One of the phrases you will hear uttered the most at Burning Man as you run into people you know... and even that you don't is "Welcome Home" and it is usually accompanied by a warm heartfelt hug.
As I've said before, Burning Man is not for everyone but those that return year to year whether consistently or sporadically are essentially making a pilgrimage home each time.
Pilgrimage seemed like such a perfect word but I decided to look it up just to see if there was anything else I could gleam from it but the definition(1&3 in particular) is just too perfect on its own:
As I've said before, Burning Man is not for everyone but those that return year to year whether consistently or sporadically are essentially making a pilgrimage home each time.
Pilgrimage seemed like such a perfect word but I decided to look it up just to see if there was anything else I could gleam from it but the definition(1&3 in particular) is just too perfect on its own:
1.a journey, especially a long one, made to some sacred place as an act of religious devotion: a pilgrimage to Lourdes.
3.any long journey, especially one undertaken as a quest or for a votive purpose, as to pay homage: a pilgrimage to the grave of Shakespeare.
reference: dictionary.com
The Black Rock Desert is a magical place and people want to be there, but the journey is often fraught with issues. You will often hear stories of cars breaking down, caravans getting separated, hitch hiking from the airport, supplies being stolen before leaving or just the overwhelming feeling of being stuck just beyond the gate for hours.
In 2011 some of those issues were my own group. 3 cars were going up together.. 1 breaks down, 1 stays with the broken down car and the 3rd car (which Hans and I were in) were tasked with leaving everyone behind and getting in to the city to secure the camping spot. Well when you're the car that gets there first, there is a sigh of relief and then a whole lot of panic when you realize all supplies.. and I mean ALL of the important ones are in the broken down car and there is no way to communicate with anyone. This is when the people of black rock start stepping up. There is a big emphasis on radical self reliance but at the same time the community is full of love. We were offered water and shelter from the camp next to us and that was a moment of joy. They weren't going to let us freeze or dehydrate. They really wanted to help.
This year one theme camp filled up their entire truck and the next day it wasn't there. It had been stolen! On a lucky note, this happened in enough time for the Burning Man community to step up and offer help. The camp was able to get a shade structure, bicycles and a bunch of other important things all because people wanted to donate and help out their fellow burners. I stopped at their camp and they were wonderful. I'm glad they got to go. It also doesn't hurt that they provided me with food :)
There is also a spiritual element to the event. Not religion, just spirituality. Not to say there isn't a place for religion.. there is.. everyone is welcome but I don't find it as prominent as just a general feeling of something special.
For one there is a temple. In this temple there is an overwhelming feel of relief, sorrow, love and a whole lot of other powerful emotions that I can never place my finger on. The temple to me is like a giant beautiful calming reset button. I'm not in there to honor someone who has passed like many of the people there but I am in there to find peace which I think it the goal of most people in there. To rest, to reset, to find a balance between your emotions.
Now I did veer off my original intent of this entry but sometimes that's just the thing that needs to happen.
Back to the journey. The journey to Burning Man pretty much no matter where you are driving from is long. Driving from LA is about 14 hours when you factor in gas, food and pee breaks. Driving up the 5 is boooooring, there is an alternate route but when that is on fire and there are reports of cops stopping all the burners then you might just need to choose the boring route and be happy with it. There is a sense of accomplishment when you finally turn off the real road into dirt....until you remember that you have to wait in an entrance line that can take 5 hours.....and generally does. You're so excited to be getting home but there is almost a moment of being defeated when it's just so close and you can't get in. It's so fucking frustrating!!!
And then it happens... you've officially gone through all the check points and the only thing left between you and you're glorious camp is the 5mph speed limit. Painstakingly slow does not even begin to describe it but you deal with it because YOU ARE HOME!!
Aside from the boring drive and the random stopping of all traffic and the long entrance line I am pleased to say we had no complications this year. It was a dream come true.....
In 2011 some of those issues were my own group. 3 cars were going up together.. 1 breaks down, 1 stays with the broken down car and the 3rd car (which Hans and I were in) were tasked with leaving everyone behind and getting in to the city to secure the camping spot. Well when you're the car that gets there first, there is a sigh of relief and then a whole lot of panic when you realize all supplies.. and I mean ALL of the important ones are in the broken down car and there is no way to communicate with anyone. This is when the people of black rock start stepping up. There is a big emphasis on radical self reliance but at the same time the community is full of love. We were offered water and shelter from the camp next to us and that was a moment of joy. They weren't going to let us freeze or dehydrate. They really wanted to help.
This year one theme camp filled up their entire truck and the next day it wasn't there. It had been stolen! On a lucky note, this happened in enough time for the Burning Man community to step up and offer help. The camp was able to get a shade structure, bicycles and a bunch of other important things all because people wanted to donate and help out their fellow burners. I stopped at their camp and they were wonderful. I'm glad they got to go. It also doesn't hurt that they provided me with food :)
There is also a spiritual element to the event. Not religion, just spirituality. Not to say there isn't a place for religion.. there is.. everyone is welcome but I don't find it as prominent as just a general feeling of something special.
For one there is a temple. In this temple there is an overwhelming feel of relief, sorrow, love and a whole lot of other powerful emotions that I can never place my finger on. The temple to me is like a giant beautiful calming reset button. I'm not in there to honor someone who has passed like many of the people there but I am in there to find peace which I think it the goal of most people in there. To rest, to reset, to find a balance between your emotions.
Now I did veer off my original intent of this entry but sometimes that's just the thing that needs to happen.
Back to the journey. The journey to Burning Man pretty much no matter where you are driving from is long. Driving from LA is about 14 hours when you factor in gas, food and pee breaks. Driving up the 5 is boooooring, there is an alternate route but when that is on fire and there are reports of cops stopping all the burners then you might just need to choose the boring route and be happy with it. There is a sense of accomplishment when you finally turn off the real road into dirt....until you remember that you have to wait in an entrance line that can take 5 hours.....and generally does. You're so excited to be getting home but there is almost a moment of being defeated when it's just so close and you can't get in. It's so fucking frustrating!!!
And then it happens... you've officially gone through all the check points and the only thing left between you and you're glorious camp is the 5mph speed limit. Painstakingly slow does not even begin to describe it but you deal with it because YOU ARE HOME!!
Aside from the boring drive and the random stopping of all traffic and the long entrance line I am pleased to say we had no complications this year. It was a dream come true.....
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