A DU star is needed to post to this group.

[I Have A Dream]

It's my understanding that a person must have a DU star to post to this group. I got a very clear message this morning about this issue. I don't often get clear messages, so, when I do, I'm really excited and try to do exactly what I've been told.

The message is that the Universe greatly values this group and what it does and that anyone who wants to post in this group should be able to do so. Therefore, if for some reason you are concerned about your star expiring or if you only lurk here rather than posting because you don't have a star, please don't hesitate to contact me via PM to let me know, and the Universe will make sure that you have a star. This will not be a gift from me -- it will be a gift from the Universe. This offer is not just for now but for in the future as well.

(I don't know whether there's someone here who is concerned about this or whether there will be at some point in the future, but the message was very clear that anyone who wants to post here should be able to do so.)

[oxbow]

1. That's how I got my star!

One day, it just showed up. Who knows, maybe someone out there likes me. One thing I know is that I do love this place, and this board in particular!

Much love to all the lurkers here...so come on out and say hi to us :hi:

[FreedomAngel82]

7. Same here!

I remember there was a thread dissing John Kerry and I stuck up for him (since I'm a very big Kerrycrat) and TayTay PMd me and said that the Kerry group liked how I gave him floaty hearts in this particular thread and she gave me a star. I wasn't expecting it at all!

[oxbow]

9. Yea, I think maybe mine came because of my college activism

I was pres. of the art club, and we had done alot of anti-war performances and monuments at our school, and I was talking about them in a thread. Some good Samaritan must have appreciated the work enough to give me a star on the downlow. That's what I love about DU though, for each instance of pettiness and lack of understanding there are countless other kindnesses bestowed

[davsand]

2. Isn't it nice to know we have value in somebody's eyes?

You need to see me smiling when I say that, BTW.

There have been times when I see threads or even selected posts in other places on DU and I think to myself, "I wish that person would venture down to see us in the Astrology, Spirituality & Alternative Healing Group." Sometimes they find us--other times they haven't (yet!) Maybe the lack of a donor star is playing a role in that--that hadn't occurred to me before.

I do realize that a lot of people read here in this group and choose not to actively post. For some, it may be just curiosity rather than a desire to participate, for others it may be they feel shy about jumping in. I do think that for some there is a very real fear of being seen as somehow odd or strange.

I dunno--I'm about as "normal" as it gets. I have a husband and child and I go to work every day. I am active in my community with various groups (including politics) and I volunteer for stuff with the kids (including a fourth year of girls' softball coaching, BTW. I just agreed yesterday to do another season...)

I have always felt that this group was a source of great support and community. In many ways, what we talk about here translates into my entire life.

I can't imagine that any sort of spiritual exploration WOULDN'T impact in your entire life, now that I think about it, but I hadn't really considered the impact we have on the folks who read here and do not actively participate.

I consider us all blessed by the support and warmth here in our group--but I also remember when it was the very early days and we had people who came only to argue and belittle us.

To all who read and do not post--Please come join in!

Now that we've asked the neighbors over I guess I better clean up my language from here on out...

:evilgrin:



Laura

[FreedomAngel82]

8. Same here

I think my star is up next month though so I don't know if I'll be around after that. TayTay gave me my star and I won't be able to donate. :( This board and the Kerry forum I really love coming to. :)

[I Have A Dream]

10. Please look in your inbox. n/t

[NJCher]

3. That's very interesting, I Have a Dream

And also interesting, Oxbow, that your star just "showed up."

Oh, Laura, do I ever remember when those people used to show up just to argue with us. I take great pride and satisfaction in saying that I never once argued with them. I did put one or two of them on "ignore," however.

I, too, am happy to hear our group is valued.




Cher

[MissWaverly]

4. I think it is important too

I often come here when I need a refill on Hope.

[Cerridwen]

5. I have been reading and not posting for some time

It's not that I'm anti-social or that I'm afraid of being thought "weird." My mother recently reminded me I've always been her "different" child.

Mostly I don't post because I'm not around enough to respond if someone replies to my post. I hate to post and run or not respond and have someone think I'm ignoring them. So, I wait for times in which I have the time and energy and wherewithall to respond.

Since I'm posting right this second, I'd like to thank everyone, and I mean everyone who comes here and posts and/or reads. On the great boards of DU, this is my sanity, my moment of Zen, my breathe of fresh air, my calm center; regardless of whether or not I post.



So, star or no star, Thank you all so very much!

:grouphug:

[Dora]

6. My first star was a gift.

And it made all the difference!

[Quakerfriend]

11. Funny, I came over here to post and realized that

my star had expired! So I got another one!

[I Have A Dream]

12. Kick. (Just so any new people are aware of this.)

(I'll kick this every once in a while so that this information's available to anyone who needs to know it.)

[oxbow]

13. This thread makes me really happy :-)

Thanks for posting it, Dream. I don't know of any other group that takes care of each other like this one. It's a joy to have met you all.

:grouphug:

[I Have A Dream]

14. The Universe loves us and wants us to be together and share what...

we know. Together, we have amazing power to change the world in ways that benefit so many people and the planet itself.

It's really weird -- I rarely get messages from the Universe, but while I'm responding to threads in this group, things just pop into my head. Being here is really helping me to improve my connection with the Universe.

Thanks for the amazing energy that you add to the group, oxbow. :hug:

[Cleita]

15. Has anyone thought of petitioning Skinner to allow people

without stars to post in this forum? I know the rule for all the special forums is that you must have a star, but perhaps he might consider making an exception for this forum since it's out of the ordinary anyway.

[I Have A Dream]

18. Hi, Cleita -- I sent you a PM about this issue. n/t

[I Have A Dream]

22. If anyone else wants to know what I sent to Cleita, I'll be happy to...

also PM it to you. Please just let me know.

[juajen]

16. My star was given to me by someone who was very generous

That's why I love DU. I had no idea you needed one to post here and I honestly don't know when mine expires. I have never posted because I feel very inept here and not quite ready for prime time. You're all so knowledgeable, and I'm just a tad shy. I also believe this is a very important group.

[I Have A Dream]

17. Welcome to the group, juajen! I think that the Universe uses each...

one of us who posts here to add a different spice to the mix. Until now, we've been missing your spice, so it's good to have you jump in.

I also feel that there are so many gifted people here that it's easy to feel intimidated. The good thing is that everyone here shows such love and acceptance that I can't help but post. Please don't let anything keep you from having your voice here. I can also so that the Universe has been "showing" me what to post, which is such a fun thing to have happen. (I feel as though I'm being used as an instrument of Spirit in ways that I never have before; it's a great feeling! I supect that this will happen to you also as you post here more.)

At the point when your star expires, don't hesitate to PM me if you need help getting it activated again.

:hug:

[Chi-Town Exile]

19. This is a wonderful group ....

I just got my star last week when I donated during the latest drive.

I hope to post her often as many of the threads in the political discussion areas get dragged down by negative energy.

Unfortunately, when people get so frustrated by the direction of the country/world they tend to drag negative energy with them. I too, have been caught up in it.

I so enjoy your discussions on here and I hope I can contribute something although I am not quite as knowledgeable as you are. :)

[I Have A Dream]

20. HI, Chi-Town Exile! Welcome to the group!

I'm sure that you have much to offer. You may have the exact piece of something that one of us has been waiting to hear, even if you don't think that it has much value.

I strongly suspect that the Universe will use you here in interesting ways. We each hold a separate piece of the puzzle that makes up this group. Together, we get the complete picture.

:hi:

[Chi-Town Exile]

21. Thank You!

You are absolutely right ... we all need to remember that!

I can't tell you how many times that has happened in my life. I have some type of information or something in my life that didn't quite fit but when I gave it to someone else, it all became clear.

Guess we spend so much time worrying about ourselves we forget we are part of a bigger picture.