Advertisement
My epiphany at Burning Man, when I finally understood what it was all about, came at the temple burn, when all the people in my area collectively went silent, many in tears, and thought about all the dreams, memories, love, prayers, and forgiveness going up in flames. It was such a great moment of connection with so many people, I really felt the community and the purpose of Burning Man. Awesome.
My 16 year old son's moment was when he woke up on Thursday morning, looked at what he was wearing (jeans and a t-shirt) and said, "I can't go out like this! " and raided the costume box to put together an outfit.
What was your defining moment?
My 16 year old son's moment was when he woke up on Thursday morning, looked at what he was wearing (jeans and a t-shirt) and said, "I can't go out like this! " and raided the costume box to put together an outfit.
What was your defining moment?
Advertisement
Advertisement
-
Re: Your moment of "getting it"
Sat, September 13, 2008 - 8:27 PMI’ve been to many regional burns and most of my burn week felt similar to what I’ve been to: no moment of WOW, no epiphany or enlightenment, just another burn. I saw the man burn and the crowd go wild. I participated in the parties and workshops. I saw the cool art cars and costumes. Visited theme camps and rode my bike. I got swage and even gave out some of my own. All in all a typical event, only bigger and brighter. Too much to do and too much to see. Sadly, I couldn’t see all my friends, but I was making new ones. I even got mail from my Mom and one of my best friends.
My friend Shannon sent me an offering for the temple. So, Sunday morning I set out on my bike with her offering, a pair of shoes that I bought about the time I first heard about Burning Man, (that perished on the Playa) a pad of paper and a pen, for the temple. When I got there, I wrote 3 pages of things I was letting go of. I sobbed the entire time I wrote. I wrote without thinking and even wrote things I wasn’t aware I needed to let go of or things I didn’t want to let go of quite yet, but needed to. It was a healing process. It was my moment of “Ah Ha!” The temple was closed, but there were people accepting offerings. I handed my little bundle to the priestess as I sobbed and said “I’m letting go, I really letting go!” she waited patiently for me to release my gift and walked solemnly away. It was SO beautiful.
It hit me again that night as the Temple burned. I was sobbing again and two strangers sitting in front of me heard my pain and reached their hands behind them to grasp mine in empathy. I felt SO connected, SO at peace. I understood why I was there and what it all meant without words. -
-
Re: Your moment of "getting it"
Sat, September 13, 2008 - 10:40 PMIm not a virgin. Actually, it has been so long, that , at the place I dropped my cherry, there is now a cherry tree.
So, I really don't mean to sound like an old fart when I point out that there is a well known thing called "the temple effect"
Basicly, everyone cries at the temple burn.
I haven't cried since the Hindenburg blew up.(I used to be a hydrogen salesman)
And I cry every time the temple goes.
Almost on cue, once the flames get really started, the kleenex comes out.
There is no question that it is a much more dramatic, and poignant burn then the man,and should not be missed.
I, personally, haven't seen it in years.
It isn't that I don't enjoy a good sob, it's more that I resent doing it in such a predictable manner.
You are invited to dismiss my rantings as that of an old prune, But when you go to the temple burn next year, notice when you start crying. It is simply unavoidable.
I really don't mean this to be any kind of flame, or ridicule of your honest, emotional experience,only a discription of a very predictable playa phenomenon.
I'll tell you what. Next year, I'll go with you to the burn, and you can hand me the hankies, when I start to bawl. -
-
Re: Your moment of "getting it"
Sun, September 14, 2008 - 6:40 AMI got there on Monday in thd duct storm, being a virgin, set up camp and stayin in it all day... Then Monday night went walking and everything I saw, everyone who talked to me brough tears to my eyes. I knew I was in the right place and couldnt get enough. I had only wished that I would of went out in the dust storm... But the dust storms after that I did venture out into....
I cant wait for next year.... Knowing so much more now, on how to manage your time better and knowing other things to do, I cant wait to do so much more.....
-
Re: Your moment of "getting it"
Sun, September 14, 2008 - 2:34 PMAhhhh Grumpy, Great story, I Love it... and it's soooo very true, the temple does have that effect on many people.... surely I am one of those as well....
My Moment of getting it came some many years, when waiting out a rainstorm at nubcircus, enjoying a cup of hot chai tea (They are responsible for my addiction to chai tea now) watching a yellow burmese python snake crawl around the floor of their tent, a guy playing amazing eastern indian music, a belly dancer and about 60 or some people laying on pillows, a couple having beautiful sex next to me and everything seemed so natural and "right with the world"
I stayed in that amazing place on the playa for a long time, when I finally emerged the rain had stopped but the playa was big clumps of "clay", riding the bike was inpossible, people were carrying their bikes and trying to walk,
with each step, becoming taller from the playa sticking to their shoes.. I took my shoes off and walked back to my camp barefooted, thinking about my surroundings... trying to wrap my head around all the sensory input..
I made it to camp,, an inch or so taller, and was approached by a beautiful woman with fresh fruit.. and it was only mid week....
the rest of my week went such as this so far, every moment was filled with some new experience..
and every year since there is something, many things, that make me laugh, cry, smile, shake my head, and above all WONDER at the magic of it all.....
when I visit temple, I KNOW what it means to be truly alive and Living in the moment and Loving that moment... it's as if everything swirls in the dust and lands in a common place where many, if not all of us come together to remember in whatever way suits our moment...
leaving the playa always makes me feel a little sad, though it fills ALL my heart meters...
Bare -
-
Re: Your moment of "getting it"
Sun, September 14, 2008 - 5:48 PMHi all,
I am a member of a large, very large extended family. From mid spring to the end of July we had 7 member pass away. I arrived at camp late Monday night and we began to set up my yurt. Now this is the same yurt made by a member of that family and that I take with me to our events. While I was setting up I heard from behind me, "Where did you get that ger" (the correct name for the yurt) I answered, "Singing Horse Design, they are friends" and the person behind me replied "Todric?" To which I turned around and discovered one of my family members. Un planned or foreseen by either of us, we were both on the playa. Later that week we made a small rememberance to the 7, told our campmates what they meant to us. They were filled with sympathy. I took it to the temple and because I couldn't stay for the temple burn, he watched it for us both.
I agree with Bare, the Temple is a powerful symbol at BRC. And I'm thrilled to have been able to be a part of it.
But despite that playacincrity (I hope that's right), my defining moment was after I left. There was so much to see and do, I know I only saw or did a tiny amount, but there was such acceptance from everyone there towards everyone there, I did my volunteer stint at Artica and received some very nice gifts from customers, I lightened one woman's day by gifting her with a tutu, I helped another e-mail some one who was in the hospital. Everyone was so sweet. This acceptance of self and others made me feel I could do what I wanted to do in life. No more holding back, no more concern about what others think. That's my revelation.
Since coming back to the default world, I have declared I would get a PhD (I'm currently in school for a Masters) I would get myself on the national stage in my field. This would help teachers and students to understand the relationship between art and science. I would also work towards an awareness of endangered plants which would include playa art that would become a mobile art installation and lecture aimed at schools, museums and any other group who will stand still long enough. I will also become the musician I know I can be, instead of just playing around with my instrument (an oud). I purchased a much better oud, have arranged for lessons and have joined an ensemble led by an oud master that happens to live in my town. I would quit just playing with my art. I'm showing my work in a gallery this October. And most of all, I will no longer be afraid of being alone, (not that I like if, I'll just not worry about it as much) -
-
Re: Your moment of "getting it"
Sun, September 14, 2008 - 6:20 PMI love these stories - and though it may seem banal to some, it seems the temple burn serves as a focus of the week's revelations, perhaps this is why it is so powerful; not just the memories going up, but a quiet while to reflect with a shitload of others in the same mindset. For me as well, while the temple was my defining "aha" moment, I think it was the culmination of the entire week finally gelled at the temple burn and I was able to hone in my addled brain on what had occurred. There were so many moments which made me see the relevance and the purpose of the project - being rescued from the streets as I walked alone and somewhat despondent after losing my people, and being pulled into the most relaxed and chill bar and given great conversation and connection; the fellow with the hat; having my tired butt given a ride by Dave from the BLM as he toured about the playa and getting an insider's look at the workings; watching the sun come up on Saturday morning with a man doing tai chi on one side of me and another doing yoga on the other side; hearing the sun come up on Friday morning with firecrackers, lying in a very comfortable (although damp) place; watching my 16 year old drop his teenage self-consciousness and embrace life.
As for how I brought the burn home, I am also focusing on art, music, volunteering, smiling, being happy, expressing myself and allowing all those around me to express themselves without judgement. -
-
Re: Your moment of "getting it"
Sun, September 14, 2008 - 8:34 PMOn Monday, my friends and I went on a bit of a trek, and came across the wing'ed sculpture, just off 3 and the Esplinade.
We climbed on it, and it turned to catch the wind.
I looked at the beautiful people I was with, and began crying with joy. It was amazing, to be with my chosen family in that ephemeral home.
-
-
-
-
Re: Your moment of "getting it"
Sun, September 14, 2008 - 11:32 PMi didnt cry at all during the temple burn....i think i got all my tears out when i actually visited the temple for the first time on thursday. thursday was my emotional day where i was feeling cranky and agitated and kind of sick all day and just rested the entire night....but when i went to the temple and saw it all for the first time...man......i stayed there forever reading and writing messages and tears were falling down my face from behind my sunglasses almost the entire time i was there. i felt so much compassion for people who's messages i read, and i couldn't believe how much i could relate to some of them, some of them really just made me start bawling....
but for the burn, i felt very much at peace except for the fact that i had to pee really bad.....i finally felt like i was letting go of something ide been holding onto for way too long, and it felt wonderful
-
-
-
Re: Your moment of "getting it"
Sun, September 14, 2008 - 8:40 PMI thought I 'got it'. I've had many moments on the playa, and off, where I thought I 'got it'. Somehow this year, I just kept thinking that 'getting it' was just an illusion. I'm back to being clueless. -
-
Re: Your moment of "getting it"
Sun, September 14, 2008 - 9:22 PMI think that "getting it" for me will be a continual thing. Last year was awesome from the community point of view which I was just finding with my Celtic community back in the default world. (Gifting and "being there" for each other... what a novel idea!). The Temple burn changed me because I let go a lot of resentments toward my ex., Immensely rewarding.
This year I saw the Temple burn as a new beginning for me. I had a Tarot and another reading and they both came up similiar. Burn night I had a long talk with a brand new friend and she saw right through me. ( an incredible experience). When the Temple burned I was extremely restless! I only realized later why. I've been looking in the wrong direction for far too long! It's time to look forward!
-
-
Re: Your moment of "getting it"
Mon, September 15, 2008 - 10:13 AMI think mine had a duration beginning somewhere around 10 PM on Sunday and ending, say, some point about nine days later.
-
Re: Your moment of "getting it"
Mon, September 15, 2008 - 2:47 PMI am a BM virgin but have attended a couple local Florida burns. At my first one last year I had finished setting up and I walked out to the fire and looked around at all the tents an lights. I had the biggest feeling of deja vu like it was a dream come real.
At Burning man a few things really hit me. Finally getting to ring the bell after waiting through the dust storm. The many years I dreamed of going and finally being there caused a few tears of joy.
Letting go of something personal at the burning remains of the temple. I felt an unspoken understanding and empathy for my tears with those around me who watched me place my token into a still burning log.
The big one though was watching my creation... my art "the paper tree" burn on the remains of the man Monday evening.
Seeing my creation burn was a great way to end the week and will be a lasting memory for myself and my friends.
-
Re: Your moment of "getting it"
Tue, September 16, 2008 - 9:30 PMA month or so before my first burn, I went and saw the documentary "Beyond Black Rock" here in Portland. There is a segment about David Best and his temples. They showed him at the burn, walking from person to person as they watched the flames, giving them hugs and telling them "It's not your fault. It's not your fault." I sat there bawling in the Cyrstal Ballroom because it hit such a raw nerve with me.
David Best did not do the temple that year and I was sorely disappointed. He did, however, create a beautiful, intricate metal sculpture with burn barrels that is probably still in Scrap Eden. One night, we saw it burning and went to take a look. Out of the dust and smoke, I saw David Best walking around. I ran up to him and thanked him for bringing this beautiful piece of art. He said he had to because he loved the people of burning man so much. I gave him a big hug, and although he didn't say "It's not your fault", I heard it in my heart. That was my temple moment that year and I'm crying now just thinking about it.
Half the reason I went last year was to see a David Best temple for myself and it was every bit as beautiful, moving and emotional as I knew it would be. During the burn, clouds of dust were being pulled high up in the air into the temple, even though there was no wind on the ground, like ghostly spirits and it was the most eerie and gorgeous thing I've ever experienced. -
-
Re: Your moment of "getting it"
Tue, September 16, 2008 - 10:35 PMFinding a friend to adorn me with a rope corsette and ride critical tits by myself. I loved it! Even though it was hard to maneuver my bike and the heat, it was very liberating.
-
-
Re: Your moment of "getting it"
Fri, September 19, 2008 - 10:10 AMI was blessed with two wonderful "Moments" . The first was entering the gates. We were asked if we were Virgins, when we answered yes the response was "Welcome Home". I got it, right there.
As well, when I entered the Temple and began to walk through it, reading, touching, thinking, praying, I began to cry. Tears flowed freely down my cheeks, I was not embarassed nor did I wipe them away. I cried the entire time I was there, it was moving, emotional, passionate and simply amazing to feel the energy in that Temple. I knew that I was feeling a power so strong and beautiful and again, I got it.
-
Re: Your moment of "getting it"
Sat, September 20, 2008 - 1:00 AMIt was Monday, early in the afternoon. I was out alone, wandering the deep playa. First year, first day. I had neglected to eat breakfast that morning because I was so excited to get going and explore. The storm hit, and I couldnt see more than five feet in front of me. I couldnt tell where I was, how to get back to my camp, or even if I was walking in a straight line. So I sat down and just waited. I ran out of water, but didnt want to wander blindly and get even more lost. So I stayed put in the blaring sun, feeling grouchier, weaker, and more helpless as time wore on. It was a humbling and mildly scary experience. But at the same time, it was relaxing, and made a switch go off in my brain. A random burner was walking around, presumably heading back to center camp. They tripped over me, and then gave me food, water, electrolyte powder, and helped me back to center camp. It was at that moment that I felt an overwhelming sense of love and understanding for the world. This total stranger freely and eagerly offered me love, support, and sustenance-- For no other reason than the fact that I needed it. -
-
Re: Your moment of "getting it"
Sat, September 20, 2008 - 6:23 AMI absolutely love our city and all the patrons in it.... We are all pretty amazing!!!!
-
-
Re: Your moment of "getting it"
Sat, September 20, 2008 - 10:11 AMMy first year there was a clothesline in center camp and a pile of clothespins and some paper and pens. A sign said to Hang Up your Hang Ups. I wrote on a piece of paper: I am hanging up my hang up about talking too loudly. I pinned it up with hundreds of other hanging hang-ups that people had put there. And then, for the first time in many years, i stopped being hung up about talking too loudly. I spent the week letting it be okay that i'm loud, letting it be a strength that i'm loud. I spent the next year reminding myself that it was okay to be me and that i'm sometimes loud. It was a weight off my shoulders. It was a new life for me to not be worried about bothering people.
I thought that was my moment of "getting it". The next year, I'm at bm and I start telling this story to my campmates. These are people who know me well, spent a lot of time around me for many years. They have puzzled looks on their faces as i'm telling them what a life changing moment that clothesline was for me. When I'm done, one-by-one they all tell me that they NEVER perceived me as being "loud", that they had no idea I had an issue with that because they didn't see me that way at all.
That was my next moment of "getting it".
From there has been a continuous journey of coming to accept who I am, and learning to challenge my perceptions of who I think that is in the first place. At burning man I learn to be more and more of myself and "getting it" is no longer just a moment. -
-
Re: Your moment of "getting it"
Sun, September 21, 2008 - 6:30 PMI think if anything I experienced more of a disconnect from getting anything anymore ever. I asked someone if this would go away and they said "no." Thigs that stuck out were walking through a serious whiteout Saturday to the temple. Seeing the temple seem to seep out of the white. It was amazing. I thought for a moment I was in some scifi movie it looked so crazy and surreal. It was one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. My friend, she had to sit down she was so awestruck. Then, I actually go to the temple, made my offering, and noticed all the faces of all the people others had lost. I started sobbing uncontrollably. I don't cry. WTF! I keep thinking to myself. This is the saddest shit I've ever seen and the most breathtaking at the same time. I realized these were a new kind of tear for me.. a combo of melancholy and pure joy. Fucked me up.. still fuckin me up. The second was walking home the next morning after watching the most amazing sunset ending the most amazing day smiling like some sort of lunatic. Some dude wearing an Israeli flag as a cape stops me and gives me a smoke(which was exactly what i was desiring and didn't have). Says "It's all a travesty isn't it" and nothing else. He walks off. At first I thought he was talking about the burn which at the time was making me high long after my drugs had worn off.. then I thought about it. He was talking about the real world and how it compares to this. An it truly it is a travesty.
-
-
Re: Your moment of "getting it"
Mon, September 22, 2008 - 8:27 PM2001, our first year, huddling behind the U-Haul in a white out and a neighbor was trying to light a stove down in the dust. We called her over to use our grill out of the wind. Other neighbors began showing up with breakfast items, like eggs and tortillas, and avocados and pancakes and suddenly ... it was Stone Soup Breakfast. That's when I knew I was home. -
-
Re: Your moment of "getting it"
Tue, September 23, 2008 - 9:19 AM1999 was our first year and as we walked to the portopots on ( I'm guessing) our 2nd day , we heard a commotion behind us and "LOOK OUT" as a 9 foot tall plastic ball came cruising by with 2 people inside laughing thier butts off. We later learned that it was called a "Zorb".
Thinking WOW those people are having such a great time " they got it" !
Later in the day we saw it again on the open playa on the outer perimeter and a lady with a thick New Zealand accent asked if we would like to give it a try ??!!
She was a real sweetheart and gave us a brief lesson on how to motate this thing ( walk slowly and try to use your hands to balance.)
She followed us and using our video camera took footage of us through the small opening while we tried to navigate this thing.
Poor little 5'5" Joie trying to pace herself with 6'1" me while cracking up laughing , we ended up ass over elbows!
This wonderful soul insisted that we keep trying and we spent several minutes banging around the playa til we were exhausted.
Did a couple of minutes solo before someone else wanted to jump in and I found myself coaching him like an old pro!
Fricken Burning Man! WOO HOO !
~Wendell and Joie~
-
-
Re: Your moment of "getting it"
Tue, October 14, 2008 - 9:09 PMevery one of these stories is unbelievably moving; i have yet to go to BM and i know that next year is my year. i'm having happy and relieving tears just reading your posts. thank you for being human with me and having the courage to bare your gentle souls. -
-
Re: Your moment of "getting it"
Thu, October 16, 2008 - 1:53 PMMy first burn was in 2005. We got to the gate early Sat morning. They said "welcome home", I immediately knew I was in the right place.
Later that day, I was wandering around Center Camp and I saw a ramshackle building with graffiti all over it. I said "thy peoples noise room"
"BMIR-FM". I knocked on door, out popped Zeus, he said "what's up" I said " I'm work at a radio station, you're radio people, I'm radio people". He said "come on in". I found my tribe.
-
-
Re: Your moment of "getting it"
Fri, November 14, 2008 - 12:48 AMMy dad and I arrived late in the day on Wednesday. We stayed up until about midnight or so but were so exausted from the drive that we went to sleep. Waking up the next morning, just taking a walk, looking around, I realized this was where I was supposed to be. I was home.
Another time I "got it" I was trying to find my friend who was not staying in a theme camp, came up the day after we did and was also a virgin and didn't know what to expect. I wasn't actively looking, more like keeping an eye out. I was still having fun, but it was always nagging at the back of my mind. My dad could tell it was bothering me and said "You just have to accept the fact that you might not find him and enjoy yourself and stop worrying about it." I realized he was right and right then and there, just let it go. I was walking around the huge tent of Pantheogenesis a few minutes later and he was walking towards me. I finally understod what people talk about when they talk about the playa magic. After that, I just let go of everything and finally learned to relax both at Burning Man and in the default world. I used to have terrible anxiety, and worried about everything, especially things that didn't matter. At Burning Man, throughout the whole week, I realized I didn't have to worry anymore.
There were a few very personal moments that I'd rather keep.
I think I got it again back in the default world. Recently I have been feeling really homesick for the playa and I couldn't understand specifically why. Then it hit me: my whole life, I have never felt connected to anything or anyone or felt like I was truely a part of something until I came to Burning Man. I finally found a place where I belong with thousands of other people, all there in the desert for different reasons, doing different things, but all have at least one thing in common: we are all crazy enough to do this thing (whatever it is) and it ties us together. My kind if town.
I think I'm still getting it and I know that every year I will get something new out of it (because I am definitly going back!) -
-
Re: Your moment of "getting it"
Wed, December 3, 2008 - 9:30 PMAs a 2008 Virgin, I drove off to Burning Man with a bad attitude about playa dust. I had heard many nightmare stories about how hard the dust is on cameras, vehicles, and one’s feet! When I helped my Silicon Village campmates clean and repair stuff for this year’s burn, I was exposed to the dust on everything, even inside the spider boxes. It smelled bad, felt bad, and tasted bad! To top it off, somebody told me that playa dust is actually fish f**k!
During my ten days on the playa, I had much contact with the dust. I became a compulsive hand washer. Every time I did just about anything, like tying my shoelaces, I had a “burning” desire to wash my hands!
As I drove back to my home in the Default World, I had a great idea on how to remove the dust from inside my van. My home is located on a windy El Sobrante hillside, so I planned to remove everything from my van, open all the doors and windows, and let the wind clean out the inside of the van. No such luck. I returned home to find we were having a heat wave in the Bay Area. There was not a bit of wind where I live, for almost a week!
Other than the inside and outside of my van, I was making slow but steady progress removing the playa dust from my possessions. I cleaned everything before it came into the house, starting with the leftover food. Finally, the wind came up and I cleaned the inside of the van.
However, the outside of my van was still covered in playa dust when I went to the Power to the Peaceful concert in Golden Gate Park on the first Saturday in September. After the show, I was driving my van away from the park when I had to stop behind several cars that were waiting for a traffic signal. At this intersection, a lot of people on foot were waiting to catch the Muni. One woman turned toward me and walked the several car lengths to approach my van. I rolled down the passenger-side window and asked her what she wanted. As I did so, I realized that she was already taking what she wanted. She rubbed some dust off of my van and then smeared it on her bare arms. In response to my question, she replied “Playa dust! It’s playa dust, isn’t it?” I confirmed this, and she bounced off to rejoin the other people at the bus stop.
While this woman did not make a dent in the dust on my van, she did help remove the last trace of my bad attitude about playa dust. -
-
Re: Your moment of "getting it"
Thu, December 4, 2008 - 1:09 PMAwesome story. It was fun picking out the dusty rides on the way back to Defaultopia, as well as their shoes LOL -
-
Re: Your moment of "getting it"
Fri, December 5, 2008 - 9:31 AMYes, David, great story. I still have playa dust on some boots that I haven't cleaned off before wearing them again. Happy reminders of the playa dust.
-
-
-
-
Re: Your moment of "getting it"
Mon, December 8, 2008 - 3:16 PMI was out and about no where near my camp and...uh oh...I had run out of water. I left with a ton of water in my pack and on my person and I must have been desperately thirsty cause it was all gone. All of the sudden I hear "OTTER POPS!" I turn and run toward the voice. There was a lovely guy handing out completely frozen otter pops. It completely made my day. I gave him a big kiss as thanks and walked away feeling cool and refreshed. I kept walking, heading home and saw a young girl, couldnt have been more than 5 walking with her parents. I still had a bit of pop left. I grabbed my pocket knife, cut off the top I'd eaten, and handed the rest of the pop to her. I could see her face light up! I assume I'd made her day too.
-
Re: Your moment of "getting it"
Mon, December 8, 2008 - 5:02 PMi still don't get it. i think i am going to have to keep coming out to it ;)
-
Re: Your moment of "getting it"
Sun, December 28, 2008 - 9:55 AMProbably during the first or second night's massive city-wide fireworks display. I was standing in the center of the playa, and I realized that almost anywhere at Burning Man was a sensory wonder just waiting to be uncovered. You could go anywhere, and have a special moment with yourself or a group of people, which means you never really "missed out" on any part of BM!
