Saturday September 6, 2003 11 am to 4 pm

COMPERSION INSTEAD OF JEALOUSY:
CAN IT BE LEARNED OR DO YOU HAVE TO BE BORN WITH IT?

Anthropologist Leana Wolfe is a college professor (Human Sexuality among her topics), author (Women Who May Never Marry) and radio show hostess. Her latest book is on the Poly life style. Leana has unusual ways of dealing with lifestyles concerns. A couple of years ago she was having some difficulties in handling sharing her primary partner with another lady. Did she read a book or go to a support group? Yes. Then she went to Africa to talk to women brought up in a culture where such sharing is traditional. To talk to women whose husbands have added a co-wife, discussing how such resources as food, shelter...and love...are distributed and how these women feel about it. This is a lady with Spirit! Leana will share with us her latest research on the fascinating Poly topic of Compersion. She has recently done an extensive survey on this subject and others of interest to the Poly community. Some of you may have participated in it. Leana will tell us how Compersion develops in relationships here in America among poly folks and others. She'll also discuss Compersion among humans in cultures very different from our own as well as among primates swinging from trees!

Pot luck lunch: 1:00 pm
In honor of our anthropologist, bring your favorite ethnic dish to share!
Afternoon activity: Jacuzzi and socializing-bring towel and sandals. It's clothing optional. After that (around 3 pm) join us for riding on sureys at nearby Lake Balboa.
Address to house: 8515 Penfield Avenue
Directions: From the 405 take the Roscoe off ramp, turn West, turn North on Penfield. House is 2nd house on west side.
From the 101, get off at Winnetka, turn North, go past Roscoe, turn right, east, on Chase, left, north on Penfield.
House is 2nd house on west side
Call (818) 886-0069, ex. 3 for more detailed instructions.
From the 118, take the Tamp off ramp, left off the exit, down to Chase, left on Chase, right on Penfield.
Directions to Lake Balboa from house:
Go South on Penfield Avenue, Make a left on Roscoe, Make a right on Balboa. Balboa Lake is just south of Vicotry Blvd on the left hand side. We'll meet at the big play yard near the lake.

MAP

WORDS FOR OUR KIND OF LOVE

Compersion

Term coined by the Kerista poly family, is the ability to be not only jealousy-free, but to actually delight in your partner's joy with another. Reflected Compersion, (Claire W. at the LA Binet Conference 8/99), is the feeling a lucky loved one gets when his/her partner experiences compersion. While these terms are new to me, the concept is not. I have been blessed with lovers who gave me many soul-satisfying examples...
and am now married to a man who does appear to have been born free of jealousy. I myself have been on both sides, but can't quite claim to be as jealousy free as he is...
Compersion
I watch my husband make love to a lady dear to us. His face is filled with ecstasy. Her sounds are driving him wild. As they reach a shared zenith, I enfold both in loving arms.
Reflected Compersion
Later that morning, my husband and I have a romantic brunch together. He gives me one of his delicious love looks and says "Terry, if we weren't married, I'd propose to you all over again. You make marriage work for me in ways I never believed possible."
Compersion in a Triad
I come home from a weekend with my lover to find both my husbands waiting for me with warm embraces and long, tender kisses. They tell me how good it is to have me home...no resentment in voice, manner or feeling.
Reflected Compersion
I know it is safe to share my joys and sorrows with these special beings, whether they involve another in my life or not. I show reflected compersion when I cook them a good meal, pleasure them the best I know how...or write an article like this.

Saturday, September 13th, 2003 6:00 pm
LAFA Filk
WILL BE FILKING AT OUR HOME

Potluck dinner at 6 pm
Then let's sing into the wee small hours...
Filk-science fiction folk singing at the Penfield group house. (address below) We'll share the joy of song from the seriousness of the Balad of Appallo 13 to the absurdity of Banned from Argo (a Trek filk with scenarios such as Jim being beamed up with the remnants of his pants McCoy, inciting whores to riot and Uhura getting into the planet's communication's net "The bodies were there but the clothes they wear were no where to be seen." We'll do poly songs, too, such as Kathy Marr's Jealous of Your Time and HeartWarming (for her own housemates). Guitars, piano in residence and other instruments welcome. It's "Pick, pass or perform." You may bring your own compositions, sing/play those of others or only provide the essential function of LISTENING. Music and words available to choose from. While some filkers have great voices, others have voices no better than yours or mine. The idea is to have fun!
Address: 8515 Penfield Avenue, Winnetka, CA 91306
Directions: Same as September 6th event

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Saturday October 25 (fourth Saturday)
ALL HALLOWS EVE

POT LUCK and Sandwich Buffet: 6:00 pm
Bring a dish big enough for 10 A-F Cheeses, meats and other tasty things for sandwiches, G-M Juices or fresh fruit, N-R Salads, S-Z Deserts and treats. LTD provides good breads and spreads, paper goods, and marshmallows to roast.
Bring your favorite scary story and/or a tape or CD to dance to
HOT TUB AVAILABLE ALL EVENING -- CLOTHING OPTIONAL Bring towel and sandals.
ALL HALLOWS EVE RITUAL: 7:00 pm
(outside under the stars)... Bring something you want to let go of--a symbol or written note. It will be cleansed in the cauldron's flame ...
PARTY: 8:00 pm
Dress as your favorite God/Goddess or Be Body Painted in some beautiful and unusual way by a friend OR Professional Body painting available by calling ahead on LTD hot line. .
You are welcome to do some sort of dramatic or funny presentation appropriate to your costume. Audio equipment available for sound effects--call ahead to plan it with Paul if you have something elaborate in mind.
PRIZE TO BEST COSTUME/PRESENTATION COMBINATION--Be creative! The prize will be a group massage in the hot tub to the winner with all those who choose to participate in this yours to command (permission granted, of course) for one hour...ADULTS ONLY in hot tub at this time.)
Same time as adults only in the hot tub: Scary Story telling in living room by the fire.
ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW VIDEO AT MIDNIGHT
Address: 8515 Penfield Avenue
Directions: Same as September 6th event

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Samhain is a Pagan holiday on which the veil between the worlds of spirit and matter is lifted and it is possible to be spiritually in touch with our ancestors and those we loved who have passed on. Ancient knowledge may be shared with the living. Rituals are performed to keep any negativity from the past out of the future. It is a time of both endings and beginnings.

"On this night of Samhain, Summer's end, we greet the Winter, knowing full well that at bright Beltane we will be saying farewell. Let us be Merry despite the growing icy chill. In Death is Life and in Life Death. The Sabbat Wheel is ever turning...Samhain fires are burning. Come tread the sacred ground, let loose of all that bound and set your spirits free! Blessed be."

When all four quarters have been called, he says "WHAT IS NOW IN THE CIRCLE

"IS BETWEEN THE WORLDS. WHAT IS BETWEEN THE WORLDS DOES NOT CONCERN THE WORLD!"

PRIEST turns to face PRIESTESS. She crosses her wrists on her chest and stands with feet about 12 inches apart as PRIEST administers the Fivefold Kiss. As Priest's head rises above her waist, she moves her arms until they are outstretched to the sides.

PRIEST kisses in turn Priestess's feet, knees, vagina, breasts and lips saying, as appropriate

"BLESSED BE THY FEET, WHICH HAVE BROUGHT THEE IN THESE WAYS."

"BLESSED BE THY KNEES, WHICH KNEEL AT THE HOLY ALTAR."

"BLESSED BE THY WOMB, WITHOUT WHICH WE WOULD NOT BE."

"BLESSED BE THY BREASTS, FORMED IN BEAUTY."

"BLESSED BE THY LIPS, WHICH SPEAK THE HOLY NAMES."

PRIEST says "WELCOME, LADY!" and kisses PRIESTESS on the lips again.

PRIESTESS now returns Fivefold Kiss, with PRIEST duplicating PRIESTESS's

movements when she was the recipient, as she says

"BLESSED BE THY FEET,WHICH HAVE BROUGHT THEE IN THESE WAYS."
"BLESSED BE THY KNEES, WHICH KNEEL AT THE HOLY ALTAR."

"BLESSED BE THY PHALLUS, SOURCE OF THE SEED OF LIFE."
"BLESSED BE THY BREASTS, FORMED IN STRENGTH AND BEAUTY."

"BLESSED BE THY LIPS, WHICH SPEAK THE HOLY NAMES."

PRIESTESS says

"WELCOME, LORD!" and kisses him on the lips again.

PRIESTESS:

"We are gathered here tonight to celebrate another turn of the wheel of the year. Samhain marks the new year's eve of wiccans, our greatest holiday of the year. Once again we begin the cycle of fertilizing, planting, nurturing and harvesting. At SAMHAIN"

The veil between the worlds is the thinnest; at samhain those who have already crossed over can return the easiest. It is they whom we honor and let them know we still think of them and love them.

We shall go around the circle thrice. The first time, let each person call upon someone who has gone before and invite them to join our circle tonight as honored guests. Starting with the person at the east quarter, let us go around the circle in turn as each person calls by name the one they wish to invite, their relationship to that person and what they wish to give that person as a gift to take back with them to the other side."

(Example: " I call upon Elsa Grossmann Dietz, my mother, and give to her the beauty and joy of the flowers I grow, especially the roses, to enjoy on the other side.")

PRIEST and PRIESTESS call upon their departed after participants have gone
around the circle to the east quarter again.

PRIESTESS: "WE WELCOME THEE ALL, WHO HAVE COME FROM BEYOND TO JOIN US IN THIS CIRCLE. BE REASSURED THAT THOU ALL ARE LOVED, NOT FORGOTTEN."

GIVE US YOUR STORIES. We need your stories for research purposes--your names will remain anonymous. If you have been hassled by the government for your lifestyle, particularly by any child services department, we want to hear from you by phone, in writing or by E-Mail.
Our phone number is 818-361-6737.
Our mailing address is
6454 Van Nuys Blvd #211
Van Nuys, CA. 91401.
Our e-mail address is: [email protected]

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