Why I Invest 1/10th of My Time in Burning Man

9 years at the Burn. 329 days invested. Countless hours spent plotting, planning, building, creating, playing and tearing down. Yes, there’s been a lot of spreadsheeting, as well!

A good friend this year asked me “Would you describe yourself as a Burner?”. My immediate answer was an emphatic “Yes!”. Yes...I am absolutely a Burner. I spend well over a month each year giving my whole self to That Thing in the Desert )’(. I cherish the 10 principles of Burning Man, particularly Radical Inclusion, Participation, Gifting, Communal Effort and Immediacy. Each year Burning Man influences more and more of the other 9/10ths of my life.

This article is not for my core tribe. Most of you have been to Burning Man, possibly are on your 15th, 16th or 22nd burn. Some of you are a bit jaded, lamenting back to the good old days. Others of you miss it deeply, but are at a different life stage which can’t accommodate a full week on playa. Many of you are exhausted from the Bay Area crew talking non-stop about Burning Man.

This article is for folks in one of three groups (1) Those who are curious. Curious about That Thing in the Desert (or TTITD for short) (2) Friends and family who are simultaneously confused and interested by an investment in this “lifestyle”. Isn’t it just a big party? and (3) My future self… for this is a moment in time to remember why I continue to dive in -year after year- recommitting to an intimate and enraptured relationship with Burning Man and with the foundational principles that make the whole thing matter.

Much love and appreciation, -Beck

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Burning Man Lessons that Matter in Normal Life:

1. Sunrises and sunsets are magical.

They remind us that we are alive and ever changing -that nothing is permanent. How often do you intentionally watch a sunrise or a sunset? At Burning Man, each sunrise and sunset is special. 80k people applaud as the vividly orange sun peaks up over the mountains, rising into the richly pink morning sky. And they howl at the moon as the sun descends into the clear and visibly stared night sky. This community ritualizes the close of the day and the onset of tomorrow.

2. Play is for adults, too.

Life doesn’t have to be serious. It doesn’t always have to be hard. Muster up your curiosity and childlike wonder for this world. As adults, let’s scramble up rock structures, laugh until we literally cry, dance without inhibition, sing loudly, tumble whimsically, roughhouse --and savor grilled cheese and PB&(strawberry)J sandwiches. We’re all gonna die, let’s live for some fun. Enjoy it!

Perpetual Consumption Apparatus by Clayton Blake

3. Dance and music can be your religion.

As an agnostic trying on atheist’s clothes, I still long for spiritually transcendent moments. A greater connectedness to the people and the world around us. Being fully enveloped in music, giving yourself up to dance, and rhythmically moving to the beat with hundreds or thousands of others ignites the energy of something bigger. Dance and music enrich the soul and enable many of us to feel truly alive. Interested in DJs and their musical art at Burning Man? Here are many of the 2019 sets. Tycho’s Inversion is a good starting point if you want a beautifully lush and dreamy morning sunrise listening experience.

4. A year without a meltdown is totally possible.

But it requires a few things: (1) Adequate hydration (2) Snacks… seriously, don’t underestimate the power of crackers, nuts or cookies -particularly for folks with low blood sugar (3) Enough rest and (4) An open, attentive and appreciate outlook for the now. Burning Man survival hacks are valuable for normal world, too!

5. Recognize and dismantle your ego.

Yes, Burning Man intentionally emphasizes decommodification and ubiquity in experience. No marketing or advertising, and no purchasing, except for ice and coffee. Even with these rules in place, there are definitely opportunities for “ego flare ups” -or self-critical moments when you compare yourself to others. There’s always a more thoughtfully decorated bike, a glitterier, gothier, or sexier outfit, even a fancier tent -how about those shift pods!- than what you have. People are (by pop culture objectivity) hotter than you. And younger than you. It’s quickly clear that the game of comparing yourself, your stuff, and your experiences to “other” is a losing one. FOMO -or Fear of Missing Out- is real, but Burning Man teaches you to be grateful for what you have, your experience, and what you can offer, from where you’re at right now.

6. Bite-sized delights can be more meaningful than major experience.

An interesting lesson, and one that took me years to fully grasp, is that handfuls of small moments of connection can build to deeply satisfying experience. A flirtatious wink, a full-toothed smile, an energetic high-five, a well-time polaroid, a compassionate hug, or even just a kind word underpin the magic of Burning Man. Give these moments generously to others and wholeheartedly and enthusiastically accept them in return.

7. Public art is such a gift.

My first burn, back in 2007, left me feeling a bit underwhelmed. There’s a bunch of janky art! Wow, has my appreciation for all art, janky or not, changed. Creating art is hard. It’s hard to design, manufacture, transport, build and tear-down. As the art at Burning Man continues to get bigger, more intricate, more colorful, blinkier, creepier (if that’s the goal) and in some ways squarely better, I am consistently thankful for even the jankiest creation. It all inspires creativity, curiosity and conversation.

8. Hug your friends (with consent). Tell them you love them and that they matter.

We save the words “I love you” for so few people, usually partners or our closest family. Why? Why do we save those words? Saying it more often, to more people, doesn’t delegitimize its meaning. Burning Man provides an entire week to open-up. To be vulnerable, immediate and raw. To carve out the time to speak thoughtfully and caringly about others. Is there a better lesson to take back to your day-to-day?

9. Remembering what we’ve lost and then letting go, in an intentional way, is sacred.

The Temple is a major element that differentiates the week from “just a party”. A divine space to remember lost loved ones, and to let go of unnecessary baggage. As the week progresses, the Temple’s wooden structure is covered over with joyful and somber photos, colored sharpie messages to loves lost, and notes directed at all sort of life’s challenges. Burners affectionately craft shrines and altars to all they want to remember and then leave behind. A visit to the Temple often means muffled tears, or all-out full bodied sobs. The week concludes on Sunday at sundown, when the Temple burns. Tens of thousands of remaining burners sit cross-legged, completely silent, watching the temple engulfed in flames turn to smoldering coals. Such a profound and cathartic ritual of saying goodbye.

Temple of Whollyness, 2013 (Gregg Fleishman, Melissa Barron, Lightning Clearwater III and The Connection Crew)

10. Immediacy is all we have.

This moment is the only moment that exists. Our attention in this moment is the only true currency -it’s the only thing, in the end, that matters. How much of ourselves do we give to others? How much do we commit to our passions? What will we create? How can we be more present? How can we be more kind to ourselves and others? How will we live in this moment?