Shasta Townsend has published a 3-part story at Elephant Journal based on her talk at this year’s Burning Man. Here’s a taster:
North Americans are the most over-weight, medicated, in debt and unhappy culture on the planet—and yet, we have the most wealth and resources at our disposal.
If we believe the myth that the more we have the happier we should be…then why aren’t we happy?
Most of us do not really seek more possessions but rather deep meaning and love.
We do not, however, love well; we neither receive, nor give, at a true heart level.
Instead we choose isolation, entrenched ideas and patterns, fear and self-preservation, when we long for deep connection, passion and love.
The rise in yoga, spirituality and events such as Burning Man reveal the deep longing within us for both radical self-acceptance and connection with others.
How much has humanity suffered because our personal fears kept us locked in our own prison? How much of our depression, addictions, sorrow and even wars, come from denying love?
The desire for love and connection is the deepest longing in humanity; it is calling in all of us.
But to experience a true connection and unconditional love requires vulnerability…and vulnerability is terrifying.
it’s thoughtfulness like this that engraves it into my head that i must make it to next year’s burn. I see so much and I’m so drawn to it but I let fear of every day life keep me from throwing caution to the wind and heading out to the playa with all these beautiful faces and loving hearts. Well next year, this will not be the case.