Day: March 8, 2018

Gaia Calling – click any image for full size

Update: Gaia Calling no longer exists at Serena Kiraly. The sim is under new management and has been repurposed.

Gaia Calling is the name given to the Homestead region design by Gidgy (Gidgette Adagio) – who has previously presented Savor Serenity and Hobbiton (see here and here respectively). It is something of a departure from these previous builds, which were rooted in Tolkien’s mythologies, offering instead a take on more classical mythology – specifically that of the primordial deity, Gaia, the ancestral mother of all life and primal Mother Earth goddess. But while a departure from Gidgette’s past designs, it is nonetheless as enchanting as they have been.

A visit begins on a transparent octagonal platform serenely floating above a deep gorge cutting into an elevated landscape. This platform contains an echo of Gidgette’s earlier builds in that it is ringed by a circle of elven-like arches. A single arched walkway points the way to a second platform, almost at the centre of the region. From this, a tall figure of Gaia rises, arms uplifted as she becomes a tree – the perfect symbol of mother Earth – framed by a rising Sun.

Gaia Calling

The roots for this great tree / statue reach down beneath the platform, extending down to the surface of the water below. The waters of this gorge are served by a series of waterfalls that tumble-down the cliffs and slopes of the surrounding ring of land – a right richly forested, but which doesn’t quite connect to either of the platforms, presenting visitors with an interesting quandary of how to get from platforms to land.

Flying is one means of crossing the divide – but there are preferable alternatives: the arrival platform includes a bubble rezzer for those who like to travel on their own. Simply touch to rez, sit in the bubble and use the WASD / arrow keys for forward / back motion and turnings, and PAGE UP and PAGE DOWN to increase / decrease altitude. For couples, there is a flying leaf rezzer, with the same principles applying to flying it.

Gaia Calling

The surrounding lands offer various paths through the aged trees, some of which are strung with lights. Along these paths visitors can find numerous points of interest: lanterns offering dances, “magic” mushroom that rez picnic spots and / or cuddle spots, a gazebo rich with flower growing in an old bathtub, a cosy camp fire … all offering places to sit and appreciate the ethereal surroundings.

Nor is this all: bears and wolves and rabbits are scattered across the landscape, and for those willing to take the plunge – preferably via bubble or flying leaf –  there is a world under the surface of the waters to be found, where whale, porpoise, shark and more swim together, their surroundings rich in colour from corals and plants.

Gaia Calling

“Many moons ago, many sunrises ago, Gaia called.” Gidgette says of the region, “Her song singing the essence of our being, the calling of the soul, the oneness of our dream, and as our consciousness arises, Gaia smiles.” Wandering this landscape, beautifully lit, it isn’t hard to imagine being one of Gaia’s first Earth-born, and even encouraging spiritual / conscious growth through the mediation platform extending from one of the cliffs of the gorge.

Gaia Calling is a marvellously ethereal setting, rich in content and beautifully photogenic (and photos can be submitted to the region’s Flickr group). It makes for both a restful and fun visit – particularly when floating around in the bubbles. There’s also a lot more to discover than might at first appear to be the case – not only because of the underwater setting mentioned above, but also because of other little spots I’ve refrained from mentioning here so that you might enjoy discovering them for yourself – just be sure to look underground and under tree…

Gaia Calling

SLurl Details

• This sim is under new management, and Gaia Calling as a region no longer exists.