Weeks later I am still cleaning sand out of everything—my clothes, the car, my body. The reverberating techno beats lives in my bones. I danced to it daytime and it danced me at night. The costumes I wore are now folded and put away til I find my way “home” again.

The smells, sights and sounds of time spent in the desert at Burning man are rather stimulating and intense. I am smiling. Deeply happy from the experience of my first “burn”.

In typical Blair style, I didn’t do a lot of research—just knew it was something on my bucket list for a long time. There was always the responsibility for getting my kids set on the first day of school that kept me from moving forward. This year all of them are on their own. This year was the year.

So, when I learned that there may be a ticket via a circuitous way, I grabbed it. But it would require trust. I thought yes—how fun. Would all those moving pieces would fall into place? The ticket, the park pass, the camp. OK… yes, please! I want to go but not be one of those “takers” In the spirit of the week, you engage, work, contribute.

Helping with an art installation and/or deconstruction would give me purpose and be part of an existing camp where there is food, shower, and community offerings I resonate with.

I connected with the Moonlight Collective and assisted with the Prairie of Possibilities, a deep playa installation with hundreds of glowing tufts of grass.

I figured I would learn a lot by observing and helping out when needed. Get the lay of the land and be more involved as I learn what to do and not do. Next time, I am ready to offer Reiki sessions.

I had to navigate through lot of projection—isn’t this a large drug and orgy fest? I’m worried about you…..

What if it is one of the most brilliant examples of radical self expression and artistic creative brilliance? What if it is a week to be free of judgements and a place for mediation, dance, art making, yoga, high level interactions? What if it is a place to decompress—to be far from the daily pressures and demands of the corporate workplace, family and community? and and ride around on your LED decorated cruiser seeking shelter from the intense mid day heat? dance, grieve and move energy? without interpretation or concerns? It was all of that for me and soo much more.

Yes, you will find sex, drugs and rock and roll if you want to look for it but there is much to marvel at that is art in its highest expression. For me it was the most amazing week of magic and mystery. Maybe because I wanted it to be—maybe cause it just is and that is what brings people back year after year.

The desert dust is infamous. So much so, that newbies to this event are encouraged to roll in the sand at the entrance gate because.well,… it’s just a matter of minutes before one is intimate with it. 80,000 from around the world come to the barren openness of Black Rock City to join fellow burners as attendees are referred to. No logos allowed.

Burning Man— a city created out of nothing and a week later taken down to nothing. 80,000+ people arrive by car, bus, plane or RV to participate in the creation and the deconstruction of a city. A city complete with a post office and camps that offer art, mindfulness workshops, and food. From the sacredness of the Temple and the memorials within to the exotic wild dancing generated by the DJs atop giant mutant vehicles. Every flavor of adult playground filled with swings, trampolines, merry-go-rounds and more – accessible only by bikes on an ever-increasingly bumpy playa. A city approximately 7 miles from one point on the radial set up to the other.

There is no money exchanged once one has a ticket. No cell service, no wifi, a welcome escape from The Default World.

Day one, I saw a man at one of the entrances to the Temple, and he says to me “Welcome home!” Then the tears come. Why, I wonder. It hit a nerve. Somethings just can’t be explained away. Some things have to be experienced. Not everyone has a good time there. It brings up a lot in a harsh environment, but for me……. it was worth every cent!!! It fed my curiosities and soul and the memories still live within me.

Many thanks to Susan of Magnanimous Pictures for the amazing light painting photography!