Hi there! This is Shuga coming at you from the Acculturation Committee for Ignition Northwest. This is our fifth installment of our exploration of the Ten+1 Principles of Burning Man: Principle 4: Radical Self-Reliance. This is coming a bit late, because, well life! So sorry ‘bout that! Better late than never.
As a refresher, Principle 4 – Radical Self-Reliance states: Burning Man encourages the individual to discover, exercise and rely on their inner resources.
Contrary to popular belief, this doesn’t mean that you have to do every little thing for and by yourself, but rather that you must invest your own time and energy in forging your path to the Burn and in the world. Radical self-reliance is a directional or aspirational stance, not a truly achievable status. In the context of Burning Man, sometimes that looks like taking it upon yourself to research all of the things you need to bring with you and sometimes it looks like asking for help from the right person if you can’t afford a piece of equipment you need. Radical self-reliance can and does involve cooperation and communal effort. There isn’t a human on this earth that does everything on their own.
“Each of us is responsible for ourselves and the shared experience that we want. There’s temptation within this concept of Radical Self Reliance to start defining things through selfishness or isolation – but a functioning radical self-reliance within a community is about independence and interrelatedness. Interrelatedness is based in a clear sense of self: knowing what you can and cannot, want and do not want to contribute and receive. From this place of the self that is steeped in community and the other nine Principles, all that you give is a gift; one that is free from the chains of obligation or expectation. It is not that any one person must do all things, but that each person really knows what they do and is responsible for bringing that to the community.” (Learning Radical-Self Reliance | Burn After Reading Magazine)
This principle is an important one for attending the Big Burn itself, because the Burn takes place in such a physically demanding, even dangerous environment. In order to enjoy and survive it, you must bring everything you need for a harsh desert setting with you. There will be no water stations, no food vendors, no trash receptacles and no merch. The only amenity provided is portapotties. Planning for this endeavor and then surviving it successfully can be an amazingly rewarding experience; it can prove your mettle and show you that you are stronger than you even believed. Or, if you didn’t exercise your self-reliance, it can turn into a nightmare (think heat stroke, skin sores, helicoptering to the nearest ER).
Attending the Burn takes many intangible things in addition to the tangible; things like physical, emotional and spiritual strength. Dubz, from Burn After Reading Magazine, reminds us that we need to plan ahead, and communicate with other members of our group or camp, to stay organized and be thorough, and spend dozens or hundreds of hours planning, creating, preparing, crying, building, emailing, bleeding, and packing. “When you are under pressure from this extreme environment, you need to recognize that you and only you are responsible for yourself and getting all of your needs and desires met. Freeing yourself and others from the illusion that someone else is responsible for your physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being is radical and essential for the Burner.” (Learning Radical-Self Reliance | Burn After Reading Magazine)
This is also one of the most controversial principles, because for about a decade now, wealthier attendees have been circumventing the principle by paying for so-called “plug and play” or “turnkey” camps, where a production company builds it all for them and they just show up to play. Some of these camps go so far as to provide costumes and pre-decorated bikes for their “members”. Most folks would agree that this doesn’t stand up to the Self-Reliance test and by operating this way, you miss the opportunity to be creative, to be challenged and to grow.
This all being said, Rosie Lila, writer for the 10 Principles Blog Series, has noticed a new trend happening with these turnkey camps. She states, “There are numerous examples of camps that have transitioned over the last four years — camps that started out as lavish, exclusive, bought party experiences for the camp members. This year those same camps were producing huge gifts for the playa: stages with live performances, dance camps, art pieces. Some of those same camp owners who a few years ago were just there to party are now asking, “How do we get our camp members more involved?” (Radical Self-Reliance and Rich People at Burning Man | Burning Man Journal) She reminds us that “Burning Man is a place to get your hands dirty — where you can learn new things, grow, and have fun while doing it,” and that while these camps started out in the wrong place, they are learning and growing into something better. As Dustin Moskovitz says, “Elitism in all forms distracts us from the truth of our common humanity,” (Radical Inclusion vs. Radical Self-Reliance at Burning Man | by Dustin Moskovitz | I. M. H. O. | Medium) so let’s not let Burner elitism get in the way of community and connection, growth and learning.
Rosie believes, and so do I, that as with so many things that come from a place of difference and fear, that we can solve this problem with education. Sharing our stories and experiences and leading with hospitality is frequently all it takes to change the world, or the ways of a wayward camp.
If you are interested in getting more involved in the community, check out the INW Get Involved web page at: https://ignitionnw.org/home/get-involved/. You can find all of the active committees and roles that you can participate in, including the Acculturation Committee.
Look out for our next installment in April, where we will discuss the Principle of Radical Self-Expression. See you then!
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If you’d like to explore the concept of radical self-reliance further, check out:
- Burning Man Journal: radical self reliance | Burning Man Journal
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