My late husband Joe always wanted to go to Burning Man and for a variety of reasons never did. My first Journey there was to leave the last of his ashes to burn in the Temple of Transition. That was 2011 and my experience was profound... The moment I first walked on The Playa... I knew I was hOMe. I will return every year.  I will return every year to serve The Temple. I will return every year to serve The Temple Guardians. 

As I tend to do, I jumped headfirst into the deep end. Beginning last year I am now one of the core organizers of The Temple Guardian Camp, we host the Guardian trainings and are a gathering place for the hundreds of Temple Guardians. I am also on The Temple Guardian Council. This work, this service, is my clearest answer to: Why do you go to Burning Man?
 
Who are the Temple Guardians? Here is the magnificent answer: 'Vision Weaver', Ian MacKenzie a film maker and Temple Guardian, created a beautiful short film... A love letter to The Guardians. It touches my soul and gives profound voice and vision to who we are. 

I watched the film several times through heart flowing tears, before I realized the person in silhouette, walking in front of the burning Temple of Whollyness... Is me. It is simply one of the most profound images of myself ever captured. Profound because of all it represents... Profound because of all the places it touches me so very deeply... Profound because it gives me a clear message from The Divine: 'You are on the right path'.

The Temple burns Sunday, the last night of Burning Man. Ten's of thousands of people sit in a huge circle, watching in silence. Hundreds of Temple Guardians and Black Rock Rangers create a perimeter to keep people safe. We tend the edges. They crouch down as the fire burns behind them, watching the crowd in front of them. Watching not the burn... Watching the burn reflected in the firelight of faces... The firelight of Hearts pouring open as all of it is released. 

Last year I was training as a 'Burn Quadrant Lead'. We are responsible to the Guardians and Rangers in our quadrant so during the burn we walk our quad, much closer to the fire, watching. That is what I am doing as I walk with fire in this film. Walking between the fire and the people. Walking between the fire of transformational release and of the human Heart, flowing wide open. Walking my path of spiraling Spirit.  

In Black Rock City, many people go by a 'Playa Name'... Setting foot on the bright white of The Playa, reveals everything. While many would give a different interpretation of what a 'Playa Name' means, for me, it reveals the clearest expression of my soul. On The Playa... I am Greywolff.

In little over a month (August 31st) 'The Temple of Grace' will burn after seven days of receiving what ever 60,000 people choose to leave there. I will again be walking a quadrant... Greywolff Dancing, my path of spiraling Spirit. Heart. Open. Wide.

I invite you to watch 'Dear Guardians'. He released it one week ago and it already has over 90,000 views. Sending huge gratitude to 'Dream Weaver', Ian MacKenzie for this love letter... To us all.


  

I am shaking the dust off my blog: ‘Greywolff Dancing’. What is it about? I don’t exactly know… We shall find out. I will observe & reflect as I wander through my multi-layered life. I will pose many more questions than answers. I am not seeking or offering knowledge, I am seeking the essence of being alive, the nectar. Heart, Spirit and the weaving web of connection. 

I have offered attempts at writing in many different formats in the past. I have tended to have two different experiences. One is I start and never finish or follow through because ‘It is not good enough’. The other is I never start because ‘It is not the right time’. I am done with this. If not now… When? And I am at a choice point in my life… I have been letting go of many things. Making choices. This leaves some time and energy for the next expression of my dharma (purpose in life) and writing (out loud) will be an excellent tool to dig deep and plant some seeds. I am excited to see what sprouts. 

I just arrived at Harmony Hill Retreat Center where I am faculty. Tomorrow I will begin three days of co-facilitating a retreat for people living with cancer. I am here with some of my closest friends in a place that sings to my soul. A perfect place to begin this journey. 

The attached photo’s are screenshots from a short film that was just released. This is me. Walking with fire. Agni Melee Purohitam. I surrender to the fire of transformation. More about these photos and the film in my next post… For now, a shower and my cozy bed that looks out to the saltwater is calling. Let it begin. So Be It. 

(Screenshot photo from the film 'Dear Guardians' by Ian MacKenzie)