Our Haven

The “New Skeptical Readers Haven” is where the Skeptical Readers of SL meet once a week to discuss the assigned reading for that week. Our discussions last an hour, and tend to fly by LOL.

If you’re not familiar with Second Life, here is a quick run-down of what it is: essentially, it is a 3-D manifestation of the internet in which individuals may create an ‘avatar,’

An overall view of New Skeptical Readers' Haven including Meditation Island.

or a 3-D character. The characters, once logged in to SL, can meet, talk and interact virtually with each other in real-time. Meetings of the Skeptical readers have had as many as 16 avatars participating in a discussion at once — it is a wonderful opportunity for everyone. I find it particularly beneficial, since real-time conversations with like-minded individuals on this topic is not possible for me in real life.

The Skeptical Readers Haven has a few features to it that I’d like to share with you here.

Discussion area: Pictured here are a couple of the little spots in our Haven. The ‘discussion area’  is just a bunch of couches in a circle so we can all “sit,” “talk,” and “see” each other. There is also a little area behind the discussion

This is where we 'sit,' and 'discuss' with each other in real-time.

The cozy nook behind the discussion area where you can hang out and relax by the fire!

area, which simply serves as a cozy place to ‘park your avatar’ as I like to say, while you browse a notecard that you might want to read while in-world, or check out an online resource while still logged in to SL. There are fun objects sitting around to interact with, including a teapot that will dispense ‘tea’ that you can ‘sip’ on during our chat, and a cookie tray on the coffee table that will dispense a fortune cookie that when clicked on, will tell you your fortune   I like to switch these things up a bit here and there, but you get the idea.

One of my favorite places to sit in our discussion area

Also in the same vicinity is another little nook for people to hang out in, one of my favorite spots to sit. It’s just a sunny sitting spot with two comfy chairs in it. Again, a nice little area to just hang out and chit-chat with someone while listening to the radio I have streaming.

Meditation Island is an area a bit set off from the building in which we hold discussions. It is, however, a resource that is meant for everyone’s use. On this island you’ll

A part of the Skeptical Reader's Haven, a peaceful little spot dedicated to meditation and meditation-related resources.

find a meditation hut, in which there are several meditation cushions, a meditation timer, and a board (a wall) that you can click on to get links to a few guided meditations to walk you through a basic, beginner meditation session.

Some of the meditation cusions and the board to click on for links to guided meditations.

There are also a couple of ‘meditation stones’ for anyone wishing to park their avatar in the ‘outdoors’ while listening to the audio, reading, or just needing to walk away from the computer for a bit. The plan is to change up some of the guided meditations that are linked to if I find anything that is relevant to a topic that is being covered in a discussion.

Just for fun, there are other things to play with here too, including twin virtual dogs “Banjo” and “Brioche.” Here’s Brioche scoping out a bird she wishes she could have for a snack, I’m sure. There are many objects to interact with here, including ones that will let you throw snowballs (and no, I don’t object to a little light-hearted snowball

There are many other objects to see and play with while visiting the Reader's Haven. Stop by and check them out.

launching here and there. After all, they’re not real and can do no harm!), hot chocolate, or ones that will direct you to web sites with relevant information. The scenery and objects get switched out every now and again to keep visits interesting. So be sure to swing by between discussions, too, just to play around with stuff!

See you there!