Burning Man 2007 - Virgin Impressions
I've been trying to find the right words in which to remark on my
first Burning Man experience. The right metaphors and comparisons. The
short phrase that sums it up. It's difficult to do, and to sort through
all the past descriptions of Burning Man that I've been told over the
years.
I've had Burning Man explained to me as being Christmas, Halloween,
Fourth of July and New Years Eve all wrapped up into one. Hmm.. yes,
there is celebration all around that incorporates some of each major
holiday of the year, but that's no where near a complete description.
I've had Burning Man explained to me as being like Dragon*Con .. but
without air conditioning and with dust. (Dragon*Con is the big
sci-fi con that goes on in Atlanta over Labor Day weekend that I've
attended the last two years). I did encounter some of the experience of
sci-fi cons at Burning Man; including wearing and seeing fun costumes,
attending fun musical events, going to interesting and fun workshops,
seeing celebrities, immersing myself in a weekend of sci-fi and fantasy,
sharing of futuristic ideas and spending lots of time hanging out with
friends. But this only sums up but a tiny fraction of my experience.
I've had Burning Man explained as being a big rave party in the
desert with lots of sex and drugs and dancing. Yes, that element is
there and can easily be found if you're open to it - but not nearly as
prevalent as I had anticipated, and I seemed to not have any more
opportunity for that than I would have in 'reality camp'.
I've had Burning Man explained to me as being a bunch of naked hippie
freaks covered in dust. And yes, they are there.. along with
corporate bean counters, artists, nerds, geeks, models, CEOs,
revolutionaries, nekkid people, clothed people, pessimists, optimists,
new agey folks, stick-in-the-muds, Bay area folks, international folks,
etc. The only thing you can categorically say is that they are burners..
covered in dust.
I've had Burning Man explained to me as being an effort in survival
in a harsh environment. Yes, the desert has extremes - high
temperatures during the day (actually, the highs were rather mild
compared to my visit to the playa in July), cool nights, wicked dust
storms and dry air. All things to contend with for sure. But for every
harsh extreme, there was an antidote of mother nature kissing your
forehead with gorgeous sunsets, sunrises that bring about tears,
moonlite nights, stunning rainbows, an enchanting eclipse, meteor
showers and more. The entire city is in touch with mother earth and her
elements, and there are cheers and hollers with every moon rise and set,
every rainbow and every end of dust storm.
I've had Burning Man explained to me as having profound spiritual and
personal release impacts, which I anticipated would be on par with what
I experienced on my visit to the Big Island of Hawaii. And indeed,
that was there.. I left Black Rock City as in touch with myself, my
world, my community and my spirituality as I did when I returned to the
mainland five years ago. I also left rejuvenated and feeling like I've
finally shed several anchors that have been holding me back. I was in
tears as I watched the Temple burn on Sunday evening - representing
leaving my past behind and embracing the future; just as I shed tears
watching that starry night floating in a lava heated inlet in Hawaii.
I've had Burning Man explained to me as being the biggest temporary
convergence of artistic expression. And while I have been to several
large art museums around the world, Burning Man is indeed worthy of
being included amongst them. Art is very present.. from the biggest
funded art projects in the open playa that boggle the mind to the
deliciously brewed fresh chai at the trash fence.
I've had Burning Man explained to me as being an experiment in
intentional community and gift economy. I can not tell you how
refreshing it is to be somewhere that you don't carry cash with you
(other than for ice.. which all proceeds go to the local communities)
AND you don't get a huge bill at the end of the week. Yes, this really
is a community built on giving, not bartering.. there are so many random
acts of kindness, that it's hard to call it random. From the bike-fairy
that fixed my bike as I slept to the angel that offered me ice cold
pears as I hiked to get ice on a hot afternoon. To have close to 50,000
people around me all actively picking up MOOP (matters-out-of-place)
that gets blown around, pro-actively helping out, offering services and
gratitude abound - it's a harsh realty to come back to 'civilization' to
billboards, fast food, credit cards and blatant consumer gluttony.
(That's not to say there's not massive consumer gluttony for many as
they prepare for Burning Man.)
I've had Burning Man explained to me as being a breeding ground of
change and community involvement. And by golly, if experiencing just
a taste of the above (which is just a taste of what Burning Man can be)
even for a day does not cause you to rethink at least one way in which
you impact the world at large..
I've had Burning Man explained to me as being other wordly. And
oh my, it is. The moment you come to anticipate glowing and thumping
snails speeding across the playa at night, or finding penguins in the
middle of the desert, or picking up MOOP in the hot sun to be invited to
a cold plunge by an appreciative artist or getting lost in the sea of
flashing fuzzy flowered bikes going every which way across the open
playa or an art car showing up at just the right moment or encountering
a phone booth to talk directly to god or to be wrapping up your last
night on the playa watching Cubitron up close to be handed a pair of 3D
glasses that amplifies the experience tenfold.. is the moment you
realize there is only one phrase that can adequately sum up the
experience..
.. I have found Home.
