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JOSHUA JONES
It's part of the radical inclusion principle.
"Anybody who wants to be a part of the com
munity can," Allen said.
Most regional burns operate, like Burning
Man, on a gifting economy. No money is
exchanged at a burn. You bring everything
you need???radical self-reliance???and if there's
something that you want, you trade for it.
And "leave no trace," or being ecologically
aware of your carbon footprint, means taking
all of your trash with you.
Besides the 10 principles, the one thing all
burns have in common is the ritual burning of
an effigy or similar analogue at the end.
Fiery Festivities
All around the cozy cabin in the woods
on Nov. 2 was warmth. Flickers of red, yellow
and green danced overhead. A traffic light
hung from the branches of a tree, which also
had a tree house in it. To the left sat a mon
ster truck-size tire, repurposed as a fire pit,
between a couch and two recliners. A picnic
table sat in the center of the cleared area.
The main performance area, set up for
burners to showcase their skills, was eguipped
with about half a dozen full-sized mirrors
propped against the trees at the edge of the
tree line. And a metal-barrel bonfire provided
an ignition point for the pyro-artists.
Their tools came in many forms: staves,
fans, poi and rope darts, based on an Asian-
style weapon consisting of a rope (between
three and five feet) with an ignitable dart
attached to one end. Flames roared around the
burners, inches from their faces, their bodies
and their very flammable hair as they rhythmi
cally danced with the fire. It was so much to
see???almost sensory overload. The surprises
came gradually, like tasting a new food for the
first time. An aroma, an initial burst of flavor
and a welcome aftertaste.
The venue, known as Fatality Farm, sits
in a secluded nook in southeastern Athens.
"I tell people there's a dead guy buried in
the woods," Tyler Glenn, one of the hosts,
deadpanned.
Deeper in the woods, Glenn's brother had
what he called a "fire installation" set up.
Down a pathway from the main performance
area, in the middle of the woods, there was a
tent with smoke rising out of the top. Inside
the tent was equivalent to the heat of a bon
fire. Flow did he achieve this? Flames bloomed
like a flower from the ceiling. The tent had a
double roof that allowed for exhaust to escape
from what was essentially an upside down gas
stove. It was a see-it-to-believe-it kind of
moment.
Back at the main circle, Allen set a dragon
staff aflame. The staff was connected to five
fire points on each side. Two X's lay on each
side of the pole with a single point protrud
ing from the middle of the pole. When lit, it
looked like two six-sided dice rotating on their
points.
Allen began waving the staff around like
a martial artist, then switched to contact
moves. Fie would hold the staff with his hands
Comiftg Dowfi
In day-to-day life, Russell said, people
have to put up "barriers" that don't allow us
to fully experience life. "At a burn, you kind of
get to let go of those barriers," he said.
While it may seem all fun and games, peo
ple who've attended even just one burn will
tell you that the experience has changed their
lives significantly. "People can have trouble
adjusting back to the real world after being in
such an intense environment that is so differ
ent from their nine-to-five," Glenn said.
At Burning Man, a place called the "playa"
is where the action happens. And "post-playa
depression" is a real risk for those who go to
burns. Fatality Farms hosted a come-down
event, Depressurization, earlier this month,
which is meant to act as a "speed bump" to
slow people down and help them readjust from
the regional burns, Glenn said.
Around 10 people (out of the 50 or so
who attended the anniversary burn) were still
there when the sun started to come up. The
burn lasted all night long. The closeness was
as strong as Thanksgiving dinner with fam
ily. Burners don't believe in handshakes, only
hugs. A lot of them are hippies at heart.
Raiana Heinz with a glowing hoop.
above his head, let the staff roll down his
arms, neck and back, only to spin or twist to
keep the staff flowing fluidly and constantly
in motion. The dragon staff whipped around
his neck, transferred to his arm and then
wrapped around his body like a hula hoop.
Several burners took turns sharing the
circle, spinning poi and playing with other
fire toys. The mirrors reflected each burner's
astonishing spectacle, providing multiple per
spectives and, in some cases, even perplexed
the performer.
Burners are more than just the odd cos
tumes, the crazy hair, the wild philosophies
or playing with fire. The hosts prepared food
for everyone. The burners sat around the fire
and told stories about their personal journeys,
catching up on each others' lives since the
last burn or last time they met. Newcomers
got to know each other in a way they can't
during a drunken conversation in a bar. Real
connections. They're home.
David Schick
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JOSHUA JONES