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Changing Seasons

Caverns of Aleval – you’ve seen pictures now taken from this location in the last few blogs. This is a build by Asa Vordun in Second Life this is the taxi to click on to explore the place for yourself. http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Caverns%20of%20Aleval/243/90/21

This morning I took an online survey for a University in South Carolina on the experience of teaching,or being a student in SL, until about 2009 may of the major Universities and Learning Institutions had a presence in Second Life. Now it seems less so if I am to believe the document I read this morning.

As an artist and teacher, I have found Second Life to be invaluable for my own development and those who have ventured in with me. Some stay only a little while, others have stayed longer, some couldn’t handle it at all. It is a learning curve in one way or another for all who give it a try.

Fear of the unknown, insecure with technology, lack of time, for whatever reason, there is a time and a season. =^_^= Being in Second Life, requires a desire to be there, if you decide to visit and explore, you world will open up .. especially if you are creative person, the options are endless.

Caverns of Aleval is going through a change today, snow is falling and the land is taking on the charms of winter. Our lives also go through changing seasons, sometimes we feel the gradual change, and other times, plop, it is in our face.

PL lesson for today says. Once you Make up your mind things will begin to happen.. Once you decide, “I’m going to do it” your enthusiasm and courage will begin to rise, if you give it your best effort, God will give you aid when you need it most.. The attention to detail in this build is amazing. (I caught Asa doing some add ons this morning, she closed the door to this darling little home, if you peak inside, you will find it warm and cosy, simply touch the door for it to open)

Attention to detail is what we need in our lives … We need to practice mindfulness, if we want something to happen or desire a change, then we need do more than think and want it, we have to work towards that goal, being present and mindful of our journey is key. I’ve taken a close up of her work, this is virtual art at its best. Her place is welcoming and heartwarming.

I love that little tree. Share your world, share your dreams, step outside the box, make your dreams a reality. Blessings.

Written

on November 23, 2013

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Who am I

Do you ever wonder who that person is looking back at you in the mirror. For years you have looked at that face, yet how often do you really see the face,and the eyes that are looking so intently back at you.
When we journey into the virtual world, we get to pick an avatar to represent us, it is the avatar that moves around and interacts for us with the other avatars in the virtual world.. Each avatar represents another person, who is sitting at a keyboard and looking at a screen. You can be talking to anyone, anywhere in the world connects to the Internet.
Each and everyone of us is in the game for a reason, to play, to build,design,educate, learn, the reasons are endless. So are the possibilities when it comes to what kind of an avatar you will use to represent “you”.
It is not until you are faced with the task of creating an outward appearance for yourself that you begin to realize that it is not as simple as it seems.
First we have to determine are we male or female. In the real world, we know the cards dealt to us, however in this virtual world, we can be whatever we chose to be.
We get to pick the colour of our skin, the shape of our bodies,, the colour of our eyes, and then when we do all of that, we have to dress ourselves, pick out the hair, finally we can have curly hair, and lots of it.
AND, because we get to pick our size and shape, we can then wear the shoes and outfits that we can’t wear in RL

The challenge can be so daunting, that many people give up before they even really start. I learned early on in the “game” that the choices we are asked to make, can be very helpful to us in learning to understand ourselves.

I’m only touching the surface here, we are only getting started. In this recent adventure, I have had to think long and hard about which avatar I would use. I already have established personalities and characters in SL. I realized that I did not want to use these characters because I liked who they are and the lives they have built for themselves over the years.
So, I dusted off the file on an avatar that I have till now only used when I needed a model. He/she had no defined personality and was simply an avatar. A dormant file/avatar in the game. Even the name of the avatar was non gender, Asia was especially used when I needed a male model for the ads/blogs.
Now Asia is a woman, and a Furry, (an avatar that is an animal with human characteristics) I started out thinking I would be a Neko (cat/feline) a Neko is a human with animal characteristics. But after several hours spent with the Neko I wasn’t connected to it. I felt no affinity.
Also what came into the equation is the other members you meet, who are also Neko,Furries, humans, Tinies,Dinkies, etc. Like in the RL the groups have their own culture, way of dressing, interests etc.
I have been absent from SL for some time, not playing as much as I used to, so I found that with the ever changing technology the products and items being offered, mesh, sculpts,animations etc.were different. Previous sources were no longer in business.
I thought I’d be a possat, I got the avatar put her on, but within minutes I didn’t feel right.

When I looked at myself as this avatar, I wondered to myself, what had I been thinking. Where was I “in my head” when I thought this is what I wanted to be? this is what life is like, we do things, we purchase something because at the time, it was such a great buy or it really took our fancy, yet days later, it has lost its allure, and the search begins again.

Much like when I look in the mirror, I wonder who that is, and how she got to be where she is, what is she really thinking? The person I have to ask is myself really, and the question again comes down to just who am I. What am I doing here? This could be a long meditation, a long on going chat with my inner self. Meanwhile, life does go on, and I have another avatar in the making. Does this mean that I have multiple personalities. Hmm stay tuned.

In PL we learn to continue and persevere to make our wishes and goals come true. I’ve started this journey, I’m having fun working through my creative “wants” and the realities of my “self: images. I’ve been a lifetime getting to where I am today, guess I’m not about to stop the momentum now. My friends call me a “shape shifter” (in SL) I believe that is because, like in real life, I live the moment, and change is the only constant in life. =^_^=

comments anyone? Have fun in life, take time to play, we are only here “now” I am guilty of taking life far too seriously, even when playing… I’m working on it.. one step at a time. http://www.secondlife.com photos -Q

Written

on November 8, 2013

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Good Morning Everyone!

Clark Kent used a phone booth to become Super Man
Bat Man (Bruce Wayne)had his bat mobile
Wonder Woman her whip, long legs and blue eyes

During the courses of the day, new things happen all the time. Get into the rhythm of things, swing into action be your own action figure.
Today I’m going to explore the world of the “neko”

Neko

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Neko is the Japanese word for cat (猫)

Rented an apartment in Serenity Woods, The guide I met there, (he works on the sim, helps new comers to the area adjust, find what they are looking for, helps them to assimilate. I’ll pay rent of 195 lindens a week, and get to meet new people from all over the world.

I am wanting to know more about the avatar, (the man behind the avatar from the UK), like myself has been in the virtual world since 2007, HIs RL work has him traveling to other countries, I learned he has been to Peru, this is one country I know little of and want to know more of) I will add a link to SL at the end of this blog. It is cold, damp and windy today do you dare to explore?

We can embrace our day, or watch it fade away, come on… join me… get out and play …. tomorrow will be another day. Make today count ….

Love and Blessings, today and always

photos – Q

link to Second Life – http://www.secondlife.com

Written

on November 2, 2013

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sunlight thru the shade

The other day I talked of how light and shadows can draw us in, create a picture that catches our imagination. The first snowfall will also change the landscape. We are so fortunate to have the 4 seasons to delight us with their differences.

Does this picture tell a story?

The camera allows for one point of interest to have many looks.

“Care enough for a result, and you will almost certainly attain it. “ William James

“It is the experience of living that is important, not searching for meaning. We bring meaning by how we love the world” Bernie Siegel, M.D.

Life is Art… every day gives us new opportunities.

TAO > Put forth your effort with no thought of gain……………….. non anticipation

Photo buffs share your links…

Written

on October 27, 2013

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Some days are better then others.

Some days require more attention to one’s personal needs..
We find ourselves dealing with emotions that are not always wanting expression. Suddenly they are in your face so there is no escape.
Life is full of accumulations of small moments. Each moment has full impact, if you are living in the moment.

Does it seem that everyone you meet or interact with just adds to your gloom. Meet your day, head to head. Make it your own. You are the author, the writer,the artist, YOU decide how you want to “play”

Could it be that events and people in your life don’t seem to be “real” Are you “out of step” or are they in a different “play”

Your life is your own, your very own work of art……. Life is Art. you get to decide if you cut corners, if you do, it is your life you will affect, you decide whether you live in shades of gray, or whether your world will be full of colour. We can’t always control events that happen in our lives, but it is our decision, how we react, and assimilate the energy around us.

It may take some doing, but with determination, quiet meditation, you can find balance in your day. One must know unhappiness/sadness to appreciate and treasure the happy moments.

I found my creativity in SL yesterday, the virtual world this month is full of haunted places to visit. By end of day the colour was back … I was relaxed.

Blessings -Today and Always MAKE TODAY YOUR DAY!

photos- SL -by Q

avatar makeups – Style by Kira, hair, Vanity Hair, Pixivor black > sarouel pants by [Bubble} > top by Ruxy >shoes,Dakota

url for DarkDhama Haunted Manor http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Benten/80/216/29

Written

on October 27, 2013

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Shadows and light

A photographer, I’m in love with shadows and light, they can do amazing things to an otherwise ordinary “picture”
How we perceive our lives is also often coloured by the “shadows and light” in our minds.

Take time very day to “view” your ” situation” in various light, shading, and angles, the complexities of life can be awesome, or dreary, it is all in how you “view” them.

PL teaching > Let’s be Simple and Straight Forward with Our Expressions. If you hold your feelings in, you will always be filled with worry. Always make efforts to express yourself freely so you can live with a clear state of mind.

Good Morning Everyone! Bring the LIGHT into your life, start your day with a SMILE

photo -by Q

Written

on October 26, 2013

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Appreciation

One day follows the next. With the cooler weather, now when you are walking around downtown, the outdoor patios are taken down, the street huskers have gone inside, and the market vendors are dwindling down to the the last of the ” die-hards”. People are hurrying rather than lazily taking in the day, and some are already bundled up warding off the cold.
We can look out at the world or we can participate.

Mishirase > Divine warning, in the form of an illness, a misfortune, an accident, pain or suffering

PL teaches about “Mishirase”, which appears in our lives in the form of illnesses, injuries, hardships and natural disasters. These Mishirase that could be considered unlucky, are in actuality, warnings given by the “Universe” to show us that we are having a poor understanding of the “material/info” that we are being given, thus, we have difficulty expressions our “true” selves. God may be showing us that we are overly attached to our own thoughts and are expressing ourselves “unnaturally”

Human beings are born with the ability to experience pain so they can avoid pushing their bodies beyond natural limits. If you bend your finger too far back, you will experience pain, a warning that to continue to push your finger past the point of pain would result in a broken finger. In the same way, the “pains” we experience in life are “reminders from “God” that you are pushing something beyond what is natural.

Who belongs to the face that is looking out, or back at you? In Canaille’s picture, you see her, you can tell she is a dog, if you look really hard, you can see Velcro in the background. But the picture is of Canaille, its a face, who is she, and what does the face tell you/us. I ask only because I have been faced with seeing the face that looks back at me every day. Does the face you see, really tell you about who a person is, or was. Yes I say was, because in life, whether we want to or not, we are constantly changing, some changes we orchestrate ourselves, others are made for us.

For instance, can you tell when you look at me now that I was one of the first “Eurasians” (not even a term heard today in 2013) in television back in “my day”… I was a model, it was live TV, we had to run off stage and change behind a (barely private) screen. My hands opened and closed a weekly show, each slice of bread was a credit. I was Miss Jade East, somewhere there is a photo to attest to that. Media was different back then. I’ve written for magazines and journals that are simply non existent now. Too short for the high fashion runway, I was also considered too short for the assignments in the fashion houses, however my “look/beauty” was exotic for that time/period. I was too young to know that I was part of a ground breaking era, television was new and exciting business to be in. I simply lived it.

Living in the moment has been a super huge blessing in my life. When one lives in the moment there are a lot of advantages in life, we live the moment and we move on. Because we appreciate each and every moment, often the past is really “history” for us, and when we look back at what was, or what “personality/character” was playing the leading role, it is often with interest and curiosity, much like watching a rerun on television.

While out with a friend, she took a picture of me and later sent it to me. That was weeks ago now, I’ve actually looked at it a few times now, each time I look at it, I wonder who I was on that day. I look familiar, but I can’t say for certain it is me. Yet physically it is, I’m sure Christianne didn’t snap a picture of a stranger that happened to be in her space at the time..

When I read the Pl teaching – Let’s first Accept and Appreciate Things as They Are. Even when dealing with someone you don’t like or when you are facing an uncomfortable situation, take a moment to first accept whatever comes your way. There is always something that you can learn from these situations. I take a look at Canaille’s picture, and of the one Christianne sent me, and muse out loud to you, hmmm is this woman really me, Can I accept and appreciate all the “things” she is to me? A good meditation for me today.

Thank YOU for sharing this moment with me… sigh, OK, I’ll post the picture of me. why not… I have to stop hiding from the face that other’s see.

Drat haven’t found or learned how to make the picture smaller when I load it. (see the part of me that wants to control is being over ridden by the Power that IS..)

UNBOUNDED BLESSINGS – now and always

photo of Canaille – Q

photo of Q -Christianne M (Kemptville)

Written

on October 25, 2013

Did you know?

If you rub a potato on your snow goggles before you start your descent, do it when you get on the ski lift. rub raw potato over the goggles, and your ride down should be nice and clear.

Out of silver polish, take a few potatoes and boil them up. Remove them from the water and save them for another use. Put your silverware in the potato water, let it sit for about an hour, then remove the silverware and wash. Tarnish should be gone.

One more. Use slices of raw cold potatoes over your eyes, to make the puffiness go away.

Calorie free uses of the multi- purpose potato.

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/66639269459829037/ come on now, click on the link, let me take you to a different place…..

Lessons can be learned through awareness. If you think of the hardest thing for you to do and how much you resist it, then you are looking at your greatest lesson at that moment. don’t let resistance stop you from making changes. Observe yourself, watch how you resist, then go ahead anyway. Here are some non verbal clues, of how our actions often show our resistance… Changing the subject >> Leaving the room >> Going to the bathroom >> Being late >>> Getting sick >> Procrastinating by doing something else, doing busy work, wasting time, etc….

Then of course there are the verbal clues – “I’m waiting for the stars to say it’s OK….>>>>>>> This is not the right environment >>>>> “they ” won’t let me change >>> It’s all “their” fault.>>>> how many more can your fill in here.

Oh and let’s not forget the self concepts >>> Too old >>>>Too young >>>> Too fat>>>> Maybe its just all too much >>>> and if we are honest with ourselves, there are the delaying tactics, denial and fear. Truth is… the process begins the moment we begin to think about making a change.

TAO ..The only constant in life is change …

PL .. Have the courage to take the first step. break free, start something new… believe in yourself and take the first step…

Travel on past the line of trees…

Have a great day, set your mind free…

Good Morning everyone! =^_^= one potato, two potato, three potato, four.… Give me a hug, and I’ll want more! Now to church I’m going, I’m out the door!

picture 1 is from Pinterest, Picture 2, was taken by Q

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Spiraling out of control

Have you ever had the feeling that you were spiraling out of control. That even though you were standing still, life was just whirling past far too quickly
We live in a world that is rapidly changing ..
We get used to certain constants in our lives, and then, one day you wake up, look around, and life is not really the same at all.
How do we continue to keep up and evolve with the different trends of society, do we really need to continually strive to broaden our horizon.

Sometimes yes. Sometimes no.

One of the aspects of being a member of PL is that PL responds to problems in our daily lives, by offering personal consultations. I treasure this opportunity to have one on one with the minister. The Minister(s) is/are always there for private consultations. WE, each and every one of us, travels at our own pace. Having the ability to touch base personally regarding the various stages and phases of our spiritual life journey is one of the “unique” services provided by church.

PL offers Personal guidance, to help us keep in tune with the Times. You can receive consultation from a PL minister for any kind of problems or situations. You receive personal guidance tailored to your individual character and situation. Each one of us has our own unique personality and life style. Therefore, it is different for each individual how they would practice the true way, or how they would seek happiness.

Happiness is built by establishing wishes and goals, and then working towards achieving them in your daily life.

Oshieoya-sama has put his Shikiri prayer into PL Consultations. – PL ministers and Hokyoshi are sworn to confidentiality, If something is not right in your life and you are not happy, or you are not enthusiastic about something, feel free to ask your minister or Hokyoshi (assistant Minister) for a PL consultation. The church is here for YOU.

photo-SL virtual art -Q

photo -PL prayer symbol (Aramitma) courtesy Ana in Spain

Written

on October 16, 2013

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Greet Everyone with a Smile!

The basic building block of human relationships is greeting one another. Be the first to greet others cheerfully. A cheerful outlook can be such a “positive” to those around you.
This “otterly” delightful “Tiny” is Muttley, she never failed to bring smiles to those who shared time with her or in her sphere. I tried to find the picture I have of her with a big smile plastered on her face. Couldn’t, but.. did find this one.

Although I have not seen Muttley for awhile now, I will never forget her because of the personality she shared with me whenever we met. She always made me smile. That is a special quality.

In PL, we believe that a positive outlook, can influence the mood of people around you and keep things upbeat.

“My philosophy is that not only are you responsible for your life, but doing the best at this moment puts you in the best place for the next moment” Oprah Winfrey