Amble to the Preamble
This blog was initially meant to be a reasonably succinct discussion of my thoughts and feelings about Burning Man. Instead it is has become a dissertation-sized exposition on this event.
If you are mainly interested in reading and viewing photos from Burning Man, jump to the sections below that interest you.
Preamble
After many years of hearing tales of Burning Man, this was the year I finally attended. And while I have not held a fervid desire to go, I have always had a background curiosity. And this year the opportunity arose. But before I go into the events leading to my Burning Man debut, I want to make a few caveats before proceeding.
Some Caveats and Explanations, Or, I went to Burning Man so You Don’t Have to Go.
I have heard about Burning Man for many years. And while it never really seemed like my personal type of entertainment, I was intrigued. It is one of those unique US events, and I am one of those people who will go to a place to be a part of a discussion.
This blog is about my Burning Man experience. I am a bit reticent writing this as I have mixed feelings about my time there and the event as a whole. I know many people who greatly enjoy it and I don’t mean to be disrespectful. But it will become obvious that it was not exactly to my tastes.
This was my first (and likely only) time at Burning Man and I realize that if it was someplace I frequented I might have felt more community and more included. Also, I tend to compare it with the Rainbow Gathering, and while they are vastly different events, having gone to the Rainbow Gathering for so many years, I cannot ignore my internal comparisons (more about that below). Also, one of my favorite aspects of being anywhere is enjoying the plant and animal life. And at Burning Man, besides human animals and eating vegetables, neither plant nor animal were to be found. And lastly, I reckon it should be noted I am not much of an art aficionado. The accompanying photos probably make this obvious as another person would have photos of the marvelous art cars, illuminated statues and fantastical structures. On a more personal note, I am a bit sound sensitive and Burning Man is a cacophonous fusion of sound. I knew about all of these before I went, so I hope I don’t appear to be complaining. But in noting these I hope it offers a sense of my perspective.
A Thought is Hatched
Here is how I happened to finally go. In 2016 I was taking a year off of running my own school and would be traveling. I was teaching along the west coast from August through October and had a spot open. I called the HAALo herb shop in Nevada City, CA to see if I could teach there and they said it was a bad time since many people would be going to Burning Man. And the thought slowly occurred to me ‘maybe I should go’. I knew I would be in the area and I now had some planning time.
I knew that it was difficult to get tickets, so I called up my friend and Rainbow Gathering comrade Tom Curotto (Tom from CALM) to enlist his expertise. He was very helpful untangling the complexities of purchasing a ticket. He said he would try to get me a ticket as a friend since he goes as a firefighter each year. By February it seemed that strategy would not work and so he helped again by having both of us try to purchase tickets when they went on sale for the general public.
So on that day, Tom in Idaho, and myself in Ithaca called at the proscribed time hoping that one of us would get through. And somehow, I did. I eventually went through a set of automated questions and got me my ticket. Frankly, I was elated since I had gone this far, I wanted to go all the way through.
The information from the official website, said they sold all 30,000 tickets in 30 minutes, and so I felt lucky in my transaction. There are about 70,000 (yes, seventy thousand) people at Burning Man in 2016. I am not sure about what happens with the other tickets, though there are many volunteers.
Of course the downside was the price, All told the ticket cost $531.57. Yup, a buttload of dough. Here’s the breakdown of the ticket price; the entry ticket cost $390, a vehicle pass was $80. There was a $12 charge to mail the ticket, a $35.37 Nevada Entertainment Tax and a $14 service charge. So my enthusiasm was a bit tempered by all these seemingly extraneous costs, but I was also glad to finally get this part of the worry out of the way.
And then began the preparation. There are a number of websites with useful details, and I know a few people who also gave me helpful suggestions.
One thing that was commonly suggested to me was to stay at a well-established camp. I originally wanted to go and practice first aid, but I don’t have a degree (nurse, EMT, etc) and was not allowed to work in one of the official first aid stations. So I sought a camp where people treated participants (known as ‘Burners’). The main one was the Heebeegeebees healer camp (HBGBs) and I went through their application process and got accepted. To stay there and use their facilities, mainly getting fed 3 times a day, was $400. So now Burning Man was costing about $1000. As I’ll mention later, staying at the HBGBs was well worth it. I was also interested in working with the Zendo folks who practice psychedelic harm reduction at Burning Man, but they do not use herbs and so I felt it was not the best place for me to use my skills.
Travel and Travails Begin
And so, on August 27, I left the California School of Herbal Studies in Forestville for Burning Man. I had put the trip time into my GPS to see how long it would take to get there. It said I would arrive late at night which seemed odd to me, as the map showed I should easily arrive by 9 pm. Little did I know….
So after my crossing the beautiful Sierra Nevada Mountains and gassing up in Reno, I was on the long last road. It was still daylight and with 95 miles left my GPS still strangely showed me not arriving till after midnight. I drove cautiously as there were numerous police cars lining the road. And then I discovered that the GPS did not lie, as I eventually arrived to an indeterminable line of cars very slowly snaking their way to what lay ahead.
And so I grumbled and listened to books on CD and grumbled some more and watched the artistically clothed (and often cigarette smoking) folks get out of their cars and mingle while we inched along the road. And soon enough, the famous dust storms began and I could see perhaps one car length ahead of me. I suppose that I just should have relaxed into the strangeness, but I was concerned, as I did not know what lay ahead. After many hours I arrived at the first checkpoint where they checked my ticket and car pass. All this time the dust was kicking up with very low visibility, fraying my nerves a bit. I got to the second checkpoint a while later and to my surprise they searched my van to make sure that I was not smuggling any contraband or un-ticketed people into the event. I guess this makes sense, but it felt damn invasive. Many of the volunteers wore gas masks for the dust leading to a rather steampunk look which added some allure. I will admit that the questioning and search did not ingratiate me to this event. I was asked if I had any plants with me, I said yes, as I am an herbalist for botany’s sakes. Steampunk Car Checker asked to see my plants and I showed them my recently harvested dried Rosemary. They said it was not allowed. I may have argued a little saying what about all the food people are bringing; surely someone has some Rosemary in a bottle? Indeed I was feeling a bit herbalistically defensive. I was given the ultimatum that if I brought it in I could not bring the Rosemary outside my van during the whole event. And thusly I passed the second to last checkpoint. No plants indeed! At this point the Rainbow Gathering was looking like a lovely informal event compared to the restrictiveness of this festival.
There was one further checkpoint where I was given some directions and instructions and eventually wound my way to the HeeBeeGeeBee camp. My GPS was correct after all, it was past midnight; the last few miles had taken about 4 hours. At the camp I found some people who let me know that I was at the correct spot. And I parked my van and appreciatively went to sleep in it for the night. The people who helped me did not seem too friendly toward me, which foreshadowed much of my time there. But more about that to come. For now, I had finally made it into the quirkiness that is Burning Man.
The Stage is Set-The Playa and ‘Dust’
Videos-Daytime View from a Tower
Video-Sunset view from a Tower
Burning man is on a ‘playa’, a large dried lakebed (over 100 miles long) formed in the Pleistocene era. It is completely free of plant life, as they do not grow on these ever shifting alkali flats. This aspect was a bit difficult for me as I can usually distract myself by looking at plants. I don’t think I have ever been to a terrestrial region so devoid of them, and by devoid I mean zero plants (nor algae or fungi).
The playa dust is one of the main features of Burning Man. It is likely the one thing everyone who has been there will speak about. It is a constant, whether on a clear windless day or during a raging dust storm where the visibility is scanty and coarse. The small particles of dust get into all possible crevices such as car windows, clothing and yes, even there. I was sort of prepared for it, but like almost any aspect of nature one needs to be immersed in it to appreciate it. It is fine particulate dust that is easily swept up by the wind and distributed everywhere and on everything and can create near white out conditions. And it is true that many months later, dust still seeps out from my vehicle. This dust make one very cautious about using any technology as it will easily get into the device and maim it. I kept my laptop in a large sealed bag in a sealed container in my vehicle and used it with the door closed. I limited outdoor exposure to my camera and phone. This dust is also quite drying. I walked in flip-flops for most the time as the ground is very soft and felt fortunate that my heels didn’t begin cracking until the last few days.
The Playa as Backdrop
One of the interesting things about the playa is the scale of the place. It is on a large flat plane with mountains in the background. The location is best viewed from one of the camp towers. I was fortunate that there was one just across the road from the HBGB camp. It was a rickety affair, but I went up most days, especially around sunrise and sunset, which were often spectacular.
The scale is striking when looking at the big art installations from a distance, as they look quite small. But up close many of these structures are the size of buildings. If you look at the photograph of the Burning Man, you can see how small the people look working right under it.
Bicycles are the main means of transport, and fortunately I had use of one (thank you again Tom). While there were some deep sandy spots where it was difficult to pedal, the surface makes for easy riding and the ground is level. The main considerations are other bicycles and the slowly moving art cars. These vehicles are skillfully done and elaborate in design and function. And were loud as well, each blaring the music or sounds preferred by their creators. They are integral part of the Burning Man playascape.
Energy, Resources and ‘MOOP’
To produce such a fantastical panorama, a lot energy and resources are needed. This was the one of the parts of Burning Man I liked least. From an environmental perspective, it seems wasteful. They do have a number of measures to try and reduce waste. The term ‘MOOP’ (matter out of place) is used for garbage and there are guidelines on how to reduce this. There is a 7-mile perimeter fence to catch blowing trash and there was very little garbage on the playa, which is surprising and impressive given all the people and projects.
The largest energy consumption is from all the vehicles driving to this remote region of Nevada. Another big use of fuel were the conspicuous fire displays. One such attraction was a towering metal figure that would send huge bursts of flame. I assume they use a variety of combustible liquids and gasses. I may be wrong, but they must go through a lot of fuel for such an attraction. Another large consumer of energy is the extravagant light displays (which are often lovely) as well as the large array sound systems.
The most egregious environmental impact is likely to be the very large fires (the ‘burns’). More about these below.
‘The Scene’
From the towers you can see the individual camps that make up Burning Man. Many of these camps have a theme such as a huge EDM soundstage or a pickle bar. Some are very elaborate such as the Thunder dome where contestant in elastic straps face off with Goth-clad ringmasters and metal music blasting. Other camps are much more subtle where friends come to spend time with each other or provide all the fixin’s to make your own s’mores.
One of the things I admired about Burning Man is what they call the Gift Economy. There is almost nothing for sale at Burning Man except ice and coffee at an official kiosk. So if there is a margarita night somewhere, the drinks will be free. It changes the atmosphere of a place for it to be non-commercial in this way. This event still exudes wealth; the cost of the structures, the time needed to put them together and of course the price of admission. But it could have all those factors and still be a marketplace, so I applaud the people who generously devote and donate their time and money to offer people a treat or a sensation.
On the aesthetic side, it seems that feather boas, lingerie, steampunk, faux fur and a general slinky look are de rigueur at this event. And I admit to a conservative streak and so the clothing styles did not lend much appeal to me.
Also, a big part of the ambiance is the music, often very loud music. I cannot say it favored me to this event, but perhaps I am just a thin ear-drummed prig.
Buildings and Other Structures
Burning Man showcases creative, attractive, flamboyant and intricate structures. These include various types of statues and buildings. There is statuary throughout the camps and some very large pieces on the playa. Many are quite spectacular. There were some large buildings including pyramids, lighthouses, a temple, and the burning man itself.
Of all the structures, the temple was my favorite. The wood smelled like cedar. And it was beautiful and intricate. But more than the structure itself was its purpose, a place where people come to consider those who have died. People posted photos and notes, some very personal as well as to famous folks like David Bowie. The first time I went I was curious about the structure. But I came back later and being among the people crying and thinking about those people who have passed was very moving. It was a sentimental reflective experience.
But frankly no matter what I thought about the various structure it was somewhat obviated by knowing that they would soon burn. This seemed like a colossal waste of resources. I guess if there were just one giant fire it might just seem a bit foolish, but each of these large buildings was soon to burned down. And while I can appreciate ceremony and symbolism, I could not get past the waste and air-borne particulate matter.
More about the burns below
Networking
I never really felt a part of any group, nor did I make any strong connections at Burning Man. This is uncommon for me, for while I sometimes keep to myself I am also an ambivert and enjoy conversing and getting to know people. But it was obvious that for many people Burning Man offered a time with friends and the opportunity to lavish attention on some project. Many of the camps housed outrageously elaborate designs clearly the work of many people. In these there was a clear show of community and networking.
The HeeBeeGeeBee Healer Camp
Video-A 360° view of around the HeeBeeGeeBee camp
The HeeBeeGeeBee healer camp (HBGB) is where I stayed and practiced at Burning Man. A lot of my thoughts and feelings about Burning Man revolve around this camp. HBGB was primarily for people who had ongoing health issues though some came for non-emergency first aid. Burning Man has 6 official first aid stations (and a small hospital) and this is not one of those.
This camp is organized by a few individuals who generously donate a lot of time and resources. It was a boon to the many people who visited each day.
This section will cover the details about the HBGB. The next section is about my experiences as an herbalist there.
While at first I chaffed at paying $400 to stay at the HBGB camp. I was glad I did. It offered a home base, a community of people, food, and a place to practice herbal medicine. People knew about this camp and began arriving from the first day onward. I was glad to be in a situation where I could practice herbal medicine.
We were fed three meals a day and had filtered water, snacks, and a place to recharge phones available. There was a hot water bag shower, which was helpful to remove the daily dust accumulation. They have an interesting method of evaporating the water with wind-driven fans. This is to avoid contaminating the playa with the water. And it was very helpful to be able to relax under the large tents to get out of the dust and sun.
HBGB occupies a fair size space. The camp was divided up into a few areas. There was a kitchen and eating and meeting area. There was a large teaching tent where classes were held throughout the day. Next to that was a circus-sized tent, which served as the main area for people waiting to be seen or just wanting to come in out of the elements. It was well appointed with pillows and cushions and offered a relaxing atmosphere. Next to this was a separate partitioned area where the healers worked. Only practitioners and people being treated were allowed in, which helped it maintain a calmer atmosphere. There was also a large tent to house people’s smaller individual tents so they were not directly exposed to the environment. I slept in my van, which worked well to reduce noise, dust and wind as well as it gave me some privacy.
They have an interesting system for setting up appointments. In the covered entrance to the main tent there are poster boards. On these boards were sheets describing each practitioner and the services they offered as well as a place to sign up. After signing up they waited in the comfy large tent. There were two 3-hour shifts each day and there were usually at least 5 body workers for each shift. This was fortunate as it was the modality most people wanted. Some of the people who came to see me did so because there we no more room to be seen by a bodyworker.
There was a wide range of bodywork and it was interesting to sit in the middle and watch the various methods employed.
There were some parts of the HBGB camp that I found disconcerting. On a sanitation level, a better pre-meal hand wash would be helpful before people began serving themselves (this is the first aid worker in me speaking).
This next part is about the clothing at the HBGB camp. This reflects my conservative nature, as it seems to be the norm at this camp and Burning Man in general.
There was a fair bit of partial nudity by practitioners at the HBGB camp, which I felt could be triggers for people coming in to be treated. I realize that this sounds prudish of me but I am fairly comfortable around nudity (it is a norm at the Rainbow Gathering) but felt that in a place set up for healing, it might make some people uncomfortable.
There was a practitioner meeting concerning patient’s consent by bodyworkers. I appreciated this talk and there was a separate area for sensual massage. The bodyworkers mostly seemed professional in their skills and temperaments. But a number of them were partially clothed and I imagine for a number of people it could be uncomfortable.
One of the male-bodied practitioners wore a skirt with nothing below it. This would normally go unnoticed and would in fact feel good in the desert. Except that he would often be on top of the table working on patients. This makes the situation rather revealing. Again, I may be the only one who feels this way, but I am not sure everyone wants to be worked on with a practitioner’s reproductive organs in full view and close by.
Another example was during the daily post-dinner meeting. The person who gave a follow up of the day’s activities wore a long open robe with nothing beneath and after dinner one of the staff would undress showing off their panties. Again this seemed the norm and there is a good chance that I was the only person there who found it in poor taste, as many people were a part of the catcalling and jeering hoots.
I feel a bit embarrassed to even mention this and people may judge me a prude. But I appreciate a bit more decorum in an environment where people are getting treated. And while it may be the norm at Burning Man, I feel HBGB would do well to let patients and staff know what to expect this way.
A different discomfiting situation for me was that one of body workers would encourage his clients to shout as a sort of primal therapy. I understand that this type of therapy may be appropriate for some people, but in a room full of other people working quietly it is unnerving and seemed disrespectful. It only happened a few times but it was alarming.
You may paint me Victorian-esque, but these aspects made it uncomfortable for me to work there. Panty showing-off indeed.
Practicing Herbal Medicine at the HBGB Camp
I was glad to be a part of the HeeBeeGeeBee healer camp (HBGB) and to have a place to freely practice herbal medicine. A quick note about the word ‘healer’. While many at this camp use this term to describe the work they do, I find it a bit pretentious. I tend to think of herbal medicine and most forms of health care in more prosaic terms.
I set myself up to do consultations in the middle of the treatment room. Fortunately, the acoustics did not travel far in the tent so during the consultation we could talk at a normal level and hear each other well but not easily be heard by others. During each shift (I usually worked both shifts daily) I would bring in my herbal gear, which consisted of a large suitcase with supplies, my first aid bag with tinctures, a gallon of water, small disposable cups, and empty 1 oz plastic bottles. After discussing the person’s health I would then usually make them a tincture. For this I would pour from the bottles of various individual tinctures into the 1 oz plastic bottle. I would then dilute it with water and affix a label on the bottle with the ingredients and dosage. Sometimes I prepared a medicine in one of the paper cups to be taken right away.
By the end of the second day I realized that I had to stop giving out as much medicine as I was quickly running out. I was mainly running out of the herbs for anxiety.
After the second day I started to record basic patient information and the types of health issues I was seeing. The camp did not require any paperwork, but I like to have this data for other herbalists who may work at Burning Man in the future.
I saw between 8-12 people per day. They were mainly from larger urban areas and were middle class and higher income brackets. The reason I write this is that folks from lower economic strata often have different health care issues from a lack of access from their earliest days. The most common health issue I saw is the same one I see in most places I work, anxiety.
Some of the people who came to see me did so because there we no more room to be seen by a bodyworker. Many of the people who came to see me did not know what an herbalist did. I would ask if they have ever used herbal medicine or have seen an herbalist and to my surprise, most knew little about herbal medicine. This surprised me because of the environment I was working in and many likely lived more alternatives lifestyles. I would begin the consultation by telling them what herbalists do and what herbal medicine entails. Since people often came to the HBGB camp for body and energy work, I think practicing herbal medicine seemed a bit out of place. After introductions the conversation often went something like this;
7Song: ‘How can I help you?’
Patient: ‘I’m not sure, what do you do?’
7Song: ‘I am an herbalist, we treat various health problems using plants as medicines’
Patient: ‘I don’t really have any health problems’.
7Song: ‘Do you have any health issues such as digestive problems, asthma or rashes?’
Patient: ‘Well actually I do have (name an ailment)’
7Song: ‘Do you want to talk about it?’
At this point, they would often talk about chronic health conditions such as ulcerative colitis or long-term depression. I think the reason it went this way is that people were not sure what an herbalist did, so were not really thinking about their long-term health problems. Also, I think at festivals people like to focus on the positive, and to not think as much about their health issues unless it is currently affecting them. I sometimes felt a bit uneasy teasing this out as perhaps it is better for them not to focus on it. But I did not push much as I want people to enjoy their time at Burning Man.
But once they began speaking about their health we would often talk for a while and I would discuss various treatment strategies, herbal and otherwise. I would also discuss ways to continue treatment after they left the event. One way was by letting them know practitioners I knew around where they lived.
In general it was satisfying, though a lot of folks who I saw were more interested in the spiritual aspects of their life and health and this is not where I focus.
The main health issues I encountered were
- Anxiety, insomnia and other mental health issues
- Various types of pain
- Respiratory conditions
- Digestive problems
- Fatigue and a lack of energy
- Allergies and asthma
- A number of other chronic ailments.
If you are an herbalist who plans on working at Burning Man, I can give you a more specific run-down of what I saw there.
While I was appreciative for all the efforts behind this camp and being able to practice freely, it was not a place I felt very comfortable.One reason is that a lot of the health care had a spiritual focus, and this is not the way I view the world. I like to help people and I appreciate serendipity but my view is through the lens of science. This is too large (and perhaps too personal) a topic to cover here, but I often felt distant from the conversations around me.
I often found it difficult to engage with the people around me at this camp. I am sure that much of this is how I present myself but I enjoy conversations and was disappointed by not finding myself engaged more often. My favorite conversations were with the people I was treating. In short, I often felt out of place and was sorry to not feel more at home there.
The Burns
Video-The Man Burning
The Burns are one of the bigger entertainments at Burning Man. This is where they burn various structures, a number of them building-sized. These are planned and calculated affairs utilizing various incendiary devices to create and sustain the fires. They also have many safety protocols in place. The burning of the Burning Man was a lavish show with fire dancers, and impressive fireworks. There is something alluring about watching these huge fires. I especially enjoyed the dust devils, which are miniature tornados caused by rapidly changing air temperature. The playa creates excellent conditions for these.
But I find these extraordinarily wasteful, as well as creating a lot of air pollution. There may be significance behind these fires, but they just seem to be a reckless waste of resources, especially with so many of them.
My Escape
I went to sleep soon after the Burning Man burn. I awoke at the earliest signs of sunrise, hopped into the front seat and having gotten all my things together the day before, I was ready to drive. As usual, a dust storm swept in making the drive slow and unnerving but it added a bit of memorability to this escapade. Soon enough I was in a long line of vehicles snaking their way to parts beyond the playa. But it took less than 2 hours and during this time a beautiful sunrise adorned the scene.
After I made the first turn off going north, I felt the exhilaration of leaving Burning Man. Leaving behind the dust, the noise and my sense of un-belonging. A light drizzle fell as I made my way to my next adventure in southern Oregon.
My Inevitable Comparisons with the Rainbow Gathering
It feels odd or perhaps unnecessary comparing the Rainbow Gathering and Burning Man. But since I do so internally, I thought I might as well put these musings into writing. Most of this will not make much sense unless you have been to a Rainbow Gathering. And to state what will become obvious, I much prefer the Rainbow Gathering (even with its many flaws) and I suspect if a Burner wrote this blog, the favorability would be reversed.
The first Rainbow Gathering was in 1972 and has been held every year since. It is free, non-commercial event in a different National Forest in a different part of the country each year. It is an off-the-grid, wilderness gathering where people stay in tents and bring whatever supplies they need.
Before I go on, I want to state clearly that there is much about the Rainbow Gathering that I do not care for. I have been working at the first aid station (CALM) for the past 25 years and this is the main reason I go as I have learned a tremendous amount working there. The first aid station is a free clinic with conventional and holistic modalities working together. I have been bringing my Community Herbalism Intensive students to work there since 1994 and I find it an excellent opportunity for them to get hands-on supervised experience.
Something I did not expect from going to Burning Man is that it has made me more appreciative of the Rainbow Gathering. I hadn’t really thought of the Rainbow Gathering as a self-reliant event, but after going to Burning Man I can see that it is in many ways.
Both events are remote, though the Rainbow Gathering is in a different National Forest every year.While I wouldn’t call the Rainbow Gathering self-reliant it certainly makes better use of the local products from the environment than Burning Man, which is very reliant on manufactured items. Most structures at the Rainbow Gathering are built from local dead trees and the entertainment is non-electrified, Many people who come to the Rainbow Gathering set up camps to help each other; kitchens, water stations, first aid. It is far from perfect, but it seems much more neighborly than ‘radical self-reliance’ (and if you have to call yourself ‘radical’ are you?).
The Rainbow Gathering does leave a big footprint, which moves from the different National Forests it is held each year. This is most apparent where the cars are parked along with footpaths and fire pits. Since Burning Man is held in the ever-shifting playa this is less obvious. It seems important to note that there are nearly 10 times as many people at Burning Man. If 70.000 people showed up in the National Forest, it would be a disaster.
One thing both events share is people having special event names such as Crystal Luna or Sparklepony. They also both have a lot of ‘in-house’ jargon.
Burning Man and Rainbow Gatherings both have a lax attitude towards clothing, though the type of favored apparel is quite different.
Rainbow Gatherings likely have a more negative impact to local towns. While they both bring in money, Burners have more money and are less likely to be bedraggled spangers.
To me one of the most important differing aspects is about whom gets to go. Both events impose limits on who comes in different ways. Burning Man carries a much higher price tag, from entry tickets to providing your own everything. The Rainbow Gathering is free and open to anyone, but you have to be willing to rough it, no electrified comforts to be found (nor margarita bars). While at Burning Man one must have a way to shelter and feed oneself in the hot, dry, dusty climate.
Since they are both long-standing, both have groups of people who come together once a year to see each other, party and network.
They are very different events, one being much more of a spectacle than the other. Burning Man is more clearly an art show while the Rainbow Gathering is more of a back-to-nature experience. Energy consumption-wise they are also significantly different with the Rainbow Gathering utilizing a lot less than Burning Man.
One thing that surprised me was how few people at Burning Man had any experience using herbal medicine, which is very different than the Rainbow Gathering. This could just be whom I happened to meet, but it was noticeable. I wondered if it could partially be due to who has better medical access.
And for me personally, I missed being around plants. The Rainbow Gatherings are held in National Forests with abundant plant life for perusing and using for medicine. There seem to be more classes and opportunities for networking at the Rainbow Gathering.
On a last note here, a lot of this has to do with my familiarity of going to yearly to the Rainbow Gathering. Once one knows their way around a place, it often becomes more homey. And I admit to being one of those outdoorsy types.
Considerations and Conclusions
To state the obvious, Burning Man was not an event that enticed me. The main times I enjoyed myself was while practicing herbal medicine and the occasional nighttime playa bike ride. But if one revels in art, Burning Man may just be the ticket.
One of the reasons I am writing this is that I am not sure many of my friends would enjoy Burning Man, but as they are curious, I am supplying some of the (obviously biased) details.
One thing that particularly irks me is that Burning Man encourages ‘radical self reliance’ and yet there are many rules. I appreciate the idea of people taking care of themselves, but it seems to encourage a lack of community. On the positive side, Burning Man is not a marketplace and people offer goods and services for free. But rather than a neighborly sharing environment, each camp is self-contained. I realize that this may seem petty on my part but Burning Man seems to be radically reliant.
Driving Considerations: First, gas up in Reno or another large town before you get to HWY 447. The tiny town near Black Rock City has very long petrol lines. Have your tickets ready and be prepared for waiting many hours before getting in. Remember about the car search. Here is the list of contraband items. Note ‘Plants, living or dead’ (Well what about all the people bringing in Cannabis, food or spices, huh? Not that I’m feeling defensive at all about this).
Expenses: Besides the tickets, it does not necessarily have to be very expensive. If you go with a number of people, many expenses such a food, water, fuel or a vehicle pass, can be shared. The $400 I paid to stay with the Heebeegeebees was well worth it, especially for my first time there, as I did not have to think much about equipment and food. I would suggest this to anyone going by themselves for their first time.
Sleeping: With the dust, the wind and the noise it is important to have good sleeping arrangements. I slept in my van, which worked well for all three reasons. If bringing a tent, make sure that it is inside a larger tent to reduce the sound, dust and wind.
Dust and Equipment: The threat of alkaline playa dust is real at Burning Man. Any item that is outside and not protected will get impregnated with it. The dust offers some distinction to this event, but be prepared. Here are a few brief suggestions, there are many more thorough descriptions online.
A bandana or scarf and goggles are helpful to avoid getting dust in one’s face. While I enjoyed walking on the soft ground barefoot or in flip-flops by the 6th day large cracks appeared in my heels. I saw many people who had profound heel cracks and wearing shoes and socks help prevent this.
As far as technology, I would leave all tech gear in a vehicle and be cautious using them outdoors. I kept my laptop and similar devices in large zip-sealed plastic bags in a tub that had a clasping lid. I do not think that this is an over-precaution, the inside of my van became filled with dust each time I opened the doors.
After the event, I suggest taking your vehicle to a car wash that can wash the undercarriage and perhaps do it again later.
Links
- The official Burning Man website contains a lot of very useful information, and it makes for an interesting read.
- Thorough and readable description of the region where Burning Man is held
- Heebeegeebee healer camp
- There is no official Rainbow Gathering website, but this one has a lot of helpful links and information
