It's been a year of so much change and upheaval for all of us. For many our illusions of having security and making plans for the future have been cracked, and shattered, many times over. Hopefully we also have caught a glimpse of the fact that we are a vibrant spiritual community navigating this time together, and stronger in some respects for this trial.
So in the midst of all this I am so pleased to be able to welcome you to our new website. This project has been over 6 months in the making and has been a labor of love for me.
The story of starting again
In mid 2020, Kuladharini and I met to talk about the changes we wanted to make to the old website and as I spent time trying to imagine how to change this or that to be able to do what we wanted, it became clear that really we needed a total remodel. This feels like a theme in our lives as a community at the moment.
During this dreaming I then said “I could design it,” as I have some experience with design from past jobs using layout programmes and, also, why not?! I do love a challenge. And this is the result of that!
Moving out
Early on in the beginning phases of this online space, it also became clear that we were going to be undertaking the task of moving out of our current physical space.
There is a beautiful synchronicity in this for me, as this new online space becomes the place we first welcome people to. It is our landing spot while we are in the privileged position of being able to really take our time to vision who we are and dream our next centre together. This virtual space feels as though it is starting that process for us - beginning to draw in those threads of who we are becoming as a community.
When we talked about what the vibe of the website should be, it was really clear that it needed to reflect the value that has emerged amongst us of being in the city, of really being in and a part of the city. And just imagine not having that door and those stairs separating us from the city any more? What will it look like? Feel like? Does seeing the images on this site get some ideas/visions flowing?
Many, many thanks
No creative project is ever done alone, and we were able to benefit from a relationship that KD had with a fantastic professional photographer, Sandy Young who so generously worked with us to create most of the images I used on this website.
In early November, we, and a merry band of sangha members, spent a full day walking, carrying the Scottish Buddha rupa with us, and taking photos in the city. It is these gorgeous images of us that really make this website what it is. Deep deep bow to Sandy for his time, artistic eye and big heart for working so smoothly with us. And to all the sangha members who came out, and sat on bridges, in parks and on pavements to capture this movement into homelessness as a sangha, and also our inseparability with this city we call our home.
As we enter this state of homelessness together, may this website be a landing spot of who we are in the world, and a place to hold our aspirations and dreams of a new centre rooted in the city, and in the Buddha's teachings on transcendent wisdom and compassion.
Logo!!
As if that weren’t enough changes, it felt important to also update our logo. I worked with the fantastic Kris Park pro bono to come up with a fabulous clean, updated look for our new website. I hope you love it as much as I do, but if you don’t geek out on such things, I will forgive you!! The attention to detail in terms of font (love the old world font for glasgow) is beautiful. Also using the connection with other triratna centres through the use of the three dots feels coherent and engaging with the wider movement.
Special attention
A few pages that I wanted to draw your attention to:
What’s on- community - go here for what’s happening in the sangha, including dharma night, creative arts, mitra events and retreats.
Give - check out our new GIVE page. We envision a community deeply rooted in service, and a place for the transformation of our collective consciousness from a place of scarcity to abundance. A community embracing the idea of truly open-handed generosity. They say when you have nothing left to take, then that is when everything becomes just giving.
Please let me know what you think!
Pasadini