New! Terence McKenna on the 'Natch
(video at home in Hawaii in virtual worlds with Bruce Damer)

Pollen "trip" world buit for the experience

The Virtual Allchemical Powwow

an experiment in avatar-based fandom in 3D virtual worlds on the Internet A gathering was held in the Terence McKenna on February 25th, 1999. An extensive report including transcript will be posted here soon. We were operating live from Terence's jungle retreat on the Big Island of Hawaii on a wireless packet radio network. The hosting area was finished off in the couple of hours before we went live at 3pm Hawaii time. Fans were already arriving by that time and helping out by finding audio files to be linked in, images and other Terence netmorabilia. Approximately 40 fans showed up with very short notice from an annoucement posted on Terence's fan lists. Another 20 or show streamed in for days after the event, to be met by "super fan" Roy Batty. In the meantime, see Cathie Leavitt's "Trip Report" for an excellent first hand newbie view of the experience.

fans gather as Terence goes live on camera Tonight's online Active Worlds meeting merits a trip report! Using the browser you move around inside a little virtual 3D scene as an "avatar" - a 3D rendering of a humanoid figure (or possibly non-humanoid if you are a "citizen" which costs $20 a year). Terence appeared as "Zoneghost" - in avatar as a tall skinny alien with almond shaped eyes. He was also onscreen via a live video feed from his place in Hawaii. There was to have been an audio feed but I guess there were technical difficulties, so he greeted us in acsii.

overhead view of the McKenna fanHood test area I "saw" christa, MushaMan, lovelava, Dan O., Tantrika, Donut, Bryan, Chelsea, and Fi there. Probably some others traveling incognito as well! The simultaneous conversations were hilarious, witty and urbane...kind of a psychedelic dadaesque group mind meld. Apparently a transcript will be on Terence's web site...check it out in a day or so. A bunch of us went on a trip together...we teleported through a gate to the world called "Pollen." Due to bandwidth limitations I did not see the fully rendered world on the group trip...had to go back later when it was quieter to see the incredible enthoegenic garden someone had built. Wow!

a wild visit (or Trip) to Pollen world by AW citizen Facter It felt kind of like a historic moment to me, the way the first transcontinental phone call must have felt. This medium has vast possibilites for connecting minds. Just as with this list, there is the sense of emotional connection within the discovery and exploration of a new medium. There is a shared dimension beyond the words and pixels on the screen.

saying goodbye in deep dialogue after 2 hours,
fans keep arriving from his mailing list well into the night I think we'll be seeing more of this. love, Cathie

the whole Active Worlds client software looks, 3D window, chat below, web on the right Download and install Active Worlds and then you can click to teleport to this spot (when the dialogue comes up, scroll up to where you installed active worlds, probably c:\Active Worlds and select AWORLD to run

See Also:

Read about the ALLChemical Arts Event in 3D Virtual Worlds

Bruce interview by Erik Davis about Terence McKenna and virtual worlds