Star Journey Island

By Becky Shamen

Joshua has been hanging around at Chez Sha, wishing to learn more of Second Life. Sha pulls up the Destination Guide, on her computer, and looks in the "Cosmic" section. An interesting one grabs her attention, with the introduction, "Unleash your own power! Play and explore in virtual world version of Star Journey Symbol Method. Interactive Symbols lead to valuable personal insights and inspiration. Enjoy beautiful gardens and sky galleries in this spiritual and empowering sim. Based on Richard Geer’s latest book: “Star Journey – A Cosmology of Self.”. She gives Joshua the address and sends him, closely followed by her telepathic robo cam, to explore.

Arriving there, the first thing he notices is there is much less lag here, compared to most sims he'd seen. The adventure strarts in a translucent blue room, with moving stars wall texture. There are signs on the walls, providing helpful information about the sim and navigating it. A welcome sign gives a warm greeting.

Dear Seeker- 

I invite you, come discover Star Journey Island.

It's full of meaning, and fun to explore.

You'll learn more about yourself in the process.

May you always find what you seek.

Love and Light

Richard H. Geer

Star Journey Author
 

Another sign recomends using their TP HUB, for getting around the sim, via following symbol cards, and provides it free. It is important to use this, because it also gives information about what the symbols stand for. You can just walk around, but, as you can see on the map, your path will trace a flower, with half your time spent retracing your steps. On the ground, we see why there is low lag.

The ground is very roughly shaped and textured. We learn that the outward sights are not the adventure here. Our attention begins to have more freedom, to decipher the symbols and related objects, as we spend time in each of many sections, on the ground and skyboxes. The instructions have also told us to touch everything we find, to receive valuable clues and objects to use on your journey, like the torch, for finding your way in the cave.

Most areas will have chairs or pillows to sit on, so you can spend time thinking. While stationary, you can look at the surrounding objects, with your perv cam. The black box, behind Joshua, contained six Mardi Gras mask objects. Their unusual construction inspires a whole new genre of SL art, which we hadn't tried before. The sim has, indeed, kept it's promise to  "Unleash your own power."

Many objects are interactive and provide accessories for you to use. In one, called `Magic Mirror', sitting on the pose ball forces the camera to look at the mirror, while your av gets put behind the mirror and goes through a series of menu driven, animations. In another, you get a musical instrument and become a snake charmer. Don't worry, he won't bite. What you're playing might not sound musical to you, but to him it sounds like one of his favorite, old Beatle's tunes.

Each of the symbol cards, in the HUD, will give information about the symbol and provide a TP to the area that represents it. Here, we explore one of the symbols, called "The Crown". It is the sign of fulfillment through sincere leadership and wise guidance (83). The TP takes you to an ornate Egyptian chamber, with golden thrones to sit on, in regal manner. Afterwards, we find free crown objects, in small and large sizes, to complete the look and feel of being in charge.

There are many symbols to explore. Each will direct you to principles and how they apply to your real and virtual lives. LM this sim and take periodic breaks from your `same ol', same ol'. It will recharge your inner battery and greatly assist you in getting to "know thyself."

Becky "Sha" Shamen

Editor's Note: Check out Grease Coakes article on Star Journey a year ago (Here)