I have recently discovered that I may have the beginning of a condition in which I could lose my eyesight. It reminds me that I must see clearly, and focus on what is important. I'm aware that I don't want to miss a single opportunity to look at the plants, flowers, sky, clouds, birds, friends' and family's faces, and remember them with love.
As an exercise years ago, I was asked if I had to lose my sight or my hearing, which would I choose. I said I would choose losing my sight, as I would hate to lose the ability to hear the voices of those I loved, and the melodies and rhythms of music. I hope that I didn't set something in motion...
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From Siona's introduction to the Trust System:
"...if you see something that you feel goes against the values of the community, use the system to pass out a 'bad seed' so as to both warn other members and to make sure that piece of content is deemphasized."
REAL community is about everyone being leaders. This means that the members are already aware of who is behaving in a harmful way toward the community. It means that members of the community protect it by offering loving ways to create harmony. And when it is clear that harm would come to a community, the member who does not have the community's best interests at heart is asked to leave.
From my experience here at zaadz, information is already being passed around, and members are taking responsibility for their community by offering honest and authentic expressions. To me, there is no need for such a system. It feels controlling to me, and an offense to my value of freedom. It also has intonations of judgment.
As I grow, I see no need to feel 'popular' or worried about my reputation. This is not eBay. I don't need 'stars' by my name for being who I am. And what about the judgment of 'good' seed or 'bad' seed? Is this a 'take-off' from the parable of the good seed and the bad seed, those that flourished, and those that didn't?
At another site I'm a member of, you get 'badges' and 'gifts' for certain participation on the site. So there is an element of competition and achievement. Not something I need. This 'trust system' seems to be grounded in the same kind of mediocrity. I'm wondering just who is on the team that decided this was a good thing - I have trouble believing that the 'elders' of zaadz would support it. This system says to me, "We don't trust you to have wisdom about your membership here, so we have to have a code, and we'll veil it as fun." How is this system "Empowering the community"? I thought we were already empowered...
Are these seeds meant to germinate? Or are they just a form of exchange, like money? Think about it. If this was 'real', as in face-to-face, and we passed around actual seeds for being how we are, what would be the intent...would we be forever shifting the numbers of seeds, or would we do something constructive with them?
What kind of seed would I be? What kind would each of us be? We are already 'seeds' of Spirit, with our own inner resources for our growth, to become that which we were designed to be. And we already are passing around to the community 'who we are', as in sharing our light with others. Light, not judgment.
Perhaps passing 'bad seeds' to the team who implemented this system is in order!
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The longest relationship I've been in is the one with myself, over 60 years...It was only after 47 years, though, that I discovered I had a self that was worthy to grow and become authentic. And that was after 25 years of marriage, and eventual divorce.
Three years ago my friend of over 30 years passed away; we were sisters, but not kin. Her widowed husband, and still my friend, recently remarried.
My children are 36 and 33, and we are still learning about each other.
The relationship with myself has also evolved through other, shorter-term human relationships. They have taught me to go deeper, and to shed all that is not me...I can see, as I approach the other end of life, that I am being refined...
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I just wanted to share this photo of a crystal cluster that Doc left behind for me to enjoy. The other day I just 'happened' to observe that the sun was beaming through the blinds and lighting up the main crystal. This is one of the better shots. I feel such gratitude that I noticed such a dellightful gift!
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Well, I don't really relate to 'owing' anyone a communication. I feel that if someone thinks I 'owe' them a communication, they are having expectations of me that may not be valid. It's about a level of relationship - whether one wants a lot of connection or a little. It's always a matter of choice. While I would like it very much if I had more communication from my children,for instance, I will not impose a particular standard for how often they should communicate with me; therefore, I wouldn't like it if they tried to impose their standards on how often I should communicate with them. The same goes with friendship. If someone 'gets away' from us for lack of communication, that is the result or consequence of choice - whether one didn't take the time, wasn't that interested, etc.
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QaR
December 2008 
Traveling Alchemist
