Category: Second Life

Beloved is the name Anu Papp has given to the latest setting presented on her Homestead region of Poetic Moon. Designed by Dandy Warhlol (Terry Fotherington), the setting is – to me, and for various reasons – potentially one of the best he has produced thus far.

There is a genuine and natural flow to the landscape which is captivating, and the placement of building and structure within it, the form of the island, just draws the eye through it, offering both a photogenic beauty and a sense of tranquillity and wholeness with nature, the industrial elements scattered about notwithstanding.

A creative talent herself, Anu is perhaps best known for founding and leading the Muse Dance Company, however in-world she is also a designer, photographer-artist and builder. These are all talents reflective of her physical life presence and talents, which extend into music, spiritualism, yoga and more, as noted within her Second Life Spotlight article, published in May 2023. All of this is also reflected somewhat within Beloved.

The setting itself forms a rugged temperate island, its coastline mostly cliffs of hardened rock or softer sandstone, the later carved by time and tide into shallow bays or ribbons of low-lying shoreline. Whilst hardly what one might call beachy, the latter offer opportunities to walk alongside the push and pull of the tide, splash through pools of seawater temporarily cut off from the rest of the waters surrounding the island.

This is a place with a high water table of its own – across its rugged back are two large and one smaller bodies of water (one of which carried subtle hints of perhaps being man-made rather than a natural occurrence. It is close to the largest of these bodies of water that the Landing Point is located (although it is not enforced), and it was on arrival that I immediately felt a comforting sense of Deja-vu; despite it being my first visit to the setting, I felt I knew it. As I cammed around, I quickly realised why: with the windswept ruggedness, the large body of water with a trail running alongside it, Beloved bought to mind an old-time favourite those who are long in the tooth (like me) might recall): Roche.

Now, to be clear, there is nothing intrinsically linking the two designs; in fact when taken as a whole, there are utterly different; but the fact that Beloved did bring memories of my multiple visits to Roche between 2012 and 2015 nevertheless gave me a sense of belonging as I started to explore Beloved.  Many of the buildings scattered across Beloved perhaps aided that sense of the familiar with me, again not because of any similarities with Roche, but because they offered a similar sense of space between them, a space visitors can wander and absorb in quite solitude or in company.

Anu has a love for the works of Jalāl al-Dīn Muḥammad Rūmī, the 3th-century poet, scholar, theologian and mystic; she quotes him in her Profile and with Beloved, she offers part of A Great Wagon, a poem associated with spiritual growth.  In particular, the verses she has selected offer with might be considered a pivotal truth on the journey to spiritual awareness: that we are not human beings sometimes having moments of spiritual experience; we are spiritual beings travelling through a human experience.

In stating this truth, Rūmī, notes that as humans, we function in dualities: beauty and ugliness; truth and and lies; good and bad; black and white; and this duality of mode is the cause of all our conflicts. But as spiritual beings, we should recognise that nothing is either one or the other; that within the void of being, everything flows – there is no black and white to divide us; no sectioning of thoughts or emotions, we are simply one.

This is a concept that can get the grey matter working overtime to try to understand – and in this, Beloved is an ideal place in which to consider Rūmī’s words and the notions of self and oneness. As well as the region’s rugged beauty, there are multiple places to sit in contemplation, listen to the local sounds, to enjoy the ebb and flow of the waters surrounding the island – and the ebb and flow of shared company, if desired. Places where we can – as Rūmī might have put it – see beyond our physical bodies and understand our true essence as beings of the spirit.

In acknowledgement of this, and  – if I might be so presumptuous – I would add to Anu’s use of the poem, I would perhaps offer a further quote:

In the body of the world, they say, there is a soul
and you are that.

But we have ways within each other
that will never be said by anyone.

For those who prefer to focus on the region’s picturesque beauty, there is certainly no disappointment to be had. Dandy’s attention to detail here is superb, with many touches to draw the eye and the camera lens, from the cost interior of the brick cabin by the lake through the egrets gathered above the northern cliffs to the little birds gathered on a powerline  – something which might, except for the absence of a shoebill, put some in mind of a certain Pixar short and thus raise a smile – and more besides.

An engaging and visual setting, ideal for exploration, contemplation and appreciation – kudos to Anu and to Dandy – and my thanks to Susann De Cuir for the hat-tip.

SLurl Details

• Beloved (Poetic Moon, rated Moderate)

Luminara is a Full region lovingly designed by Sedona (Sedona Starchild) to offer the peace and tranquillity of a woodland setting, mixed with touches of whimsy, all of which offer might offer more than first appears to be the case, as the setting’s entry in the Destination Guide hints.

Luminara is a space created with care, where every detail holds a deeper meaning if you’re open to it. You’ll find mirrors, keys, and other interactive elements designed to spark reflection; alongside peaceful surroundings meant to calm the mind. Whether you uncover deeper insights or simply enjoy the beauty of nature, may your time here feel meaningful in its own way.

– Luminara’s Destination Guide description

However, this description barely scratches the depth of meaning one might find within the region, because this a a setting of a very personal nature. It is both a reflection of Sedona’s journey through life and a visualisation of the kind of questions many (all?) of us may ask when all the noise, bustle and distractions of everyday living fade into the background, and we have the time to contemplate is this all I am?

This isn’t just a virtual space; it’s a piece of my heart, filled with the thoughts and questions that have shaped me. Every detail, every message, holds something I’ve discovered along the way.

I want to be honest: part of me created this space to connect, to feel seen, and to share something meaningful with others. There’s a vulnerability in opening up my inner world, and I’ve come to accept that my motivations aren’t always selfless. But my deepest hope is that Luminara offers you something—a moment of reflection, a sense of peace, or even a little inspiration to take with you.

– Sedona Starchild

The Landing Point sits on the west side of the region. Close by is a general information board providing hints about exploring the setting, and also a Greeter which should offer you group membership together with a notecard from Sedona. If these are not offered then touch the mirror sitting alongside the tree above the noticeboard. Standing opposite the footpath is a deck with an over-the-water view and a tree of wisdom “sharing insights inspired by Naval Ravikant”.

The path here runs north-south, with another arm running inland. Which you take is entirely up to you: just be sure to keep an eye out for the mirrors and keys along whichever route you take – and other items and creatures offering themselves as advisors or presenting opportunities of reflection, introspection and / or affirmation.

Whilst contiguous in nature and presenting a  naturally flowing landscape, the region is designed such various locations within it have a sense of privacy and seclusion such that they are both a part of the whole and also apart from it. This is achieved through the use of curtain walls of rock, bodies of water, screens of trees and bushes, and considered use of elevation. EEP settings are also used to offer environments in keeping with aspects of the region – so be sure to have Used Shared Environment checked.

The paths winding through the region will lead you to the majority of the locations to be found within it; however, I’m not going to describe everything the region offers here; a major part of Luminara is that of discovery both in terms of personal discovery through the aforementioned mirrors, keys and advisors, and in terms of the beauty of region itself.

That said, some of the more obvious areas to look out for include the Luminara swamp with its summer house; the open-air theatre, the music deck built over one of the bodies of water and which has sitting alongside it a modern lounge in the form of the Scarlet Creative Hoxton Loft, while the deck itself offers access to a more secret hideaway for those who can find it.

Elsewhere there are follies where couples and individuals might dance, a hilltop retreat, a terraced pool, and places to sit under trees, on the water, alongside the coastline, most of which will be found as one wanders the paths an trails, whilst the Tatra Dance circle holds a particular magic.

Throughout all of this are the touches of detail and whimsy which both bring a smile to the lips and perhaps offer further symbolism. The former might be found on the water, where racoons are enjoying themselves with a little skinny dipping (or is that furry dipping?) whilst taking a trip on a little rowing boat. Elsewhere unicorns add a sense of dream whilst deer, foxes, bear  and rabbits might be found throughout the landscape.

The whimsy comes in many forms, some clearly intended to attract attention and stir the brain cells – such as the White Rabbit; others are more curious, such as the figure rising from the water near the music deck – it is simply seeking Seymour, or indicative of disquieting thoughts  and reflections? You decide.

Finished with a subtle soundscape, Luminara presents an engaging, richly evocative and through-provoking setting with multiple opportunities for discovery and exploration. It is also a place given to evolution as well – and as much about what we put into it as find within it, as Sedona notes. So, ensure your curiosity is engaged with dropping in.

SLurl Details

• Luminara (rated Moderate)