Fall News at the Phoenix Shambhala Center

We have many things happening at the Center this fall, including a variety of upcoming programs to the filling of four Council positions.

We’re delighted to announce the appointment of Amy Kemp as Center Director. Amy comes to us with a long history of service to the Phoenix Shambhala Center, having acted as Rusung, Meditation Instructor, Course Leader, and former Director of Societal Health and Wellbeing. Our Center is a welcoming and vibrant place. It exists so that people can gather together in community, participate in group meditation, and receive Shambhala and related arts and movement teachings. Amy is honored to be the Director.

LaDawn Haglund and Cameron Thomas have been selected jointly for the position of Director of Societal Health and Wellbeing. This position oversees celebrations at the Center (such as the Harvest of Peace – more information below) and cares for the health and wellbeing of sangha members in times of illness or other difficulties. LaDawn and Cameron are particularly interested in a mandala-wide initiative relating to families and children called Growing Brave Families and Children. If you are interested in this initiative, please contact them.

Andre Shearer has taken on the position of Chagdzö (Bursar). With a background in financial management, he is particularly interested in enhancing communication with the sangha about the Center’s finances, as well as exploring the idea of money as path.

With Andre taking on this new position, he has passed Database and Web Administrator duties to Michelle Welch. As current blog editor and social media coordinator, she hopes to make communication across these platforms streamlined and consistent, especially when it comes to programs.

We have many programs coming up this fall! Our Learn to Meditate weekend workshop, The Art of Being Human (Shambhala Training Level 1), is September 1-3. This introduction to meditation and Shambhala is open to everyone, and experienced meditators will also find it rewarding to staff the program or attend the Friday night talk. (No registration required for Friday night.)

The weekend of September 9-10, we are proud to host Karuna Training: Powerful Practices for Challenging Times. This introduction to contemplative psychology focuses on how to remain open and engaged in the face of difficulty: emotional, psychological, behavioral, and ultimately social and cultural. There are no prerequisites for this program.

Our popular Qigong Levels 1 & 2 class returns October 7-8. This traditional Daoist practice is a spiritual discipline that cultivates body and mind simultaneously. There are no prerequisites, but Levels 1 and 2 must be completed before attending Level 3, which we hope to schedule in the future.

The most important Shambhala event of the fall season is Harvest of Peace, which we will observe October 1. This celebration of the autumnal equinox is a time for our community to come together, with a special emphasis on the basic goodness of humanity and society. Details of the Sunday event, and related activities to take place that weekend, are in the planning stage. LaDawn and Cameron, as Societal Health and Wellbeing co-directors, invite the community’s input as they plan this celebration. Please share your ideas!

Visit our Programs and Events page for more information and registration (where applicable) for these programs, and contact us if you have questions, feedback, or ideas to share.