My Burning Man Experience

I knew this was going to be an impactful burn because I’m going through many changes in my life right now. I just moved back to Cali, after 7-8 years of living in Denver, just a couple weeks before Burning Man. I had been ready to move for a long time and needed a change, but the last couple weeks I was in Denver everything seemed to be lining up, and so many great things were happening. I was reminded of all the reasons I loved Denver! I almost changed plans & canceled my move multiple times. I was so so sad to leave! But my move was very intentional, I needed to go back home for some grounding & clarity, to step away & focus on myself.

It’s funny… I didn't have a ride back to Southern California after Temple Burn so I walked around asking people if anyone was going back to So-Cal, but almost everyone I met said they were going back to Denver! I was like welp, maybe I should’ve stayed in Denver, then I’d have a ride home! I still didn’t know how I was going to get back home, but I made it to Reno with Patrick & the Dohr family. Then as we sat down to eat breakfast, I texted my friend Michael to see if he could give me his friend’s number who was going back to LA, & he tells me he’s still in Reno! So I ended up getting my original ride back home & made it back safe & sound!

My first burn was in 2019, I went with my ex. Overall it was an amazing experience, but it was extremely hard going with a partner when we were not exactly in tune. Our relationship went downhill a bit after that… & with covid things got pretty rough. I lost myself for a bit.

Ever since my first burn, I had been wanting to go back, but was waiting for the right time. The universe told me it was time! I knew going into this Burning Man that I was going to have to be completely self-reliant and independent. I didn’t have a man to help me do all the grunt work. So I bought myself my first tent! A great canvas Springbar tent. It weathered through all the conditions at Burning Man like a champ! But it’s big, heavy, & not an easy for one person to set up, (especially in the hot desert sun, with little sleep, trying to hammer your stakes down into the Black Rock City soil).

This burn was very different from my first burn, I regretfully did not get to explore quite as much as I wanted to, but got to experience more of the Burning Man culture and camp community. It was a crazy mud year, but you just have to roll with the flow when you burn and work together to get past the issues. Many of my friends who have been long time burners said this was the best burn yet!

I love Burning Man because you can meet so many successful people, many entrepreneurs, smart people, good people, people of all kinds. Being around that innovation and energy is what I needed to help me start to focus on my goals as a person, as an artist, and as an entrepreneur.

I learned that I can do anything I put my mind to! That I am strong and independent. I can climb a 30 ft tall glowing cube in platform boots! Or trudge through the rain in the sticky, wet, playa mud with trashbags on my shoes and a Red Rocks poncho blowing in the wind. I looked ridiculous as I wandered out by myself, but I ran into another lonely mud walker and he told me, “YOU LOOK LIKE YOU ARE AMAZING!”

If you are prepared by a long time burner you know going into it that it’s rough and shit is going to go wrong. But it’s all about learning how to deal with it, working through the rough times & embracing the beautiful parts. I think it makes you stronger once you get back to the real world & can help you navigate better through the rough times in your life. The culture & community is so amazing & the way people come together to build this incredible city in the desert is a one of a kind experience you can never get anywhere else.

The Temple this year was so beautiful. It had intricate woodwork with rose petals & lotus-like lanterns. When the temple burned you could see the flames through the wood rose petal lace. Temple Burn is extremely important to me. Some people may come for the party and the burning of The Man, but I really come for the Temple Burn. The Temple is a beautiful place where people leave memories of loved ones gone too soon.. or a place where you put things that you want to leave behind… or a place of love & gratitude. It’s a spiritual place. It’s so special to walk around and see people feeling their emotions without judgment, without feeling like they have to hold back. Each individual can be completely free to feel, express their emotions, overcome, let go, celebrate, whatever it may be… The Temple can be an extremely emotionally heavy place. But it’s real and comes from a place of love.

On our way back to Southern California, I was stopped by a man, who said, “Finally made it out of there huh!” I realized I definitely looked like I had been at Burning Man, as I hadn’t showered in 12 days! His name was Randy Smith. He shared with us that he used to hunt out in Black Rock City back in the 80’s and stumbled upon 2 guys & Toyota, who were talking about finding a new place to burn the man. He told them, “You are crazy! You are going to die out here.” He went back home & brought them some water and tarp, and that was the last he heard of them. This was the very beginning of Burning Man in Black Rock City!