This Year’s Renaissance Hunt and Faire in Second Life

In Italy, for thirty years under the Borgias, they had warfare, terror, murder and bloodshed, but they produced Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and the Renaissance. In Switzerland they had brotherly love, they had five hundred years of democracy and peace - and what did that produce? The cuckoo clock.

Orson Welles  

          So, after a few weeks of erotic art, storytelling, reading Tarot cards, and technical issues, I’m returning to more conventional fare about Second Life (SL) this week.

          Please don’t turn away when you read this because, this week, I’m visiting one of the most popular, exciting, and interesting annual events inworld, namely, the Renaissance Hunt and Faire put on by my old and good friend, Perryn Peterson.  (Yes, I do admit to a certain amount of bias here but after visiting this event for several years now as well as other productions of Perryn’s, I’m more than a little impressed by his work.)  This is the third one and as my recent visit will show will surpass its predecessors. 

          This year’s Hunt and Faire are earlier than usual running from September 1^st to the 30^th.  (Perryn is finally realizing he’s only human and is trying balance his workload.  Let’s see how that goes for him!)

          One recent evening, I rezzed into the Faire area to receive a personally guided tour of the site by Perryn himself before the official opening.  (One of the few perq’s of being a blogger inworld and a friend of Perryn’s.  Come to think of it, that’s just about the only perq.)  The poster for this year’s Faire is in front of me.  (Tattoo Lane has done another superb job.) 

          I’m greeted by Perryn attired for the occasion with his usual sartorial taste and elegance.  (I may not know how to dress properly inworld but my friends sure know how to or be undressed as circumstances require.)  We’re at the landing zone which is a Renaissance era ship.  We walk down the gangplank and are at the rebuilt entry plaza.  In a departure from previous Faires, several enterprising merchants are setting up shop here to greet hunters as they arrive.   

          As Perryn walks with me towards the town gate he explains that his SL partner, Mike Olbracht, has been busily redoing the landscaping for the event and “autumnifying” everything he can lay his hands on.  I’m happy to hear that Mike has returned hale ‘n hearty from his recent Real Life (RL) medical absence and is actively participating once again. 

          Returning to the Faire site for the third time makes me feel like I’m going back to an old neighborhood.  A feeling I get a lot these days inworld.  (Significant Other wants to know whatever happened to someplace new inworld every time I rezz in.)  There are many things the same but as Perryn is about to show me, there are many differences too.  Also, please remember that the Hunt and Faire is not a static place like a museum which moves exhibits around from time to time.  It’s a dynamic, living community where every day offers new variety and unexpected experiences.  What may once have been is no longer. 

          Coming through the gate, Perryn and I proceed in a clockwise direction around the sim.  This means the sea is to our left.  At the docks, Marcel Ghostraven, no relation, will have his fantastic ships.  He has also created as a prize a mesh peasants’ horse-drawn wagon which is well worth looking for. 

          As we stroll by the buildings where merchants are beginning to present their wars, Perry tells me that sixty-five to seventy vendors are participating this year.  Only one booth is still available at this time and he has multiple requests from vendors to participate.  In addition to the buildings, there are push carts and tents for the merchants’ wares. 

          Approximately, halfway through our walk, we come across my favorite part of the sim, the gypsy encampment.  (I have this fantasy of leading a gypsy caravan inworld with my friends someday. Hey, it’s my fantasy and a lot less crazy than some inworld!)  The colorful vardos of the gypsies are in place and their horses graze in a nearby paddock.  And there will be a Tarot reader here for those wishing to have their fortunes told. 

          The landscaping we encounter is as colorful, varied, and lush as any woodland scene from the Renaissance would be.  Mike’s additions of streams and ponds only accentuates the pastoral scene.  (Even if you care nothing about the Renaissance or hunts then come to see the landscaping for itself.  It’s among the highest quality I’ve seen inworld.) 

          Along the way, Perryn and I encounter a few other favorites of mine from this event.  There’s the Chained Library which goes back to the very first Faire when it was gifted to Perryn.  (I’m a writer, I love books, chained or unchained, no apologies.)  The maypole is still in place as is the galliard dance area where master animator, Cyneswith Luik has added a third Renaissance dance entitled “Black Nag”.  (A Youtube version can be seen.)  And, of course, the Foode and Meade Halle is there offering refreshments to the hunters. 

          For those looking for more active entertainment, the jousting lists and buskers stage are back as well. 

          Our wanderings eventually take Perryn and I back to the signpost near the town gate where we started from.  Perryn states that this year’s theme for the merchants participating in the Hunt is Robin Hood and Maid Marion.  Apparently, Wyvern Dryke will be the official Robin Hood for the Hunt along with three hundred or so wannabe’s. 

          As always there will be plenty of freebies and mini-hunts to keep everyone engaged. 

          I take my leave of Perryn and thank him for his time and hospitality.  He takes the Renaissance Hunt and Faire very seriously.  (As he does all his events.)  His attention to detail is considerable as I noticed when he pointed out the rubbish tip that had been added from last year to increase the realism. 

          I encourage everyone who can to visit and participate in the Third Renaissance Hunt and Faire.  SL is at its best when the people, their creativity, and camaraderie come together in inworld events such as this. 

          Maybe you’ll run into me there!  (Hopefully, that doesn’t scare anyone away.) 

          One last note, there are several new merchants participating this year.  I encountered some of their shops in my tour.  Miss Stormy Loraheet of Armoire, Mlle Ephe Luik and Ephemera offer women’s merchandise.  Miss Feyda Ann Ferryhill and Feyline Fashions offer men’s wear.  This is not an exhaustive list but merely those whom I encountered.  Please come and show these and the other merchants your support by visiting them and maybe buying some of their products. 

As always, I’m grateful to all inworld for their kindness and time in stopping to talk with a stranger who was passing through their lives. 

Below I’ve included a few links to pictures of the Faire site.  Pictures are fun but, trust me on this, go visit for yourself, see the place, meet the people, and have a great time!

I welcome feedback from readers, please either comment on my blog or e-mail me at webspelunker@gmail.com . 

          If you would like to read about my other adventures in Second Life please click here. 

 

Photo No. 1  Landing Zone

Photo No. 2  Renaissance Hunt III Poster (with credit to Tattoo Lane)

Photo No. 3  Registration Center

Photo No. 4  Town Gate and Faire Entrance

Photo No. 5  RVi Design Booth

Photo No. 6  Ships at the Docks

Photo No. 7  Merchants Lane I

Photo No. 8  Merchants Lane II

Photo No. 9  Jousting Lists

Photo No. 10 Landscaping I

Photo No. 11 Gypsy Caravan

Photo No. 12 Gypsy Encampment

Photo No. 13 Gypsy Horses

Photo No. 14 Chained Library

Photo No. 15 Mountain Stream

Photo No. 16 Maypole

Photo No. 17 Landscaping II

 

Erotic Storytelling in Second Life

After nourishment, shelter and companionship, stories are the thing we need most in the world.

Philip Pullman 

          This week’s story has not turned out as I’d originally hoped.  Lisah Lorefield , my Second Life (SL) friend had invited me to an erotica reading that was taking place in Utopia Naked Isle Resort at the VIP section.

          Always willing to support a fellow writer, I readily agreed and planned on attending.  Unfortunately, as this is becoming a regular aspect of my inworld life these days, things didn’t go as planned.

          I’ve written this story because I wanted to call attention to the efforts of Utopia to offer events for their members and the variety of activities taking place in SL which are different.  I also know that many of my readers enjoy my misadventures inworld.  (Significant Other believes they just want to see just how badly I can mess things up.)  So, I’ve decided to marry both of these up into one story.  You’ve been warned! 

          What should have happened was me attending an Erotic Reading at the High Cliffs in the VIP side of Utopia.  RickBear would be reading from one of his stories.  This sounded like a great opportunity to meet the Utopia VIP membership and hear from a fellow writer.  The High Cliffs is, as its name suggests, a high promontory that overlooks the beaches and surrounding waters at Utopia.  (It’s a beautiful view, VIP membership is well worth the views alone.) 

          So, here’s what happened instead.  After rushing home in Real Life (RL) after being out with Significant Other, I log into SL and head to Utopia.  I rez onto High Cliffs where Lisah and several others have already assembled.  (Interestingly, as a clothing optional resort, the audience is in various states of dress or undress.) 

          Everyone is chatting amicably. Then the reading begins.  Silence.  All I hear is the background music.  I IM Lisah and ask her if Rick has started yet.  (I feel badly for Lisah, I’m always reaching out to her when she’s around and I’m in trouble.)    She replies in the affirmative and politely inquires as to what’s my problem this time.  (Did I mention Lisah’s very patient?)  I next ask if she can hear the music too.  Her reply is what music.  If eyeballs could be rolled in SL, I’m sure Lisah’s would have been by now.  It’s one thing to hear things in RL that no one else does but when it starts happening to you inworld then you really have to begin to wonder about yourself. 

          I fumble around trying to sort things out.  I’m not making any headway and am beginning to attract attention as others ask me to turn my mike off.  Yep, I’m really making a good impression here with the VIP crowd. 

          Lisah suggests politely that I try relogging in.  Sounds good.  I’m sure she breathes a sigh of relief as I rez out.  I rez back.  Arriving at the High Cliffs again and I’m sure being disruptive. 

          Now, I can’t hear anything at all.  Music, speaker, nada.  Lisah tries giving me advice but I’m stuck.  I retry the logging back out and in. 

          Once again I drop into the middle of the reading.  (Sorry, Rick!)  Lisah continues to help me and offers advice.  (I really ruined her evening.)  I quickly realize that I’m probably the only person inworld who still uses the Second Life Viewer.  Lisah uses Firestorm and from her controlled response to my telling her what I use I suspect that I’m doing a good job of retaining my noobie status. (BTW, am I the only resident who thinks Second Life’s online help is useless?) 

          By now, the reading is drawing to a close.  The applause and congratulations in chat tell me this.  The audience members begin to leave.  From their responses, I gather that everyone enjoyed the story.  Rick read his story entitled Storm.  This story can be found at Rick’s blog.  His blog is registered as adult content and may not be NSFW but this story and others of his are there and I recommend dropping by to read them for anyone who enjoys erotica. 

          In hindsight, I probably came back too quickly from my recent technical problems and I hadn’t checked my equipment prior to joining the reading.  My bad. 

          I’d like to apologize to RickBear and the other attendees for disrupting the reading.  His performance and work deserve better than my slapstick meanderings.  I hope to see more of his work inworld. 

I also want to apologize to Lisah for ruining her evening and to thank her for all her help during the event and afterwards when she downloaded the Second Life Viewer and helped me diagnose my problems.  (The ones other than me.) 

          I’d also like to thank the owners and operators of Utopia for staging this Erotic Reading and hope that they do more.  (I promise I won’t be disruptive.)

To add to the fun ‘n frolic, I realize later that in my rush to attend the reading while undressing, I forgot to rez my genitalia.  So, I was running around looking like a eunuch.  My thanks to Lisah and the others for not pointing this out at the time.  Either that or people really don’t look below the belt in nudist resorts. 

As always, I’m grateful to all inworld for their kindness and time in stopping to talk with a stranger who was passing through their lives. 

Below I’ve included a few links to pictures of Utopia and people there.  Pictures are fun but, trust me on this, go visit for yourself, see the place, meet the people, and have a great time!

I welcome feedback from readers, please either comment on my blog or e-mail me at webspelunker@gmail.com . 

          If you would like to read about my other adventures in Second Life please click here. 

  

Photo No. 1  Lisah Lorefield

Photo No. 2  RickBear

Photo No. 3  Entrance to Utopia VIP Section

Photo No. 4  Utopia VIP Section

 

Erotic Art in Second Life (Part I)

 

Sex is dirty only when it’s done right.

Woody Allen

 

          Recently, my Second Life (SL) friend, Lisah Lorefield asked me if I’d be interested in visiting an erotic art gallery.  (Lisah and I only recently became friends, so please forgive her for not being familiar with all my interests.)  I replied in the affirmative and she suggested we visit Alanis Gallery Sensual Images at Xaara.    

          This story will be the first in a trilogy about erotic art inworld.  I’ve been meaning to write about a collection and an artist so Lisah’s suggestion gave me the idea of pulling these altogether.  During my travels across the Grid, I’ve seen much erotic art of very high quality and met artists of considerable skill.  These posts will be their story. 

Our departure was delayed a bit because of my recent technical problems.  (Significant Other asked what else is new.)  But I got past these and Lisah and I go off to visit the gallery. 

We rez into the main arrival area, a large rotunda at the bottom of a large open area.  (Don’t worry we both remembered to dress.)  Two galleries lead off to exhibits by artists.  A grand staircase hints of more exhibits upstairs.  Behind us the main entrance opens onto the streets.  Another entry way before us leads to a grand courtyard surrounded by other buildings in what I’m beginning to realize is a large complex.  Lisah shares a note card with me listing the various artists on display. 

Our purpose in coming was to view the artwork and display and see how artists are attempting to incite arousal through their representations of love-making. 

We begin with the gallery leading off to our left which contains the work of Sylvia Fitzpatrick.  She is also co-owner of the gallery and Xaara with Michael Seetan.  There are Real Life (RL) self-portraits of herself “exploring her submissive nature” as her show’s note card states.  These pieces are also for sale and anyone interested should contact either Sylvia or Michael.

Lisah and I then cross the rotunda to review the works of Graham Bishop and Richard Savage. 

Climbing the stairs brings us to the second floor where art work of Saturno Butto, Nero Grunstein, Emiel Drascoi, and Roger Woods is on display in three galleries and the rotunda outside these.  As on the first floor, many works in different mediums are on display and the size of the galleries avoids overcrowding typical of small galleries in places like Manhattan. 

Lisah and I exit onto an outside walkway where we pass pictures taken inworld.  We walk into an adjoining building where we work done by Joelle-Circe Laramee and Craig Morey.  Going upstairs we see the work of Gregory Brown which is the only sizeable collection with male subjects that we’ve seen since arriving. 

Despite the large numbers of paintings, drawings, and photographs that we’ve seen so far, Lisah assures me that there is a lot more to see.  Unfortunately, my time is limited and I’ll have to return in the future to see more. 

What we have seen so far is impressive.  Interestingly, women were mainly the subjects of the works seen with the few men present in secondary roles.  Lisah and I talk about the different responses of men and women to erotic art and how they view it respectively.  I don’t think we make any startling breakthroughs since everyone including Freud, and Masters and Johnson have tackled this question and no one seems closer to an answer.  But, it is an enjoyable way to pass the time as walk along viewing the art work. 

Another aspect of the work on display is that not much would be considered hard core by today’s standards.  Erotic and sensual but not in an in your face manner.  (Although, I do learn that Lisah and I may disagree on what erotic and sensual means.  Probably, goes back to my last comment about Freud.) 

I’m not an art critic (Significant Other is my reference here.) and I’m not trying to turn this story into a gallery catalogue so I’m staying away from commentary on individual works.  (I want my readers to laugh at my stories because they’re funny not because I failed to be serious.)  What I do want to convey is the depth and breadth of what is on display at Alanis and the high caliber of the curating work done to arrange the exhibits.  Anyone interested in erotic art in SL should see these exhibits.  I strongly recommend it. 

I’d like to thank Lisah for her recommendation and taking the time to show me the exhibits and putting up with my running commentary on art.  (Which I’ve spared my readers.)

I have included links below to pictures of Lisah and Alanis.  I haven’t included any of the pictures displayed because they’re copyrighted and I didn’t secure permission to use them in advance.  Also, I could never do these justice.  Go see them for yourselves in the right environment in the right manner.

Some of the artwork displayed can be purchased.  Please contact either Sylvia Fitzpatrick or Michael Seetan for details.    

As always, I’m grateful to all inworld for their kindness and time in stopping to talk with a stranger who was passing through their lives. 

I welcome feedback from readers, please either comment on my blog or e-mail me at webspelunker@gmail.com . 

          If you would like to read about my other adventures in Second Life please click here. 

 

Photo No. 1  Lisah Lorefield

Photo No. 2  Alanis Gallery Arrival Area

Photo No. 3  Alanis Gallery Front Entrance

Photo No. 4  Alanis Gallery Courtyard

Photo No. 5  Alanis Gallery Central Staircase

Photo No. 6  Alanis Gallery Overlooking the Gallery

Photo No. 7  Alanis Gallery Adjacent Building

 

Back from the Wilderness! (Part IV) - I Return to Second Life

Not until we are lost do we begin to understand ourselves.

Henry David Thoreau  

          Those of you who have been following my blog for a while probably remember last year when my hard drive crashed and I went into the Wilderness for a few weeks.  I wrote about Second Life from the perspective of being on the outside among its Diaspora.  (Think of an Edward Snowden who’s not being looked for by the FBI and US drones.)  Eventually, I replaced my machine and came back in from the Wilderness. 

          Well, you know how it is, last week I was sitting there happy about recovering from my loss of Internet access (Significant Other says I was being smug.) and wham-o, my replacement machine goes on the blink. 

          Once again, I’m back to where I was eighteen months ago with the only machine available to me with a SL viewer was down for the count and sitting in a repair shop.  What to do?

          Fortunately, I had already done my inworld research for my latest story about attending a Tarot reading inworld.  But, how to stay in touch inworld with friends and distribute my story’s link was my problem. 

          mysecondlife.com was not a satisfactory solution because it’s not interactive enough for me.  I needed something better.

          Just before my latest incident, I’d made a new friend inworld.  Her name is Lilly Marie.  We met in Utopia Naked Isle Resort after I’d written my story about the sim.  I went back to follow-up on the sim’s progress and meet some friends.  I’d noticed this gray avatar with a female form hanging around the dance floor.  Someone told me that she was unable to use a PC and was using a phone to access SL. 

          Always one for a potential story, I introduced myself to Lilly and learned her story.   Her PC had broken and she wouldn’t be able to replace it for a while but had wanted to stay in touch with her SL friends.  She had come across an app for her smartphone and used it.  The solution wasn’t perfect.  (She was just a gray avatar surrounded by nudists after all.)  She could only use text, couldn’t interact with anything or anyone, and using the phone’s keyboard slowed things down a lot.  But, Lilly was with her friends and they tried to compensate for her difficulties by including her in conversations.  (Another example of how SL communities try to help their members.) 

          I filed this piece of information away in my mind (Yes, I do have one.) and didn’t much of it.  That is until I found myself in similar straits. 

          Since I use an iPhone 5 in Real Life (RL), I checked the App Store and came across an app called Pocket Metaverse Pro.  The price was only $4.99US, so I figured let’s go for it. 

          I purchased the app and downloaded the app.  I then proceeded to try to log in.  This is when I learned about the vagaries of SL names.  Unfortunately, the app didn’t come with directions.  (Or, if it did, I haven’t discovered them yet.)  After about half a dozen tries, I was back in SL. 

          I was able to communicate with friends more easily than with mysecondlife.com.  Multiple chats are hard as with my large fingers I struggle with the keyboard.  Movement is awkward.  This may be a poor analogy but I couldn’t help but think this is what it is like to be blind in RL. 

          According to the user feedback on the product’s website, it’s not being kept current and some functionality that had existed in previous editions no longer works.  I suspect the falling off of the developers’ interest parallels the plateauing of SL interest in RL.  But I was back in albeit with limitations. 

          Meanwhile, my machine was repaired and returned to me yesterday.  I got back inworld the old fashioned way.  This has me thinking.  Accessing SL is difficult.  Since its inception over ten years ago technology (e.g., smart phones, tablets, etc.) has moved forward but SL is pretty much where it started from a technical perspective.  This isn’t sustainable. 

          The smart app I purchased has its uses but it’s not a panacea.  Anyone looking for a mobile solution and is willing to live with its limitations should take a look. 

          But, I’m back!  (I’m sure that’s going to send everyone scurrying away.)  I have to sort out my schedule and catch up on a few things I fell behind on.  See you around the Grid! 

          I’d like to thank Lilly Marie for her recommendation and wish her the best in coming back soon to SL. 

As always, I’m grateful to all inworld for their kindness and time in stopping to talk with a stranger who was passing through their lives. 

I welcome feedback from readers, please either comment on my blog or e-mail me at webspelunker@gmail.com . 

          If you would like to read about my other adventures in Second Life please click here. 

A Tarot Reading in Second Life

This is your karma. You do not understand now, but you will understand later. The source of pain is within your own larger expression of being.

H. Raven Rose

            Second Life (SL) has been a dynamic, changing environment for me.  Recently, I’ve made two new friends inworld under different circumstances which led to an opportunity for a new experience for me as well as for one of these friends.

            I’d written a story about a visit to the Regency Era in SL a short while ago. One of my hosts while I was there was Merry Chase.         We became friends.  Afterwards, I learned that she performed Tarot card readings inworld.  Having written about Tarot in SL once before, I was intrigued because Merry uses an actual deck inworld during her readings. 

            We agreed to permit me to do a story about an inworld reading.  Merry asked if I wanted to be the subject.  I suggested that we have a third party so that I could focus on the reading and be impartial.  She recommended that I select the subject or querant to avoid any perceived conflicts of interest on her part. 

            That’s where my second new friend comes in.  In another story (You see the pattern here.)  I wrote about a new, nudist sim, Utopia Naked Isle Resort.  Shorlty afterwards, I became friends with one of its managers, Lisah Lorefield.  (Yes, the very same Lisah Lorefield whom I stood up last week when I lost Internet access.)  Being an open minded and inquisitive person, good qualities to have when being a friend of mine, Lisah readily agreed to being the querant for Merry’s Tarot reading. 

            Once we all agreed to participate, we scheduled the reading and we were off.  I’d like to point out that Merry normally charges for a Tarot reading.  She kindly did this one on a complimentary basis.  The reading would take place at Merry’s Tarot center inworld. 

            Merry is an experienced Tarot reader having done them in Real Life (RL) for over twenty-five years.  She has done seventeen readings in SL.  Merry has traded readings with really good RL Tarot readers, people who have designed decks for sale.  She knows the business.  Merry has many interests inworld mainly focusing on historical themes such as the Regency Era and 1920’s Berlin.  (Where she finds time for all this is another story beyond the scope of this story.) 

            Lisah had never had a Tarot reading before in either RL or SL and approached it with an open mind.  (Don’t worry, we didn’t shock Merry’s Regency values as both of us were properly attired for the reading.  Although Lisah did extend an invitation for Merry to visit Utopia.) 

            For the reading, Lisah and I meet Merry under a gazebo she’d built (Merry is a very versatile woman.) the day before for this occasion which overlooked the sea.  Merry is not in her usual Regency attire but has affected a New Age look for her Tarot activities.  We sit on pillows on the ground around a deck of cards in the middle. 

            One point before we begin.  A Tarot reading is a private and personal matter.  Some feel a Tarot reader is akin to a doctor or a clergy member with similar rules of confidentiality.  So, while I’m attending this reading, I’m there as an observer and as Lisah’s guest.  I do not participate and I will not write about the personal observations made by Merry.  Later, after some time has passed, Lisah and I may meet again and look back on the reading but not this time.  What we are doing is not a game.  This story talks about the session and how it’s conducted. 

            Lisa uses a standard seventy-eight card deck.  She opens by asking Lisah whether her reading would be about a specific question, or a more general overview of how things stand with her.  But the cards seem to have a mind of their own she adds.  Merry continues that sometimes when someone asks one question they’re answering another.  Merry says that it’s the same with SL or RL – one can ask about SL but it might turn out to be just as relevant to their RL.  Merry ends her opening that Lisah  can ask a specific question and can tell it to her or not, as she prefers.

            Lisah says that she does not have a specific question. 

            Merry next instructs Lisah to in her mind's eye, to take the cards in her hand and shuffle them and when she feels ready for Merry to deal them out, to let her know.

                Lisah says she’s done.

            Merry shuffles the deck and a pattern of cards appears on the ground in front of us.  She explains that this spread is commonly called the Celtic Cross, but she wants Lisah to think of it as her home; a house of cards.

            Merry begins her reading of the cards.  She says that the first card we look at, the center, is Lisah’s hearth.  It's at the heart of the matter, just like her fireplace is at the heart of her home. 

            Lisah nods in agreement. 

            Merry describes the significance of the card.  Since this card is covered by another, she uses a web link to bring up its image.  She reminds Lisah to interrupt her at any time she needs her to slow down or to explain something.   

The next card, across her hearth, is the kindling Merry says, describing that it's a catalyst that gets things going.  It could be an obstacle or challenge or just a spark that ignites the situation.

Merry explains that the best hope for the cards as we progress is that they provide a helpful insight or meditation, whether happy or not.

Merry says that next we look above Lisah’s hearth card and that of course is her mantelpiece card where she places things of value or significance are placed that she wants to keep in sight.

Lisah says she is curious and wants to continue and understands everything so far. 

Merry goes on and says we know the kind of stuff we put on the mantelpiece, portraits of loved ones, cherished objects, trophies, things to remind us of goals or memories.  She explains what the card tells us we find for Lisah. 

The next card is Lisah’s hearthrug, where she stands in front of that fire.  It is not her foundation or even floor but just a hearthrug, easily changed.

Merry takes us to the next card known as the back door to see who or what has just left.

This is followed by a card to determine who is coming in the front door.  She explains that is the closest we get to a "prediction" in this reading.  The card tells Lisah of possibilities for the near future. 

Merry explains that the next four cards are a change of pace - looking at Lisah’s house via maps.  The four maps are from different perspectives – Lisah’s  own, those close to her, the world at large, and the Universe.

We go walk through each map starting with Lisah’s own map - her personal approach to the situation currently.

The next view is the map of Lisah’s house as family and closest friends see it.

Then the following map is the world, where we see what the big world sends.

Merry asks Lisah if she’s good so far. 

Lisah smiles and replies in the affirmative and says that she is impressed.

Merry replies, “Sweet!”  (Please note that I’ve been very quiet so far in this reading.) 

Now the last but not least as Merry explains is the Universe card and of course on its map Lisah seems very small.  (As we all do.)  But everything is connected so even the Universe has something specifically for her.  Merry turns over the card and explains its significance for Lisah. 

Merry has turned over and explained every card in the original spread.  Lisah has heard what the possible implications of this could be for her.  However, only she knows herself well enough to understand what it means. 

Merry goes back over the cards and looks for trends.  She explains these and asks Lisah if she has any questions.  Lisah replies that she has no questions and pretty much understands all the cards. 

Merry adds that the cards make a good basis for meditation so maybe in thinking about them in the next couple of weeks, more will make sense to Lisah.  Lisah says that it has more to do with her RL (maybe mixed up with her SL life sometimes).  Merry smiles saying that she finds usually readings span about that time - two weeks to maybe a couple months and that her readings seem to gravitate towards RL but that they can be about both.  She feels that she doesn't really think of them as separate - SL is something we real people do.

            The reading is over and I begin to ask my questions.  (What did you really think I was going to be quiet for the whole story?) 

            I begin by asking Lisah how does she feel after this reading?   

                She replies that is impressed adding that she came here with a neutral opinion.  Merry smiles upon hearing this saying how happy she is to hear both that Lisah was neutral, and that she was impressed.

My next query to Lisah is how does she feel about herself after this.   Merry cautions that she certainly doesn’t have to reveal anything personal.  Lisah responds that she understands what the cards say.

 I switch and ask Merry my next question.  How does she feel while doing a reading?

Merry responds that the way she sees it, the cards tell a story, and she reads the story, but the person who the story is about is the one who knows best what its real meanings are.  She continues that the cards are archetypes so they are things that happen in all lives at one time or another, but out of seventy-eight cards, these ones came up at this time and in these positions for Lisah, so she doesn't just parrot this card means this, that card means that. Merry tries to be open to the relationships between the cards and their varied shades of meaning, and maybe a bit of her own intuition.

I next ask Merry what do you think influences the cards? The querant or something else?

Merry replies that she really doesn't know the answer to that question.  Sometimes it creeps her out, how right-on a reading can turn out to be.  Out of the seventeen readings Merry has done in SL, she’s had fifteen right-ons in her opinion. 

I ask Merry if she’s been affected by these readings.

Merry says that she is affected in that she really enjoys it the same way she would enjoy writing a poem or making a little clay animal, it's got some of that creative charge.

The answer is not what I’m looking for so I continue if it’s either by being drawn to the quearants or something else.  Then Merry sees where I’m going.  She explains that, yes, there is that feeling of knowing intimate things about strangers, but she thinks that's something we all encounter to some degree in SL.  Our souls are already bared here more readily than in RL, and then we throw around these ancient archetypes and it can be very deep.

I then ask if there is there a difference between doing readings in SL and RL. 

Merry responds that, well, the weird thing is it's different but not as different as she would have thought.  She explains that she can't look in the querant's eyes, read body language, get those little clues as to how on-track she is but somehow …  Merry stops herself and asks me if I’ve had you had the experience of getting to know people really fast in SL, or sharing things here you might not share so readily in RL?  I reply affirmatively.  (I don’t one can be inworld and not have this experience. 

Merry continues that she thinks because we are here as "avatars," these disembodied spirits of ourselves, there is some sort of openness and truth to our communication even when we think we're only playing.  She says it's like we step into Dream Time. 

We have come to the end of the reading and our discussion about it and the SL aspects of it. 

Lisah and I have both made copies of the deck.  Merry asks me when I plan to have my reading and I promise to schedule one.  Merry’s RL doorbell rings and she has to leave us.  Lisah and I thank her again and we leave. 

Lisah and I do meet briefly afterwards to discuss the reading.  She’s very impressed by the reading itself and how Merry handled it.  I am as well but I’m also impressed by the inworld mechanics of the reading.  Anyone interested in a Tarot reading inworld has to see this. 

I’m asked by Lisah how it felt to sit through her reading when I wasn’t familiar with either her SL or RL.  I replied that I was there as an observer and not to comment on her private lives.  I want to write about the reading’s mechanics and how it worked.  We take our leave of each shortly afterwards. 

I would like to thank both Merry Chase and Lisah Lorefield for permitting me to join their reading and share it with my readers.  I hope my coverage is seen as serious by all and that Tarot is not simply a parlor trick. 

For anyone wishing a reading with Merry she can be reached by notecard inworld.  She does charge and her rates are as follows: 

One-Card Flash Insight: 250L

Three-Card Past-Present-Future: 500L

Five-Card Overview: 1000L

Seven-Card Horseshoe: 1500L

Nine-Card Mandala: 2000L

Ten-Card Celtic Cross In-Depth Reading: 2500L  (This is what Lisah received.) 

            Her Facebook page has more information and testimonials. 

            I’ve included links to pictures of Lisah’s reading. 

As always, I’m grateful to all inworld for their kindness and time in stopping to talk with a stranger who was passing through their lives. 

I welcome feedback from readers, please either comment on my blog or e-mail me at webspelunker@gmail.com . 

            If you would like to read about my other adventures in Second Life please click here. 

Photo No. 1   We Start

Photo No. 2   Merry Chase and Lisah Lorefield

Photo No. 3   The Initial Spread

Photo No. 4   Cards Turned Over

Photo No. 5    All Cards Turned Over