From: smd@sl0091.srl.ford.com (Steve Dahmen)
Newsgroups: talk.religion.newage
Subject: REFLECTIONS is ready to REFLECT
Date: 21 Jan 1993 20:48:25 GMT
Organization: Scientific Research Lab, Ford Motor Company
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: sl0091.srl.ford.com
Originator: smd@sl0091.srl.ford.com


HEY!

It's the New Moon, so this is the moment to start the REFLECTIONS
New Age electronic community.

Simply send mail to "reflections-request@sl0091.srl.ford.com"
with "SUB BOUNCE" in the subject.  Then send another with "HELP"
in the subject to get full directions.

I've included the INTRODUCTION file to tell you all about the
vibe of the list.

Enjoy!

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RRRRR    eeee   ffffff  ll  eeee    cccc  ttttt  ii   oooo  nnnnnn   s
R    R  eeeeee    f     ll eeeeee  c       tt    ii  oo  oo  nn   n   ssss
R     R ee        f     ll ee      cc      tt    ii  oo  oo  nn   n       s
R     R   eeee    f     ll   eeee    cccc   ttt  ii    oo    nn   n   ssss 
================================================================================
  REFLECTIONS||SNOITCELFER||REFLECTIONS||SNOITCELFER||REFLECTIONS||SNOITCELFER
================================================================================

Dear Prospective RELFECTIONS Member,

Welcome to REFLECTIONS: an alternative electronic networking medium
dedicated to the fullest realization of Humanity's spiritual potential.
It was formed early in 1993 to serve as a networking tool and information
service for those exploring alternative belief systems, as well as how
these unfolding paradigms (loosely umbrella'd under the term "new age")
relate to more established belief systems on Earth.

In any community, there is the challenge of deciding what is "appropriate"
for inclusion in that community and what is not.  This issue always raises
a truckload of contraversy concerning rights, etc. etc.  Most of us also have
our own issues around belonging and not belonging, around "appropriate"
speech and behavior.  Throw the circumstance of an electronic network in
the picture and you can see things can really get messy.  The issues are
complex, and I don't know if they are "ready" to be fully resolved.   But
based on many years experience on the net, plus recommendations and ideas
of others, I think I've come up with some good guidelines for what's
"appropriate" for REFLECTIONS and what is not.

Part of the reason for REFLECTION's formation was to provide a forum free
of the "flotsam and jetsam" that seem to litter the bands of the NetNews
groups and mailing lists supposedly dedicated to personal growth
topics.   For whatever reason, mystical or earthly,  the pace of life
of those seeking healing now appears to be accelerating. In that acceleration
there seems less time (and patience) to have to weed out nonsensical,
postings from those of sincere exploration.  Hopefully
since more control is available over a mailing list, REFLECTIONS will help
to filter out much of this "noise."  I hope you can feel as I do that this
is not a we/they matter of "better than," but more a matter of "clearer than"
and a deep desire that many have now for clarity.

Let's take a look at some guidelines that will help you determine if
what you have to post is appropriate:

*  Does the tone of the article invalidate any other belief system or path?
   Note that by invalidation I mean to say or write something that puts
   someone or system as being "inferior" to your approach.  We need to keep
   in mind that different approaches are necessary depending on "where you
   are" in the highly non-linear world of belief systems.

*  Have you removed all extraneous "quoted" material of the story to which
   you're writing a followup?

*  Have you made every effort to ensure your thoughts are somewhat organized
   and intelligible?  Please refrain from posting drivel (you know, those
   four lines of subconscious utterings that leak out of your brain when you
   can't really come up with something to say).

*  Is your response perhaps best directed at the individual, and NOT the
   entire list?    Imagine you are approaching the podium before a live audience
   before you send a post to the whole list.

The above is acutally just basic "netiquette"... nothing really unusual.
But THOSE THAT REPEATEDLY HAVE TROUBLE WITH THESE GUIDELINES WILL BE
PERMANENTLY REMOVED FROM PARTICIPATION IN REFLECTIONS.  It's in some ways
unfortunate that this needs saying, but I feel it's vital in order to keep
REFLECTIONS a safe and positive experience for those participating.

I would like to add a few other guidelines that I think would make REFLECTIONS
something very special.

*  I would like to see postings come from the gut and from the heart.  Head
   stuff is good, but with so many of us moving into the Heart and into our
   real feelings, it seems natural to try and continue this expansion into
   our correspondence.  I'd like REFLECTIONS to be considered a "safe" space
   for this kind of sharing.

*  I'd encourage submissions of complete articles, transcriptions, poems, etc.
   Standalone items such as these can then be placed in the archives for
   future members to access and become inspired.  Submit things that have
   you have in your archives, as well, as a number of readers have not
   been on the NetNews.  Basically, as facilitator for REFLECTIONS, I will
   put postings that seem fairly complete in the archive; there is no
   special submission proceedure.  I will let authors know if something
   they have submitted will be archived.

*  One model I see in terms of our group interaction is one of a Circle.
   When I write, I do see all of "you" sitting in a "sacred" circle.  In one
   way, this means I don't post anything that I would not say to you in
   such a setting.  It also means I may address feeling issues, in a sacred
   manner if that is appropriate.

*  I feel that most topics are appropriate for REFLECTIONS, since most things
   can, if intended, have a spiritual side to them.  Many of those
   topics will be represented in our archive subdirectory structure.  But do
   keep in mind that the New Age is not *just* about psychic phenomena.  These
   are certainly part of the unfoldment now, but by themselves, IMHO they are
   empty.  If you wish to post on these, please attempt to relate these topics
   to *personal growth and healing*.  The same goes for UFOs... if you can
   relate the information clearly to something happening in terms of planetary
   import, then great.  But if you're just recanting a neat story you read in
   the Inquirer, then please refrain.

*  I know this may offend some, but this is not an "airy-fairy" new-age list.
   I would like to set the tone to address gutsy, dark, and scary, earthy things
   as well as the positive, "light" oriented stuff.  Being an evolutionary
   being means being very real, very honest about where you are.  I'd like
   to encourage people to be as competent and fulfilled on the Earth plane
   (you know, everyday, "real" life) as well as the more expansive spiritual
   planes.  Do your best to ground your vision.  That will help us understand
   you better, as well!

Well, 'nuf said.  I hope you find your time in the REFLECTIONS community
enjoyable, informative, helpful, uplifting and energizing!   Please feel
free to make suggestions and comments at any time; let me know what
you'd like to see to make your experience in REFLECTIONS that much more
enjoyable.


With Exuberance for a New Way of Being,

Steve Dahmen,
REFLECTIONS Facilitator



-- 
Steve Dahmen ** Graphics Application Programmer
Ford Motor Company
smd@sl0091.srl.ford.com
313-594-3229 (work)
Xref: sparky talk.religion.newage:6218 alt.alien.visitors:10061 sci.skeptic:22699