Burning Man
We just got back from one of the most transformative places on Earth, Burning Man. We have gone 5 times and each and every year, I come back learning a bit more about myself and my life. This year was no different.
My intention going into Burning Man was to connect more. Connect with my husband, my campmates, my friends, and myself and the playa provided!
Mike and I went in early to help build our camp. It was hard work, but I loved it. It gave me and my introverted side a chance to get to reconnect and meet our campmates before the rest of camp arrived. As our camp grew, in structure and in people, I felt at home. I had my safety net of people that I connected with from the beginning andI was able to extend myself to greet the new people, most of whom I have met in the past. That made my introverted side happy to slowly integrate into my camp. Don’t get me wrong, my camp is filled with amazing people that I adore, but the rapid influx of people feels overwhelming to me and I retreat to being shy, quiet, and withdrawn. Not this year though! From the get-go, I was excited to meet the newbies in our camp and reconnect with friends from the previous year.
This year, we also had some of our best friends a few blocks away at another great camp that had lots of great music and a prime parking spot so I could watch their dance floor from the comfort of their “front porch.” Connecting with them also filled my heart and soul.
Since connecting was my primary goal this year, we ended up spending a lot more time in our own camp. We took the time to explore the amazing and beautiful art and other camps, but would frequently find ourselves back at our camp to cool off, take a breather (or nap), or just to unwind. We made so many deeper connections this way.
In years past, we would look through the book Burning Man gives you when you arrive and find fun activities and parties to go to and then we would hop on our bikes and spend all day out and about having fun, coming back to camp to shower, eat and change before heading out for the night. This year, there was only one event that I searched for, the Black Rock City Philharmonic Orchestra, as their performance last year was a highlight for me. I found a couple performances they were doing, but with our schedule, I didn’t think I was going to be able to see them. The Playa proved me wrong. We got to watch them play at the Temple (a structure build to remember those loved ones who have passed away). Going to the Temple is like stepping out of the fun, party atmosphere of Burning Man and into a memorial. It is somber, usually you will see people crying, and there are many memorials to look at and read. People will write about loved ones, young and old, two legged and four legged. It really makes me appreciate the many people I have in my life and that I call friends and family. As Mike and I were nearing the end of our walk around this solemn building, I walked out one of the exits and saw the orchestra warming up and getting ready to play. When they started to play, it was beautiful. It brought a smile to my face and joy to my heart.
Surprisingly, I got to see them play again. This time it was when we went out with a couple other campmates on an art car that a member of our camp owns. We had no goal in our destination when we headed out, just to go out and cruise around and watch the beautiful sunset over the mountains. We drove to one of the bigger art pieces, Naga and the Captainess, a wrecked ship with a huge serpent around it, and noticed the large gathering of people, so we stopped. It was the orchestra again!! Their music was amplified through an art car so it was easy to hear, even though they were hard to see with so many people gathered around. Then we had the ultimate surprise, a performer was lifted into the air by her hair and she did a beautiful dance suspended above us all. It was magical.
Like anything in life, there were some tough times too. There was one day where Mike and I were not connected, he wasn’t feeling well and I was doing my own thing so I wasn’t there for him as much as he needed. The following day, we were able to reconnect and had one of our best days ever. As we ended our amazing day and were in our van, wiping off the dust and reminiscing about the day, we both ended up in tears about how great our lives are and how important we are to each other. It was another magical day.
So what exactly did the Playa teach me this year? Connection is my life line. The music and dancing is fun, but I need to have that connection, at a slow pace, for my heart and soul to be fulfilled. I also learned to listen to myself more. If I was feeling overwhelmed, I would take a bit of a time out for myself, even if everyone else was doing something fun. It’s ok to miss out on some things and take care of myself. I also learned that my superpower of listening is a valuable gift I can give to anyone. I learned so much about the people I was around because I did what I do best, listen and ask questions. I also feel like I was more vulnerable telling stories about myself, allowing people to see the real me.
I left Burning Man feeling alive and rejuvenated. I left with closer friendships than what I went in with. I left Burning Man feeling more confident than I have ever felt. One night at dinner, a campmate asked if I wanted a glass of wine with dinner, I just filled my cup and replied, “thanks, but my cup is full.” He chuckled a bit and repeated it back to me. That is when I heard the figurative meaning behind that statement. I left Burning Man covered in dust and couldn’t get a comb through my hair, but I left with my cup full.
Will I go back next year? Going into this year’s burn, I would have told you no. After 3 years in a row, a break sounded nice. Now I am reconsidering that and leaning more towards a yes. I guess only time will tell.
