Buena Vibra Collective – Nosara, Costa Rica
Happiest of holiday seasons, Big Sisters and Brothers! I’ve been blessed to spend the majority of mine surrounded by family on the beaches and in the jungles of Costa Rica (which may find itself with a few new residents before long). The people here shine both in physical and emotional health, which is every bit as contagious as a virus.
During our stay in Nosara, I was gifted with an unplanned journey during a Reiki Restorative meditation…
At the onset, I was urged to follow a friendly lizard into the jungle, which, of course, I did (who wouldn’t?). After a short trek through the thick greenery, we came to a small clearing in the growth and my lizard friend hopped on top of a small table. Before I had the chance to gain my bearings – *swap* – down came a machete removing her head from her body.
A meaty hand reached down and snatched the still moving body from the table. I watched as it was lifted to the waiting mouth of a shirtless, bearded giant of a man. Standing over seven feet tall, with a round belly Buddha himself could’ve hidden in, he ripped a bite from the body and laughed a hearty and bellyful bellow. Looking down at me, he invited me to join him on a nearby swinging bench, which of course I did (who wouldn’t?).
He introduced himself as he eyed me up and down. He asked why I’d come, and I told him that I was finding my path. He laughed again from his immense belly, his long curly black hair and beard shaking as he did. While quite intimidating, lizard eating aside, this man’s demeanor was resolutely convivial. I was awed, not frightened.
“So you want to play with the big boys, then, do you?”
Again, he laughed jovially as I nodded.
“Then learn this now. Call each you meet ‘Big Brother’ and ‘Big Sister,’ and you shall be ‘Little Brother.’ In any hierarchy you meet, find its bottom. This is your humility.”
I agreed and understood the lesson.
“Next, find gratitude for the mosquito. She gifts you with the opportunity to be of service as a food source. Do you understand?”
I did, and I nodded.
“Ok then. Go play… and welcome.”
I was back on the floor of the shala. I was aware that my new friend stuck around for the remainder of the session, still sitting in his swinging chair and laughing from the sideline.
Once I left, I was struck with the urge to look up his name as he’d given it, to see if there was any significance I wasn’t aware of. He’d introduced himself as Montavo (or perhaps Montabo) to this non Spanish speaker. Montavo, at least according to Rosetta Stone and Google means “Mountain,” which certainly seems appropriate.
(Major shout out to The Buena Vibra Collective in Nosara, Costa Rica for providing the space for this to occur as well as credit for the photo — they’re amazing.)
