Esmiel Posthorn – Profiles, Emoting and Death by Cobra - Seersha Heart

            There are many colorful characters in SL.  All you need to do to find one is keep your head up, perv some profiles and listen to local when you can follow the conversations.  I was researching Emoting for “Trouble Communicating n SL – Instant Messages [IMs] – A Complicated Process” when I discovered Esmiel Posthorn’s dormant blog.  I love his style of writing as well as how he puts together a story.  As I read more of his blog I knew I had to share some of his thoughts with more people.  In this article you will learn all about him, from his favorite murder weapon and first SL exploits with Xcite! to his thoughts on profiles.  I hope you enjoy our conversation, I think Esmiel is a kick!! 

Seersha Heart:Welcome Esmiel thank you so much for joining me today.  I have a lot of questions for you.  Tell me how did you

first come to be an SL resident?

EsmielPosthorn:  Hi Seersha, thanks for asking me along!  My RL boyfriend (now husband yay!) set up an account for some reason or other way back in maybe October or early November 2006. I had a look over his shoulder a few times and figured it seemed kinda fun, so I set up my own account. We hung out together for a while, but he stopped playing quickly - I don't think he found as many cool places or interesting friends here as I did. Since then I've fallen deeper and deeper down the rabbit hole..

Seersha Heart:Your writing has a real comedic frankness; can you share any stories of what you may have done as a newbie that make you cringe now?

EsmielPosthorn:  Oh dude. Awful clicky sex with Xcite parts - remember those? Can't believe I used to be a fan of those parts! Apart from that, just everything - how I looked, how I acted. Not knowing how to click properly so sitting on danceballs and that kinda thing.

Forgetting to attach my butt for a threesome so the guys had nothing to put their (BLEEP) in. Good times.

Falling in love too easily with random people. Happened a few times, it's easy to get carried away when you're presented with a perfect, masked representation of someone.

Being perfect myself didn't help much either when it came to people falling for me..

Seersha Heart: [/me picks myself off the floor where I laughed until I cried listening to Esmiel’s last answer] I may laugh myself to death before we finish Esmiel!  Do you think you will ever post to your blog again?

EsmielPosthorn: I've been reading back over it since you contacted me and it's been making me very nostalgic; I had some great times writing for that blog, but I think if I ever wrote again, it would be for a new one. There are so many blogs out there now, I wouldn't attempt to create one until I'd found a niche nobody else was writing about.

It would be good to shed the awkwardness of the past and do something fresh and interesting. But what to write about?

Who cares about personal stories and interests these days when everyone just wants fashion tips and pics of boobs?

Seersha Heart: [/me hides latest printouts of fashion tips and pics of boobs; clears throat] Profiles are fascinating and so personal.  Do you think perving profiles is an art form?  Share some of your observations about profiles in SL.

EsmielPosthorn:  Perving profiles may not be an art form, but I think writing them sure is. I've always made sure mine was up to date and relevant as much as possible. It's your way of saying to people "this is a taste of who I am.. do you want to know more?".. and if their answer is no, then your profile hasn't worked. Or maybe it has, if you don't like having people around..

I have noticed those that say something like "NO DRAMA PLZ" are often full of things that create drama, amusingly.
Something that always irked me was how people misconstrue Picks as pics.. it isn't just for your favourite photographs! Use them to tell us about cool places and people!

Seersha Heart:  I wonder, where do you think your creative flair for writing originates?  Have you studied writing, is it practice?  What makes your writing so damn compelling?

EsmielPosthorn:  I’ve always enjoyed writing, both at a creative level and more formal. I got high marks for essays and reports written in my high school history and English classes, and later when I studied physics at university, I learned to examine things critically and become more succinct and direct with everything I wrote.

My creative writing comes from a need to flesh out and describe the worlds I imagine in my head. Roleplay in SL is a great way to expand your writing talent, especially if you can find someone who shares your ideas and is happy to write long, detailed posts with you.

Seersha Heart:  Esmiel the blogger is a bit of a provocateur.  Tell us, is Esmiel Posthorn evil, a tease or none of the above?

EsmielPosthorn:  I'd like to think he's not evil, but he does sometimes have a slight mean streak. Definitely a tease; I can't count the number of times I have done something just to get a response from someone. I'm good at learning what people like and how to push their buttons, and I do it whether I intend for it to go anywhere or not.

Seersha Heart: You wrote your saucy piece about emoting in August 2007.  Do you recall something that happened in your life that sparked your creativity and desire to share your emoting?

EsmielPosthorn:  I can’t remember much from back then - my heady student days. My creativity and need to express myself always fluctuates, day to day, year to year; I'm in a bit of a rut at the moment but I know I'll climb out of it when something inspires me. I cannot recall anything specific about that time, however I must have either received some questions about RP & emotes, or met someone who was truly awful at it, that I felt the need to educate everyone..

Seersha Heart: Looks like you have a tried a bit of everything in SL…social, building, exploring…. what is your thing these days in SL?  The DJing?

EsmielPosthorn: I DJ once a week, which is a nice anchor for my SL. The club (Starfall) has been my regular place for 9+ years and it really is my second home. At the moment I am heavily into landscaping. I have a quarter homestead that I love filling up with plants and decor. I've recently been on a tour of the Scottish Highlands IRL (I live in Edinburgh) and it's inspired me to remodel my parcel into something resembling a loch you'd find nestled in the glens somewhere.

I have a small family here now, some friends I became very attached to and adopted as children/siblings. It's amazing sharing this great space with people you know & trust.

Seersha Heart: I’ve asked you a lot of questions so far today.  Now I am going to ask you some questions I hope will be a lot of fun to answer.  First one, I am writing a book all about you, your biography, what do I title this book?

EsmielPosthorn:  I think it should be called .. "How to achieve Happiness in 12 Easy Years"

Seersha Heart: Priceless!  You are given the task to explain SL to a 5-year-old child.  What do you say?

EsmielPosthorn:   It's a big online world of people to meet and stuff to do! You can chat to other people from all over the globe and make friends with them; you can play games and even make your own; you can build castles and mountains and make your own little paradise.

But it is NOT FOR KIDS!!

Seersha Heart: FantasticEsmiel….let’s talk to the dark side of Esmiel….What would you choose as the perfect murder weapon?  Why?

EsmielPosthorn:  Perfect as in .. most fun, or easiest to get away with? For the former, surely something like a tank. Just have a laugh, maybe take the whole street out while you're at it.

As for the latter.. probably venom or something. Just steal a cobra from your local pet store and chuck it in their bed. You'll be in Mexico sipping tequilas before they've even found a snake missing.

Seersha Heart: Leave it to you to parse your murder weapon selections.  <<laughs>>  I’m going to ask around about you now.  I ask your pet to describe you.  What does he tell me about you?

EsmielPosthorn: He would say “He's pretty lazy and we don't go walkies as often as I'd like. He hates when I bark loudly, but he loves when I go for cuddles or some lap time. He is always happy to see me and always sneaks me extra treats.”

Seersha Heart: [/me laughs] If you could introduce any celebrity to SL, bring them in as a newb who would you pick?  Why?  What would you teach them about sl?

EsmielPosthorn:  I'd love to see what someone like Adam Savage from Mythbusters would do with the scripting and building possibilities here. That'd be great fun to see.

Seersha Heart:Reflecting to the murder weapon question, let’s assume you are scheduled to be executed.  What is your last meal?

EsmielPosthor:  I'll have a sushi platter, with lots of avocado and tempura shrimp rolls. Next it'll be a wagyu beef burger with a poached egg, onion rings and cheddar cheese, sweet potato fries on the side.

Dessert is a pile of donuts - fresh whipped cream, jelly, fresh fruit, glaze, sprinkles, the lot - with sauces for dipping and drizzling.

Seersha Heart: [marvels that Esmiel didn’t even pause to think about answering about his last meal]; I was thinking, what if you were the top boss at a large company.  What one item do you ban?  What one item do you make compulsory?

EsmielPosthorn:  I'm going to ban printers, because they suck and never work. We're going to have properly paperless offices and everyone will have little tablets and iPad things instead, it'll be great.

As for compulsory - how about mandatory cocktail party Friday afternoons?

Seersha Heart: I have had such fun talking to you today Esmiel!  Let’s wrap up Hollywood style.  Can you describe yourself using movie titles?

EsmielPosthorn:           ………………..Interstellar…..Die Hard…..Catch Me If You Can….

Catch Esmiel Fridays at Starfall

DJ Fridays 2 pm slt

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Phoebus/172/190/26

Esmiel’s thoughts on Emoting in 2007:

http://esmieblog.blogspot.com/2007/10/how-to-emote.html

-Seersha Heart [saoirseheart resident]

Photos by Karmaghna Ulrik& Esmiel Posthorn

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Bringing the Metaverse Alive : Author Huckleberry Hax- Seersha Heart Reporting

“Text is the medium in which we find our connections in SL, and in which we communicate our core desires. It works because what we want is ultimately very basic; the descent to rawness in our words is like the shedding of our clothes. But when things become complicated, words trip and stumble and fail. They’re not enough. The very things through which we found each other turn against us and rip us apart.” From “AFK, Again” by Huckleberry Hax

            Author of eleven VR novels, including the AFK series, a novella, a non-fiction book, a collection of poetry and a short story collection, Huckleberry Hax is a prolific writer detailing stories some of which occur in SL.  Those that are not part of the SL landscape are heavily influenced by it.  He also has a website playfully titled “WHAT the HUCK”.  His first book, “AFK”, was met with rave reviews by its readers.  The series centers around the life of a SL detective, Definitely Thursday and the exploits that befall him.  He has also received acclaim for his other works, another of note is his non-fiction publication “Second Life is a place we visit”.

“For some of us, our experiences in SL serve as a catalyst, an awakening, a leap in our level of personal consciousness which then needs to be fed into our real lives if its ultimate purpose is to be fulfilled.  For some, SL is a respite, a place to just pause and get our breath back.  For some, it is a playground, a chance to experiment with being something different.  For some of us, it is all of these things together.”

From “Second Life is a place we visit” by Huckleberry Hax

Huckleberry Hax demonstrates a keen understanding of human interaction in SL and has taken it to the next level by developing engaging literary works that you don’t want to put down.  Once you begin reading, you are hooked.  I caught up with Huck recently and asked him a few questions.

Seersha Heart: I noticed that you wrote AFK in 2007 but did not follow up until 2013 with AFK, again.  Was this always planned as a four book series?

Huckleberry Hax: No, it was originally just a stand-alone novel.  I got a few requests over the years to write a sequel, however, and in the end I gave in.

Seersha Heart:  I can understand that since the first novel whets the appetite for much more.  Inch Sideways, a character in the AFK series, forbids the usage of lol.  Do you have any pet peeves with communication?

Huckleberry Hax: I do have an issue with the proper use of apostrophes.

Seersha Heart: you feel there is a difference between single and double quotes?

Huckleberry Hax: Well, I don't think there is a definitive grammatical answer on when you should use one and not the other, but personally I tend to use double quotes to indicate direct speech and single quotes to indicate a saying or slang expression.

Seersha Heart: Ahhh nods appreciatively. Tell me a bit about Amazing Metaverse.  You wrote it after the AFK series and I believe it is also a detective story?

Huckleberry Hax: It's a collection of short stories.  I've designed it to look like an old-fashioned pulp fiction publication such as the 'Dime Detective' series (I think that was what it was called).  A number of the stories feature an SL detective I like to write about from time-to-time called 'Hard Luck.'  Several of the other stories are about a group of people from SL who meet in RL to have dinner and solve SL mysteries - I call them the 'Avatar Dining Club'.

Seersha Heart: You write female parts very well.  Where do you feel you get your skills to write as a woman character?  Did you have help from women friends on certain aspects?

Huckleberry Hax: Well I know a lot of women in SL.  And I work with women.  Other than that, I guess it's just thinking myself into the character.  I didn't receive help writing any of the plot from women.  All my own thinking!

Seersha Heart has noticed Huckleberry Hax likes to use !

Huckleberry Hax: A few people asked me if I was in fact a woman in RL after they read AFK lol.  No - all male, I'm afraid.

Seersha Heart:  Your latest novella is titled SIM and the description on your website reads “A man is in a house, in a square region of land which is walled off on three sides by impenetrable glass and on the fourth by a huge black barrier. He is completely alone but for the occupants of three other houses, with whom he can only communicate via virtual reality.” From WHAT the HUCK website

With your latest book SIM, I am curious, did you build an inworld environment to use as reference for the writing in that book?

Huckleberry Hax: So SIM is quite different from my SL books (though SL as an influence should be obvious).  I didn't build an inworld environment, no - why do you ask that?

Seersha Heart: I am interested in your process of visualization.

Huckleberry Hax: ah, All in my head.  I'm actually very bad at visualizing, which is why a great deal of my writing is dialogue.  I don't close my eyes and I don't walk around.  I suppose it would be fair to say I'm a character writer and I spend most of my time trying to figure out what such-and-such a character might say or do.

Seersha Heart: I noticed you dedicated your first novel to your father, now about 20 years deceased.  Sorry for your loss.  Can you tell me how he influenced you as a writer or as a story teller?

Huckleberry Hax: Hmmm... interesting question.  I wouldn't say he influenced my writing a great deal, however as a parent he had a strong belief in the importance of children being given the opportunity to explore the world with their imaginations.  So me being into story writing as a kid fitted nicely with that.  I can't really think of a time when he specifically encouraged my writing, but me writing stories was entirely consistent with his view of the world and what children should be doing in it.

Seersha Heart: I leafed through your dedications.  Do you have stories behind each?  I'm just curious as to how you decide whom to dedicate to, and is it before or after the book is written?  Generally speaking.

Huckleberry Hax: Always after.

Seersha Heart prints her name in standard block and slides it to Huckleberry Hax across the table.

Huckleberry Hax: It's usually just people I'm thinking of at that moment in time.  I think my latest published AFK book (number 4) was dedicated to Stosh Quartz, an amazing SL poet who died earlier in the year.

Seersha Heart: Great....hmmm let me check something there....You've written some very detailed erotic scenes.  It is exciting to read, do you find them exciting to write?

Huckleberry Hax: I do!  It's not every day you get to write what you consider to be a smooth, not clumsy, not awkward sex scene!  It's like polishing a performance lol.  So I think there's even an annual award for bad sex scene writing.  It's so easy to write sex scenes badly when you're embarrassed about what you're writing.  The tendency then is to lapse into cliche - every writer's nemesis - and end up with something cheesy.  My approach is to tackle sex scenes unashamedly and in whatever detail I consider necessary for the scene. 

Seersha Heart: One more question Huck; please tell me a bit about the Nancy Redgrave Building where we did the photo shoot.  Nancy is in the portrait behind you in this picture.

Huckleberry Hax:  Nancy Redgrave was on of my first friends in SL - and my very first reader.  I was greatly encouraged by her remarks about AFK not long after I released it.  She died a few years ago from cancer.

Seersha Heart: What a wonderful way to show you appreciation for her and memorialize her.  It’s a lovely space, I could see spoken word events here easily….raises eye brow and nods at Huck

Thank you for your time and candid responses Huck.

            Huckleberry Hax impresses me with his ability to write dialog in a very up close and personal way.  He demonstrates an ability to capture emotion so close to the heart of it.  I asked him if he had ever been in love in SL, he responded yes a long time ago.  I also asked him if he experienced the feeling of betrayal similar to that which he writes of in his books.  He told me that he has been disappointed in some people’s behaviors but he has been lucky not to have experienced a deep betrayal personally.  Even so, he has written some relationship foibles that will keep you page turning to the end of his books.

            I highly recommend getting your “feet wet” by reading his first novel AFK which is free in multiple formats on his website.  You could also start on any one of his other projects and have a truly enjoyable experience.  Huckleberry Hax is a resident of SL and a definite treasure to those who read his works.  Also visit his Flickr account in the contact information below.  He is enjoying photography immensely these days.

Additional Information:

Group: Huck’s News

Webpage: https://huckleberryhax.wordpress.com

Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/hhax/

Twitter: @huckleberryhax

Marketplace Store: : https://marketplace.secondlife.com/stores/116995?id=116995

Location of Photos [Nancy Redgrave Building]

SURL:http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Varano/72/207/996

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SPOTLIGHT FEATURE ON SECRET HARMONY IN SL- Seersha Heart Reporting

            Meet other Avis from Second Life in Secret Harmony.  Secret Harmony is an online Social Network for SL Residents where you can meet other Residents and share all kinds of content.  Today we have the owner of Secret Harmony, Kwave Wilkinson, to discuss this fabulous new social network.

Seersha Heart: What prompted you to create like Secret Harmony?

Kwave Wilkinson: We ran a forest and a designer event and  the site was linked to the forest for a way to meet online and meet others in world to. With no one using the forest we let it go and put full focus on the website. The site is my passion and it is an old project that I basically incorporated for Secondlife. Being both me and my wife met in SL and were friends for years this is a project we enjoy. Later in life we grew a fondness to one another, met in real life and got married. So Secondlife for us is a way to meet others and if there is a site that can further those chances or to even share content with others that is even better. Ive been on many sites and there is just so much lacking. I wanted more without having to rely on a million different sites. Most of all I wanted performance and security. Those are things we strive on. We are always open for suggestions and listen to the community.

Seersha Heart: This is all very exciting.  Is this a dating website?

Kwave Wilkinson: Dating websites are focused on one thing and that is meeting someone to be your soulmate. We are not a dating website. The goal of the website is to network people and their content.  Could someone potentially meet someone for love interests? Definitely. As a whole we are a social network for meeting others as friendship, to collaborate, or yes if it happens to meet your soul mate.

Seersha Heart: How long has this site been available?

Kwave Wilkinson: We have been available since late September of 2016

Seersha Heart: What features do you offer?

Kwave Wilkinson: You create your own profile and also your own page if wanted.  You can use  your personal pages as a blog page, newspaper, business page or a mix of those.  The possibilities are endless for what you can create.  You can also create a blog or a group.  You can post events or advertisements.  You can also take part in the Forums.

Sharing is a wonderful feature in Secret Harmony.  You can share photos and videos and you can also share gestures, sweepers, promos and other audio clips.  You can share the things you like on Facebook or Twitter.

Seersha Heart: Users can earn Lindens with the monthly referral program.  How does that work?

Kwave Wilkinson: You refer others to join Secret Harmony.  In March we are paying double the Lindens.  Monthly referral program to earn lindens http://referral.secretharmonyinsl.com

Seersha Heart: How do I get started using Secret Harmony?  Does it cost money to use?

Kwave Wilkinson: Secret Harmony is free.  Just go to our website and you can set up your account from the first page.

Seersha Heart: Where do I sign up?

Kwave Wilkinson: https://secretharmonyinsl.com

Seersha Heart: Thanks for your time today.  Secret Harmony sounds like it has everything that the other social media sites rolled into one page.

            Create a multifunctional profile that interfaces with all your favorite social media at Secret Harmony.  It’s free and it has it all!

Contact Info:

https://secretharmonyinsl.com

kwave@secretharmonyinsl.com

support@secretharmonyinsl.com

https://www.facebook.com/secretharmonyinsl/

https://twitter.com/secretharmonysl

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Bono Fouroux : Mindblowing Guitarist in SL- Seersha Heart reporting...

Bono Fouroux is a unique musician in SL.  He can make his guitar “sing” as he plays blues, jazz, or rock [no acoustic].  He also can *make* his guitar!  Bono constructs guitars from scratch “Always trying to make different characters of sounds.” Self taught from an early age, this Amsterdam native plays as many as three to four sets many days in SL.  He came to SL on the recommendation of friends and has been here since that time.  Here are what people are saying about him:

“THE GUITAR WIZARD and all it takes to agree is listen to him for a few minutes. Whether it's Blues, Rock, or Jazz, his smooth playing is filled with emotion, speaking to your heart.”

“CHOCK full of pure passion! Bono is one of the most innovative guitarists of the decade. His soul inspired techniques, styles and intonations are woven into wonderful melodies that only a truly gifted artist of his nature of his kind can produce!!!”

“A symphonic collision waiting to happen, Bono is a man with intense connections to his music. He delves into the very soul of it, inviting you to experience with him the joy, sadness, love and excitement of an amazing journey powered by a guitar that lives to sing under his fingertips.”

I caught up with Bono at the Guitar Museum in world to ask him a few questions.  I hope you will enjoy his personal anecdotes, they are great.

Interview with Bono

Seersha Heart:  Hello Bono.  I have read that you taught yourself how to play the guitar when you were very young, around twelve years old.  What lead you to that first guitar at such an early age?

Bono Fouroux:  Hello Seersha.  I heard albatross of peter green and that made me buy a first guitar, I was still in school, it was 1968 or so.  I earned my money for it myself

Seersha Heart:           When did you become ~passionate~ with guitar? 

Bono Fouroux: I already played a few years but soso then Fleetwood Mac’s Peter Green was my main drive later…but this was my serious sign to work on the study for playing

Seersha Heart:           Do you customize your guitars?  You make a whole guitar?

Bono Fouroux: I started to make guitars about 5 years ago…but not all need to be customized ..some are so well made I don’t need to change them.  For the ones I make, I order great parts....well chosen and I make them fitting the other parts, because not all fit.

Seersha Heart:           Which part is hardest to pick? The neck?

Bono Fouroux:In fact every part has its own difficulties, a neck can be just slightly too thick for the body then I have to sand it very precisely, but mostly it will fit.  I do sanding fitting ,.,sanding fitting etc. until it is okay.

Seersha Heart:           Do you have a sound in your head that guitar should make?

Bono Fouroux: Not exactly....it is always a surprise how it is going to sound, but once I’ve heard it I can go on with that too.  I search my wiring diagrams and sometime I find even one myself by accident at some guitar, then I solder the wiring.  I look for good luxury parts what makes the guitar better quality too...so it is always a nice product  For instance a thing where I look for is nowadays 22 fretted necks.......because once I studied my songs at the neck ..I learned them to play on that way...and I use 24 fretted ones too but that is 2 extra for the really high notes.  Those necks are on ‘ready’ sold guitars, btw I get myself always locking tuners on my own products.

Seersha Heart:           I have read that you are also a composer of music.  Will you tell me the name of one of your favorite compositions?

Bono Fouroux:          I once made a piece called Confuse Me....it was a long time ago and it was a number of all different rhythms and riffs fitted together. I recorded it with a friend in his semiprofessional studio and in fact it never was ready to play. Too complicated for a band and to play it live, but it was great.

Seersha Heart:           I have read that you make the guitar sing with emotion.  How does that statement make you feel?  Are you flattered/happy?  Do you think guitars sing?

Bono Fouroux:          It is just nice to hear that listeners like what I do on guitar. That they enjoy what I play. It seems to be so that true listeners of me can hear in what kind of mood I even am. The most funny was the comment in local of a woman who heard me play and said after some songs in local:

“Bono your playing is so good and touches me so in the centre of my soul that I have to smack somebody in the face and since I am here alone with my husband, he will be the one.”

And a little later she said I did it. You understand that I laughed the hell out of it, And so did the whole room of the audience. That was so funny.

Seersha Heart:           That is hysterically funny!  I can read from your profile have many deep wonderful friendships in SL.  Your profile says no relations?  Why?

Bono Fouroux:          I am here just for the music and/but I tried two times to be with a woman here, but it didn’t work out and gave me a lot troubles in fact, so that I decided not to get involved here in SL anymore. I had not tried it in 8 years of my stay in SL and that was without any troubles in relations. I tried it two times and it didn’t work. The coincidence was that they both were having their birthday on the same day. 11/11 :) Another coincidence is that I answered your questions at the same date. Isn’t that funny.

Seersha Heart:           That IS funny and ironic.  What advice would you give other musicians interested in trying SL?

Bono Fouroux:          That it is fun to do and you get some appreciation for your playing on this way [in SL]. 

Seersha Heart:           Please tell me about the people you sing/play with in world.  Who are your best partnerships for performances?

Bono Fouroux:          Of course that is with Luvofmusic and Veronica Weksler.

The best partnerships are the ones where you are very close friends with somebody, so that you share the same feelings while playing and that happens with some of the ones. It is such a fun then to play together and to appreciate what the other does. It is too bad that there still is not a way of playing live with them on the internet so that we both can hear us well, without any problems. Sometimes they say try this and try that, but I play mostly with people from The States and that is for software what can make u share the music in real time together, not very easy. Normal dual streaming goes like in a chain. The first one plays his music and streams it uploading to the second one who receives the stream in his computer and ads his sound to it and that together he streams to the internet. So the first one doesn’t hear the second one. A recording of the sum of the two makes it all possible later to hear it for the first one.

Seersha Heart:           It’s been a pleasure Bono, thank you for your time.

Bono Fouroux:          Sure any time.

            Bono plays the guitar between three and four hours most days in SL.  Along with playing and building guitars he rides a Harley Davidson IRL.  He tried motorcycles in world but to quote him “suddenly u bump in too lag and u fly high un the sky with it ha ha ha”.

Sample listing of equipment Bono has on hand to use to play his music:  Fender Stratocasters, Fender 12 electric (Hockeystick), Gibson Les Paul, ES 335, SG Custom, Ibanez LP,
Marshall JCM 900 Stack, Fender Vibroverb, Peavy Combo, Sessionette 75
Digitech 2120, Roland V99, Ibanez PT-5, Dunlop Wah, Cry Baby, Deja Vibe

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Sacred Cauldron School of Wicca in SL -Seersha Heart Reporting...

It is 7:00 pm slt and a class begins.  Each student of Woolston-Steen Theological Seminary is represented by an avi sitting in the classroom.  “Earn Your Degree From Anywhere” is what Woolston-Steen emphasizes to their prospective students.  All of their classes are held online in their SL virtual classroom environment so that all students may participant from any location in the world.  If the student has access to the internet, they have access to the campus through SL.

            Sponsored by the Aquarian Tabernacle Church, Woolston-Steen is recognized by the State of Washington as a religious seminary able to grant degrees in Wiccan Ministry.  You may earn an Associates’, a Bachelor’s, or a Doctorate in Wiccan Ministry.

The Dean of Seminary is Belladonna Laveau.  She is the Archpriestess of the Aquarian Tabernacle Church International.  She authored the book Awakening Spiritwhich is used by the U.S. Military to assist chaplains minister to Wiccan troops. 

            Today we get to hear from Dean Belladonna Laveau about the school and it’s connection to second life.

Dean Belladonna Laveau:  Thank you for the opportunity to talk to the SL Enquirer about what we do at WiccanSeminary.EDU, a real Wiccan College that holds classes in Secondlife.

Seersha Heart:  Happy to hear all about the college.  There are ways to make a class offering online, why did your school choose SL?

Dean Belladonna Laveau: We teach witchcraft at WiccanSeminary.EDU. Secondlife is a 'tween space where magic can be done and energy can be experienced. It's very similar to any other place "between the worlds". In this place we can teach magic easier, because we can generate the energy in the space with the students, and illustrate it. Students can see what we are doing energetically, and learn faster.

Seersha Heart:  Are any of your students veteran SL residents?  Are some familiar with SL before they begin school?

Dean Belladonna Laveau:We get a good bit of our student body through Secondlife residents. It's helpful to be familiar with, and a fan of Secondlife before starting school. Learning to navigate Secondlife can be an additional challenge for the student, who is not already adept with the software. Knowing how to shop, build, and edit makes it easier to turn in assignments and progress through the school.

Seersha Heart:  What training in SL do you offer students?  Do you have an orientation to SL?

Dean Belladonna Laveau:We take them to Caledon University, and accompany them while they go through. We also send them to Builder's Brewery, or provide a simple building class. We try to utilize the resources already provided on Secondlife, and be part of the greater community.

Seersha Heart:  How long has your school operated in the SL classrooms?

Dean Belladonna Laveau:Our school has been teaching classes in Secondlife since 2009. We first came in, when one of the students offered to let us set up on his private land. We then were offered to purchase Sacred Cauldron, which was already established. We couldn't resist such a beautiful and sacred offer. The Goddess provided us the funds for it in an immediate and miraculous way, and we were home.

Seersha Heart:  You list possible areas that need clergy on your website.  Does the school help students with job placement?

Dean Belladonna Laveau:  We do. The Aquarian Tabernacle Church sponsors the school. It has many departments where a student can work. You start out in intern positions that are volunteer, and learn the industry through experiencing it from the inside. We have a Career Counselor that is available for helping you map out your career path. 

Seersha Heart:  Is there a graduation ceremony?

Dean Belladonna Laveau:  Yes. It is held inworld in the spring.

Seersha Heart:  Do you know some rl jobs your graduates are doing now?

Dean Belladonna Laveau:  Most of our graduates continue in service as Ministers. They are running festivals and churches, writing books, and articles, being spiritual counselors, and serving to help Wiccans and Pagans all over the world. 

Seersha Heart:  Has SL proved to be a good location for your virtual classroom?  What are the good aspects and what are the aspects that challenge the school in SL?

Dean Belladonna Laveau:  We love working in Secondlife. We find it supportive of the many programs we have, and we continue to bring more programs inworld as we grow. The challenge is not having voice on cellphone viewers. We have started using Skype for Business for the voice chat aspect of the classroom instead of SL voice. It's more convenient for students on the go, and it allows us to record the class. We would be happier and more efficient if SL integrated with outside technologies.

Seersha Heart: Can someone apply to the school in SL from the campus?

Dean Belladonna Laveau:  Yes, just pop into the castle and as for help, or ask for help right on the Sacred Cauldron group list. There is almost always someone online to help. You do have to interface with a standard web browser to complete the forms and tuition requirements. The school does not accept Lindens for tuition.

Seersha Heart:  What do you want prospective students to know about the experience and the school?

Dean Belladonna Laveau:Sacred Cauldron is an open campus, come and see what it's like to do magic in a virtual 'tween space. There are so many layers that Secondlife brings to magical training, that I couldn't cover them within the space of this article. Having to create a world that changes with the seasons is a lesson of magical design that one wouldn't expect, and that is only one aspect to the depth of knowledge you will receive at WiccanSeminary.EDU. Another very important, but unexpected perk of working within secondlife is the exposure you have to the world-wide community of pagans. I have close friends all over the world, because of my work in Secondlife. These are the future leaders of Wicca, from all over the world. That's a networking perk that will prove to be invaluable to the students of today in years to come. Knowing each other across the globe, as you build your own churches, allows you to network, and form common goals, making it a stronger spiritual foundation for not only you, but for those who know you, and for the whole religion. 

Not only is it extremely valuable, it is a fun place to learn. Never discount the fun component when it comes to learning. Students that work in Secondlife can't wait to come to class. They spend more time on campus, more time focused on their studies, more time developing magical relationships, and more time learning. Our students advance faster, and become more accomplished, as their careers develop. We find Secondlife an invaluable addition to our online campus.

Seersha Heart:  Thank you so much for answering my questions.

Dean Belladonna Laveau:  Thank you for the opportunity to answer your questions. We at WiccanSeminary.EDU appreciate the chance to share our magic with you. 

            For more information, visit their website or visit Sacred Cauldron at the links below.  It is a magical experience.

Additional Information:

SURL: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Sacred%20Cauldron/207/191/67

SL Group Name: http://www.wiccanseminary.edu

**This article has been updated on 2/27/17 to correct the mispelling of Dean Belladonna Laveau. The SL Enquirer apologizes for any inconvience it may have caused 

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