The Burning Man Mindset

[DesertFish95]

Burning Man sounds like quite a daunting adventure to the new and unsuspecting virgin burner who is anxiously counting down the days for their first trip to the dusty desert playa. Last year was my first burn and the memories of trying to mentally prepare for everything and nothing all at the same time are still fresh in mind.

Wondering if anyone out there has any stories about how they mentally prepare for Burning Man now, or even for the first time they hit the playa.

Any long-time burners out there remember what they were thinking or expecting the very first time they ventured to Black Rock City?

[Ratty]

Desertfish95, Welcome to ePlaya. Why don't you pop on over to the 'Greeters' thread and introduce yourself. Imagine you just walked into a room full of strangers. (Which you did.) Would you open with, 'Tell me me your deep inner thoughts'? It sounds like we're part of your thesis.

Where do you live? What department was your favorite volunteer job? Do you camp alone or with others? Which art car made the biggest impression on you? How did you handle the heat? Are you a tent or an RV person? Etc....Great to meet you. Welcome to eplaya.

[some seeing eye]

There is no way to mentally prepare. But the fewer distractions of missing or misplaced camping equipment, clothing/costumes and supplies the better.

[Token]

I may be an outlier here, but the question does not compute.

What kind of mental preparation is needed to go camping?

I heard about it.
I followed it.
I bought the ticket.
I read and studied the survival guide which is fantastic and if followed more than enough to have a swell experience.
I went and had a jolly time.

The subsequent years were all about minimizing the necessities and maximizing the luxuries and excess.

Mentally preparing for a party just seems odd to me.

[FlyingMonkey]

I may be an outlier here, but the question does not compute.

What kind of mental preparation is needed to go camping?

I heard about it.
I followed it.
I bought the ticket.
I read and studied the survival guide which is fantastic and if followed more than enough to have a swell experience.
I went and had a jolly time.

The subsequent years were all about minimizing the necessities and maximizing the luxuries and excess.

Mentally preparing for a party just seems odd to me.

Shhhh you. I'm trying to find my Third Eye. I set it next to my Charka's and now I can't find it.

[torrey.smith]

I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.

Frank Herbert

[FlyingMonkey]

I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.

Frank Herbert

Nail'd it.

That's exactly what I do each first week of August & even though I make no other efforts to plan my burn it always seems to work out.

Then I order a shit-ton of blinky crap on Amazon & Playa magic does the rest.



-YMMV