And so it begins — the journey to find yourself by losing yourself… in self.

That’s how my first Burn started: not with a rigid plan or a list of expectations, but with a half-formed idea and a full-hearted yes.

Despite months of planning, packing, prepping, and scrambling to find tickets (ever try scoring one of 40,000 tickets with 80,000 other hopefuls? It’s not for the faint of heart), the actual decision to go to Burning Man was surprisingly easy. Our friends said they were going, and we said, “we should go too”.

Looking back, I realize that this yes was more than a choice to attend a festival — it was an invitation to enter a temporary city where creativity, vulnerability, and curiosity are currency. Welcome to Black Rock City.

🔥 What Is Burning Man?

Burning Man is not a music festival. It’s not a retreat. It’s not Coachella, and it’s definitely not for spectators.

Held annually in the Nevada desert, Burning Man is a temporary city built by its citizens, guided by 10 core principles that prioritize radical self-expression, participation, and decommodification. For one week, you’re immersed in a world where everything is interactive, from giant fire-breathing dragons to art installations the size of houses.

And then, just as quickly as it rises, it disappears — leaving behind only dust and memories.

🌬 Why You Need to Show Up Open

There are thousands of packing lists for Burning Man — what to bring, what to wear, how to survive the Playa’s extreme temperatures. (Two sites I found incredibly helpful were burningman.org and jackrabbit.burningman.com.)

But what no one can pack for you is the experience itself.

You’ll find countless “what to expect at Burning Man” posts online, but here's the truth: the experience is yours to define. No one can tell you how you’ll feel in the Temple, what you’ll discover in deep playa, or what conversations will change you.

If you arrive with a script, you’ll follow it.
If you arrive with an open mind, you might just meet parts of yourself you didn’t know existed.

🌟 A Designer’s Playground (and a Soul’s Mirror)

As a designer, I’ve always been drawn to things I can interact with — textures, spaces, sculptures, forms that invite movement or presence. And that’s exactly what Burning Man became for me: one massive interaction.

I climbed on sculptures that lit up.
I sat alone in a temple surrounded by the grief of thousands of strangers — and somehow, it was the least lonely I’ve ever felt.
I wrote a letter to the universe in a tent filled with pillows, and candlelight.
I watched 40,000 people fall silent as the Man burned, and felt like he was listening to me.

Everything at Burning Man demands your attention. It doesn’t ask to be photographed — it asks to be felt. And when you meet the Playa with presence, you get the magic in return.

🧠 The Memory of Memory

Someone once told me that when we remember something, we’re not recalling the original moment — we’re recalling the last time we remembered it. That thought has stuck with me ever since.

Maybe that’s why Burning Man continues to evolve in my mind.
Every time I think of it, I remember it a little differently.

It’s not a destination you check off a list — it’s a mirror you walk through. One that reflects who you are in that moment… and who you might become if you let yourself burn a little brighter.

💡 Final Tips for Burning Man First-Timers

Pack thoroughly — but pack lightly. You need less than you think, and more water than you imagine.
Read all the practical guides — but let the emotional experience be a surprise.
Practice radical acceptance — of others and of yourself.
Take breaks — from the noise, from the crowd, and from your expectations.

And most importantly?

Go in with an open mind. Leave with a full heart.

Curious about what I packed for my first Burn? I’ve created a free printable packing list — everything I brought (and what I wish I didn’t). Drop your email below and I’ll send it your way. 💌