Foreword

Burning Man is not a festival.

I couldn't start this book with any other phrase. I had to put it right here, at the very beginning, to remind you: Burning Man is not a festival. What is it, then? Every person finds their own answer to that question.

But what is this book about? Let me explain.

This isn't a survival guide. There are plenty of those - they'll tell you how much water to bring and what sunscreen to use. This is something different. This is about how to actually experience Burning Man. How to let it in. How to not waste seven days in the desert doing the same things you'd do at home.

Before you start reading, there's one vital rule you need to know: don't build expectations. Not about this book, and certainly not about the Burn itself. It's easier said than done, but it's the truth. Burning Man is wildly different for everyone. My experience is my experience. Your experience will be entirely your own. Nothing ruins the Playa faster than having a picture in your head of how it's supposed to be. If the reality turns out even slightly different, it will shatter your experience. Do not build expectations about what should or shouldn't happen. Be as radically open as possible to whatever comes your way (within reason). If you do that, you're going to be fine.

These 25 principles were born from real burns, real mistakes, real magic. Some of them will make sense before you go. Most of them will only click when you're out there. Read them now. Read them again on the playa. And then throw this book away and live it.

This book started as a gift for Olexi Malytskyy, who taught me his first ten principles. After my first burn, I started adding my own observations. After my second, the list grew to 25. I'm sure after my third, there will be more.

What began as a thank-you to Olexi - my gratitude for this incredible experience he opened up for me - eventually grew beyond a personal gift. When the content crossed a certain size, I decided to share it with the world. So I shaped it into this format, and I hope you'll find it useful. Just know that everything here is based on my own two burns, my own observations, written for newcomers by someone who was one not long ago.

* Actually, it's a temporary metropolis dedicated to community, art, self-expression, and self-reliance. But you'll figure that out.