Written by: Samson Jay.
Shambhala. Mr. Cowboy and I have been talking about going to such place for years... We finally did it. And fuck me it has to be hands down the best thing I've ever done. My journey of a life needed to come here. Looking back. It was, at least for myself, the perfect time for it to happen. Unfortunately any attempt to truly describe Shambhala with words through a screen, would be like trying to describe acid to someone who has never experienced such a delicacy. But what I certainly can do is paint a vivid display of my own personal adventure through the woods of Shambhala. A journey of which I can foresee having a large impact on my future.
The date is August 4th 4:30am. Mr. Cowboy is sleeping on my couch. My alarm goes off 3 minutes early. X-files has me to believe Aliens came to me one night, as my time is 3 minutes earlier than everyone else's. 3 minutes later Mr. Cowboy wakes up to his alarm. 5 am we're up and packing the truck. We're suppose to pick up Ms. Madame at 5:30. Arrive at 6:15. We're off. Survival begins on the road. Coffee and beef jerky sustains us while we drive for 7 hours towards Salmo. The drive is absolutely beautiful on such a sunny day. Lakes, forests, mountain roads. Makes we want a motorcycle to cruise through to Osoyoos. Of course a little Psytrance always makes a beautiful trip a tad more primal. Especially on large coffee number 3. But enough about the drive, Augustus wants me to move on... We arrive around 3 or 4 in the afternoon. A sign reads: "Welcome Home". "How fitting", I would later think. We're through the gate around 10 or 11 and security now has to search our stuff. I shove 12 grams of mush, 14 joints and a few grams of pot down my crotch. I must admit I was stricken with a touch of nervousness. Last time I went through a security gate, a drug dog nailed me with a joint, 2 bags of blow and a 4 hits of LSD. Nevertheless all we lost was our jam jars. No glass permitted. Including all booze, even in cans.
Night time is in full when we find our site, out in the barren lands. Savages dwell here. It's in the air, as any true savage would be able to pick up. 'Home'..., heh heh. Out closer to the festivities, a more peaceful landscape is seen. Creativity flourishes as hammocks lie in jungle gyms, and RV's become pirate ships. An older man meows at Women. My first glimpse of the festivities is mind boggling. It's hard to take in, or to even know where one is. Instantly I'm lost. For the night I stick with Ms. Madame and Mr. Cowboy. Briefly we meet up with another associate Mr. Unicorn. I'm quickly informed of some great news.... He has LSD. BINGO! Samson is a very happy man. LSD at such present time is his favorite drug of choice. Oh how Samson loves his drugs. Of course he has also spent the last 4 years studying them, writing papers in university on things like, "MDMA's Affect On Cognitive Function". Ok, ok. Augustus is insisting on moving again... Mr. Cowboy meets with a new associate of his. She gives him a better place to sleep, and from here he pops in and out of the journey. Ms. Madame goes to sleep. Upon arrival to the tent, she is surprised when I decide to walk on back to the party. She forgets she's dating a savage. Although this first night I don't stay out for much longer. It's only day 0. Not much is happening and most people are saving their energy. While I'm out though, remnants of that desire to entertain linger.. for now. Somehow I find my way out of the festivities. Luckily our tent is perched right next to a tall party tower someone built on top of a trailer. It's like a lighthouse in the fog. Rather eerie. I manage to get some sleep. Good thing too....
Bright and early, the morning dawns. Thrown right back into the heat, it feels as if those days between never happened. Were they just a dream? What did we do? I can't remember... Oh well, the river calls out for us. We explore the maze first. Not as intimidating as the night time, rather it has a feel of a hidden village. Only consumerism has sprouted. Good thing I'm broke. Here now, I feel disconnected from this place. My walls are still up. Patience though, as time can only move us forward. We hit the river. Refreshing water absorbs the heat from our vessels. Ms. Madame goes off on her own, so Mr. Cowboy leads me to his new associates. After a few laps of wondering we're back at the river. We found them. I'm introduced to a tasty little treat, my mother warned me about back in Middle School. Ketamine. Described to me, as putting you into a drunken state without all the poison. I'd describe it like having a beehive, where all the bees are running around thinking and trying to get stuff done, and then all they decide to just sit down, relax, and smoke a j. In an instant life was only in the present. Thoughts were lost. Nothing could bother me. Naturally I took a dip in the river, I quickly ponder on the idea of letting the river take me. Felt peaceful. Although in reality I'd maybe float 6 feet. More research will be needed.
As night falls, we meet up with Mr. Unicorn. LSD exchanges hands, and we're off to meet with Mr. Cowboy's new associates. Between leaving the camp sites and seeing our first act for the day, I ingest half a tab of acid and smoke 3 joints. Within an hour I'm lost. Overwhelmed by the night here. I can't see, seems like a layer of dust covers the paths. Breathing feels hard. I know it's in my head. Where's the rest of the group..? Already separated from Mr.Cowboy and his associates. Bad trip. I feel it coming. Sanctuary. Whew. Here at Shambhala they understand. Bad trips happen, so they built a safe place filled with good people who have been there. Ms. Madame sits with me as I collect myself in the safe place. She wants to pass out though. No way I'm sleeping. She passes out, I head right back to the party. Free at last. For the rest of the night I'm venturing by my lonesome. Solitude, in a place full of family. It's what I needed. I wander the festivities, taking in each stage as I wander. Everyone here is dancing full of life. Truly free people. I briefly run into a DJ called Marshmallow. A lady keeps yelling, "Guess who he is", and in my tripping state I can't understand what's happening. I just walk away. Throughout the night, I bring forth everything holding me back. Now I must face them. By early morning I'm a blank slate. A vessel tripping on acid, who has ventured forth past his chains. Now growth can begin. My walls have fallen, and it's almost as if those around me can feel it. A man high on K shows me the sun peaking through the clouds as we stand on a beach turned into a stage. It's a beautiful sight. A nice lady and her husband give me a hug and welcome me here. An older man gives some wisdom: "It's a marathon, not a race." His words haven't left my mind. Suddenly life seems more patient. With the sun up, I head to bed. It's 5 am. My more passive of sides is at peace.
The morning of day 2 is a blur. LSD tends to displace one after a long night. I vaguely remember smoking a few joints, and sitting by the river. It's all hard to believe because at one point a man runs around the stage called the Living Room, planting bananas. Reality is messing with me. Back at the camp site I learn of an eye twitch out of my control. Apparently I've looked like a smart ass without ever knowing. Great. Add that to my weird quirks. I do wonder how many times this has happened and who ever I was with thought it was on purpose...? Somehow in the heat, I pass out for a nap. Only my nap turned into bed time.
1 am strikes and the hidden moon tells me to wake. A brief taste of my primal nature peaks out. In minutes my clothes are thrown on and I'm heading out the tent. Shambhala calls my name. Ms. Madame is barely woken in my rush. She's still confused by why I'm heading out. I can't help it, I'm fully rested. A message awaits me on my phone. Mr. T-Rex, whom I met at Rockn River wants to meet up. Focus 1:30 am. I'm just in time. Although Sub Focus's set is superb, I can't find Mr. T-Rex. Patience. I let the music take me. Primal energy floods my body as I let go of control. My body moves, sensing the rhythm of the bass. The crowd around me, groove alongside. We all swim within the ocean of energy. Good vibes, as we all let go. What if I told you in order to truly feel something, one would need to let go of everything they're holding on to? That's passion. We fear it though, thinking once we give up control we'll be a terror to society. There at that moment, it all made sense. We let go, and we're free. We wont become monsters. Rather we become our true selves. As I ponder this, I am surrounded by those who have let go. Truly free people. They dance as if the world is theirs. Being free feels peaceful. 'Home'. During my breakthrough, the universe gifts me with a pleasant run in with an old acquaintance. Soon after the set, I meet up with Mr. T-Rex and his associates. They've formed a crew, finding people to hang out with there at Shambhala for a few years now. They're rather accepting. For they too have a fine taste for partying. Mr. T-Rex introduces me to his tree, where some MDMA came out to play. Lately MDMA hasn't peaked my interest, but I felt a 'fuck it' sensation and ate some. An hour later I was hit by a tidal wave. A rush of calmness over came my system and I was in euphoria. A powder comes out. Whether it was K or coke, I'm not sure and neither was the giver. What does it matter, the signs all point to good things... Hehehe. Mr. T-Rex creates his namesake, by putting on a fan powered T-Rex suit. He blasts off to Space Mountain and runs around as a T-Rex having a good ol' time.
Morning dawns, and my primal energies are running thin, as does the crowd. A beautiful soul within a man named TreeOak or TreeOrc introduces himself. He has a presence about him of a overall feeling of positivity. As he dances he picks up others garbage. Soon he offers advice: Sleep during the day, be back on the dance floor by 9 pm and you're golden to carry on till 11 am the next day. 14 hours, a fine goal. The stage closes. We clean the area to hear one last song, before we must move on. The group briefly sits at the Living Room. Upon arrival, the Sun greets us with a warm hello. I last until 9 am. A schedule is made to meet. 3 pm. I attempt to ride out the day without sleep. Unfortunately I last till 1 pm and KO. When I wake it's 6 pm. I missed the meet up.
Currently in our possession: 2 1/2 hits of LSD, maybe 10 grams of mush, and 5 joints. Tonight Mr. Cowboy sticks around. I tell him of my decision to do the acid. We have 2 types. A visual aid and a brain blaster. Mr. Cowboy will need to drive in the morning so he believes half is all we should take.. He remembers our previous behavior on such matters. I gently inform him of the high probability of repeating such behavior. We choose half of the visual aid. We take our final hike towards the festivities. Soon our pilgrimage will be over. Earlier the Gods shone us favor. Tonight there's something in the air. I feel it. Something... primal. The three of us run into Mr. Cowboy's other associates. They take in Ms. Madame, and Mr. Cowboy and myself are left to adventure. I show him the routes I have found. Hidden paths which don't lead to where I thought they did. Instead I slip into a puddle. I carry on though, what harm can a little dirt do? Once we find ourselves back, it doesn't take us long to desire the brain blaster. Another half into our systems. Alongside 3 joints. Release. True freedom. Everything I once was, is now gone. I am merely here. The music runs through me. Drum and Bass sounding like a war call. A passion flows. To hold my composure, I hide my face. Becoming nothing. Suddenly I'm connected with all those around me. Feels like the final party before we're off to fight in our search for Valhalla. I observe all around me. What I see are Warriors without a cause. People of free will. Our wings have been clipped and now we don't fit in to the outside world. We've been told our passions are fruitless and dangerous. I think to myself, just cause someone is aggressive, doesn't mean they don't have a good heart. They may just be lost. "A Warrior in the garden is better than a gardener in a war," is something I think back on. Imagine balance and total free will for everyone. Could it be done? Here at Shambhala you have all those who are tired of control. Yet we've been given a world which only hinders us. We're told what to think, and how to look. Here, however you want to be, is accepted. You only have to open yourself to everyone else. I think of what good we all could do if we managed to communicate. We must all believe in similar values. As I sink further into the acid, my mind starts to slip. No longer are my thoughts clear. The brain blaster is in full effect, and we have lift off. One way ticket to Space Mountain. Now my mind is gone too. Full savage. Pure primal. I must hide myself. My face feels of only madness, although I tend to quite enjoy such things. Others seem to be have been swept away, lost in confusion. They are full of fear, leading to such acts as smearing feces all over the bathrooms, or locking one self in one and screaming they don't know where they are. It's those who are afraid of letting go, we must at times worry about. They fight it and can act irrationally. I say let go, and accept. Let the acid show you what you need to be shown. Become like an animal. Think, are animals viscous when fully fed? Tend to your basic needs then explore. These understandings aid my mind as I let go. Luckily I've developed a mask to hide myself. He manages to keep his composure, while on the inside I slip away. Only one of Mr. Cowboy's associates sees through it. Must of been the food. Hard to hide when you're gorging like an animal. But the music calls out for me. I can't resist. I'd like to leave and find Mr. Unicorn. Into the forest we go. I never could get the hang of the place. Always turned around and lost. Now we have to find someone in here. Ms. Madame spots him. Reunited. He's one of the few people I broke my first rule of drugs with. "Never give someone a drug they haven't tried before." He's glad I broke the rule and showed him LSD. Mr. Cowboy is the first to leave. He needs the most sleep. Ms. Madame sits down, and once we leave the area she wants us to go to sleep. How can a savage sleep? She doesn't understand, what an enclosed space does to one lost in acid. She leaves, I stay with Mr. Unicorn and his associates.
My body starts to feel the weekend. I have successfully broken it down. Gone are my mind, and body. I am a blank slate, as Mr. Unicorn leaves for bed. I'm alone for the last lesson. I needed to be vulnerable. Alone. Without any defenses. Not my mind nor my body. Nothing could protect me. My shell had been shattered. I find myself recollecting in the Living Room. Dancing in the sand. I am reborn anew. The old self left behind. Everything pinning me back no longer exists. My thoughts are clear. Doubt has faded. I am here. To end the night, a pleasant lady asks me for a pipe and offers a hug when I don't have it on me. It's 5 am. The Sun is rising through the clouds. I am full of emotion, yet collected to my own thoughts. I head to bed and manage a few hours. Ms. Madame and Mr. Cowboy want to leave early. I decide to get one last glimpse of such a wonderful place full of love. Into the forest I go, where the party is still raging. 9 am. Everyone is full of life, dancing in the shade. I spark a j. A fitting end to a journey. Until next year Shambhala... Heh, 'Home' is right.
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