A Psychic’s Guide to Surviving Burning Man

For the two weeks around Labor Day, the Reno/Lake Tahoe area involuntarily becomes host to the annual event, Burning Man.

I am local to this area, and proud to call it my home.

The hubbub around the event is quite the spectacle. 

Sometimes I find it entertaining. Other times it pushes my boundaries and patience. 

Every year, I get caught in mad frenzy of last minute preparations at Trader Joe’s. I marvel at the loaded vehicles traveling to and from Black Rock Desert on 80, 89, 395. I am appalled by the trash left behind in our communities. For details, read this article from San Francisco’s SFGate. It will blow your mind!

For a bit of context, this is how the official Burning Man website describes the event: “Once a year, tens of thousands of people gather in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert to create Black Rock City, a temporary metropolis dedicated to community, art, self-expression, and self-reliance. In this crucible of creativity, all are welcome.”

Have I ever been to Burning Man? No.

Do I believe in the ideals of Burning Man? Heck yes I do!
In fact, I preach these ideals in my work as a Psychic Medium.
Community, art, self-expression, self-reliance?!
These are facets of life that I prioritize every single day.

For those Burner’s that respectfully manage their experience and their energy well, kudos! I am in full support of freedom of expression. Create, explore, share!

For me, tension with the event is created when I have to do more of my own energetic work as a byproduct of other people’s experiences. To be challenged in my daily life with increased traffic and congested experiences at grocery stores, gas stations, and other suppliers around town is one thing. For an event like this to have an impact on my psyche is a completely separate issue.

This Psychic’s Experience
Part of the allure of Burning Man is in the freedom received when the individual has an opportunity to self-express through art, culture, and community in an environment built to support such ideals. These are all high vibrational aspects. When 70.000 people have decided to match this empowering and stimulating energy, the stage has been set for the possibility of a spiritually enlightening experience. I’m in full support, Yahoo!

So much energetic possibility can cause instability if not properly managed. To evolve from an enlightening experience as a whole spirit, one needs to posses the personal knowledge of how to allow the experience to happen in a conscious and responsible manner. If an individual does not posses such tools, the experience can become very unconscious and chaotic. The person may leave feeling fractured.

In my time at the Reno Psychic Institute, the week after Burning Man was a busy time. We were doing readings and healings for people psychically fractured from the experience. Our job was to help them get grounding and set boundaries to help them rebuild their space and connection to this Earth.

In my time away from Reno, I have had multiple experiences over the years where my physical and/or energetic boundaries have been crossed by those who have just left the event. Their need for validation as to the importance or of their experience, or need to communicate the overwhelming emotions just uncovered, or need to heal from a fracturing of their spirit, proceeded them. No one likes an energy sucker. I became an unwilling victim to their psychic attack, a fixer for their energetic poop. In all cases, I did not ask or invite interaction.

A Challenging Ripple Affect
In the big scheme of things, is this irritability I face every year around Labor Day a big deal? No.

However, the lack of boundaries and lack of respect for the environment and other people, are symptoms consistent with unconscious chaotic energy that is plaguing our world right now.

That is a big deal.

We all need a little support from the ripple affect of this event, and the larger crisis of personal energy management.

So, after 7 Burns, enough is enough.

I need a Survival Guide.

A Burner’s Energetic Guide to Survival
To prepare for the powerful experience that is Burning Man, take some time before, during, and after the event to manage your self.

Before
Body: Powerful experiences expend a lot of energy. If I do 3 consultations in a day or meditate for an hour, I am starving afterwords. I just fed my spirit, now I have to feed my body. Prepare for this inevitability ahead of time by packing foods that nourish you. 
Mind: Take a meditation class ahead of time that teaches you how to create healthy boundaries and ground yourself to the Earth. Heck, take my class! Practice enough before so you can call upon these tools when necessary, and at a moment’s notice. Think that meditation doesn’t work for you? Ok. Then, find another tool that does these same things, these exact same things. 
Spirit: Do you have a (or some) beloved talismans that help you reconnect to yourself when boundaries get confused? Oracle or tarot cards, crystals, or the like? Bring them.

During
Practice all the tools you have developed before arriving at the event. Manage your space consistently and mindfully.

After
Before leaving, clean your energy out. Leave behind any energy at the event that is no longer a match to your highest good. Take your revitalized and inspired energy as well as your uncovered insights with you. Craft your space to be able to manage all this new information. With your tools in place, you will safely and comfortably integrate this new self knowledge into your life.

Having a hard time reintegrating? Understandable, sometimes big spirit steps can rock our foundation. Do something about it. Don’t just vent to anyone who you think will listen, or who you have cornered into listening. Find a support group, or finally sign up for that meditation class. Don’t give up on all that good spiritual information acquired. Do your future a favor now by taking care of the powerful knowledge acquired.

A Local’s Energetic Guide to Survival
Pretty simple, go to your calendar right now and block out the two weeks around Burning Man. Get your groceries, car washed, and other shopping done. Plan for fun events at home or in your local community. Maybe take a vacation? Go to the places people are coming from, it’s not going to be crowded there!

If irritation develops during hallowed week, strengthen up boundaries. Realize this is a temporary experience. The Black Rock Desert is the keeper of an event many consider sacred. Give them the space to have it, to level up in their life in their way. I always appreciate when I am given a similar energetic offering.

Fueled by a Desire to Create a New Normal
Thankfully, we are seeing more value being placed on the freedom of self-expression and self-actualization, and I love it! Burning Man catalyzes this energy helping some change their lives in inspired new directions.

For others, Burning Man acts as a chance to experience this freedom without any commitment. It is a romantic notion I have heard from some, “For that one week a year I get to be who I really want to be.” To those, I challenge their vision of reality. I ask them to step into their spirit more, adjust their life so it is better balanced with their authentic needs. Prioritize self-expression and self-actualization, be a champion of it in their community. It is of no use to the world when this beautiful high vibration energy is championed only when it is convenient and safe in the community of 70,000 others who are also in agreement.

Visions of Hope
I appreciate Burning Man for the opportunities it creates in personal expansion within community. It is a truly beautiful thing. Heck, I am even open to possibly attending some day (with energetic tools at hand). This psychic’s wish is that this intense energetic shift was taken into account by all participants, creating a truly inspired experience that would have a ripple affect positively influencing all corners of society.