Comments on: Hey, First-Timers! How was your Burn?

By: Nesta Rae

Nesta Rae — Sun, 14 Oct 2012 17:02:54 +0000

Burning Man was everything I hope it would be and more. To exist in the love and bounty of the Playa is to truly feel one with each other. I feel like this was great first year as we got to experience a little bit of everything..: dust storms, rain, and an incredibly warm night. I was truly blessed to become part of this tribe and will definitely be planning my year around the burn from here on out. You can check out a blog I wrote on it here! http://nestarae.com/home/?p=468.
Blessings! Nesta Rae

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By: Tracy

Tracy — Sun, 14 Oct 2012 16:21:07 +0000

I decided to go this year because it was on the bucket list of a friend with terminal ovarian cancer. I am also an ovarian cancer survivor, and while I had an interest in the event, I probably wouldn’t have prioritized it were it not for these circumstances. After six months of planning, renting an RV, gathering a crew to join us and all the other logistics that go into preparing for the event, my friend’s doctor told her a week in the desert wouldn’t be a good idea in her condition and forbid her from going. This immediately made me doubt my own participation, but I was committed, so I went anyway.

I am soooooooo glad I did. Far from the drug-fueled out of control party I expected, this event occurred for me as an incredible community and place of wonder. The people I met, visual and auditory stimulation I received, generosity of spirit I experienced and sense of safety and security were unexpected. I can honestly say I experienced one of the most perfect days of my entire life on day two when I set out on my own to take a workshop, attend prom, meet someone cool at a bar and then hang out at his camp for two hours, and connect with someone in a tea shop that I then spent the rest of the night in a hammock with. The entire week was magical, and I can’t wait to return. I have been thinking, talking and planning with others about how we might contribute with a project or camp in the future. Amazing!

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By: Johnnybitchin

Johnnybitchin — Sun, 14 Oct 2012 13:51:16 +0000

What a great time…met beautiful people and was welcomed into a camp as soon as I arrived. (I was by myself and new nobody) with my little Teardrop Trailer..thanks Trixie and the rest of the camp…delivered the newspaper for 5 days and I met hundreds of great people and was offered drinks and food in many camps..thanks again…looking forward to next year to see old friends and make new ones….Burningman Rocks…and I was the “Paperboy”!!!!

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By: Desiree

Desiree — Sat, 13 Oct 2012 23:56:03 +0000

A virgin video… XOX

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nLMT7DrGTc&feature=share&list=UUr9u3xsw7nevop_If3geQ4A

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By: Avand

Avand — Sat, 13 Oct 2012 22:46:39 +0000

Burning Man changed my life.

Lasers that blast right into space, an octopus that transforms a cold nowhere into a fire-breathing dance party, fire and lights as far as your eyes can see, all of it, total pandemonium, under the crystal light of a moon so bright you think you could just pluck it out of the sky and lick it.

“Oh, the places you’ll go!” Yeah, no kidding. I watched the videos, read the literature, and talked to friends that have been. I had no idea what I was getting myself into. Burning Man was this enormous shimmering question mark. And though I didn’t know why, I knew had to be there.

As I arrived, I went through a complete physical reset. I remember just moving gear from one place to another. I was stuck whirring and when I finally looked up, I was overwhelmed, exhausted, and scared. Everything came out.

“What the hell is this, where am I, how are the toilets so clean, is everyone else wondering the same thing?” These were some of the questions that buzzed through my head, while we played under the sun. The answers, I realize now, aren’t relevant.

I got totally and completely lost in an infinite-loop of awesome.

I watched the sun rise with strangers. I watched the moon set with friends.

I realize, now, that when you’re willing to participate, life becomes an incredibly beautiful place. And that’s a belief I want to share.

Please come say “hello” next year. I can’t wait to meet you,

Avand (Scarbutts @ 9H)

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By: Kim

Kim — Sat, 13 Oct 2012 14:14:33 +0000

Thank you so much for the experience of a lifetime! This was our first time at Burning Man. My husband and I left our 2 children (7 & 3) w/ my parents, and began the trip from Boston to Black Rock desert not knowing what to expect. Words cannot describe how impressive and amazing Burning Man is. The art installations were incredible, everyone embraced us with open arms, and the desert is absolutely beautiful, harsh at times, but beautiful. We began this experience thinking it would be a one time thing, something to cross off the bucket list, however, during our time in Black Rock city, we fell in love. The entire trip home we talked about how excited we are for next year, and how we cannot wait to bring our children. I feel as if I am part of something bigger than myself. I have been walking around suburbia since we returned giggling inside because I feel as if I have this great secret most people will never experience. I admire and applaud all of the artists, volunteers and participants. All of the hard work is obvious from the moment you step onto the playa.

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By: Shannon McIvor

Shannon McIvor — Sat, 13 Oct 2012 13:47:31 +0000

Before I went down to Nevada I read an article about people whose lives had been changed at Burning Man. Because of something they had seen or experienced they came home and changed their name, their job, their geographic location… they changed crucial things that they KNEW to be true about themselves up until that time.

I left I told my friends and family that this wouldn’t happen to me. I said, “I’m pretty well set in how I am. I can’t envision me changing anything much.”

I read that now and shake my head at the words…

Because of all of you, every single one of you who I met or spoke to or spent time with or sat beside, because of the playa and the music and the fire and the beautiful banquet constantly laid out before me: edible, visual and spiritual, I have come home to find myself eating those unconsidered words. I now know that I have been a side line participant in my own life; never committing to anything or really working hard to find out what I was capable of.

The inexplicable shift in direction of every single bird in a flock at the same time… the simultaneous expansion and contraction of a school of fish… the change in yourself, your heartbeat, when you walk out into an emptied lake and see a version of you that has never been there before.

There is no way to thank all of you. In fact I think there is little I could say as you were just being you and not knowing what, if any, effect you were having on the people around you. I just want to let you know that everything you did for me, to me and beside me was not lost or unnoticed. It all contributed to letting me glimpse what it would be like to live my life free. And I will.

Thank you and I love you.

“You need not leave your room. Remain sitting at your table and listen. You need not even listen, simply wait. You need not even wait, just learn to become quiet, and still, and solitary. The world will freely offer itself to you to be unmasked. It has no choice; it will roll in ecstasy at your feet.”

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By: Krazy!

Krazy! — Sat, 13 Oct 2012 06:25:48 +0000

It was freakin awesome! I had several revelations at my first burn! I already understood why everything is the way it is! It’s amazing! I completely understand why the man is “the MAN” and why the temple is where it’s at! You can never get lost there! I always felt safe! And where else in the world while you are riding your bicycle in the middle of the dessert storm, a beautiful person appears in front of you and give you free ice cream!?!?!? Then when night falls all the glowing creatures comes out! It’s like the electric parade but ten times better! DJs and booze on every corner and on every moving vehicles! I love the whole experience, the community and the kind gestures! There are so many smart and talented artists and engineers! To me, it’s all about art, self expression, giving without any expectation BUT most important of all, it’s about not being judge for who you are, expanding your mind and people welcoming your unique differences. It has a deeper meaning that some people will never understand! The man is there to guide you and when you finally feel safe and found your place, that is when you know you are home… ♥

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By: jet set

jet set — Sat, 13 Oct 2012 04:14:40 +0000

It was my Virgin Burn…epic indeed. And reality is….people keep talking about needing ‘Decompression’, but Burning Man was the Decompression for me.

After spending 6 conservative humbling years in Asia working, I really needed to be with my freaky tribe, and Burning Man realigned my soul chakras.

I drank deeply from that well. I

t was delightful to have a forum for accepted and expected PLAY! Yay!

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By: Ayala. My playa name is A.

Ayala. My playa name is A. — Sat, 13 Oct 2012 04:08:40 +0000

I don’t want to talk about it. That was MY experience for ME. You want to know about Burning Man? So go yourself.
(Aside from the Temple) what haunts most persistently is a young man with a huge concert accordion, strolling along in the sunstruck afternoon near Rainbow Sapiens camp & playing some Eastern European folksong. Like flowerpetals tossed by a breeze
I’m participant, not spectator. Looking to be deep in the machinations of LL & the Temple in 2013

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