What Happens At Burning Man Stays At Burning Man

…Or Does It?

Photo by Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash

Describing Burning Man is just as simple as explaining quantum physics to a newborn — nearly impossible. Every burner’s experience is so unique, so different… I can only share what it was like for me this time, a single account of over seventy thousand experiences of those who went.

This year was my fourth Burn. The first was in 2004, then in 2006, and then I took a break to have kids until 2022.

Now that I think about it, I could write a short book on what it was like. I am not in the mood for that right now, so I will only focus on these three highlights: visiting the Temple, visiting the Bouncy House, and visiting the Orgy Dome.

The Temple

The Temple is a beautiful structure built of wood, different every Burn. Most people go there to process something, to say goodbye to people, emotions, situations, pets, and things in their lives, or to pray. Of course, some come by to look at the art — it’s astonishingly gorgeous. I went to the Temple twice: once with my friend and once with my husband. My first visit was quite anticlimactic. It was early in the week, and I wasn’t ready to let go or process anything. I looked at the photographs and signs on the walls, the people there, and the beautifully built temple structure and left. I…