Shezbeth
29th November 2014, 04:31
I would like to tell you a story that comes direct from my own experience. The story is both literal and allegorical, and it is the allegory that I wish to share, but to do so I have to tell the story in full.
August, 2006 - Just outside Fernley, Nevada
I stood, as did approximately 40,000 people, observing the incineration of a wooden effigy. The place was Burning Man, and the ceremony where the man is set flame to had begun.
All around, there were people who stood motionless and transfixed, observing the spectacle. My view was meager and unsatisfactory by my reckoning, so I carefully and sneakily made my way through the crowd to the forefront.
Before I continue, allow me to indicate that - having been to Burning Man once before - I knew that it was inevitable that the crowd would eventually surge toward the man/flames, just short of making physical contact.
Continuing. This year, I noticed there was an increase in Rangers (individuals authorized by the Burning Man organization to ensure the safety of the participants), and they had a very distinct ring set about 100 yards out from the man. It wasn't cordoned off, but the rangers had their arms outstretched in a gesture to indicate they would physically resist any attempt to pass their outlined threshold. This was inconsistent with my experience, and had a preventative effect on the crowd.
Minutes went by, and I looked around to all the nearby observers. I could see the eagerness in their eyes, as I could feel it welling up inside me. Finally, I decided I had had enough.
I broke ranks with the crowd, in an all-out ninja-sprint. A ninja-sprint is similar to a classic runner's sprint, except the arms are kept low to the sides, and the head is lowered so as to make use of momentum and gravity, to lower the body profile, and make one more difficult to impede than otherwise. Darting past two rangers I watched some closer to the fire run toward me, and I was grabbed from the sides. The ranger immediately in front of me began shouting at me,... but I didn't hear him, transfixed as I was now on what I saw all around me.
Apparently, when I broke ranks with the crowd, the growing sentiment of (pardon the vernacular) "F--- this noise, I'm going" had reached a climax, and a wave (literally) of countless people had followed suit like dominoes. The entire outer ring had set itself toward the center in a cascade, all started by one obstinate ninja.
The Rangers who were set on stopping me - and did so - were powerless and unable to stop the progression of others, and didn't even try. In my peripheral and increasingly forward vision the crowd advanced all the way to the man, as once united in purpose there was nothing that those who were authorized to could do to stop them. Oh, they stopped me, but it was worth it.
Realizing that the individual was still shouting at me,... probably something about getting my passport (ticket) revoked; I still wasn't listening, but my arms were no longer being held (the others had ventured off to monitor the crowd). I held up my hands in a gesture of surrender to stop him, told him "You're right, I apologize," then patted him once on the shoulder and walked away.
I returned to touch the fire later, but for the moment my satisfaction at what had transpired was greater than I could have imagined, and far better than anything I initially intended when I first broke ranks.
Avalonians and guests alike; do not fear for yourself or the consequences should you ever feel compelled to break ranks and 'run toward the fire'. You may be surprised at who joins you, to everyone's benefit, and at the very least you'll get closer to the goal than you were. There were subtler lessons to the experience, but this was the salient point; even if 'they' stop 'you' they can't stop everyone, and 'you' may just be the catalyst that everyone needs.
Cheers!
August, 2006 - Just outside Fernley, Nevada
I stood, as did approximately 40,000 people, observing the incineration of a wooden effigy. The place was Burning Man, and the ceremony where the man is set flame to had begun.
All around, there were people who stood motionless and transfixed, observing the spectacle. My view was meager and unsatisfactory by my reckoning, so I carefully and sneakily made my way through the crowd to the forefront.
Before I continue, allow me to indicate that - having been to Burning Man once before - I knew that it was inevitable that the crowd would eventually surge toward the man/flames, just short of making physical contact.
Continuing. This year, I noticed there was an increase in Rangers (individuals authorized by the Burning Man organization to ensure the safety of the participants), and they had a very distinct ring set about 100 yards out from the man. It wasn't cordoned off, but the rangers had their arms outstretched in a gesture to indicate they would physically resist any attempt to pass their outlined threshold. This was inconsistent with my experience, and had a preventative effect on the crowd.
Minutes went by, and I looked around to all the nearby observers. I could see the eagerness in their eyes, as I could feel it welling up inside me. Finally, I decided I had had enough.
I broke ranks with the crowd, in an all-out ninja-sprint. A ninja-sprint is similar to a classic runner's sprint, except the arms are kept low to the sides, and the head is lowered so as to make use of momentum and gravity, to lower the body profile, and make one more difficult to impede than otherwise. Darting past two rangers I watched some closer to the fire run toward me, and I was grabbed from the sides. The ranger immediately in front of me began shouting at me,... but I didn't hear him, transfixed as I was now on what I saw all around me.
Apparently, when I broke ranks with the crowd, the growing sentiment of (pardon the vernacular) "F--- this noise, I'm going" had reached a climax, and a wave (literally) of countless people had followed suit like dominoes. The entire outer ring had set itself toward the center in a cascade, all started by one obstinate ninja.
The Rangers who were set on stopping me - and did so - were powerless and unable to stop the progression of others, and didn't even try. In my peripheral and increasingly forward vision the crowd advanced all the way to the man, as once united in purpose there was nothing that those who were authorized to could do to stop them. Oh, they stopped me, but it was worth it.
Realizing that the individual was still shouting at me,... probably something about getting my passport (ticket) revoked; I still wasn't listening, but my arms were no longer being held (the others had ventured off to monitor the crowd). I held up my hands in a gesture of surrender to stop him, told him "You're right, I apologize," then patted him once on the shoulder and walked away.
I returned to touch the fire later, but for the moment my satisfaction at what had transpired was greater than I could have imagined, and far better than anything I initially intended when I first broke ranks.
Avalonians and guests alike; do not fear for yourself or the consequences should you ever feel compelled to break ranks and 'run toward the fire'. You may be surprised at who joins you, to everyone's benefit, and at the very least you'll get closer to the goal than you were. There were subtler lessons to the experience, but this was the salient point; even if 'they' stop 'you' they can't stop everyone, and 'you' may just be the catalyst that everyone needs.
Cheers!