Ministry of Trance

By Netera Landar

You never know where I may pop up because of curiosity. I heard about Ministry of Trance and thought I might check out what it had to offer. I mean, who can say no to Trance?

DJ Ravie was playing the “Other Side of the World Extended Mix” by Craig Connely & Haliene when I walked onto the dance floor. The forest-and-water setting was lovely, with a boardwalk surrounded by pink-leaved trees, each nestled in a planter. There was a big welcome sign and a promotional poster listing the DJs for the day. 

 

Sitting on her unicorn was DJ Puddles, who is a fairy. She’s into tech, and you can tell from how the venues are run.

Before DJ Puddles took over the venue’s ownership, the DJs hosted from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. They presented high-quality, live-mixed Trance music in a laid-back, friendly atmosphere. When the previous owner decided to close the club, DJ Puddles, who was a DJ there, took over to keep it running. The other DJs and dedicated staff stand beside her in their commitment.

I asked her what changes she made nearly 4 years ago.

“We kept the focus on the music, only Trance (and PsyTrance), that’s the club’s most important identity. But we also put a huge emphasis on community, fun, and friendship,” said DJ Puddles. “We don’t try to fill the club to capacity every night, but we do have a very loyal family of friends, and everyone is welcome.”

She also incorporated AI into the outdoor venue and the Fairytale Palace. DJ Puddles stated that Ministry of Trance was the first club to use AI NCP characters. There’s a grumpy host named “Minime,” Puddles’ vane sister who thinks she’s the boss, “Fairy Puddles,” a polite gentleman bartender “Phoenix,” and a lazy security guard named “Fred.”  DJ Puddles said that some people think the NCP characters are robots. It’s actually brain surgery and fairy dust that makes them work. She’s currently working on a project to have a fully animated club manager. 

“MotBot is the latest project from my Lab,” she stated. “She is a very advanced robot. She will support the managers by assisting staff and guests 24/7 so we can drink Pina, party, and sleep more,” she joked. “MotBot will be able to greet guests and assist them with any questions, but her main duty will be running the staff schedule. DJs and hosts can ask her in our Groups, Discord, or via private messages, using normal speech in any language, to deal with things like holiday cover, and she will take care of it.”

Another interesting fact is that the club runs spaceunicorn.radio. This allows for both an internet audience and an in-world audience. Guests can listen to the club stream and chat live with those in the club on their smartphone, tablet, or computer. This year, 128 countries have listened to the stream.

Those in-world can also visit the main stage, which is the Fairytale Palace. Not only is it the residence for the Fairy Royal family and Unicorn cavalry, but they also host special events there. One of which is Nuvolino’s laser and light shows with his musical sets. There are Cinema nights and live video parties. They watched the Artemis Space launch, moon orbit, and splashdown together. They have a 12-timezone New Year’s Eve party and celebrate regular guests’ birthdays.

Ministry of Trance also has seasonal theme stages, such as Halloween, Spring, Summer, and Winter. There’s also a pirate ship, a hollow asteroid, a space station, and “Bladerunner.”

 

“We are blessed to have a team of skilled volunteers who help build our theme stages. I love seeing their imaginative ideas come to life so we can party in some beautiful and extraordinary places,” said DJ Puddles.

And then there’s staff. Ministry of Trance has 25 resident DJs with sets every week. There are also occasional cover and guest DJs. 

“Our automated system means even when the club is closed, any DJ can start a show whenever they like, and my sister will automatically send out set notices. Our wonderful team of hosts supports our DJ shows, and normally our club’s core hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. All our DJs mix live and have passed a rigorous audition to prove their amazing skills and keep standards high,” said DJ Puddles.

 

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/TRance%20Island/176/82/23 

 

Netera Landar

 

SLEA - The Quiet Between Worlds

 

By Netera Landar

The  Masquerade Ball in the Ballroom. (Photo courtesy Neme Marville)

I went to an event celebrating “The Quiet Between Worlds” region an hour before singer Austin Moores’ gig. Max Kleene was singing live during the Masquerade Ball. 

 

Max Kleene

He was dressed in a black suit and wore a mask that covered half his face. On a blue, sparkling dance floor, 40 participants were surrounded by tall arches and floating candles. Many were dressed casually, while others chose formal gowns, suits, or styles that suited them.

The landing point information board.

“The Quiet Between Worlds” was created from a growing sense of unrest and exhaustion – both online and offline – that now permeates our world: the constant performance, polarization, and pressure to define and defend identity. The region is a refuge that offers true emotional safety and comfort. It is LGBTQ+ centered on care and visibility for the most vulnerable members of the Second Life community. Here, visitors can experience moments of peace and reflection, mourn loved ones that they have lost, and support our fellow brothers and sisters,” according to Team Nabi/Butterfly Nation. Over 1,500 people have visited so far.

The team includes Nemesis Marville – engines, storytelling, and meshes; Nyx Marville – scripting and dynamic art; Dean Acer – meshes and textures; Cypher: Muse and the boss of Dean; and Rin Nemeth: artists’ coordinator and manager.

A week after the music event, I met with Neme, who lives overseas, and Nyx. They gave me a tour of numerous parts of the region and offered explanations at each highlighted space.

“Our grant started in January of 2026. We have this region through Second Life Endowment for the Arts for six months. So, the region will end and go on to a new artist at the end of June 2026,” said Neme.

The team members met in a region where the community was supportive of LGBTQ residents. When it closed, they discussed ideas on how to offer a safe space. The opportunity came, and they began their work.

They create unity and bring people together by holding weekly events. One of which is a week-long watch party in their theater, and on Sundays, a DJ mixes ambient tunes and more. They hope to offer more events, especially for Pride coming up, now that the building phase is nearly complete.

As for the tour, Neme and Nyx showed me the upper levels. I explored the beach area myself. Not far from the landing point is a guitar stage with rainbows and stars streaming from the sand. Bean bag chairs surround the area. 

 

A memorial park features a marble headstone and a touching message, a harp that plays after you click it. Sit on the Pride bench and listen.

 

Step into the wooden cabin and watch a special video.

Watch the interactive video in the wooden cabin. Relax by the fire pit or in the cuddle heart.

Neme’s tour led to the exploration of the upper part of the build. He told me to walk slowly towards the first teleport, which should bring us up.

“This marks the end of the world as we know it,” said Neme. “This is why in the book up there it says choose wonder over fear.” We went over the bridge instead. “This is a spot for gatherings, for friends and family, and for concerts and events. This is the Ballroom biome. It’s the face we show to the people around us. It’s what we want them to perceive us as,” he told me.

I recognize it as the room where Max performed. Neme tells me that every arc in the room has a message, and together they become whole.

The Little Prince build.

We took the portal to the next area. He said this was the Little Prince biome, which features elements from the book.

“You can either be the Little Prince or the Narrator, as they are the only characters missing,” he said, and asked if I knew the story. 

 

Netera with Neme.

“It should feel like they were just here, and their absence should be notable. I think the first thing people do is think of a loved one who is now among the stars. People react with feelings of nostalgia, some even grief. Although it’s more introspective in a way. It’s the feeling of lost potential, of what life could have been if they were still around."

Another wooden cabin for sitting and reflecting.

We then move on to the cabin. Neme said that this is a place to calm down from the feelings we experienced in the previous setting. Most of the scene has interactive areas to hang out, contemplate, or just share a moment with someone you’re close to.

He added that there is an important over-arching theme that extended across all the builds in the region and that was the opportunity to contemplate your life as well as options for making memories.

“Which is so important in a space like SL where folks are looking for connections,” Neme said. “Around this ark/biome, this is a place where you can withdraw and relax and leave whenever you feel ready to. A place to be yourself without having to meet any expectations.”

“There needs to be safe places to come,” I told him.

“Exactly,” said Nyx. “Whether it is someone decompressing from real life, or looking for a way to reach out to a community, that is what SL is at its heart. A place to be more than you can imagine and to find your chosen people.”

Nyx stated, as Neme did, that their region will be open to the end of June, and then another team will create an installation, or whatever their passion is, and it will be bittersweet.

“We do not have an option yet to move elsewhere, but we are open to any opportunities folks may have. We put in a very concentrated effort to do everything ourselves. So, approximately 98% of what you are seeing is something our team members made or created together,” Nyx added.

A tree-house build focusing on grief, how it is love with nowhere to go. Play your song anyway.

Onward we went. This time, we were transported to a floating treehouse, which Neme said was a standard blender ruins made with mesh.

Not all wishes are meant to come true...some are meant to change you.

“Neme has created much of the mesh you see around each scene. Each scene is encapsulated within its own biome. Right now, we are about 2,500m over the beach below,” explained Nyx. “I think we have space for everyone to claim a spot as their own at this point.”

Neme tells me I’ll love the next area. He points across the bridge to a piano, the next portal, he said. There are messages.

“He has made pieces, since we started, that tell stories, follow a narrative, and make people connect. This piece made me teary-eyed,” Nyx admitted.

Nyx and Neme.

We are at a gazebo where the stars sparkle above. Neme said that there are four messages and poses, perfect for couples. Perfect to ask your loved one to marry you, and there’s even a wedding venue downstairs.

“If you wish to book space for a wedding, it’s free. If you want to flex your DJ skills on any given night – free. If someone wants to hold a morning yoga class, the only hurdle is your imagination and wanting to see it thrive,” said Neme.

You are not alone.

“I think the little messages are cute and endearing,” added Nyx.  “Sometimes it’s hard to find the words to say how one feels.”

You are more than what hurts you.

Neme explained that they tried to alternate heavy places with places to rest your mind and soul so it wouldn’t be overbearing.

Your journey just begins - we are walking it with you...

“I think the vastness of massive objects like space, reminds us of how small we are and how small our troubles can be in the grand scheme,” said Nyx.

 

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/SLEA8/56/66/32

Netera Landar

  

The Willows

 

By Netera Landar

 

I found out about The Willows through the events directory. Faleen Renard, the club’s owner, mentioned they were hosting a pre-Valentine’s Day event and invited me to check it out, which I did, and I wrote a short article about it. I came back to attend their pirate event. Who can say no to stepping back in time when men and women didn’t follow the rules of social conformity?

Within the large venue, men were dressed in buccaneer costumes, with frock coats, shirts, and breeches, and women in corsets, low-cut bodices, and skirts. The DJ was surrounded by an outdoor market run by pirate vendors, whom you wouldn’t want to bargain with for the best deal. You might lose more than just your coins.

What I like about this club is that almost everyone welcomes you to dance with them. They seem comfortable in the setting and with each other.

Before I learned about the club, I wanted to find out what motivated her to come in-world and what her learning process was like. She said she discovered Second Life through her real-life job. 

“I was involved in a project for Teen Second Life, when it existed,” she stated. “I had quite a learning curve back in 2007, because I worked in online community management, but none of it mirrored my experience joining Second Life. It took me some time to convert my mindset from text-based to the visual experience, to experiment with avatars, and also to participate socially. I thought I would be done at the end of that work project, but 19 years later, I’m still here.”

Her exploration in Second Life led her to music venues and social spots. She discovered that she enjoyed meeting new people with shared interests. 

“Within a couple of years, I became a hostess at one of the popular ballrooms. I progressed to training and managing the hosting staff and then became a general manager,” she said.

Afterward, she managed several other venues before deciding to open The Willows. Her launch date was Jan. 16, 2012. Faleen said she learned a lot over the years and felt ready to provide the kind of experience she had grown to love. She continues to pursue her goal of “making the club feel like home,” where people feel welcomed, comfortable, entertained, and included as part of the family.

Faleen said that people come in-world for many reasons and like to be entertained in different ways. One of the first people that she met in Second Life was a woman with physical limitations. 

“She told me that, in Second Life, she could do all the things she couldn’t do anywhere else. I learned that fun and changing experiences made people happy and kept them engaged. I decided that a themed venue was what I wanted. Music, décor, and style of dress would change nightly,” she said.

Faleen designs and builds her settings and has learned, improved, and expanded what is offered. She’s acted on guests’ requests for specific themes. She credits her dedicated team of talented DJs for knowing what everyone will love hearing, and Steverino and Kylie for backing her up and supporting her, especially when real life keeps her off-line.

So, what themes can you expect there? First, there are “fixed nights.” All-Country Monday, Formal Saturday, and Sock-Hop Sunday. Faleen has numerous settings for these events. The themes are categorized by music, decade, and holidays. 

“Specific examples would be 60’s (Feelin’ Groovy,” Woodstock, British Invasion), Disco, several 80’s styles, Biker Bar, Blues Night, beach parties, Tiki and Toga parties…and I try to catch all holidays (even the silliest ones!) from Valentine’s Day through until New Year’s Eve. It’s an extensive list!

You will find The Willows open from 7 to 11 p.m. SLT every night. Also, three mornings a week at The Willows Open Air: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. SLT on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays. The Willows Winter Serenity, a cozy winter area, is open year-round to visitors. The teleport system is available at the fixed landing to have a look around the area. 

I asked Faleen what her plans are for the club’s future. “Going forward, it is my hope to continue to build, to continue to offer new and expanded themes, to highlight great DJs and to meet and welcome more of the Second Life community, including beyond the North American time zones,” she said.

 

SURL: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Donatelli/104/187/3753

Netera Landar 

 

Design 

Kondor’s Art Café

 

By Netera Landar

Hermes Kondor arrived early to greet guests before the art café opened.

A Facebook invitation announced the grand opening of a new space for Kondor’s Art Cafe on Sunday, Jan. 11. Hermes Kondor’s artwork was featured in the Dickens Project Art Show last month, and I learned that he has an art center. Arriving early to the event would allow me to take pictures of Hermes’ collection without disrupting the event. To my surprise, Hermes was at the center. 

Hermes explained that the art café is a transformation of an old concept called “The Terrace,” which had functioned more like a club. His notecard explained the concept and intention of the art café.  It would serve a small but meaningful purpose as a Sunday cultural and elegant salon. The terrace would motivate people to meet in an art and cultural environment, to socialize, listen to good music, and to dance. Thursdays would feature exhibitions, and Sundays would focus on connection and atmosphere. 

As Hermes started greeting other early guests, I clicked on the sim’s music stream and began walking through the realistic art center. Sydney Couerblanc was greeted by Hermes. She explained that she couldn’t attend the 1 p.m. opening but was interested in seeing his new materials. She told him she liked the tight color palette and the highlights and shadows in one of the photographs, then continued her self-guided tour.

From the stairway, interior view.

My own tour was one of observation, appreciation, and a desire to speak with each photographer and artist about their composition. What were they trying to capture and express? Art is like poetry; you can try to interpret it, but it’s more than a personal point of view. The poet feels compelled to select the right words, while the photographer waits for the perfect angle and lighting to capture the image he/she desires. 

Before I knew it, artists, photographers, and art supporters began arriving. Thirty-three at my last count. They gathered on the terrace and listened to DJ Pris and then DJ Medea. The majority were dressed casually. All commented positively on the collection and said they couldn’t wait to see future exhibits.

Artists represented in the art center/museum.

Here are a few pieces from the collection.

 

“Waves Roll in My Thoughts” by Paola Mills.

 

“Fighting the Dark” by Duraya.

“Tangled” by ilyra Chardin

“Shoot Speed Kill Light” by Traci.

“Distortion 24” by Angelika Corral 2023

“Failure” by Margherita Hax.

“WOS Away” by eta Mae

 

“Relativeco” by Selen Love.

Slurl: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Royal%20Tea/159/82/30

Netera Landar
 

The Dickens Project Art Show

 

By Netera Landar

Where the Dickens Project 2025 Open Art Show is being held.

Always eager to explore the photography and paintings of the SL community, I stepped back in time to enjoy a true winter holiday tradition. Talia Sunsong informed me about the Dickens Project 2025 Open Art Show. The show opened at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 20, with DJ Nicholas entertaining the crowd. It ends when The Dickens Project closes on Jan. 5, 2026.

Stevie Morane Basevi spoke to me about the contributors' artwork.

I was greeted by the art show’s coordinator, Stevie Morane Basevi, as I entered the building's foyer. She wore a stunning burgundy Victorian gown, and we talked in one of the two rooms displaying the contributors’ artwork.

“Have a wander around. This work was done by some of the best and most talented artists in SL," Stevie said. “I love the Dickens Project very much. I talked to some of the wonderful artists. Several are returning for the second or third time.”

Left, Winter Moon at Calas by Carelyna, and right, Dickens 00001 by Hermes Kondor.

As we moved through the foyer, she told me who the artists were and said their bio statements were in the clickable panels under the art. Stevie was responsible for arranging the artwork and decorating some of the buildings on the theme-related sims. With a smile, she says, “It was a labor of love.”

View from Harbour Lighthouse - Dickens 2020 by Caledonia Skytower and Christmas Present - Dickens 2020 also by Caledonia Skytower.

Artists featured in the art show are: Carelyna Resident, Stevie Morane Basevi, Hermes Kondor, Caledonia Skytower, HoneyHeart Resident, Dante Helios, Pagan Lane, Raven Arcana, LadyDragon Kazan, Gillian Gustafson, TaliaSunsong, Prins Evergarden, Rosvald, Yanashvaniva Resident, Aquarius27Denimore, and Elvira Mistwood.

Sleighing with Merrylegs in the Snow by HoneyHeart and Winter Scene by Dante Helios.

The artwork focused on winter landscapes, settings inspired by Charles Dickens’ novella “A Christmas Carol,” scenes from the play, carriage rides in the snow, and even a photo of a sculpture.

Ghost of Christmas Past by Pagan Lane.

According to Caledonia Skytower, the Seanchai Library has presented Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” since the library's inception in 2008. In 2012, it began its evolution to the fully immersive, region-scaped environment it is today.

Left, "Coming Home for Christmas" by Raven Arcana, center, photograph by Hermes Kondor, right, The Wealthy, Spoiled Princess by LadyDragon Kazan.

“The Dickens Project is a Second Life winter holiday tradition that invites guests to walk in the steps of Ebenezer Scrooge in an environment inspired by Charles Dickens’ 1843 novella “A Christmas Carol.” The project brings together different SL communities, and celebrates the work of Dickens and his seminal Christmas story through music, story, and a wide variety of events,” said Caledonia.

Marley’s Ghost Photomontage by Gillian Gustafson and Covered Bridge In Snow by Talia Sunsong

“Our goal is to create as many entry points for exploration, discovery, and entertainment as possible,” Caledonia added. “So, whether you like dance club events, literature, curated educational content, or just exploring with your friends, you may well find something to engage you at The Dickens Project. We thought it would be a great opportunity to encourage that community and further encourage SL image creation by holding an art show. We decided early on not to limit it to images created at The Dickens Project, but to keep the requirements ‘Dickens adjacent.’ ”

Left, Winter Love Valley by Carelyna, center, photo by Prins Evergarden, and right, Dicken’s Project by Rosvald.

The environment lets you experience that specific time period. Create new SL holiday memories by wearing Victorian attire and taking pictures for your greeting cards.

Left, Feziwig's Christmas Party by Aquarius Denimore, and next to it, Dickens Project - Allaway by Yanashvaniva.

SL residents are encouraged to create and submit artwork for consideration in next year’s show.

Painting, Time Travelers, by Elvira Mistwood.

To head straight to the art exhibition, go to http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/The%20Dickens%20Project/46/181/24  

 

Seanchai Library, which means “Storyteller” in Irish Gaelic, promotes the power of stories to transform and inspire through live voice presentations. 

 

For more information, visit http://irelandslstory.blogspot.com/ or join the group.

 

The main entrance to the Dickens Project is at The Dickens Project (129/128/1401).

Netera Landar