🔥 👨 Why I go to burning man, tips for next time, and the bowline knot

Hello from a coffee shop in Vancouver, British Columbia. Summer is coming to an end and it’s time for me to share insights with whoever it may resonate with.

I went to my fifth burning man and got stuck in the mud with everyone. If you didn’t see the international news, 70,000 people including myself were ordered to shelter-in-place after unexpected rains made the road unpassable in the Nevada desert.

This may seem like yesterday's news but luckily I don’t work at a newspaper and can share when it feels reasonable.

Given all the publicity, I’m going to write this for my friends who are burning-man-curious and are wondering what the event is all about.

Regarding the alarmist headlines, this would have been a disaster if this was a normal festival where people were stuck and dependent on vendors to buy their food and water. In the case of Burning Man, there is nothing for sale and the attendees go prepared with a week of their own food and water. They even carry out their own trash and “leave no trace” which is one of the core principles.

This leads to the question of why people go. Most of the news will highlight the more obvious and surface-level hedonism. I’m going to share an alternate angle.

• Creativity: It’s a place where instead of going to see famous musicians, you’re encouraged TO BE the art. There is music, but this is not a music festival. The people you meet are their own art projects. After making a connection with someone you may receive a gift from them. I love witnessing and being part of this. This past year I packed a Polaroid camera and I’d take portraits and gift them to people I’d make meaningful connections with.

• Challenge: Burning Man is difficult and brings out the best and worst in people with lots of highs and lows. You bring what you need, and when you arrive you’re in an inhospitable desert that has dust storms, dehydrates your skin, and tries to freeze you at night. The cool part of it (at least for me) is I interacted with amazing people - political organizers, scientists, CEOs, emergency doctors, and leaders in all fields. I love seeing effective people go at it. I even volunteered next door for a shift running the steambath. YES, people work at Burning Man. It’s a recommended part of the experience.

  

• Connection: There is a website to check how many of your friends are going to Burning Man. This year I had eighty friends going. That means eighty people that I may want to spend quality with, who don’t have their cell phones, who put their away-from-the-office autoresponders on, and who are there to experience and connect. Plus all their friends they brought this year. I don’t know anywhere else where I can get quality time with that many people I know in one short week. It would take me months of coffee chats. For someone who loves connecting and meeting people, this alone makes it worth it.

  

• Collosal Climable Art: Burning Man is an interactive art museum where you can climb and play with anything (at your own risk). It’s the closest thing to a playground for adults if the Las Vegas strip isn’t for you. I usually spend the first day roaming around exploring all the art on my bike. It’s different every year, and what’s made of wood gets burned at the end. Most notably, the sculpture of “the man” where the festival gets its name.

Having said all that, Burning Man certainly has its dark sides and it’s particularly easy to make fun of.

While it’s a “leave no trace” festival and there is no capitalism or cash exchange during the week, there is an insane amount of Amazon and Walmart purchases that happen before that are then all thrown away. Another gripe I have with it, is that those without their own culture, can sometimes adopt burner culture as a full-time identity and talk about it a little too much. Lastly, I used to be annoyed about the lack of ethnic diversity, but this year, after a five-year absence, I was pleasantly surprised. My sense is the organizers are slowly trying to address the issues they can.

That’s my take my scoop for those who haven’t been. I don’t think it’s for everyone and it’s hard to describe. Maybe you’ll just have to try it for yourself….!

I stitched together my first Instagram reel with the scattered video clips I managed to take that can you a more visual feel.

alfred_megally

A post shared by @alfred_megally

🗒️🗓️ Tips for myself for the next burn

I don’t go every year, and I tend to forget, so I’m sharing a few tips for myself for the next time. I’m sharing them with you below. This isn’t a replacement for all the guides - it’s more of my personal addition.

• Timebox your planning so it doesn’t take over your life

• Camp with people that you want to get to know better, if you can. If that’s not available, don’t overthink it, and be part of a place that you can trust and lovingly contribute.

• Go with a couple of best buddies (or find them when you arrive) but take time to explore on your own.

• It’s okay to go with an open mind to check things out, but it’s better to go with a strong intention and let it evolve and shape your own experience.

• Follow your instincts and don’t chase repeating experiences. Every day is brand new.

• Take time for yourself and journal a couple of notes each day.

• More practical: Make your bike unique and easily spottable from a distance - you may lose it. Make sure your bike lights are not defective before you get there. If you can bring an e-bike, you should do it!

• Drop in early and learn from everyone! What are challenging experiences trying to teach you?

The Bowline Knot

For those of you bored or uninterested in the burning man talk, I have one little but mighty piece of content for you.

The Bowline Knot. It’s called the “King of the Knots” and I can’t believe I didn’t know about this earlier. One of its best features is it’s easily untieable after you put weight on it. Perfect for hanging an autumn hammock between two trees.

Thanks for reading! Hope you found something interesting. See you next time!