You’ll Find What You’re Looking For: An Ode to Burning Man

You’ll find what you’re looking for, simply put. Although there is nothing simple about this place. A place where the magic is created through passion, serendipity, altruism, challenges and beauty. That’s the short version.

The misconceptions of this place are vastly overdone. Will you find drugs? Yes. Alcohol? Definitely. Parties? Nonstop. Nudity? Absolutely.

However, this is not the purpose, the goal, the roots, the core – or whatever you want to label it as- of Burning Man.

It is far from, “That Thing in the Desert” that only hippies and drug addicts attend. If that’s what you want you’ll have one hell of a time, but if that’s all you’re looking for, please don’t come. Or wait. Be patient. Be ready. For now, save it for those for need it, who crave it, who understand, or are trying to understand.

If you’re skeptical about Burning Man I’m not trying to tell you not to go, in fact I encourage you to take that leap. Dive into the possibility of wonder and excitement; the journey of self-growth and discovery; the unforgettable experiences. I invite you to take that step, invest that cash, and indulge in the magic…. Expect you won’t indulge in it. You will at some points, but once you’re here you’ll realize that you ARE the magic. You are part of it. You have the chance to learn, inspire, and let someone pass on their knowledge.

That’s the beautiful thing about learning. We never stop. Even in teaching we gain new perspectives and insights. We question ourselves and have a conversation with someone who didn’t exist in our lives before. It doesn’t matter if it’s only for a moment.

Now, give me a chance to de-glorify this. This moment may be shared in 100-degree Fahrenheit (roughly 40 Celsius) heat with a whiteout dust storm while you’re waiting for a smelly Port-A-Potty. Get passed this.

You might have a conversation with someone while you’re waiting naked for a shower, or maybe your conversation may be comprised of your experience of not showering for a week in the middle of the desert. Who knows? But trust me… it’s worth it.

So, what exactly is Burning Man? I’ll do my best to do it justice.

It’s a city destined to be explored, a community waiting to be enriched and yearning to help those who seek it, a hub of love and mystery needing to be unveiled, adventure awaiting discovery, and more. From fun experiences such as Drunken Disney Sing-A-Long in the middle of the day on a Wednesday to deep emotional eye contact with a stranger, Burning Man offers something for everyone. Except, as I said, it’s not for everyone…. I can already hear the backlashes I will get from this comment.

I believe the Burn can serve anyone, but only those who truly want it. It’s for people who thirst to be free of judgement, to jump into self-discovery, to test their boundaries, challenge their beliefs, to learn, and want to give back. There are more reasons of course and you don’t need to experience all of these at once. The main point is that you have some kind of goal or mission. Even if you don’t know what it is exactly.

It’s absolutely amazing what you can come across. The Playa is a portal to possibility that is best suited for the open-minded to enter, will be best received by those who diligently search for improvement or development, and will be loved by all. But come when you’re ready. Come to go beyond the “limit”, to not only witness something extraordinary, but to be part of it. Come to endure struggles and learn what it’s like to be part of a selfless “society” and expand your comfort zone. I’m not saying you have to be spiritual, open to try everything, or never complain (trust me, I have done my fair share of that). Just come when you feel ready to take another step, turn another corner, do your best not to judge, to be the best version of yourself, and well… to be very, very dirty!

This is an extremely generic and simple explanation of what can be had at Burning Man. I scratched the surface on the overall experience without getting into personal details, the selfless art, the music, the people, or the workshops. You’ll surprise yourself. In a single day you may feel that the 10 hour wait in line, the ticket price, and preparation aggravation was well worth it. I can’t explain it to you, you have to do it yourself.

I can’t oversell it, it’s like the Grand Canyon. You can see hundreds of pictures, hear the stories, but it’s nothing like being there yourself. Come with no expectations but be ready to make the moves you need and desire to make. You don’t need a plan, just willingness. I dare you to take the step, start the adventure, inhale deeply, and unleash the possibilities. You’ll find what you’re looking for, even if you didn’t know what it was.

Then be ready. Be ready to take whatever it is you found and continue doing it, believing it, learning about it, sharing it. Take it beyond the Playa, spread it with joy and confidence, take on the challenge.