Is Burning Man a drug?

Organgeboy · Post by **Organgeboy** » Sun Sep 12, 2004 10:50 am

I had the most mind-altering experience at BM this year (my second), a huge dive into the collective unconscious, and it happened on a drug that is not supposed to induce this, and I feel like it's STILL going on...

I went into the underworld for one. I thought I had died and gone to hell for a little bit there. The hell I found was both personal projection and a collective one (lots of stuff about how evil Bush is).

It seems to me that we go to Burning Man to flee reality. It's the same with all drugs.

Burning Man is the most amazing drug that I know of. But like all drugs, it has an addictive quality.

I don't have the strength yet to cut myself off from Burning Man; or better put, I don't have the faith yet neccesary that my life is where it's at, i.e. Burning Man is happening all the time and I can't quite buy it.

Basically this is the same idea that Jesus was getting at when he said something to the effect of "The kingdom of God will not come so that you can say "It's over here" or "There it is!" Rather, the Kingdom of God is spread over the Earth, and people don't see it"

Burning Man is spread over the Earth, and people don't see it.

We see here a parallel in John the Baptist, precursor to Jesus. He stayed out in the desert.

What did Jesus do? He brought it into the city and out on the road.

I'm not judging here. I'm just as afraid as everyone else.

(One thing to do would be to live on the streets for a while.)

Burning Man is like a ladder into a new reality. Or training wheels. At some point we're going to have to take them off, aren't we?

herpy hancock · Post by **herpy hancock** » Sun Sep 12, 2004 11:06 am

indeed it is - I have't left the playa yet -
will be here for another 8weeks - cleaning up
your drug induced MOOP!

Badger · Post by **Badger** » Sun Sep 12, 2004 11:24 am

Basically this is the same idea that Jesus was getting at when he said something to the effect of "The kingdom of God will not come so that you can say "It's over here" or "There it is!" Rather, the Kingdom of God is spread over the Earth, and people don't see it"

Burning Man is spread over the Earth, and people don't see it.

I think you need to go back and read your Bible(TM). This kinda chat is the very thing from which cults and talks of messianic figureheads spring forth.

You're being silly.

diode · Post by **diode** » Sun Sep 12, 2004 11:57 am

I find myself on the esplanade at times muttering to myself that there's no place like this anywhere on the planet, that this city is a remarkable invention of light, sound, creativity and community.

What a rush, BRC at night. Of course it's a drug of sorts.

diode · Post by **diode** » Sun Sep 12, 2004 12:03 pm

Organgeboy wrote:
It seems to me that we go to Burning Man to flee reality. It's the same with all drugs.

Maybe you do. When the desert whacks you once or twice, however, it tends to bring you back to here and now pretty darn quick or you start dying.

If you're 'hooked' on Burning Man, then you're doing it wrong. Think of it as spiritual boot camp. If you can survive this tempest in the desert with all its temptations, then your real life is going to seem easy by comparison.

Who would want to be stuck on a dry alkali lake bed permanently? It's beautiful, but yuck, what a pain in the posterior.

ccsallie · Post by **ccsallie** » Sun Sep 12, 2004 12:03 pm

Badger wrote:I think you need to go back and read your Bible(TM). This kinda chat is the very thing from which cults and talks of messianic figureheads spring forth.

You're being silly.

It'll be all right once you realize that BM is a cult and once you conform all will be well.

Here drink this vile of coolaide and repeat after me. "The man must burn, the man must burn..."

Badger · Post by **Badger** » Sun Sep 12, 2004 12:05 pm

It'll be all right once you realize that BM is a cult and once you conform all will be well.

I am protected by my bumpersticker on my car that says:

'There is no I in cult' followed with the BM logo.

mars · Post by **mars** » Sun Sep 12, 2004 6:20 pm

OrganDude,

Burning man isn't a drug, drugs are drugs. I've done enough to know they can have long lasting effects, so don't get fooled into thinking you are not still being affected by whatever you took, even if you think it did something different than it was supposed to--all trips are different.

Burning Man is an experience. And then there's Burning Man on drugs. Both are pretty trippy! Give yourself some time to integrate...and don't be surprised if there's a bit of a crash involved. Hate to be negative, but I've had enough experience to know.[/quote]

DVD Burner · Post by **DVD Burner** » Sun Sep 12, 2004 6:29 pm

ccsallie wrote:
Badger wrote:I think you need to go back and read your Bible(TM). This kinda chat is the very thing from which cults and talks of messianic figureheads spring forth.

You're being silly.
It'll be all right once you realize that BM is a cult and once you conform all will be well.

Here drink this vile of coolaide and repeat after me. "The man must burn, the man must burn..."

Well the BM Bible still has'nt been started yet.

Organgeboy · Post by **Organgeboy** » Mon Sep 13, 2004 12:18 pm

The experienced I had was cultish but it's not clear to me who the leader is. Am I the leader? Are you? Is everyone the leader of this cult called life? Is everyone a sleeping hero in this collective reality that we've de-mythified to the point of our apparently imminent extinction?

All I know is this: something of cosmic significance is happening out there in the desert.

It will take balls for me to go back. It will take balls for NOT to go back.

Either way, courage.

Is Burning Man a drug?

Is Burning Man a drug?

certainly is . .

Re: Is Burning Man a drug?