MUSH stands for Multi-User Shared Hallucination. It is an online world created entirely of text, and people can log in and interact with the world and the other people who inhabit it.

A MUSH is similar to other forms of online communication- such as chat rooms, ICQ, IRC, and 3-D worlds. It's different from chat rooms, ICQ, and IRC, because you can do much more than chat- you can describe what you look like, explore different rooms, carry objects- it is, in essence, a virtual world. It's different from 3-D worlds in that, while it doesn't have graphics, it's much easier for you to build on to the world- you don't need to know how to generate computer graphics, you just need to know how to write. Also, text leaves much more to the imagination, much like reading a book- except that you and others interact within it simultaneously.

MUSHes are related to MUDs (Multi-User Dungeons), in which people played Dungeons & Dragons®-like games where they created characters, hunted monsters, gathered treasure, and gained power. MUSHes are widely used for roleplaying games, in which playing a character is more important than gaining treasure and power (much like online improvisational acting).

Shambala isn't a roleplaying game. You can create an online persona to play and interact with others, but it's mainly intended for social interaction. Or you can just be yourself. It's all good.

You may feel brave enough to log on to Shambala now; if you do, download a MU* Client and get started. Otherwise, read a little bit more about getting started.