Burning Man 2009
Last year my first Burning Man was transformative. I felt like I drove through a portal into a world of freedom, joy and creativity (see “Born Again“). This year (2009) I felt like I returned home, as in “where the heart is”. But this year I took ten burning man virgins with me, hosted a graduation party for the “Roads Scholars” and screened several movies. We bit off a lot to chew. But it tasted delicious.
Our 2009 Camp
This year our little tribe of Digital Vagabonds camped with our close cousins the TechNomads. Like me, these vagabonds at heart use telecommunication technology to make the world their office and playground. This year they hosted a very well attended workshop on how to become a Techno Nomad. For those who want to learn how technology can enable them to be “location independent” visit http://www.technomadia.com/links/links. I look forward to crossing paths with these Nomads on and offline.
Roads Scholars Graduation Party
This year we hosted a graduation ceremony for the first annual “Roads Scholars“. This past spring four talented writers were awarded “Roads Scholarships” to road trip North America during the summer and share their journeys online at Matador Travel.com and DigitalVagabonding.com. Their road trips converged at Burning Man where they “graduated” from Vagabond U.
The author of Vagabonding in America, Ed Buryn, acted as our honorary dean. Ed was appropriately attired in a tuxedo T shirt and briefs reading “Why am I God”?
Outdoor Movies at Burning Man
On Tuesday night during Bat Country’s “Hunter S. Tuesday” celebration, we sponsored “Gonzo Movie Night” with screenings of “Fear and Loathing” and “Gonzo – The Life and Times of Hunter S. Thompson”. Â Scotty – the “Magic Bus Tripsmaster“ and myself stirred up some live audience participation by re-enacting the insanity of Hunter S. and Dr. Gonzo. The Bats flocked to the screen and the insanity.
Wednesday night was “Evolution Cinema” in honor of this year’s evolution theme (see “The Evolution Trip” for more info). We showed cult classics that question our evolution as humans, including a new and challenging movie, Fierce Light – When spirit meets action, by acclaimed filmmaker Velcrow Ripper. In Fierce Light Velcrow Ripper, filmmaker and spiritual seeker, journeys through the world exploring what Martin Luther King called “Love in Action” and Gandhi called “Soul Force”.
Prior to screening Fierce Light – When spirit meets action, we screened “Humanity Ascending” with Barbara Marx Hubbard. This documentary features author and futurist Barbara Marx Hubbard and offers a vision toward our birth as a new humanity – Homo Spiritus.
After screening Fierce Light we showed Zeitgeist – the underground classic the banks don’t want you to see. Unfortunately it’s not your imagination or the drugs, the shadow government and banking system are really out to own you and the world.
After all this burning intensity in the desert we did some serious soaking. Right after Burning Man some of our vagabond tribe made it to the nearby Sierra Hot Springs to soak, unwind and relax after an intense burn. I’m a big fan of their brother/sister place at Harbin Hot Springs, which I wrote about as “Human Soup“.
We hope to see you out on the playa next year.
Be Well and Live Large, Pat the DV.
Now a word from Jack Kerouac who was apparently a Burner before Burning Man –
“The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars…” – On the Road
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July 17th, 2009 at 8:54 am
We are so looking forward to meeting you and the graduates at at Bat Country!
We also extend a warm invitation for all nomadic and vagabonded minded folks to stop by our camp for nomads, ‘Camp Nomadia’. We have over 30 nomads from around the world converging with us to be really ‘home’ for the week.
For more information on Camp Nomadia: http://www.technomadia.com/resources/campnomadia/
We’ll be hosting a series of ‘Nomadic Happy Hours’ for nomads, future nomads, wanna be nomads, past nomads, etc. to mix and mingle at. And we may even be hosting some nomadic themed workshops at the camp. Stay tuned!
See you on the playa!
– Cherie
July 17th, 2009 at 12:19 pm
Cherie, I look forward to meeting you and members of Techno nomad tribe. Digital Vagabonds and Techno Nomads are close cousins after all.
July 22nd, 2009 at 11:11 am
Heya…I was thinking of arranging a screening of my new film, Fierce Light: When Spirit Meets Action. It’s part two of a trilogy of feature docs. The next in the trilogy is called Evolve Love: The Meaning is Life. I’ll be filming for part three at this years Burning Man. I also have a short film, called Burn, shot at burning man 2001. Check out the website, and drop me a note if you might be interested in hosting a screening.
all the best
Velcrow Ripper
http://www.fiercelight.org
July 27th, 2009 at 4:26 pm
Velcrow, Wonderful to hear from you. I have great admiration for the fabulous work you are doing as a filmmaker and spiritual truth seeker in inspiring people to move beyond realization and into action. I know I have a long way to go to “be the change” I want to see in the world. While real change begins with each individual’s enlightenment, such enlightenment must be worldwide if we are going to find true peace within and without. I’d be honored to help you screen your movie(s) at Burning Man. I can supply all the equipment (projector, screen, audio etc). If you’d like to screen it during Wednesday night’s “Evolution Cinema” night, I’d be happy to make it the featured movie of the night. I’ll contact you via email to discuss such a collaboration further. We will also be taping at this years Burning Man for Black Rock TV. We’d love to interview you.
Be well and Live Large, Pat the DV
July 27th, 2009 at 11:32 pm
very neat
Mike
http://www.asthedustsettles.com
July 29th, 2009 at 11:38 am
I can’t wait to meet everyone at Burning Man! Thanks for the great opportunity, Pat!
August 18th, 2009 at 6:42 pm
Hey Pat!
Just wanted to let you know that we’ll be posting a ‘Technomadic Lifestyle Workshop’ from 3-4p on Thursday, followed by a Nomadic Happy Hour from 4-6p. Our intention is to wrap it up and encourage folks to meander over to Bat Country for the grad party (cuz that’s where we’re heading!). Please feel free to extend invites to anyone who might be interested in a class on the practical side of transitioning life to one of nomadism/vagabonding to attend.
Details of our events are here: http://www.technomadia.com/resources/campnomadia/
Camp Nomadia will be with Pandora’s Fix-it Shoppe, at 6:00 & DNA. Our events will be held in their lounge.
See you soon!
– Cherie
August 18th, 2009 at 10:02 pm
Cherie,
Congratulations on scoring one Hell of nice location right in the center but out of the immediate fray. While Bat Country is on the front row, they’ve put us Gonzo noise makers on the far end of the City/Universe near all the other noisy sound camps. I look forward to dropping in on your seminar and happy hour. I love the idea and I know it will be popular judging from the number of people who knock on my motor home and ask how they can break free. Glad to hear you’ll be coming for the graduation of the first official Digital Vagabonding U Class of 2009 🙂
August 19th, 2009 at 2:58 am
Hell yeah, can’t wait to see you guys out there. Our camp is pretty close to yours about 9:45 and A or B. Power to the semi-nomdic-techno-tribe.
Peace,
NinjaMind
August 21st, 2009 at 8:04 pm
Exciting Projects! Can’t wait! See you soon 🙂
August 23rd, 2009 at 4:01 am
can’t wait to pop some bubbly and toast the RS grads!
September 17th, 2009 at 3:39 pm
Love the pix pat! It was so nice camping with you, Kyle Kristin, Alanna, JoAnna, Ross, Ian, Sean and the Gals from Seattle. You helped make my first burn not only a journey I will never forget but also very productive!
Can’t wait to fuel the Black Rock TV fire!
September 23rd, 2009 at 9:07 am
Thanks again for everything Pat. My first burn was everything I never thought it would be and more. Hopefully we’ll cross paths again … somewhere on the road.
October 11th, 2009 at 6:51 pm
More awesome pics! Can I get some jpgs from you to print for my own personal use? I sadly only ended up with one roll of pictures- but a hippie made me feel better when he reminded me that taking pictures can get in the way of really BEING the experience, and I had to agree. Still- next time I’m taking rolls and rolls! Thank you again DV…I will treasure our experiences.
August 31st, 2010 at 9:16 am
I wish I could go!! Bring burning man to South Africa:) This looks like the wildest party ever! Burning man rainbow
July 4th, 2014 at 2:54 am
Are you guys going to be out there again this year?
July 4th, 2014 at 2:56 am
For the 2014 Burn, are you guys have a Playa presence?