Floral Notes and Bardo: The Creative Chronicles of a Shambhala Mountain Resident is a daily feature on the SMC blog in which a member of our staff/community shares his experience of existing as part of Shambhala Mountain Center.

Squealing demon racing through rib-cage forest
care
and when I’m scared
care
when I’m scared of the dissolution of my constructed character-dude
care
care about more than my story
(Characters; care-actors)

I’m not able to be the way I was.
I’m growing suspicious of the effort to find the right way to be
Care less about it turning out right
care more so I’m not so uptight
Care about others
Amen.

The Mahayana is sneaking up on me, maybe. Last night we danced–“open to others”

Nathaniel is an amazing dancer, teacher, and he has exquisite taste in music. So glad for his existence and friendship…

We have a lovely shrine room with a great sound system. Last night–blues dance class. I love it. Nathanial teaches along with Kaleigh (my boss). Kaleigh is teaching me a lot, including how to blues dance. When we accomplish something big and sparkly–marketing-wise–we crank up tunes and have a five minute dance party in our office.

Partner dancing–fun and awkward… Blissful to harmonize with someone in that way, in a stream of music. And good practice for relaxing into friendly engagement. We step on each other’s toes, tense up, and remember to smile, striving towards mutual delight.

After dancing for a while, Heather made a fort out of meditation cushions and Nathaniel and I pulled Molly around in circles on the smooth wood floor. Beautiful tunes from Nathaniel’s library–a few originals, Radiohead… So lovely.

It’s somewhat rare here for me to be in a room with speakers… to enjoy music acoustically (I listen in headphones in my room some nights). It was nourishing. Ahh… We all laid on the floor at the end and bathed in lush Sigur Ros.

Nathaniel: “Nine minutes well spent”

Amen.

I feel friendship relaxing my boundaries, freaking me out, inviting me to be more playful.

AND

Today for lunch we had burritos! Man… I love burritos.

~~~

Travis Newbill is a curious dude on the path of artistry, meditation, and social engagement who is very glad to be residing at Shambhala Mountain Center. His roles within the organization include Marketing Associate and Head Dekyong–a position of leadership within the community.