Full Cold Moon

• The Full Cold Moon; or the Full Long Nights Moon – December

 During this month the winter cold fastens its grip, and nights are at their longest and darkest. It is also sometimes called the Moon before Yule. The term Long Night Moon is a doubly appropriate name because the midwinter night is indeed long, and because the Moon is above the horizon for a long time. The midwinter full Moon has a high trajectory across the sky because it is opposite a low Sun.- Farmer's Almanac

Image Credit: Here. 

The lycans must be out in force tonight! This glorious full cold moon brings out the wolves! I might just scratch someone myself and drink in the moonlight. Anyone wanna roleplay? 

Full Beaver Moon

• Full Beaver Moon – November 

This was the time to set beaver traps before the swamps froze, to ensure a supply of warm winter furs. Another interpretation suggests that the name Full Beaver Moon comes from the fact that the beavers are now actively preparing for winter. It is sometimes also referred to as the Frosty Moon.- Farmer's Almanac

Image Credit: Here. 

This is completely different than Amethyst mooning us with her Beaver. 

Enjoy your night under the moon and perhaps deep in someone's beaver or someone deep in yours! 

Blessed Samhain and Happy Halloween!

"A gypsy fire is on the hearth;

Sign of the carnival of mirth;

Through the dun fields and from the glade

Flash merry folk in masquerade, 

FOR THIS IS HALLOWEEN!"

 Have a very blessed Samhain to all our pagan friends! 

Full Blood Moon and Blood Moon Rapture

Image Credit: Unknown. Let me know and I will gladly give credit! 

• Full Hunter’s Moon or Full Harvest Moon – October 

This full Moon is often referred to as the Full Hunter’s Moon, Blood Moon, or Sanguine Moon. Many moons ago, Native Americans named this bright moon for obvious reasons. The leaves are falling from trees, the deer are fattened, and it’s time to begin storing up meat for the long winter ahead. Because the fields were traditionally reaped in late September or early October, hunters could easily see fox and other animals that come out to glean from the fallen grains. Probably because of the threat of winter looming close, the Hunter’s Moon is generally accorded with special honor, historically serving as an important feast day in both Western Europe and among many Native American tribes. - Farmer's Almanac

Image Credit: Anne Stokes

As Kumani and I thought of a name for our Bloodlines clan, we wanted something to represent us. (Well she created and I stood there and nodded my head). More than just vampires and lycans, we celebrate the moon in our real lives as well. Kumani is such a genius with words and writing and capturing the ideal phrase to describe something, her choice of the word "rapture" was perfect. Rapture means elated bliss, high emotion, joyous ecstasy or transporting a person from earth to heaven. Blood Moon Rapture. Most defintely, YES. 

Image Credit: Steph Worrall

Let us all be enraptured by the beautiful Blood Moon tonight. Drink in its energy and beauty with a roleplaying bite fest or just dance under the blood moonlight. 

Thirsty Thursday: Bloodlines Updates

Two recent blog postings at Bloodlines describe the latest happenings in the world of vampires and lycans in Second Life.

First is The Hunt. This hunt requires a HUD. You can then access the 150+ items all over the grid worth over a reported 30,000 lindens. Here is the link for the hunt hints.

Finally, information on the highly anticipated,  The Haunt, was published. This feature is for attracting Bloodlines players to your club, shop, bar, etc.

Full Corn Moon or Harvest Moon

Get out your fangs and claws, it's a full moon tonight! This month's full moon is the Full Corn Moon or Harvest  Moon.

I've lost the image credit for this. If anyone knows who it is, I will gladly give credit.

• Full Corn Moon or Full Harvest Moon – September This full moon’s name is attributed to Native Americans because it marked when corn was supposed to be harvested. Most often, the September full moon is actually the Harvest Moon, which is the full Moon that occurs closest to the autumn equinox. In two years out of three, the Harvest Moon comes in September, but in some years it occurs in October. At the peak of harvest, farmers can work late into the night by the light of this Moon. Usually the full Moon rises an average of 50 minutes later each night, but for the few nights around the Harvest Moon, the Moon seems to rise at nearly the same time each night: just 25 to 30 minutes later across the U.S., and only 10 to 20 minutes later for much of Canada and Europe. Corn, pumpkins, squash, beans, and wild rice the chief Indian staples are now ready for gathering.- Farmer's Almanac 

We will celebrate with a full moon invocation and an autumn feast complete with Mexican Cornbread. 

Mexican Cornbread

Ingredients

2 (8.5 oz) boxes Jiffy Cornbread mix

1 C milk

1 C shredded cheese

2 tsp. sugar

2 eggs

1 (14 oz.) can cream style corn

4 oz. chopped green chile

Directions

1.       Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9x13 pan.

2.       In a large bowl combine all ingredients until just combined. Spread batter into prepared pan.

3.       Bake for 30 minutes, or until golden brown and cornbread pulls away from sides of pan.

4.       Serve with butter or honey or both! 

Hoar's Mabon Party

The hoars and I celebrated the Autumnal Equinox by heading to a club for a few hours. We came home after the DJ completely sucked ass. Laini got the new Shakira dances so we danced into the morning as we hoars do at the Hoar House! Wearing new creations by Kumani. She DJ'd for us too! <3

Video Credit: Kumani Wylder

Thirsty Thursday: Refill Stations

.:[ BLOODLINES REFILL STATIONS ]:.

(Refill stations can be found at Liquid Frontier and Liquid East)

To use the refill stations, you must first purchase blood, lumens or cider from the vendors nearby. Resources purchased this way will go to your "Reserve" on you proflie in your cellar, and will be available to refill into your containers.

Once you have some Vital Blood, Lumens, or Cider in your Reserve Account, you can use it to refill your containers at any Bloodlines refill station.


To use the refill station, you need to be wearing a Refill Key. Refill Keys are free, and you can get one by clicking the Refill Key vendor near the refill station. If you use the station without wearing a Refill Key, the refill will still work, but your tank won't update with the new amount.

 If this happens, you can get your tank to update by re-rezzing it, or by drinking from it or filling it. Once you are wearing your Refill Key, and you have purchased the metric that you wish you refill, follow these instructions to use the refill stations:

Click on the refill station, it will give you a menu asking you to confirm that you want to use the refill station. Click "Proceed" to confirm.
Make sure the container you want to refill is rezzed within chat range of the refill station. Click on your container, and then click "Select" on your container menu.

(lumen refill station with bone prism) 

If your container checks out, you will get a menu that will give you options for refilling your container. Select the amount you want to fill, or 'Max' to fill the container to the max (or up to the amount that you have available). Or, you can select 'Other', and follow the instructions to select a different amount.
Once you select an amount, your container will automatically be refilled from your reserve account.

(blood refill with tank)

(apple cider  refill with barrel)

Here are a couple things to note:

Metrics in your Reserve Account don't contribute to your wealth.
Reserve Accounts can only be accessed through refill stations. You can't move metrics into your Reserve Account from existing containers, you can't drink directly from your
Reserve Account, and you can't move metrics between Reserve Accounts on different avatars.
Having metrics in your reserve account won't prevent you from being destroyed by the Curse, just like having metrics in containers doesn't protect you.
Essentially, Reserve Accounts don't affect or interact with anything else in the game, they just give you a convenient way to refill empty containers.


(From the original notecard by Lyle Maeterlink, Mars Bracken, and Noire Luminos )

Full Moon, Blue Moon!

The glorious blessing of two full moons in one month! Oh the magickal fun we can have! Thank you, Mother Moon for all the energy and comfort you bring me. 

Image Credit: http://sheenalashay.com/2011/03/march-new-moon-ritualistic-play/

If you are on Second Life, enjoy the roleplaying opportunities and bring out your inner lycan or vampire and bask in the moonlight! You might even venture out for a midnight snack! If you would like to enhance your roleplay even more with like minded players, you can join Bloodlines.  Here is my post on how to join both. 

For more than half a century, whenever two full Moons appeared in a single month (which happens on average every 2 1/2 to 3 years), the second has been christened a "Blue Moon." In our lexicon, we describe an unusual event as happening "Once in a Blue Moon." This expression was first noted back in 1821 and refers to occurrences that are uncommon, though not truly rare.- Farmer's Almanac 

Image Credit: http://www.ctweathergeeks.com/

For an interesting explanation of the blue moon, check out this website. 

Thirsty Thursday: How to Create your BL Profile

How to Create Your Bloodlines Profile

1. Wear your HUD.
2.  Click on Cogwheel
3. Click on "Settings" from drop down menu.
4. Click on  "Account".
5. Click on "Register".
6. Set a Password.
7. Access website  http://www.slbloodlines.com.
8.  Top right hand corner- Log in.
9. After you log in, choose "Edit Profile".
10. Click box to agree to terms.
11. Choose a font you like from the ones offered.
12. Choose an image from your computer  (not SL). *No nudity ! See #10*   Upload it.
13. Write a little something about yourself in the "About Me" box.
14.  Submit.

Questions? Ask me!

Freya xoxo

Image Credit: Magickal Graphics

Old School Divine

For those of us who are proud former members of Divine Blood, the old school Divine Blood, I have created a Second Life group  for us to reconnect, laugh, and reminisce.  You can contact any of our members to join. This is for chat only. No pressure to leave your respective Bloodlines groups or releige.  No hunting, drama, or other bullshit. This group is based on respect and friendship.  If you are an old schooler, we'd love to have you!

Image Credit: Unknown. If you know the artist, let me know and I will gladly link! 

Facebook

Just an FYI that I have deleted my Facebook account for Freyasmoon.  It was not a good use of my time and distracted me from more positive and productive things. So, if you don't see me on your friends list anymore, nothing personal. You can still reach me on Second Life. :)

Sociology and Amethyst

Although I am not a professional sociologist, my time on Second Life has allowed me to view and experience a myriad of social relationships.  The strengths and weaknesses of individuals’ personalities and how they interact with others is nothing short of amazing. 

As I observe and interact, there are certain traits that tend to appear. I don’t like to generalize, but you can’t help but notice the doom and gloom types that are so used to being miserable they make every excuse to stay miserable. Then there are the serial daters/marrying types. They are looking for love, only to end up searching over and over again.  There are the manipulators that call you “hun” or blow smoke up your ass and give you a false sense of security or family while screwing you over. Those players that act as bad-ass mother fuckers and intimidate everyone around them.  Bloodlines tends to pull in plenty of these.

There are also dear, sweet, friends that have your best interest at heart.  I’ve been blessed with so many of them. Over the years I’ve had so many contacts and connections that the feelings overwhelm me. I’d hate to miss anyone so I’ll make a separate blog entry for them another day. 

One of the most interesting, complex, and unusual relationships I have had on SL was with my first queen, Amethyst Warden.  The impact this woman has had on my life is so surprising to me. She’s tough. She certainly holds her own and doesn’t back down. She dealt with a tremendous amount of stress and drama throughout the years she was queen. She balanced it all it seemed so effortlessly. She had a tight group of friends, and many secrets which made her all the more interesting. She had magnetism about her that everyone was just drawn to her. Different than anyone else I had ever known. Quite frankly, she was the shit.  I wasn’t interested in being her friend just to work my way up the royals’ chain like some others in the clan. I never messaged her unless it was for clan business because she was so busy and I never wanted to bother her.  She was just a born leader.  People wanted to follow her because of her integrity and attitude. Fair, but stern, she didn’t like to waste her time with silly crap though she had to most days. She guided me even when she didn’t know she was.  Her encouraging nature allowed me to soar and break free from the limitations in my own mind.  I viewed her as a rock star, a mentor, a teacher, and most definitely a queen. I also blame her for my various indiscretions on SL, but that is another story. ;) 

Thirsty Thursday: Bloodlines Apples

Bloodlines Apples are the most important product for the Human Blood Doll in the Bloodlines game on Second Life.  A fairly simple concept once you get the hang of it.

My Blood Doll, BigBootyJudy, will show you how it works in this video:

Next Week's  Thirsty Thursday: Cider Jugs and Barrels

Gypsies, Vampires, Lycans and the Full Moon

The theories and stories surrounding vampires and lycans (werewolves) can be traced back to the 9th century as a result of Christianity and pre-Christian folklore. It is my belief that the Gypsies (having arrived in Romania just before Vlad Dracula was born in 1431)  spread their stories of vampire and werewolf mythology in their travels throughout Europe up until the 18th Century.

Image Credit: Magickal Graphics

According to Beverley Richardson, "The Slavic people including most east Europeans from Russia to Bulgaria, Serbia to Poland, have the richest vampire folklore and legends in the world. The Slavs came from north of the Black Sea and were closely associated with the Iranians. Prior to 8th century AD they migrated north and west to where they are now.

Christianization began almost as soon as they arrived in their new homelands. But through the 9th and 10th centuries the Eastern Orthodox Church and the western Roman Church were struggling with each other for supremacy. They formally broke in 1054 AD, with the Bulgarians, Russians, and Serbians staying Orthodox, while the Poles, Czechs, and Croatians went Roman. This split caused a big difference in the development of vampire lore - the Roman church believed incorrupt bodies were saints, while the Orthodox church believed they were vampires.

The origin of Slavic vampire myths developed during 9th C as a result of conflict between pre-Christian paganism and Christianity. Christianity won out with the vampires and other pagan beliefs surviving in folklore."

Image Credit: Magickal Graphics

It has also been noted in the past that those who suffer from lycanthropy only come out on a full moon.  The light during a full moon can exaggerate the effects of those suffering from this ailment and therefore, contribute to the hysteria surrounding it.

Image Credit: Magickal Graphics 

Whether you choose to believe in the vampires or werewolves, the modern day effects of the full moon are still being disputed and analyzed. The Scientific American questions if the lunacy effect really does exist. As part of role-playing and a public service, I am alerting my readers each time there is a full moon as well as the meaning and background of each full moon.

Blood Moon Rapture

Due to a wild rollercoaster series of events the past two weeks, I found myself without a clan.  Nothing I had done personally, just a victim of circumstance.  That sounds so dramatic.  Ah, well.


Kumani and I scoured the Bloodlines page for potential clans we would like to join.  After much debate, we decided we didn't want to be the new kids trying to fit in. We didn't want to adhere to others' rules and regulations. We didn't want to find out we had made a wrong choice and move on again. So, we created our own clan, Blood Moon Rapture.

Image Credit here. 

We agreed we would share duties as Queen; Rick would be King and Laini the Crown Princess. After Kumani unlieged and set up the clan via her HUD, I created the group.  She went with an sim agent, and established lands for us.  I created a notecard to send to my minions as well as Rick's along with the landmark. Group invites were sent and that was that. The most amazing thing of all? Not one person left. In fact, we picked up a couple of new members. That thrills me beyond words.

Keith Naumova, Executioner

Keith graciously offered to create our castle and other buildings for us.  He is still in the process of building, but things are looking fantastic! His first build was too boxy and square, so he took it down, researched online, and is now on his second build for us. I know it will be worth the wait! After he finishes, we will celebrate with a party and work on our royals list. So many exciting things to come!

Thirsty Thursday: How to Join Bloodlines

 Within the many role playing genres of the virtual world of Second Life, Bloodlines (BL) is one of the most popular. Now in its fourth year, over 46,000 characters have joined this macabre game system.

1. Create a Second Life Avatar
So, let's get started. First you will need to create your character on Second Life.  Don't worry about which avatar you choose, you will be editing and changing it later. After going through the steps of creating a username, and the other aspects of setting up your account, you can then go through the process of joining Bloodlines.

Useful Vocabulary To Know:

• HUD- Heads Up Display. This item must be purchased in order to play the game of Bloodlines.
• Human/Blood doll- Beginning status for all Bloodlines players. Essential for the game overall. 
• Liege- Mentor, helper, teacher, friend you choose to help guide you in your Bloodlines adventures. 
• Lycan- A werewolf Bloodlines player. 
• Lumens- The lycan equivalent of blood; moonlight.
• Vampire- A Bloodlines player with blood sucking sexiness. 
• Hybrid- A Bloodlines player who is both vampire and lycan. 

2. Choose a Liege and Clan

Not every Bloodlines player is nice. Many deceptive vampires and lycans prowl the new (noob) areas hoping for an easy target. Don't fall for the first one to talk to you.  Be selective. You will be dealing with this person for the duration of your Second Life. Becoming one's liege is an honor.  I also advise choosing a liege that speaks your language and plays Second Life about the same time you do.

Some players like to be given a tour of the vampire/lycan clan lands by the possible lieges before agreeing. These individuals will also be a major part of your Second Life experience. Not every clan is the same either. Some require heavy role playing, bowing to the royals, strict clothing rules, and regulating your activities outside of the clan. Be sure you are well-informed before you join! 

3. HUD

After you choose a liege, the next process is buying the HUD.  Which role (vampire, lycan or human) you choose determines which HUD is purchased.  Each one is L$599 or about $2.85 US.  I advise against the Human HUD in case you want to become a vampire or lycan later. Save yourself the money! Either you or your liege can purchase the HUD. Make sure this is determined beforehand. No need in starting out on the wrong foot. If you are still very young in the game, you might have to click the key grabber so the system can access your information.  These are pyramid looking items near the Bloodlines vendors. 

*Human, Lycan or Vampire* 

4. Joining! Finally! 

After dragging the HUD box to the ground, open it, copy the contents to your inventory. Access your inventory, and wear the HUD.  Your liege will ask to bite you. It doesn't hurt I promise! You must agree to the animation in order to join.  The first person to bite/claw you will then reap your virtual soul and become it's holder. It doesn't hurt you in any way. Remember, this is for role playing purposes. It's virtual (not real). The soul holder should be someone you trust (see #2). You will then set liege and clan using your HUD. 

5. Setting Liege and Clan

On your HUD there is a small button that looks like a wheel. Click that and a drop down menu will appear.  Depending on the HUD you are wearing, you will click clan (Thirst HUD), pack (Rage HUD) or group (Human HUD).  Then click Set Liege. Your choice for liege should still be nearby. Pledge your allegiance to them and TADA! Your adventures can begin! 

Next week: The role of a Blood Doll in Bloodlines  

To Wear the Garlic or Not to Wear the Garlic...

I wonder what it would be like to just wear the garlic and disappear for a while.  Trouble is, would anyone care?  A couple of my friends have done that.  They are still in the clan, still lieged, just wearing the garlic. Understandable.  I guess you can get to that point where you are just done.  Done with Bloodlines but not unlieging.  But they still have respect for those that do still play. Respect to those that have taught them, cared for them, bonded with them. Or for their minions that still want to be in a certain clan or Bloodlines.

Things can become complicated or overwhelming or just too much frankly.  You can become exhausted with all the responsibilities and stress.  I wonder what that would be like to just step back for a while. What would the ramifications be? Would people perceive you as weak? Would they understand? Loyalties mean so much in the Bloodlines game.  Very tricky situation to be in.  I hope I never get to that point.

Blood Bond Rings

I posted this on the Divine Blood blog but wanted to show it here as well.  The audio did not work on this, but I had loaded All Over You- Live to accompany it.  It's one of my favorite songs I share with Rikk.

Bloodlines Bar and Gratitude

Otis and Kumani invited me to join them at the Bloodlines Bar for drinks recently. As we sat and talked we couldn't help but laugh at the animations our avatars were doing.  Kumani chose the seat with the "smashing glass to forehead" animation.  Mine had a more subtle "splash over the top of the head" animation and Otis had none at all. As we sat and enjoyed each other's company, vamps came and went buying Blood Shots to survive.

We met a female vamp who was obviously taken for her soul and turned way too early. She commented she only wanted to be a doll but her liege insisted she be a vamp right away. She was struggling to learn to hunt, to feed, and to learn the game.  Otis and Kumani told her I could help her, teach her, and feed her.  Sadly though, she was off to trick someone else by using sexual favors to feed.  She had been used from the beginning and did not know any different. These turn and burn vamps are used and left alone. She will most likely go destroyed, quit when it becomes too frustrating, and her soul sold or traded. Those are some of the realities of Bloodlines.

I am so grateful I joined Divine Blood. The classes they offered were so helpful to me. And now, coming full circle, I teach those classes. Or as my good friend told me,"Freya we don't teach. We share our passion."