For me, I like that it is still small enough that we can have a “community talent show”. I am always astounded and amazed by the beauty that continues to manifest in phambly new and old. I can listen to techno and have lights in my home or go to a club or house party for music. But the people are why I keep going back. The moving art that is the interaction between their energies constantly fascinates and intrigues me. But art and beauty are in the eye of the beholder.

The Blueberry Patch is a lot of fun and certain a nice recycled art venue. Glad to know that you have gotten to visit there. There is a lot of beauty in varied pockets all over. But the most beautiful I have found have been inside.

May you find all the things that make you smile and fill your world with delight…

Curry

As I said, after I thought about some of the ‘things’ you said I could see why the event may have seemed so low key so to speak. I realized with there being so many virgins all at one time that the ‘normal’ energy of some past events was likely diluted (for instance by lack of costuming).

I wasn’t referring to you learning the history of BM, I was referring to any/all people new to any ‘culture’ having the responsibility to learn it’s ‘rules and history’.

Now, before anyone wants to flame me, let me clarify further. I LIKE virgins. I like virgins who come ‘in’ all wide-eyed and who WANT to become a part of what we have. It’s the people that come in with no respect that annoy me.

We are all new at one point. It isn’t a virgins fault if they don’t know proper behavior BUT that does not relieve them of the responsiblity to learn what proper behavior is and to act respectfully until they know what is proper and that was my point.

Walking into a private camp area and picking up a plate with a steak on it, isn’t proper. Walking into a camp and ‘hunting’ for a trash can to throw YOUR trash in isn’t proper. Did these people do this to be ‘jerks’? Probably not, but what it means is they need to be educated on what a burn is and what is proper. That’s a hard task when the majority are virgins!

On a side note, I was thinking about it today and one theme camp run by a couple of friends of mine was missing at PreHeat because they weren’t in attendance this go round. The camp is called the costume cabana. Too bad…more than ever we could have used it out there to get people out of their ‘street clothes’!

Matthew, as far as any Florida history, how about if you stop by the Purple Passion Palace at AfterBurn and we can have a ‘face’ conversation? I’d be happy to chat more in depth with you “in person”.

As is the case with most ‘history lessons’, it’s sometimes complicated, sometimes simple and quite honestly, sometimes just filled with ‘drama’. Learning the ‘history’ of a culture or a group of people isn’t just something posted to a website, it’s a process. People ‘share’ with others only when they get to know them on a personal level and develop a sense of comraderie and trust. I hope that makes sense.

See you at AfterBurn…or perhaps before. Watch the FL-Chat list there’s impromtu meetings, dinners, parties, etc. posted there…sometimes on the spur of the moment!

Until then, keep the Fire Burning,
Samaya~

Lady N Sain – thank you! I may not have a problem occasionally putting a foot in my mouth, but I also work to pry it back out as quickly as possible. I appreciate you pointing me toward the Burning Man chat group, I have no idea how I overlooked it. I hope you enjoyed my Who I am.txt

I’m still missing that Hannah Montana CD.

m’s last blog post..In what will be the first of many

As I said in my initial post, everyone is entitled to their opinion and also that perception is key. I’ve had a lot of conversation about this in the past few days which has helped to clarify my own thoughts.

Funny thing for me but my latest mantra to several people lately has been learn the history, learn the history. When we go to school, we learn American history and world history. So to when I went to BurninMan, I learned what I could about BM history. To me, it was fascinating reading. Try the book “This is BurningMan by Brian Doherty” if you haven’t read it.

Then there is the personal Florida history which I hold very, very close to my heart. There are some extremely ‘passionate’ burners here in Florida, if one can ‘define’ burner any more and if one can find them in the midst of the influx of so many new people.

There are those who feel the pain of so much new ‘influx’ at once that it seems to sometimes delete the original ‘mix’ so to speak.
IMHO, there are some folks who just hear about a ‘great party’ and come, having ‘no idea’ of what ‘it’ is all about.

When they come in ‘small doses’, they can be mentored, councelled, coached, educated…but when they come in droves, that ‘job’ becomes difficult to impossible.

Some people obviously don’t ‘get’ that not all food in all camps is for everyone and you don’t just (literally) walk into a camp, pick up a plate with steak on it and walk off as if you are entitled to it because ‘everything’ is free…no commerce. THAT is not what it means. Or others don’t get that you don’t just walk into a camp and throw your trash in a garbage can sitting inside a ‘theme camp’ area…and the list goes on.

What you witnessed Matthew was a huge influx of (virgin) people, who I hope if they come back will learn what ‘burner’ events are really about and ‘get it’, but with the size of the growth, I just don’t know so we’ll see.

Until then, I go to these events, I enjoy them but that is becuse I stay mostly inside the “Nirvana” my camp mates and I create. A camp of those who I consider ‘passionate’ and who ‘get it’ in the midst of the outer mayhem…

We were ALL new once…but being new gives one the responsiblity to learn the ropes. Is it a ‘newbies’ fault that they don’t know? Of course not. It is not their fault, but it is their responsibility to learn the history and the culture just as it would be if they were moving to a foreign country…

Best Regards,
Samaya~

m’s last blog post..In what will be the first of many