i have been leading a mad hatter existence lately, like alice, following the white rabbit down the hole with abandon.

as an avowed burner (someone who has attended the burning man festival in nevada 4 times and believes in the tenets that make these events so life-altering), i decided that i had to make an effort to get back to afrikaburn this year. i made it to the first AB for fewer than 24 hrs and since then work and shooting commitments have kept me at the 9 to 5, wait, let’s make that 7-7 grind. not this time.

my dear friend and cohort in creativity, verity, inspired me to hunt down sets of powerisers/skyjumpers (bouncy stilts) for us to costume and wear to the burn and though it’s been at least 7 yrs since i last owned a pair, i can’t begin say how much i enjoyed being back up in the air (once my trepidation abated after about the first 15 minutes or so).

with verity in our desert goddess/warrior garb at afrikaburn. photo by sally louw

this AB (which is a regional event connected to and based upon the burning festiva) feels a little like my first burning man – i feel revived and like i’m waking up from a very long sleep. yet again. since the burn i am once again hooping and spinning and even lighting up again for the first time in so many years. i’m even dressing differently – more like the sassy, funky, ferocious, feline who seems to have been in hibernation for a while. it feels like fuel has been poured on some unsuspecting dying embers and the firephoenix is once again rising from the ashes.

i loved the creativity required in getting ready for the “no spectators” event that is AB. i had to explain more than once to those who don’t get it, that anyone who goes to AB is a crucial part of creating the event, becomes a participant/performer and is the art/entertainment as much as the next crazy-costumed, walking artpiece.

2012 is purported to be the year of transformation. i think i’m ready!