Burning Man Pt. 4

Reflecting back on my days at Burning Man, I can’t help but stand in awe of how amazingly surreal (and real at the same time) it was and how my heart aches to be in that loving environment again.

One of the things that is fascinating about the playa is the creation of the community. Every theme camp is different. You have camps with nerds (Orgribar anyone?), hipsters, hippies, travelers, furries, old, young, families, friends, dancers, fire spinners, DJs, drinkers, gay, straight, everywhere in between, black, white, purple – the diversity is fantastic! Everyone who comes to Burning Man is out there to help each other and experience life together. I have never been in such an open community and for the first time in my life, I felt like I was a complete part of the human race. We are all in it together. We are all here to love and experience beauty – even in the heat and harshness of the Black Rock Desert.

The workshops offered are so diverse as well. They offer anything from arts and crafts for kids to BDSM workshops for adults. There are poi lessons, massage workshops, and like our camp did, open advice to those looking for a more complete nomadic lifestyle.

Burning Man opened a part of my soul that I never want to close up again.

I danced until my knees were knocking and my feet felt like they were going to fall off.

I had a beer at 8am with some of my camp mates.

I helped create a tight knit community (Camp Nomadia).

I rode in an art car around the playa until 4:30am.

I went without a shower for a week and I didn’t freak out!

I started to make progress on my claustrophobia.

I made connections with people that will last a lifetime.

I became more accepting of my body.

I participated in a photography project that opened my eyes and allowed me into the personal space of the subjects.

I learned that I am more conservative than I thought I was (that one blew my mind).

And while I am able to relive some of my feelings of my days at the playa, I am still having problems completely reintegrating into my old life. How are we supposed to go back to dealing with the woes of humanity when we experienced a week of life when things were so good? How, when for a week, my mind was focused on the beauty of the human spirit, the creativity that lies within, and the love that can be felt from miles around?

These guys made us really happy. Hopefully Shaun and I will look like them one day. Shaun already looks like the guy!

Welcome to The Nexus... the jungle gym... for adults. Complete with DJs on in the inside.

If you look very VERY closely you can see someone trying to walk during a white out.

There was a Black Rock Disco skating rink around I swear!