Messages From Beyond

[Mister Orb]

My first year at Burning Man was 2002. I believe my mother sent me a message from beyond the grave my third night there.
Here's what happened.
I'd heard of BM on TV and in magazines. I knew I had to go. Then I met a great group of people at my local watering hole. They were many-year veterans. They steered me to the website, said I could stay at their theme camp, and introduced me to other burners in Salem. I was hooked.
I didn't have enough money to get my ticket that first year. I asked my mom if I could borrow $150 for my ticket, and I would pay her back after I received my tax refund. At the time she was dying of cancer, but we all still had hope. She loaned me the money, I got my ticket, and she was as excited as I was when I explained what it was and what it could be.
When it became clear that she was loosing her battle with the disease, she told me not to pay her back. She just wanted me to go and have the time of my life. She died February 7th, 2002.
At her funeral, I recited Bilbo Baggins' traveling song:
"The road goes ever on and on,
down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the road has gone,
and I must follow, if I can.
Pursuing it with weary feet until it meets some larger way.
Where many paths and errands meet.
And wither then? I cannot say."
That poem embodies the spirit of adventure my mother approached life with.
And as a way of saying farewell, I recited the later version, when Bilbo is old and knows his adventure will be over soon.
"The road goes ever on and on,
down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the road has gone.
Let others follow it who can.
Let them a journey new begin, for I at last with weary feet,
will turn towards the lighted Inn.
My evening rest and sleep to meet."

With the money my mother left to me, I bought a car to get to Black Rock City, my supplies: water, food, shelter, toys, blinky lights, ELwire, whippits, recreational substances, etc. I was ready.
I arrived on the playa with my new friends late Sunday night, about 11:45. We started to set up camp.
In the morning I was overwhelmed at the scope of the landscape, the dry heat, and the incredible colors and sounds springing up everywhere. My friends said, "This is Monday. Wait 'till the week-end!" I was in shock and only left camp alone the first two days to visit the porta potties.
On Wednesday night my curiosity would be denied no longer. I had to GET OUT THERE and see more. There were lights and sounds in the deep playa beyond the Man that demanded investigation. I loaded up with water, lit up my ELwire staff (yellow wire helixed around wood) and set out.
I wandered around from artwork to artwork, islands of light on a dark sea of dust. One installation kept catching my eye, deep greens and blues like an underwater grotto. But I kept getting distracted by lights and sounds from Black Rock City itself, until finally I decided I had to see this thing. It looked to be about five minutes away. I set out for the deep-sea lights.
After twenty minutes I stopped for water and a rest. In another fifteen minutes I was close enough to see what appeared to be a giant clam surrounded by different colored balls. When I reached the art installation, I said to myself, "Ah! An OYSTER! With pearls of wisdom!" for I could see writing on some of the lighted balls. I wandered around the site, enjoying the soothing reds, blues, greens, and purples, not bothering to read anything. Suddenly I felt an overwhelming urge to read the message on one of the pearls near the center. There, backlit from within:
"The road goes ever on and on..."
A message from my mother.
My knees went weak. I sat cross-legged by that pearl for twenty minutes crying tears of joy and sadness. Joy because I felt her there and felt her approval and encouragement. Sadness because I missed her and couldn't tell her about my wonderful experiences at Burning Man when I returned to Salem. Experiences I never would have had if she had not given me the money for a ticket.
Thanks, Mom. Couldn't have done it without you.

[Badger]

Well, that sounds almost like Santa Claus.

[philosopher]

I think it is beautiful when things align the way Mister Orb described. I think for some of us, Burning Man gets us enough out of our normal attitudes and preoccupations that we perceptibly open up more to the energies that generate synchronicities and things like that.

It all becomes one amazing gift if you just let it give itself to you in its own ways and you keep on giving in yours.

*** Merry Christmas!! ***

[dragonfly Jafe]

A beautiful story that brought a tear to my eyes...BM (and life) is always like that - if only we take the time to wander and truly experience what is presented to us.

[Mister Jellyfish Mister]

Thanks, Orb. Good on ya.