you much when they type
Aphrodite Macbain: I only have control of my actions - and I'm not sure if I really have that!
Aphrodite Macbain: my fingers do the talking
stevenaia Michinaga: it;s when you let go of the attempt to control is when things quiet down
Aphrodite Macbain: I wasn't able to watch that You Tube video you sent me steve- something to do with copyright control
Aphrodite Macbain: not allowed in Canada...
stevenaia Michinaga: forget which one
Aphrodite Macbain: onGothic architecture
stevenaia Michinaga: aww, pbs show
Aphrodite Macbain: yes, that one.
Eliza Madrigal: I'm going to get going guys, glad to sit with you a while but I'm so sleepy :)
stevenaia Michinaga: I will say my exposure to Tao had all been through this group
stevenaia Michinaga: sweet dreams Eliza
Eliza Madrigal: Happy but sleepy. Night and Thanks :)
Aphrodite Macbain: Great having you here Eliza - it's always a treat when your on another cushion
Aphrodite Macbain: nite nite
Eliza Madrigal: ah, so nice. Thank you :) Hugs (((Aph and Steve)))
stevenaia Michinaga: always nice to see you ELiza
stevenaia Michinaga: from here to Miami in one poof

Aphrodite Macbain: Have you been away Steve? I've not seen you for a while
stevenaia Michinaga: I am coming to a very busy period of lots of work, but I;ve been on, usually after 7:00
Aphrodite Macbain: oh. That's when I begin to fade.. jet lag still has its way with me
stevenaia Michinaga: my 7 is your 4
Aphrodite Macbain: I still have the same cold I had before I left so I usually fall into bed around 8 -8:30
stevenaia Michinaga: and tomorrow, who know what time it will be
Aphrodite Macbain: Yes, it's late for you
Aphrodite Macbain: Glad things are busy for you though. Better than not busy
stevenaia Michinaga: I usually go to bed after 11 or 12
Aphrodite Macbain: and gt up at 7AM?
stevenaia Michinaga: fits in nicely for PaB
stevenaia Michinaga: usually 6

--BELL--

Aphrodite Macbain: yes. I have a really hard time getting up at o-dark hundred to participate in the 7AM sessions.
stevenaia Michinaga: sometimes I can fit in an afternoon nap, but not needed recently
Aphrodite Macbain is beginning to feel sleepy already and is thinking how nice naps are
stevenaia Michinaga: usually 20 minutes with intense dreams
Aphrodite Macbain: do you remember them usually?
stevenaia Michinaga: yes
Aphrodite Macbain: I seem to forget immediately. A curtain comes down.
stevenaia Michinaga: if I have the energy I write them in a dream log
Aphrodite Macbain: Must go and lie down now. Good to talk to you again steve
stevenaia Michinaga: unfortunately the one I have is over 30 years old and falling apart
stevenaia Michinaga: night Aphrodite
Aphrodite Macbain: Just buy a little notebook. That's all you need, no?
stevenaia Michinaga: yes, nice to keep them in the same place
Aphrodite Macbain: Bye!
stevenaia Michinaga: I don't use it much, I also log my iChing readings
stevenaia Michinaga: poof

,

 (referenced poem)

 In this five-foot lump of red flesh there is a true
  person of no rank always coming in and going out;
  if you have not seen it yet, see it now!

   It is always coming and going in and out of our body.
   When it goes out, if we see a flower, we become a flower;
   when we hear a beautiful bird's song, we become a singing bird.
   When we go within, we are hungry, sleepy, hot, and cold.
   There is a true master like that within each of us.

  We see a river and we are flowing without pause.
   We see the sky full of stars and we become it all.
   We dive into the suffering of all people, into society's miseries.
   Within this is a true person of no rank.

                               Shodo Harada (1940 -- )