Burning Man Story: A Magical Encounter on the Playa
I have been a part of the Burning Man community for a long time. Most of my friends are burners, and I really embrace the lifestyle that encourages acceptance of people exactly as they are, giving without expecting anything in return, being your true self, enjoying the moment, taking responsibility for yourself, and being a part of a community.
A true Burner is one who is that way all the time, regardless of whether they are at the Burn or at home.
Still, the Playa – which is what we call the location where the event takes place – is a harsh and unforgiving place, yet magical at the same time. It changes people simply because they come.
The story I am about to tell happened in 2021, on the Playa. That year, the official event was closed, but my friends and I felt the Playa calling, as did 20,000+ other people gathered for the unofficial “Rogue Burn.”
The Covid days were kind to me; I had already been working from home for a while, I was in a relationship with a wonderful man, and had a strong support system of family and friends. But just like many people, the shock and the strangeness of the Covid situation made me want to re-evaluate my life.
I wondered whether the choice that I made to leave corporate to be in an untraditional profession was the right one. Whether what I did really mattered, whether the unseen world of energy really existed, or was it a figment of my imagination. I wondered whether I was deluding myself by thinking that love is what heals and that it is possible to live a life that is not about what you do but about how people feel when they are around you and you around them.
At least that’s what I was telling myself I was doing. Looking back, I see that the whole Covid situation impacted me at a much deeper level than I gave it credit for at the time. I did not realize that I had developed anxiety and depression, that I was getting lost within my own mind, and that I needed something or someone to snap me out of it.
Although I did not understand what was happening to me, the universe did, and it sent me help in the most magical way.
-II-
I knew something was up the moment I saw a group of two women and two men come into our camp.
They all looked to be in their mid-twenties; one of the men walked slightly in front, the other three followed. I figured the three were here either because of him or for him.
The man leading the group said he was looking for someone that he could talk to about energy healing. Our camp’s name was Desert Healers, we offered Energy Healing, Reiki, Sound Healing, Breathwork and other healing modalities. He figured he would find a healer here.
My campmates advised him to go speak with me because I am a professional healer.
After the usual introductions, the man sat on a pillow facing me. He looked noticeably nervous; he was clasping his hands and shaking his foot.
His friends arranged themselves behind him, occasionally giving him a supporting touch or a silent look of encouragement.
“It started out as a regular flu that traveled up my spine,” he began his story.
“The virus attacked my brain, putting me into a coma for six and a half days. I was out of my body. I was in another world. I was not planning on coming back into my body; I was fine where I was. But I love my mom, and I knew she would be devastated if I had stayed.
When my mom put her hands on my heart, I felt a jolt of energy, and that was what brought me back into my body.
I opened my eyes and saw my mom looking so sad. I did not want her to worry, so I told a joke… and then the pain came, so much pain I cannot even describe. But despite that pain and the long recovery that took years, I am certain that I had made the right choice.”
“What was it like up there?” I asked.
He let out a breath, his shoulders dropped, his foot stopped twitching, his whole being seemed to exhale, and a smile appeared on his face.
“Imagine having everything you would ever want or need, except you don’t have any needs or wants.”
“Like apathy,” I asked.
“No,” he said as his eyes moved up and to the right, his smile widening, and a dreamy look appearing on his face.
“Not apathy. Harmony.”
He told me about what he saw up there: corridors, elevators, tables, people, beings…
He gave me a glimpse into that beautiful space, one that he willingly traded for the pain and harshness of this world only because his mom loved him so much, and he loved her and did not want her to be sad.
“You know, when you are young, you think that you have your whole life in front of you. You can do things that make you unhappy today, knowing that tomorrow you will be happy.
I now know that there may never be tomorrow. Life may literally end at any moment, it had for me.
I no longer have the option to wait for happiness,” he said.
“I have to do things that make me happy right now. This means I have to be happy at my job and in my relationships.
I also understand that relationships are two-way, you have to give and receive equally.
And you have to give up the pressure of having to be perfect and of expecting others to be perfect.
You should try to do good, but you don’t have to be perfect. You should not put so much pressure on yourself. It’s okay to fail. You will fail from time to time. Don’t be afraid of that.”
We spoke for a bit more, and then I asked him why he is looking for someone to talk about energy with and how can I help him.
“My mom placed her hand on my heart, her love went into me, that’s why I came back,” he replied.
“I figured, perhaps I can do that for other people too. I have been testing my theory. I would put my hand on my friends’ hearts and send them love. It seems to make a difference every time.”
He wanted to know more about energy healing, how to know he is doing it right, whether there are any precautions he must take or things he should keep in mind.
I tried to answer his questions the best I could.
But it was not my advice that he came actually for.
What he was truly seeking was to be seen. He needed to share his story with someone who would not only listen and not only hear but also be present in his journey. He needed a witness so that he could re-ignite that feeling of love he felt when he was up there. A typical person, caught up in daily concerns and focused on survival, does not have the capacity to truly understand the depth and beauty of his experience. Only someone who is connected to the spirit world on a daily basis can truly understand those feelings and experiences. I gave him what he needed.
But he was not there just for himself. The universe had sent him to help me. I needed to get out of my head, stop doubting myself, stop questioning my life and be reminded that love is indeed what heals. I needed to stop obsessing about my nonexistent problems and do what I do best – connect with another human and become a witness to their soul’s journey. I also needed to feel love. Not romantic love, but the love of the universe – the love that he experienced when he was out of his body and the love that I felt when he shared his story. He gave me what I needed.
Many people think that the life of an energy healer and psychic is about ghosts, angels, chakras, aura and other things that can only be seen inside one’s head. That’s just how it looks on the outside.
In reality, my work is all about the people. Being a healer is about creating a heart-to-heart connection with another human being and allowing love to flow between them.
Sometimes, though, no matter how hard we try, we cannot be there for another. There are times that we cannot even be there for ourselves. But that’s OK, we do not have to be perfect all the time. It’s OK to make mistakes. Relationships are two-way experiences and the universe will send someone to help us even if we do not realize how badly we need help.
This story and others like it are the real magic of Burning Man. It is why people keep coming back year after year to this harsh and unforgiving land.
⭐ Take the first step on your journey of self-discovery, healing, and living your soul’s true purpose. Schedule your one-on-one energy reading or energy healing session.
