Meghan and Pagan Alliance
I just got back from the Pagan Alliance meeting to find a really long email from Meghan (or Megalin.. as some people call her). Her first paragraph says it all:
"hmm...i guess that the most interesting people are right under your nose. my grandmother told me that once..."
She said that it's better to be yourself than a poser, and of course I completely agree. But I also think it's a lot easier to be nobody, than to be yourself.
I found somebody else in Newport, Rhode Island, who I'd also like to email soon. I guess when you want to meet interesting people, you have to look in the right places. Don't try to fit in with people you don't get along with -- just make room for new things (and people) in your life.
Well, I got to school around 6:30, and went up to the library to work on my German lab. I knew the Pagan Alliance meeting was 8 or 8:30, so I tried to get there about 8 to be sure. I didn't know exactly where it was, and I was a little nervous I might walk into the wrong meeting. But I followed behind a group of girls, and sort of peeked around until I was pretty sure I'd found the right place. I need to get over my fear of unfamiliarity -- I'm always totally afraid around new people and new situations (although that doesn't stop me from getting myself into them). I just get nervous -- especially when I have to express myself in front of a new, big group.
I looked for Rachael -- it was only about 8:00 so it's ok she didn't arrive yet. I found a place to sit, and found a freshman (I don't remember his name) who was doing a documentary on Witchcraft -- his alterior motive for being at the meeting. Everyone introduced themselves, and we talked a little about our religious beliefs. I said I'm "technically" Unitarian Universalist, since I've never been to a UU church -- and mentioned my interest in Australian Aboriginal and Native American religion, shamanism and transcendentalism. There was one other Unitarian Universalist there, two or three Roman Catholics, a girl with Scientologist background, and 10 or 12 mostly really eclectic pagans.
As for club events, we're going to King Richard's Renaissance Faire, and the American Stonehenge, built by Native Americans in New Hampshire. As for the Faire, it's something I'd like to see. But even more, I want to be one of the actors! I've always wanted to be a historical actor :)
At first I was really shy -- my fear of unfamiliarity. I had a burning question, which I didn't ask because I was too nervous and thought I might get made fun of (or something). I wanted to ask if anyone had read (or was interested in) Carlos Castaneda. But I didn't. Next meeting!
Later we talked and had some food. Then we did a meditation -- basically picturing a room, a table, and an apple which changes color. It's interesting -- my apple was originally green, and there were a disproportionate number of people (including myself) who's apple changed to purple. Then, strangely, there was someone who pictured a mushroom table. When the conductor of the meditation asked if anyone else pictured a mushroom table, one person rasied her hand, and he said "There you go," and contributed it to telepathy.
Another thing I thought was kind of amusing -- Rachael was holding my hand before the meditation. Then afterwards, the conductor asked us who was with us during the experience. Rachael raised her hand and said, "Everyone was gone, except him." And pointed to me.
After that, I looked at a book called, I think, "Goddess Meditations," which was really interesting for the short amount of time I looked at it -- very archetypal. And I talked to two guys from WPI (I think both of them were), and one girl, who was talking about her six week stay in China. She told me about all the great food -- duck blood (both dry and wet), bird brains, and other birds (you can tell what they are because they throw the heads on top). I saw ONE chicken head in Paris, and it was enough to make me seriously consider going vegetarian. I could not handle China! But, she related a lot of interesting experiences about learning Chinese and visiting the country.
One of the guys I was talking to said I looked familiar. He was from WPI (there are a lot of guys from WPI in the group -- ok, maybe 3 or 4). I thought that might explain it. I told him I was at Mass Academy, and he asked what classes I took. (As a disclaimer remember my dialogues aren't always 100% accurate, although I try to be as close as possible).
"Um... I took a lot of physics classes."
"I didn't take any physics."
"Ok. I took linear algebra last term."
"That's it! With Goulet?"
"Yeah! Do you remember the helium balloon?"
"Yeah, that was awesome."
Yes!!! I finally found someone to share that story with. He told the others about the helium balloon incident. During the last couple weeks of classes, there was a helium balloon floating around the big lecture hall. It had just enough helium to keep it from falling to the ground immediately -- just enough to keep it interesting, so we never knew when it would go up or down. So we kept punching the balloon around the class for several minutes.
Then Professor Goulet saw it. I thought, "Bye bye balloon." But he just stared at it -- stopping class for 5 minutes to watch the trajectory of a helium balloon. It slowly floated down, and he went to catch it. He picked it up and looked at it -- there was a face drawn on it. He made some joke about Maple (that had something to do with the balloon). Prof. Goulet always made Maple jokes. Then, after staring at the balloon in his hand for a considerable length of time, he just popped the balloon up into the air again, so we could play with it, and continued lecturing. It was one of the most interesting classes all year!!
Anyway, I was invited to Denny's, but I really had to get back here to finish my physics homework. I don't know if I'll finish it as it is...
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gandalfs_dream) wrote,
