"The label you give yourself cannot impact external forces that are not motivated by your own psychology or influenced by a third party's pre-existing consciousness of you. We are all presented with reasons to struggle which come from completely external forces; to pretend that one is not struggling is either arrogance or an admission of defeat. To admit that one is struggling is a sign and a source of strength." - Evan A. Baker

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Away From It All


I am taking a vacation, ya'll!

I am so excited: I am going to Burning Man again this year. And as a part of the Superfriends Theme Camp (7:30 and Fun - Come say hi!!) the Boy and I are going early to help set it up, and staying after the end of the event to help tear down.

Burning Man is so incredibly great because of all the interactive art and the music and the....you want to see ten reasons why everyone should go to this thing at least once in their lifetime? Okay!

The Ten Principles Of Burning Man

Radical Inclusion
Anyone may be a part of Burning Man. We welcome and respect the stranger. No prerequisites exist for participation in our community.
Gifting
Burning Man is devoted to acts of gift giving. The value of a gift is unconditional. Gifting does not contemplate a return or an exchange for something of equal value.
Decommodification
In order to preserve the spirit of gifting, our community seeks to create social environments that are unmediated by commercial sponsorships, transactions, or advertising. We stand ready to protect our culture from such exploitation. We resist the substitution of consumption for participatory experience.
Radical Self-reliance
Burning Man encourages the individual to discover, exercise and rely on his or her inner resources.
Radical Self-expression
Radical self-expression arises from the unique gifts of the individual. No one other than the individual or a collaborating group can determine its content. It is offered as a gift to others. In this spirit, the giver should respect the rights and liberties of the recipient.
Communal Effort
Our community values creative cooperation and collaboration. We strive to produce, promote and protect social networks, public spaces, works of art, and methods of communication that support such interaction.
Civic Responsibility
We value civil society. Community members who organize events should assume responsibility for public welfare and endeavor to communicate civic responsibilities to participants. They must also assume responsibility for conducting events in accordance with local, state and federal laws.
Leaving No Trace
Our community respects the environment. We are committed to leaving no physical trace of our activities wherever we gather. We clean up after ourselves and endeavor, whenever possible, to leave such places in a better state than when we found them.
Participation
Our community is committed to a radically participatory ethic. We believe that transformative change, whether in the individual or in society, can occur only through the medium of deeply personal participation. We achieve being through doing. Everyone is invited to work. Everyone is invited to play. We make the world real through actions that open the heart.
Immediacy
Immediate experience is, in many ways, the most important touchstone of value in our culture. We seek to overcome barriers that stand between us and a recognition of our inner selves, the reality of those around us, participation in society, and contact with a natural world exceeding human powers. No idea can substitute for this experience



And that is why it is such an amazing thing to participate in; the huge loving community that embraces you- the REAL YOU - and let's you be who you are meant to be. Living the life of a Struggling Actress, constantly being barraged by rejection and unemployment, Burning Man represents a type of class-less utopia. Where everyone hugs instead of tugs, where everyone giggles and rolls on the rugs, and you come home feeling refreshed, re-energized, and reinspired.

So I will see you after the Man burns, where it will seem like a new year.

And the Boy and I will celebrate the one year anniversary of me saying yes to his proposal. One of the best engagement stories ever, if I do say so my-biased-self.

See you in September!
<3

4 comments:

  1. Have a blast! I have to say I'm jealous. Every year I think..this year I'll go. And of course....don't. I have several friends who go every year that are part of an aerialist troupe and perform there, others who go for the jam sessions and the music. Maybe someday.

    From what I've been told, for artists it's the best way to "recharge" being surrounded by so much creative energy and so many simpatico souls.

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  2. Have fun, Lira! Already looking forward to your 2011 Burning Man stories! xx

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  3. Have an amazing vacation! Your engagement story is so touching!

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  4. Burning Man made to the New Zealand news! Hope you're having a blast!
    http://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/5534686/Burning-Man-celebrates-25th

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Play nice.