Petra Cimbalova: Soundscape Musician / Painter / Newbie Mama / Calm Force

@thesoundmindgarden
thesoundmindgarden.com

The scene:
We are in Joshua Tree, CA in Petra’s home with her 6 month-old baby boy Marley, her husband Ryan, and her mom who is visiting from Czechoslovakia. I am elated to have this time with Petra as it is very unexpected, yet feels perfectly timed. Petra has been playing soundbaths since early 2019. She played for our meditation retreat a few days earlier and the year before that, which was my first ever. She has such a calming and approachable energy. Join us in her home sanctuary for an honest share of the journey from corporate America to the present.

Highlights:
+ “Upgrading reality” by letting things go keeps life energy flowing
+ Creative focus without interruptions is blissful
+ There is no true giving without receiving
+ Unconditional love - do I do the same thing for myself?
+ Her new practice to change a repetitive “story”: contemplate the thought, then add a prayer
+ No simply means no.  Saying no is self care.
+ Lived in Denver, CO for 14 years
+ Moved to JT to change her life - left a corporate job and a cushy life
+ Being away from tall buildings allows the mind to expand and flow creatively
+ Rebirthing yourself through choice of place
+ Immersing yourself in nature AND having community
+ Living in a quiet space allows for stillness
+ Stillness allows for a different internal focus
+ What you see outside is what you experience inside
+ Fighting to fix yourself in chaos is possible, and maybe extra challenging
+ Finding joy inside - rediscovering joy
+ What is my priority?  Having limited time guides this
+ Being non-linear with how you spend your time
+ Flow is a journey, allow it to surprise you
+ You don’t know what you don’t know
+ Recorded an album called Gratitude
+ Aligning with the pure motive of why you’re doing what you’re doing
+ Petra used to work in finance, planning retirements…wearing heels!
+ Waiting for the plan vs. leaping first and then the plan forming
+ Stay put long enough to allow “your thing” to show up - it will find you
+ Sell/give away everything that doesn’t bring you joy
+ If you keep doing it and it doesn’t change, then perhaps it is your authentic journey
+ “Work” not draining you but instead heightening you
+ Working with people on vacation
+ Inviting people into your experience, sharing what you are living
+ Living in virtue takes practice, there is no timeline
+ Gratitude is accessible to everyone, it is non-denominational
+ Every part of our journey matters
+ Learning to listen to others / not insisting on doing things on your own
+ Recognizing those whom we should listen to, and those we should not
+ Listening deepens empathy
+ Going from 3 boxes of shoes to having what you need
+ Having “things” takes your energy
+ Substance-free experiences - being high on actual life
+ Don’t attach - to anything
+ “Spiritual Materialism” and not selling a spiritual experience
+ Soundscape Musician vs. “Sound Healer”
+ Trust that all is well - especially in hard times
+ Stay playful, nimble, and curious
+ Everyone wants to be heard, but who is willing to listen?

“Once you get on the string you have to do everything to stay on that string, which is the path, which is really the only path there is. Just keep following that creative flow. And everything that arises is supposed to. All of the people that show up on the journey are exactly those people who are supposed to show up.”

Favorite saying:
“I am