Reflections of an Ancient Avatar
16 virtual years and counting
“It was never about having a second life. It was about chipping away at the calcified skins of who I was taught I “should” be and walking naked into alternatives.” - Jenaia Morane
I was caring for my mother 24/7. She’d allowed her diabetes to get out of hand and a cut on her big toe had morphed into a raging MRSA infection. By the time she told me, it had become systemic. The toe had become gangrenous, she was going in and out of diabetic comas, and her kidneys were threatening to shut down.
I took over her medical care, finances, and food prep. I schleped her to doctors appointments, filled out insurance forms, monitored her blood sugar four times a day, and made sure she ate only foods that wouldn’t spike her blood sugar. I was
overwhelmed and exhausted. I had no time for myself. Every day was life and death - literally.
Five months into the fourth year, after the big toe had been amputated and a round of Vancomycin (administered intravenously) had wiped out the MRSA infection, a friend mentioned Second Life. She told me she’d joined to be part of a group of health librarians who were meeting there to collaborate and share information. It was free. I was intrigued. I signed up.
Today, October 29, 2023, marks my 16th birthday in Second Life (SL). Referred to as my “rezz day” by SL residents, this anniversary holds great meaning for me. A lot has happened during those 16 years that I’d like to reflect on and share with you. But before I do, I want to address some misunderstandings.
First, I am often asked why anyone would want a second life. But that’s not how I see the time I spend in virtual reality. For me, life as an avatar is an extension of my life in physical reality. The two are inextricably entwined, but the 3D tools, choices, and opportunities available to me in Second Life have ignited my creativity and made it possible to meet and work with extraordinary people.
Second, SL is not a game. There are no quests, battles, heroes or villains, fanciful creatures, magical abilities, preset roles, or lands to invade and conquer (unless you want to build them yourself). Second Life has something far more valuable to offer. It’s a gateway to self-discovery and creative self-expression. It is a way to prototype your life and watch it unfold on a 3D stage at warp speed.
By now I’m sure you’ve had enough of words, so allow me to show you what I’ve been talking about. In the video below you will be introduced to Arbors - my latest 3D build. Arbors consists of six giant trees and a haunted sea. Each tree is built around a theme I’ve been exploring in Second Life, and the sea is…well… haunted. Have a look.
I didn’t have time or space in this post to tell you about the amazing projects I’ve worked on over the years in Second Life. Some of them include:
The Uncle D Story Quest: The life of a man who lived with HIV/AIDS told as a 3D story that participants could walk into and interact with. Created for the National Library of Medicine.
The 3D AIDS Quilt: Sixty 3D rooms, each devoted to telling a story about those who dealt with HIV/AIDS.
US Bank: Prototyping and role playing banks of the future.
Smith&Nephew: Modeling manufacturing plants and Kanban systems for a medical manufacturer.
Reinventing Myself: How the ability to change my appearance, gender, age, and even species gave me insights into myself and my relationships with others.
Veteran Civilian Dialogues: Bringing veterans and civilians together to discuss their experiences of war. Designed and guided by the two psychologists who developed the program in their first lives.
Songs for Ukraine: A series of builds allowing participants to experience what Ukrainian people were/are going through as a result of the Russian invasion.
The Virtual World Story Project (TVWSP) Story Quests: Immersive, interactive quests centered around a story. These quests allowed participants to experience SL as those with disabilities do.
The Virtual World Story Project (TVWSP) Poetry Quests: A series of adventures with writing prompts. The poems participants submitted were displayed within the garden and read aloud at poetry events.
Song Flight: A series of lives concerts held to raise awareness of and funds for the real world books and programs being developed to support the 1.9 million Ukrainian children displaced by the Russian invasion.
International Women’s Day (IWD): Live performances by 14 of Second Life’s best female performers celebrating the accomplishments of women around the world.
The Canine Chronicles: How becoming a collie dog in Second Life transformed my experience as a volunteer helping the disabled get into Second Life.
Extraordinary People: Interviews with and stories about some of the remarkable people I’ve met in Second Life.
Please let me know which of the projects you’d like me to know more about in the comments section below. Thank you and HUGS!
Jena
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Beautiful video. Love love love the Tree of Us. I hope I’ve recalled the name correctly.
You are so talented! The video is lovely!