I’m thinking about Burning Man because right now I normally would have been unpacking from my annual sojourn to the desert. Burning Man is a countercultural gathering of “Burners” that takes place in the Black Rock Desert in Nevada each summer. I attended nine years in a row until COVID. It’s an experiment in building intentional community. Participants are asked to abide by the Ten Principles which include radical inclusion, gifting, decommodification, radical self-reliance, radical self-expression, communal effort, civic responsibility, leaving no trace, participation, and immediacy.
These ways of being result in a place where anything is possible. People dare to be kind and giving of themselves. They let their hair down and pay attention to what is right in front of them at the moment. This results in a spirit of play. Adults need permission to play, unlike children who do so naturally. It is incredibly revitalizing to allow your brain to explore the possibilities of play. At Burning Man you might climb a 50 foot alligator, interact with a roving robot, ride a 10-foot rubber duck, or go roller skating in the middle of the desert, all in one afternoon! What a delight…
People take risks and experience joy. Perhaps they try on a new persona and experience different reactions than they would in the real world, or what Burners call the “default world.” This allows them to have transformative experiences through play. This kind of play is actually good for the brain. We know that due to neuroplasticity, the brain continues to change throughout life. Play really gets those neurons firing and new connections are built. We need to keep building pathways between neurons that are born of positive and enjoyable experiences. Whatever you can do to encourage more lightheartedness in your life, it will do great things for your brain.