Burning Man - A Week of Radical Self Expression

'Burning Man is an Adult Playland', a 29-Hour a day party for a week; A Globally Charged Community in the desert of Northern Nevada.

'You can vacation in say Jamaica and see things that millions have seen before you and millions will see after you...Or you can trek yourself & stuff to BRC and see things that will only be available for one week to see'

Here is an interesting look back at what Burning Man has meant to me and the lessons I have learned each year...

2000 > 2001 > 2002 > 2003 > 2004 > 2005 > 2006 > 2007 > 2008 >  
2009 > 2010 > 2011 > 2012 > 2013  >  2014 >  2015 > 2016 > 2017 > 2018

2008 – Spontaneous Community
The 2008 BM/BRC/Playa lessons are  a life in progress.  The signs of Burning Man & Community are everywhere, you just need to look for them or take an active role in creating opportunities for Community. Burning Man is Participatory Sport, Lead By Example!

The Power of Shade...Transporting Shade - Setting Up Shade - Creating Community:  We were the bringer of shade at TOAST & JTMF.  Erecting shade brings people together, working together.  The shade itself provides a respite from the sun, a place to visit, a place to sit down & socialize.  Our camp space was visited 1000-fold more because we had shade, a place to rest weary feet.  

At JTMF our 20'x20' shade became a sea of drummers, an open-mike and bands that had just performed on the main stage were doing a gig under our shade. The louder the drum circle became the more people it drew and the more people under our shade.  In a very short period we had a Community of 30+ people sharing music and love.  The Power Of Shade!!

Playa Lessons Learned…

• 'You Must Be Conscious To Care'

• Personal Note: There are many paths to follow; NFNC Workshops, Non-Violent Communication, Landmark Education, formal education (Masters, PHD or Licensure) they all provide us with a 'Speak'.  Each of these disciplines provide a highway to effective communication or so they say.  My observations are that it does not matter what route you pursue, they are only forms of communication, words, and do absolutely nothing to assist in solving the human interaction dilemma.  I have observed persons in positions of leadership having difficulty in properly utilizing their own rhetoric to the ends they profess to those that follow them.

• Burning Man 2008 - Art Project
  On the Playa in 2008 we had an interactive sign in front of our camp. The sign was painted - but only had the following written:
  "My American Dream is..."

• Some people get the idea of 'Compromise' and others do not.

• Evolution is not just about the Survival of the Fittest...It is about embracing or trying something you have previously resisted.

• After six attempts with the same women, I now understand...'She is just not that into me'. BONK On My Head!!!

• Having multiple choices does not in-fact make it easier to choose for the person who must choose or the person managing the choices. That is until the number of choices diminishes to having only one-choice. That is where compromise comes in to Play.

What lessons did you learn from Burning Man & the Playa in 2008?