Floating in an Ocean of Insignificance
posted by Tara Eisler | September 14, 2011
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Icerocket“One must explore deep and believe the incredible to find the new particles of truth floating in an ocean of insignificance.”
-Joseph Conrad
I’ve always loved this quote by Joseph Conrad. I happened upon it by chance today and realized that at this particular point in time, it’s especially fitting for me. I recently returned from the dusty paradise called Burning Man and it’s been quite the whirlwind of emotional states ever since I arrived on the playa a couple of weeks ago, and ever since I got back. Over the years, I’ve heard many people say that Burning Man can be challenging and has a tendency to bring up people’s “stuff.” My experience last year (my first) was so idyllic and completely lacking in any sort of difficulty, I naively expected my return visit to the playa to be similar in essence. Well, let’s just say it was a good reminder of why we shouldn’t carry expectations. To sum it up, I had a challenging time at Burning Man, both physically and emotionally. Nonetheless, it was immensely beautiful and completely amazing and I’m grateful for every moment of the experience, especially because I shared it with some of the most awesome people EVER.
Burning Man can blow minds and hearts wide open, showing us the limitless possibility of human imagination and creativity, community, and how to embrace our uniqueness as individuals. It captures a broad spectrum of the human experience in a wildly imaginative and whimsical way, bestowing upon its participants a very unique gift: the ability to peer out into a completely new world with the childlike awe and wonder that comes with taking in something unforeseen and previously unimaginable. Most of all, it allows its participants a level of freedom that we simply do not have here in the “Default World”: freedom from the trappings of commerce, freedom to play and explore on our own terms, freedom from the bondage of schedules and time lines, and ultimate freedom of expression. It’s an extravagantly nonconformist experience that is simply like no other, and words fall short in trying to explain the grandeur of it.
It’s no surprise then, that after spending days in the middle of the magical Black Rock Desert with 50,000 fellow freaks who have shown up to march to the beat of their own drums and collectively create the unique reality that is Burning Man, coming back to the Default World is somewhat of a shock to the system. A little depressing, even. In the past week, I’ve found myself marveling at the ridiculousness of this greedy, capitalist society that we live in. It took everything I had not to laugh hysterically at the utter silliness of the concept of “work” in a staff meeting last week (“haha, if you people only knew where I’ve just been…). And it’s acutely obvious to me now more than it usually is, that we fill our lives with a lot of totally insignificant and unnecessary crap! Burning Man teaches you that you can be as happy as ever with the simplicities of food, water, basic shelter, good friends, a funky outfit (if that’s your thing), some amazing art to feast your eyes upon, and a furry bike for transport (an epic sunrise orchestrated by Lee Burridge & the Robot Heart is certainly the icing on the most delicious cake ever).
So, the Joseph Conrad quote has been particularly relevant in my reflecting on Burning Man because now that I’m back and fully immersed in the immediate contrast between the Playa World and the Default World, in many ways, it does feel as though I’m floating in an ocean of insignificance. The nature of freedom that prevails on the playa feels more true to me than the nature of restraint and conformity that prevails here in daily life. That is but one of many particles of truth that I’ve brought back with me. Thanks to Burning Man, it’s easy to believe the incredible and I’m filled with a lot of inspiration and a desire to keep as much of that magical Burning Man vibe alive in my daily life as possible. Now it’s time to explore deep to find creative ways to do just that…
Comments
don't forget that in the
— Sep 15, 2011
don't forget that in the default world, there is no food without work, and very few of us would live to subsist. Though beautiful, burning man is a fantasy, granted one I'd like to see leak into the real world, but a fantasy nonetheless. We would see who the true burners are when faced with a manual plow.
“An invasion of armies can be resisted, but not an idea whose time has come.”-Victor Hugo
"True burners?"
— Sep 15, 2011
As someone who works up to 40-50 hours per week and is a part time student on top of that, I most certainly haven't forgotten that work is a necessary part of life, Meg. The whole point of my contrast is to illustrate the "funk" that burners sometimes come back to the default world with, after living in such a beautiful world for a week, and to personally explore ways to bring more of that beautiful experience into manifestation in daily life. Part of that is the inspiration that is motivating me to move out of a situation where I have to "work" to sustain myself, and into a situation where I get paid for doing something I love.
So someone is only a "true burner" if they can operate a manual plow? Interesting...
I just found this post to be
— Sep 15, 2011
I just found this post to be a little idealistic and I do understand how it feels to come back to the default world. And no, I don't suppose many burners would be able to operate the plow. Party animals come in many colors, but one that is very common is lazy and loafer. That's all I'm saying.
Didn't mean to offend, I enjoyed your post and wish you luck back in the busy reality in which we live.
“An invasion of armies can be resisted, but not an idea whose time has come.”-Victor Hugo
No offense taken
— Sep 15, 2011
No offense taken, Meg, but I do feel like your comments contain some unfair generalizations – first of all, not all people who got to Burning Man are “party animals”. Second, I camped with a group of 30 friends this year, some of whom like to cut loose at Burning Man (you might very well call them “party animals”). Within that sampling of people you would find an attorney, professional photographer, a corporate executive, a professional counselor, some business owners, some finance professionals, a couple of professional designers, a bodywork professional, an owner of a non-profit, etc. In other words, all highly successful people, not lazy loafers in the slightest. And I’m sure if you put them in front of a plow, each and every one of them would figure out how to use it. :-) I’d say the “lazy loafer” type you described is the minority at Burning Man. It takes a lot of work and preparation to get there in the first place, not to mention the work involved in building a camp and being “radically self reliant” for a week. I know dozens and dozens of people who go to Burning Man each year, and NONE of them fit the profile you’re describing. I mean, all you have to do is go on one bike ride around the playa and the amount of work and dedication that goes into building a temporary city in the middle of the desert, and all of the beautiful art that’s displayed there becomes readily obvious. Anyway, I’m not trying to stir up an argument, I just felt compelled to challenge those statements. I do appreciate your responses. :-)
Oh, and yes, my post is idealistic. I’m idealistic. There’s nothing wrong with that, in fact, the world needs more of it if you ask me. :-)
“Evil is boring. Cynicism is idiotic. Fear is a bad habit. Despair is lazy. Joy is fascinating. Love is an act of heroic genius. Pleasure is your birthright. Receptivity is a superpower.”
-Rob Brezsny
Not to...
— Sep 15, 2011
..diminish, but I take a bit of an issue with the statement `a level of freedom that we simply do not have here in the “Default World”: freedom from the trappings of commerce,' in that out of my own desire to take in the Burning Man experience, once I checked out the fee to enter, the travel costs to get there, and the need to bring all of my own provisions (a difficult process since I'd have to fly most of the way there) well, to say freedom from the trappings of commerce is a bit dis-ingenuous. There seems ALWAYS a testicle's (pun intended) connection to commerce even when it comes to participation in any like event. . Hail to the `Burning Man'; truly the only free one in the crowd, for the rest it is just a moment, annual illusion of freedom from the `Default World'. (Just my opinion)
Commerce
— Sep 15, 2011
What I was referring to Naykd Poet, is that during the entire week at Burning Man, you don't have to deal with any exchange of money whatsoever (unless you need to buy ice) . There is a very interesting psychological affect that occurs (if you pay attention), when you don't have to think about money, bills, etc. for a certain length of time. It's like a huge weight is lifted off of your shoulders. That's what I was talking about. Sure, at this point, it may seem like an illusion, but it shows us what is possible, and people who attend BM leave feeling inspired to impact this stale, dysfunctional reality that we live in and make it more compatible with our fundamental nature as human beings.
Really though, your views on Burning Man are mostly speculation, seeing as how you've never actually been. :) (And for what it's worth, I think you should DEFINITELY go!)
U R probably..
— Sep 15, 2011
right..but I do know the exhilaration that comes from being out of the Default World by having traveled quite extensively living on a meager budget and free from the constraints of a 9-5 to survive as a preparatory to the manner in which I currently live ...pretty much at a chosen, subsistence level relative past and my current surroundings. I just see the whole `myth' of Burning Man as being at most just that: myth because, invariably, `most' attending are like yourself, choosing out of necessity, to return to the Default World. I don't suggest there being a `right' or `wrong' to all of this, I am just expressing my view on the matter.
