I remember programming Conways's game of life on a BBC micro in the early 80s. I was fascinated by the way the patterns defined by only a few simple rules could have such, well, life in them! Here is a web based version of the game that let's you set up patterns and watch them evolve. It also lets you play with the rules and see how that effects the game. Enjoy! http://www.ibiblio.org/lifepatterns/

This entry was posted on March 3, 2007 at 1:24 PM and has received 1117 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

Several people asked me for a list of the songs that I played at Trance Dance on Friday. There was a lot of different music including new age, german heavy metal, french rap, kabblistic chaos and more! The lists are below. Enjoy!
- Michael

Warm up tracks:

5 Rhythms tracks::

This entry was posted on February 25, 2007 at 9:00 PM and has received 528 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

Being present and honest has helped me greatly in my relating! The key to good sex and relationships is honest communication - but how often do we get to learn how to communicate honesty in a safe environment? -  but how often does it happen and

why is it so hard? Most people are afraid to be totally honest. They fear damaging relationships by creating conflict, or hurting another's feelings. But, learning to attend to your own here-now experience rather than worrying about the outcome, uncovers the real source of personal power and self-trust. This workshop will help by experiencing out the difference between thinking,
feeling, and noticing You will practice speaking honestly and noticing how language  affects the way we communicate. Engaging games & exercises make this workshop fun too! Whether your interest in communication is for polyamory, S/M, coming out or other relationship reasons this workshop will help.

Cost: Free (donations accepted to cover snacks and drink)
Date Sat 2/24/07 7pm - 9pm

Note this is a CPN event that is open to the pubic

This entry was posted on February 24, 2007 at 5:30 PM and has received 1465 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

Are you experiencing creative block? Can't get motivated on your art or craft projects? Lost your enthusiasm for writing? If so, these ten terrific tips will help refresh your imagination and revitalize your creative spirit! (At the very least, they should inspire new thinking in those creative pathways of yours.) 

Some good tips here
http://www.chrisdunmire.com/creativity/tips.shtml

This entry was posted on February 20, 2007 at 4:36 PM and has received 1035 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

Many of you saw the one minute movie that I made with fellow artists David 
Alde and Amy Tailor (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaHT___aDOY )

I will be making some more one minute videos on Saturday 2/24/07 2pm - 
5pm at my house in Rockville MD
It will be fun. You don't need any experience in acting, directing or 
photography - just show up and
be prepared to experiment! The last time was a lot of fun!

We will upload the videos we make to YouTube to share with others

You could make a fun movie, a music video or perhaps an  
instructional video on how to ask and how to say no (and how not to do it!)

This entry was posted on February 20, 2007 at 4:35 PM and has received 805 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

Do you relate openly or do you tend to use “self-protective control patterns”? Take this 12 question quiz to get some clues!

1. After a first or second date, if my date asks, “Do you want to get together again soon?” and I do not want to see this person again, I would probably say “Yes,” and then call later to cancel.

Continued (and rate your answers) at:
http://www.susancampbell.com/datinghelp/quiz.html

This entry was posted on February 18, 2007 at 11:35 PM and has received 1232 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

This week 2/21 the Wednesday gathering is at my house in Rockville. I have just been watching the Oprah
shows on The Secret (http://www.secret.tv) and it reminded me of all the things that I am grateful for.
So this week I will hold a gratitude circle at 6:30pm where we can all express what we are grateful for.

Here are some things I am grateful for in this moment.
I am grateful for all the different spiritual communities that I am in and all the people that are in them. I am
grateful for everyone who came to play with desert on me the other week. I am grateful for all the people who
have traveled to my house for Wednesday gatherings. I am grateful for the number of
posts about presence and honesty last week and for the insights that I got while reading other people's
posts. I am grateful for Sarah explaining what a frame for a word's definition is. I am grateful for David Alde
buying the shopping and cooking the Wednesday dinner. I am grateful to Alan for installing a new light
in the Sandbox room. I am grateful for the depth and number of hugs that David Hollies has given me. I am
grateful for Jeremiah and Jolie giving such wonderful healing at their workshop Saturday - I released a lot
of pain and anger.

This entry was posted on February 18, 2007 at 11:25 PM and has received 1187 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

"You can heal your life" is a great book by Louise Hay about how we create our health (and sickness). The best part is the mega list of dis-eases and what they mean and affirmations to help with them. Here are ones I often have:

Jaw - anger, resentment

I am willing to change the patterns in me that created this condition. I love and approve of myself. I am safe.

Neck - Refusing the see the othe side of a question, Stubbornness, inflexiblity.

It is with flexiblity and ease that I see all sides of an issue. There are endless ways of doing things and seeing things. I am safe.

Shoulders - Represent our ability to carry out experiences in life joyously. We make life a burden by our attitude.

I choose to allow all my experiences to be joyous and loving.

This entry was posted on February 14, 2007 at 12:44 PM and has received 1894 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

This is a great event - I have been to it for the last 5 years. Lots of workshops, rituals, music, drumming by the nightly fire til dawn, sweat lodges, cool vendors to buy stuff from and a great location in 200 aches of Maryland countryside. About 500-800 people attend. Lots of creative and spiritual people. Very welcoming to all kinds of people. Doesn't matter what your beliefs are so long as you respect other's beliefs. You can go for just a day if you want to check it out. It is about 1 1/2 hour drive north of DC or 1/2 h north of Baltimore just off I-95.
- Michael/Michelle

Free Spirit Gathering, we thought you'd be interested to know that registration for FSG 2007 is now open. This year's dates are June 12-17. To register, go here:

http://freespiritgathering.org/fsg/registration.html

One of the changes this year is that we've instituted a partial-pay system. You can register now with a payment of just $75 per person. Then come back later (before registration closes on May 31) and pay the balance you owe. Consider it a layaway plan for gathering.

This year's festival will include musical performances by Kiva, Kenny Klein, Telesma and a new surprise act we'll announce later. Our featured presenters will be posted soon. And don't forget our great kids' programming, rituals, meet and greet (this year with pagan karaoke!) and sweat program.

Hope to see you there!

Blessings,
Cat Castells, Pesky Reg Elf®

This entry was posted on February 12, 2007 at 5:50 PM and has received 436 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

Do you hold on to stuck emotions in your body? Do you enjoy moving freely, uninhibited, to the sound of primitive rhythms? Do you want to go on a shamanic journey with others in a sacred space? Trance Dancing is easy to learn and releases stuck emotions from both mind and body. Plus it is fun to do! The focus is on connecting with self and spirit, not on how well you “perform”. To facilitate this we will dance in a darkened space. Join us as we dance to the five rhythms of the feminine, masculine, chaos, integrated and stillness. Dancing to stillness? How can that be? – find out at the dance! To help people get into the trance there will be no talking at this event once we start dancing. Wear fun clothes or bring scarves or to dance with.
Bring water to drink.

This dance is open to all (no dancing experience required). I will be facilitating the dance.

Suggested donation $10-20

- Michael/Michelle

Friday, February 23rd

This entry was posted on February 12, 2007 at 5:32 PM and has received 490 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.