I went ot Reid and Marica's (Of Cuddleparty fame) workshop pn poly-mono relationships last weekend - it was very good. One idea I got from it is that both poly and mono are preferences of loving, like the type of music we prefer. Just because I like jaz doesn't invalidate that you like rock.

Also that one of the key wants of poly folks is freed to love and for mono folks it is security of their love. And that both can met if we work on increasing trust.  (which is a good thing for all relationships!)

And that for a poly-mono relationship to work all parties need to be skilled at relating and not taking stuff personally.
coments?

This entry was posted on September 29, 2007 at 5:31 PM and has received 1702 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

Sacred Sexuality Beltane is a great festival in northern Maryland. The next for next year are Thurs, May 1 to Sun, May 4, 2008. New this year are pre-conference set of intensives beginning Wed, April 30, in the evening and continuing into the next morning. These intensives will be an opportunity for attendees to get in-depth knowledge from select presenters. Registration will open in January 2008

I have been for the past five years and it is a lot of fun. More info at

http://freespiritgathering.org/beltane/index.html

This entry was posted on September 25, 2007 at 8:08 PM and has received 1765 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

Interesting article by relationship author Sharyn Wolf on fighting in a relationship suggesting that if you are stuck in a pattern of "always" fighting with your partner in a particular situation then get the fight out of the way beforehand. I would add the idea of doing the pre-fight in gibblerish too to avoid hitting more triggers on the way.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/blog/post/PLNKFX8HKN6Y0CTQ

This entry was posted on September 25, 2007 at 4:07 PM and has received 2019 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

This is a greet song about poly relationships called complications called "My boyfriend's girlfriend isn't me"

This entry was posted on September 25, 2007 at 3:52 PM and has received 1811 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

Good tips on PWYC or free theatre plus Karen's reviews at http://dctheatrereviews.com/review/karens-tips-tix/.

This entry was posted on September 20, 2007 at 9:57 PM and has received 1987 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

At my honesty salon last night we came up with the concept of levels of anger and how languaging affects how we feel. We had these levels:

• homicidal
• rage
• anger
• irritation
• peeved

There seems to be a big gap in levels between irritation and anger - any suggestions on what fits in there?

I wrote out similar levels for other emotions fear, sadness, happy, apathy, love and put them in a circle with levels from the center. Has anyone seen anything like this elsewhere?  Update 12/10/11 - I found this Plutchiks wheel of emotions:

This entry was posted on September 20, 2007 at 9:51 PM and has received 2071 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

Usually at group when someone has an issue to work with someone who is not present (eg their mother) on I ask for a volunteer to role play the other person so that the first person has someone to express their feelings towards. The volunteer doesn't have to say anything - just sit there, make eye contact and listen.

Last night a new group member said he thought this practice was unhealth for the receiver. Any thoughts on this?

What I came up with at the time is that when I receive for someone else that I notice that their emotions no matter how hot are on their site of the fence and that if I react emotionally it is due to my triggers. It has also helped me get over my fear of being with anger from others because I know if I breath and stay with them it will pass.

On the giver side I think it helps them really imagine that they are talking with their mother or who ever they are role playing. Of course the usual idea is that after group they will go to the real person and express themselves too!

This entry was posted on September 20, 2007 at 9:50 PM and has received 1880 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

How are you at expressing difficult emotions such as anger, sadness and fear with your partners or friends? And what about listening to others
express their strong emotions? How can we stay present to either other
in this process. Here are some questions on this:

1. Do you agree or disagree: It's never okay to feel angry!

2. Do you agree or disagree: If you feel sad, there is something wrong with you!

3. Do you ever have big mood swings? Describe what they're like.

4. Have you ever been confused about your feelings -like you knew you were feeling a strong emotion, but you didn't know what?

5. Have you ever said you were feeling one thing when, really, you were feeling something else?

6. Do you think it's important to understand what it is you are feeling? Why? What can happen if you don't?

7. Do you think there's something wrong with you if you don't always feel wonderful? Is it okay to sometimes feel blue? Why, or why not?

8. Are some emotions more difficult to express than others? Which are they? Why are they hard to express?

More questions at:
http://www.goodcharacter.com/BCBC/Emotions.html

This entry was posted on September 18, 2007 at 9:52 PM and has received 1893 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

I liked this quote:

"People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within."

When all is right in your world, happiness, love, and positive emotions and reactions should flow easily. It’s how you handle adversity – the unexpected and negative – that defines you as a person. Most people allow their environment and other people to dictate how they feel, what they say, and who they are. It’s the rare but special person who can rise above his or her surroundings to always show a positive inside. This unique gift isn’t happenstance.


>From Dr. David Hawkins’ program The Discovery http://www.nightingale.com/prod_detail~product~Discovery.aspx

This entry was posted on September 11, 2007 at 9:54 PM and has received 1010 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

Playa del Fuego is Burning Man festival in Delaware - a celebration of 
the spirit of radical self-expression, community, and participation. And 
plenty of music and fire art! Playa del Fuego is the burning event of 
the Mid-Atlantic Region.  Our Fall 2007 event will take place this 
October Columbus Day weekend,(10/4-10/8) from Thursday 5 pm through 
Monday noon. Tickets are $35 for 4 days (what a deal!) for camping. The 
cut off for online tickets is Friday, Sept. 14th at 9pm. 

More info at
http://www.playadelfuego.org/

This entry was posted on September 3, 2007 at 9:55 PM and has received 591 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.