Hello beautiful being!

I spent the last two weeks up in Humboldt county. Camping, visiting Esalen, meeting with native elders, and enjoying the world's most magical forest- the Redwoods. Coming back to LA on Monday quickly deflated my bliss bubble. I was hit with the new rules that govern LA county and how serious my friends were taking this virus that two weeks prior seemed to be little more than an exaggerated news headline. Grocery shopping was first on my list, dirty looks for not wearing a surgeon mask and spraying down all my groceries like they had radioactive debris on them really re-wrote the story I had been telling myself.

This quickly reverted back to my patented optimism and through the last couple of days I have really started to see the beautiful positivity that is blooming from this situation. Of course it's an unprecedented time and very challenging for most, but I can’t help but stand in full awareness of the age-old saying “be careful what you wish for."

We want to slow down climate change, stop the craziness of consumer culture, and reconnect with our family and friends. Well we have that in spades, so I say lets acknowledge the fact that 3 months ago we were thinking about spending thousands of dollars to go on Vipassana retreat. Where we eat basic meals and stay isolated from others in order to deepen our spiritual practice, now we have it for free.

A wise man recently told me, the difference between Western and Buddhist philosophy has always been explained like this:

In the west we say, “Panic!!! Everything is out of control.” For the Buddhist it has always been, “Relax, everything is out of control.”

How will the current Pandemic change our virtual world for the better?

Our minds may immediately jump to Spielberg's dystopian reality from Ready Play One. Luckily we are forced to stay indoors from an invisible force compared to the full disaster that the inhabitants of Columbus Ohio in 2045 faced. Maybe this pandemic is Earth's gentle reminder to get it together so we don't have to quarantine permanently! Being that we are gently being guided to "go to our rooms and think about what we, collectively, have done" I say let's bounce back, I say, bring on the Utopia!

In the digital world of timeless exploration and self discovery, I believe we can remove our society's blockages while exponentially growing our capacity to thrive. Through working remotely, inside your virtual office for example, you spend more time with your family. You're reducing greenhouse gases by not having to commute. You can educate yourself and children on applicable subjects of your choice.

Biohacking and digital pharmaceuticals offer us the ability to undertake our own preventative care, and thereby not overwhelm our healthcare system. We can look inwards and listen to our bodies, asking: how do we make ourselves the most optimal, vibrant vessels possible during this time?

We also get time to really sit with our addictions, depression, ADHD and other mental afflictions we collectively struggle with. I believe some of these issues can be assisted by immersive, wellness-inspired video game experiences. There is a full catalog of these experiences below, if you're interested, called Renew VR.

Virtual events and conference were already entering the landscape. Now they are in the spotlight. Gamers are playing more than ever, and global communities are looking towards the bleeding edge of technology for ways to achieve digital connection. Ivy League schools, conscious companies like Mind Body Green, and wellness-based online platforms are offering free services. Instagram and Facebook content creators have become more useful and engaging! Masters in meditation, yoga, breathwork, outdoor survival, urban farming, and home remedies are streaming directly to your phone. Every hour of every day we have an opportunity (and in my opinion, a global responsibility) to turn inwards and build the spiritual practice that is necessary for us to move forward as a species. Here is our golden opportunity to walk with reverence and act from our desire to leave this beautiful planet in better condition than when we arrived.

I was recently turned onto this title and was amazed by its simplicity and strong science community backing. "Isness coaxes us to imagine ourselves as concentrations of radiant potential arisen out of nature's dynamic flux of energy and matter." I am unsure where I can play this thing but the videos makes it look like the ultimate QuaranTeam experience. Especially if you're arguing with a family member or roommate after being stuck in the same room for too long!

RenewVR

I am amazed by this catalog of content, you can sort by headset compatibility and topics ranging from relaxation and art to psychedelics and personal growth. I can spend hours browsing these titles, they even show price points for each experience including a wide range of free experiences.

Kind Words

This title truly touched my heart, a calming virtual space to sit down and write letters, to connect with loved ones or strangers. You may receive letters from others going through a hard time and write back to them. Or, reach out about the problem you're facing and then receive feedback from a compassionate stranger to comfort you, offer advice, or just let you know you're not alone. We need more games like this. Bravo!

SoundSelf

Official Launch Date Announced: April 22! The team is putting the final polishes on, and getting the build ready to submit! We could not be more pleased!

Audiotrip

Kinemotik has been hard at work these past months preparing to launch on Quest early April. We are so excited to show how dynamic this full body rhythm game is when there is no cord attached to your head!

We recently were featured as The Number One Game to Work Out During Quarantine as well! I know I will be playing it tonight after a little live stream yoga session!

Luxury Escapism- We just started working with this incredible team out of NYC. We truly think they have figured out what the future of spas can look like. Once the quarantine is over I will fly up there just to decompress for a few days.

Child's Play - I'm so impressed with this charity. We met them at the PAX South conference in January. We were so inspired by their mission to give kids at children's hospitals a way to experience play and joy on a daily basis. We are thrilled to partner with them and start bringing our wellness content to the children that need it most.

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As always,

Stay Blessed

Lyle