It’s Time To Burn…

Reflecting on the Three Lessons I Learned At Burning Man

I went to Burning Man this year.

Yep, that little festival in the middle of the desert with no connection to the outside world, where a tiny civilization is born and destroyed over a week-long span.

It might not seem like my typical vacation… But trust me, it was well worth the experience.

I'm an individual who likes to embrace curiosity, explore, learn, and constantly pursue expansion. And at Burning Man, that is the main objective. This was an opportunity to go into an unknown situation and come out with a greater understanding of who I am.

And that's exactly what happened.

When you attend Burning Man, there's no way to have a "game plan," everyone has to go into the experience with an open mind, and most come out with a new understanding of themselves and the world around them.

I mean…think about it. You're going into a man-made city in the desert that operates upon only ten agreed-on principles guiding. There is no currency, no ownership, and no hierarchy. It is just humanity embracing each other's creativity and openness.

If you don't know how the event works, here are the ten principles that guide Burning Man and all its participants:

Radical Inclusion, Gifting, Decommodification, Radical Self-reliance, Radical Self-expression, Communal Effort, Civic Responsibility, Leaving No Trace, Participation, Immediacy.

Pretty Simple, right?

But there were a few that stuck with me since I left:

Radical Self-Reliance: I had no idea what to pack or how to prepare for EVERYTHING. (Queue countless trips to assemble my gear to prepare for all conditions.) It wasn't just a practice for preparation; it was also a self-examination exercise. What do I REALLY need? What are the things I can leave behind?

Decommodification: I've always said, "You're born naked, you die naked." So, does it really matter how much you have in your bank account? There are no sponsorships at Burning Man, and wealth becomes a non-factor. Participating in a community where everyone treats each other as equals is refreshing. Seeing one another for the value they have as people rather than the wealth they've accumulated or the title they hold.

Participation: It didn't matter if someone was building a tent or struggling; at Burning Man, you always help. Most of the time, when you pay for something, you expect an action to be done for you. That's not the case here; my first two days at Burning Man were spent building our camp and preparing for the arrival of others.

All in all, disconnecting from the "default world" (burning man lingo 😏) felt like a beautiful concoction of chaos that kept me engaged & mesmerized all seven days.

One of my favorite pieces of advice was: "To really enjoy burning man, you must go slow and enjoy the flow."

Once I got back, the first question people asked was, "Will you go back?"

Well… time will tell, but if I know myself, I'll still be looking to pursue my curiosity and imagine an opportunity will present itself next year.

So… We shall see. 😉

-G aka The Burner