Burning Man 2006 [Black Rock City, Nevada] Canon EOS 20D w/28-135mm f3.5-5.5 IS Zoom

My 2006 Burning Man photos are up at Flickr.

This year turned out to be my best Burn yet. I arrived on the playa with the simplest possible intention: to be fully present in each moment, to be fully present with each person, and to be fully open to whatever experiences came my way. All week long, I did not make a single date, a single plan, or set my expectations on having any particular experience. Instead, I went wherever the playa breezes blew me, had the experiences the playa wanted to give to me, and loved every minute of it.

I am not sure I would have had this experience at all if I had not had that personal revelation at Shambhala (which I wrote about in my last post.) Without it, I would have went into this Burning Man feeling just as scattered and shallow as I was earlier this summer. Instead, I was open to a variety of possibilities and people, and made the most of each encounter. It was beautiful.

I am also glad I made the choice to camp with the Space Virgins. This camp really knows how to do it right. They work hard together and they play hard together, and they're almost always playing while they're working. They make running a big theme camp look easy, and manage to not only all leave the Burn as friends, but leave it as better friends. I had a fantastic time camping with them.

I also really enjoyed the independence I had this year on the playa. It's the first year since my first year, 5 Burns ago, that I've been single on the playa. Also, a lot of my closest friends didn't go to Burning Man this year, and most of the rest who did were camped far from me. As a result, I had almost no social obligation to anyone. My campmates were happy to see me if I was there, but no one was disappointed if I wasn't. So I got to spend my burn letting unseen currents carry me where they would. I did exactly what I wanted, when I wanted, with whom I wanted. Most of the time I had no idea what that would be until it was happening.

Burning Man always feels like New Year's Eve to me. I think it's the end of the Burner Year (or the beginning of the next Burner year?) This year's burn felt like closure to a circle that began at this time last year, and now I feel ready fully to engage in whatever comes next. I've got another year's experiences integrated into my spirit, and re-connected with my soul. And I remain as grateful as ever that I am lucky to be alive and well in a world of wonder and magic.

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