DARK MOON IS NOW A JUNGLE!

 Yes, Dark Moon is now a Central? South? American jungle! Who knows, maybe it is Amazonian. I did not try to be accurate here, I was going for the "feel" of the jungle. And Neph's animator has been in quite a few jungles in RL, as a matter of fact. One thing about the South and Central American jungles is that the waterways are the roads! So feel free to walk in the blackwater river. As you wander about, note the lovely plumaria trees, and bird of paradise plants by Logan Bauer and fern trees by Elicio Ember. Wildlife abounds, and there are fun things to do on the river, just watch out for the anaconda beneath the swing!

Toucans are one of my favorite birds! I loved seeing them in Belize. I worry about them sometimes because if a toucan's beak breaks, it will starve to death~! Neph's animator had a toucan friend named Pete who used to like his neck scratched by her : )

 And not to worry! Although the delicate stone pavilion of the old Dark Moon have been replaced by rustic planks, there are still many private places to dance with your sweetie. The rainforest is known for it's old growth hardwood trees. Fortunately, in SL we don't have to raze the jungle to the ground to harvest these trees!

As a matter of fact, up in the northeast of the land, there is this lovely view spot to sit and enjoy some wine. On the table next to the wine, you will find a book with information on the deforestation that is going on in South America, and Central American rainforests too. There is also botanical information about the herbal medicinal plants we might be losing. (I have no idea how this lemur from Madagascar got here! But I do know Jon Haskell made him!)

 You may find ruins about. This particular stone structure seems to be an ancient cuddle stone left by some previous civilization that was here before the grid! I unearthed it terraforming, just as I did the Mayan Calender! Make sure you get the notecard in the entry cave so you can find what objects to click on, such as the Mayan Calender. You already know what to do with a cuddle spot : )

 Oh, and make sure you have the correct windlight setting! I specifically set the sim to a full moon in humidity.

 You might run across some monkeys. I had to plant this domestic banana tree to keep them fed though. (Yes, Jon Haskell again, and the Jaguar, and various water birds in the rivers.)

 The jaguars, by the way, are sacred to the Yoruban Orisha (god) Chango! Mostly they sleep, so don't worry.

 An important surprise awaits you at this waterfall, and I will talk about that in a bit. As you can see below, there are lots of edible plants in the jungle. The fern trees put out delicious tender fiddles that I grill up for guests daily. Well, I grill them but Elicio Ember of Cerridwen's Cauldron Creations created this particular species of fern tree through her hard work of breeding!

 Just a tiny bit off the theme, this is what awaits you in the meditation cave these days. Hephaistos Semyorka has made a life like copy of her RL Tibetan Healing Bowls! Not only that, but she has recorded the actual tones from them! Be sure to either lie down, or sit and enjoy this kind of healing on Dark Moon.

 

 The canopy of the rainforest above plenty of places to soak or just rest on the river.

 In the north, I have added what I like to call the Afro-Caribbean Mesoamerican Rainforest Roost. Say that five times fast! This little hut on a platform is a tribute to the African Diaspora religions that were brought to the Caribbean, South & Central America, and even North America, with the slave trade. The combination of the earth based religions of the Native Americans, the Spanish Catholicism, and the African tribal spirituality is a wondrous and beautiful thing. I have even arranged a healing ritual. Click on almost everything here!

 This is a veve to Erzulie. If you are from New Orleans or Haiti you might know who she is, if you don't know who she is, you might get an idea from the shape of her symbol, or you could just click on the floor.

More rainforest medicinal information, and more on Voodoo in the books here.

 Now this is La Sirena in Spanish speaking countries, and Yemeya in the Yoruban. Click on this statue made by Burke Benoir of the B&B Bontanica. She has created lots of the sacred objects of Voodoo that you find around the Rainforest Roost. You will also find Alrunia Ahn of Madragora's work here. Although she makes medieval objects, I find a lyrical connection. The ancient European religions were earth based too. Casting circles, using herbs, chanting, drumming, healing rituals that dissolve the mind/body duality are all features of pre-Christianity. We all have a lot in common. Importantly, we had better remember this before it is too late.

 Here I am making an offering to the Orisha (goddess) Oshun, the Yoruba equivalent of Erzulie. Again, be sure to click on these offerings for information and chants. But here is the most important thing below.

By the waterfall, there is a contemporary Mayan vase. Please, if you do nothing else at Dark Moon, watch the hour long documentary that is linked there. Everyone is talking about the Mayan Calender and the end of the world, but what are the Mayans saying about it? Find out! This is an incredible and wise answer.

Come see the rainforest! http://slurl.com/secondlife/Dark%20Moon/106/243/23

Check out Madragora! http://slurl.com/secondlife/GMI%20Orlaith/201/92/23

Some of the special flowers by Logan Bauer at:  http://slurl.com/secondlife/Alternate%20Reality/142/140/55

For animals! http://slurl.com/secondlife/Extrem%20Island/174/50/26

And for your spiritual needs visit: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Night%20Whispers/241/214/3002

In case you need lovely fern trees: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Cerridwens%20Cauldron/128/72/984

Mayan Calender found at http://slurl.com/secondlife/Dynasty%20Land/204/206/1101

For various Mexican art try http://slurl.com/secondlife/Linda/138/207/26

WINTER AT DARK MOON BOG

Winter Has Again Come To Dark Moon

Yes, winter has come to The Bog! Neph takes off with her faithful fox carriers to see the changes herself, after her researchers have reported the seasonal changes. But Neph also goes to meet her love, Luco, at the Ice Palace in The Bog for a dance.

Through the Forest They Go!

 Neph gazes at the icicle forest as her foxes carry her to the Ice Palace.

Lovely Under the Full Moon

Her faithful foxes carry her on. Through the forest, up the river, and into the bog itself

The Moonfruit Trees Love the Cold!

Neph's trusty fox carriers protect her feet from the cold waters of the bog. She marvels at the growth of the Moonfruit Trees spreading through the bog, as other plant life seems to have died back. It seems also that the fungal growth produced by the now gone tuberplants seem to glow brighter, as if to encourage this bloom.

Snow Mounds

The land seems to be surrounded by snow mounds that protect the Bog from the harsh winds of winter, though the snow falls and melts into the crystal waters.

Finally to the Ice Palace!

But Luco is not there! As the foxes arrive at the Ice Palace, the prearranged place to meet her love, Neph sees Luco has not arrived yet, and with a whimsical abandonment, asks the foxes to continue to tour the land.

On Through an Ice Arch!

The foxes continue through the Bog to higher ground, and discover an ice arch... It seems to lead to the northeast of the land where there is a surprise!

Up the Incline

Neph waits patiently as her faithful foxes trudge upward to this new area. The waters are cold, but the sparkling beauty keep the three of then enthralled. The Ice Palace behind can wait!

An Igloo!

Apparently there are animals here, snow owls, polar bears, penguins, and yes, a warm cozy igloo! It looks inviting, but Neph must see more of the seasonal change and urges the foxes onward!

Off they go! Onward to more exploration. There is the river, and lo, the sound of wolves from just south!

Yes! Wolves! And Neph is concerned, though they do not seem to attack. The wolves and ravens have a pact, helping each other find prey in the cold of winter. The sound of the howling, the bird calls, and even snow owls in the distance, blending into the howling wind, make Neph feel free and wild...she is reminded of a past life when she was a unicorn.

Many know there were once Unicorns at Dark Moon, but few know that Nepherses Amat herself was a unicorn in a past life! Neph believes that her fear of dogs in this life is connected to what happened many years ago, another winter at Dark Moon!

Attacked by wolves in the cold of winter, the unicorn struggled to free herself! She knew they did not need her as prey, and deeply believed that peace was possible. This is what magic is about, after all.

Struggling to her feet, the unicorn got up! It did not take long, just all of her strength, for sometimes we are tested in these ways.

With all her might, she not only stood, but asserted herself, her glorious power and beauty, and kicking and screaming, showed the wolves just who she was! This was a unicorn not to be trifled with! In fact, it was the magic of her species that was capable of bringing many different kinds of creatures to Dark Moon!

But it was not enough to overcome her fate with the wolves bearing down upon her, the unicorn wanted true peace. As we all know, the unicorn's horn is a magical instrument. It is capable of purifying water even! So with this, the unicorn made friends with these wolves. And they to this day do not attack innocent beings that come to Dark Moon, for the wolves learned it is important to not just act instinctively, but to truly see the beauty in all creatures, the magic of the glistening snow, the call of the raven, the wisdom of the owl, the tenaciousness of the badger, and especially the grace of the unicorn!

The foxes had carried Neph halfway up the river, past the swans before she came out of her reverie. The daze of a past life is powerful! She looked around blinking. Now it was up into the forest.

 

It was back through the forest, and past her badger friends on the way to the dance at the cliff before Luco arrived to meet Neph. He showed up not at the ice palace, but just at the edge of the forest near the family of magical hinds. It was there that they danced beneath the full moon, happy in love.

Do not forget, Neph and Luco live here in this magical place called Dark Moon. And the magic follows then time and again, perhaps through lifetimes, once a unicorn, and who knows what else?

(Cozy Igloo by Manda Braveheart of Yellow Rose Designs: Custom Builders. http://slurl.com/secondlife/Locarno/73/144/1002)

Visit Dark Moon! http://slurl.com/secondlife/Dark%20Moon/86/170/20

DANTE'S INFERNO by Rebeca Bashly

Entrance to Hell

Through me the way to the infernal city: 

Thougt me the way to eternal sadness: 

Through me the way the way to the lost people

These are the opening words to Rebeca Bashly's Inferno, Dante's words. Bashly's build is a work of art that soars high above the Second Life grid, and high above most standards of art inworld! Yet be wary.This build is disturbing, very disturbing. The vision's of Dante's 14th century hell fly in the face of our time. I noted in particular the demonization of the ancient Greek creatures that later in the romantic period of art took on such noble character. Of course, Harpies, and The Furies have only been considered helpful in Dianic Pagan circles, certainly not the 9 Circles of Hell depicted by Dante.

Harpies Like the Gorgon Sisters

That vision of the world was fueled by the terrors of the plague and witchcraft, the ancient earth bases spiritual traditions persecuted, and their practitioners tortured and burned at the stake. But Dante is more concerned about your normal sinners: grafters, hypocrites, gluttons, and the like. At least the Pagans were merely condemned to Limbo (one of the more benign areas of Rebeca's build), because they were born too soon to have Jesus die for their sins. 

Lost Souls in Limbo

Gluttony

Virgil & I Survey Seers Being Punished

Hypocrites

The Greedy

One area that truly disturbed me was the River Styx. As a Dianic Pagan, I am ferried across these narcotic waters on a barge, led by the Dark Goddess Hecate, each Halloween. To many modern day Neo-Pagans, this is the highest holy day or Sabbat. It is a time of the ancestors, our New Year, the Blood Harvest. Consequently, the image of bloody waters where the condemned dead feed upon one another is horrific! This is my response, I felt the weight of history upon me, not as a Christian, but the history of women murdered as witches as the result of this kind of belief system. I felt the sacrilege of demonizing the Greek immortals. In fact, I find it interesting that Dante chose a Greek motif for hell; basically unbelievers punishing sinners? Of course Dante was inspired by Virgil. And of course, ultimately the bastardization of The Great Horned God being propagandized into Satan.

Cannibalistic River Styx

Of course you MUST see this build! Rebeca Bashly's work is amazing! It will disturb sinner and saint alike! Though what is important here is that Dante is memorialized. Those unfamiliar with the work, or that century, will get a real feel of the terror, and the darkness of the times. Those familiar with Dante's Inferno, will need no other explanation. So stop by this incredibly meticulous work of art for a tour led by Virgil, and teleport to each of the Circles of Hell. If nothing else, it will make you very happy to be living in the 21st century! But none of these pictures do justice to the sheer magnitude of Bashly's work. You just have to immerse yourself.

Meeting Mr. Big

Here is your link to the INFERNO! http://slurl.com/secondlife/LEA6/96/162/625

THE MEEROOS AT DARK MOON

Yes, there are now meeroos at Dark Moon. I swore I would never introduce breedables to my Second Life, but guess what? The meerroos introduced themselves to me. Just as Dark Moon is an ancient ecosystem endemic to SL, so too are meeroos the very first indigenous animal species. Consequently, it is not at all surprising that many have migrated to Dark Moon.

 

 The meeroos seem to prefer the highlands, we have found. So it is there that my research team set up a garden in which to study this lifeform. At first we suspected that the meeroos would run off into the hills, but lo~ they do indeed like the berries we have been providing.

Also brought to my attention, by the research team, was the existence of wild meeroos that only very occasionally would peer into the garden enviornment, as if to see what our now tamed meeroos were up too. We thought they might begin to steal food, but that turned out not to be the case. If anything, the wild meeroos have lured at least one of our research subjects out to the wild.

There is a folk story among the breeding community. Once I got ahold of this story, I was quick to share it with both my research team, and these highly intelligent animals. What follows is one version of the legend:

Once upon a time there was a little autumn coated meeroo who had very low regard (as you most likely know, SL breeders have become competitive and rank their meeroos in regard). This little autumn felt unloved and abandoned. Adding insult to injury (or so she thought at the time), the little autumn coat was released to the wild! Now many captive meeroos have heard rumors that the wild is a very unpleasant place, that "Out There" they will starve, that no one will pet them and they will have NO regard at all! So needless to say, the little autumn coat was terrified to find herself out on her own.

 The little autumn wandered forlornly through the forests and down the paths she found feeling very dejected. But suddenly, upon coming around a bend, the little autumn coat met a unicorn. She was quite surprised by the unicorn greeting her too! The unicorn could see the little autumn was terrified and quickly reassured her. He told her how there was not only a whole community of released meeroos like herself, but that the wild meeroos still lived in the hills, and that these wild ones graciously accepted ferrals into their midst. Not only that, but the unicorn pointed the way to one encampment he knew of.

The little autumn coat followed the unicorn's instructions and soon found herself entering a large glade in the forest...AND IT WAS FULL OF MEEROOS! Some bounded up to her curiously and welcomed her! The whole glade was ringed with wild berry bushes and all the meeroos there were eating and dancing and breeding! Basically having a very good time!

Soon the little autumn coat was befriended by a gang of other autumn coats (and one ursine) who began to explore the wild together. In fact, it was this very gang that discovered an new berry more delicious than any other berry, more delicious than any berries they had ever been fed in captivity! So our little released autumn coat lived happily ever after.

Now it is my policy to read this story to my captive meeroos, and my research team and I often give them the option to be released. We carefully instruct them that the helpful unicorn lives just south of the garden, through the fairy arches . . . however, we don't really tell them about that special wild berry, because we are afriad they might all leave then, and who would we study?