Who’s Got Your Back? Teamwork at Burning Man

How often do you get to work with folks that you know you instantly ‘belong’ with—a group that is so strikingly ‘comfortable’ you feel you can call them FAMILY?

Our team at Burning Man is just such a group of people for me. I’ve traveled there with three different groups over the years—Spirit Dream Camp from Streams (my training ground), Freedom Lounge, and the last two years and now this year with Encounters from Redding, CA. Our groups grow and multiply, so every year it is like a huge family reunion for me!

Each year, we spend over a week together, rubbing elbows in close quarters, sleeping in tents, cooking, eating, and serving together in a ‘testy’ environment of dust, heat, 24/7 blaring music. Meltdowns are few as everyone comes prepared to put their own needs on a back burner and to serve each other and the other burning man participants.

We are from all over the USA. Most of us don’t know each other as we plan our camp throughout the year.

With a team of ‘strangers’ coming together, you organize, communicate,, and trust for the best for that week of close togetherness. I mean, how many people are willing to schedule a trip or vacation with people we don’t even know?

Our team is always divinely orchestrated. From the very beginning of everyone’s arrival, we quickly get to know each other and cooperate together, each finding our own niche as team players with individual ‘specialties’.

Everyone pitches in. Camp set up and tear down is quite rigorous in the heat and dust. Meal preparation and cleanup, and everything in between—requires everyone’s willing cooperation.

Everyone’s unique abilities quickly fire up. We have ‘barkers’ or greeters—folks that are welcoming and bring people to our tent for encounters. Some teammates specialize in give healing momma or daddy hugs that bring tears. Others have the ability to see into hearts, to speak truth to what hurts. Others sing, lead drum circles, cook for a crowd, clean up and organize, fix bikes—it is all needed to make everything come together. Our camp abounds with creativity, seer gifts, dance, song, art, music, and spiritual depth to boot.

We laugh a lot. A sense of humor makes everything go smoother. Some people really have the knack to help others lighten up. And sometimes things get so tense, a good belly laugh is the instant remedy.

Also, folks back home paved the way by continually supporting us with their sacrificial offering of funds, time, and many, many prayers. They are with us on the playa, too.

Folks that visit our camp routinely tell us that they ‘ love our energy’. They feel the unity and love among our team and they come stay, often bringing their whole group to join us for dinner, S’mores, or for encounters in our tent during the day. People safe and accepted in our midst.

A mature team that covers each other with honor and a watchfulness and an anticipation of each others’ needs–is a priceless, rare treat these days.

I always return home from our team experience at Burning Man feeling stretched and sharpened in my own abilities, lovingly in awe of the special folks I get to serve with, and so very grateful for the common bond of Spirit we share that brings peace and unity in such a tangible way.

Please consider helping our team with a financial gift.  Click on www.Destiny Dreamz Partners . Thank you!