A gift. Something to give. Something to get. What’s your idea of a gift? I bet you look forward to getting a gift, right? How about giving a gift? Is that something you must think about, or are not sure about, or even don’t like? Well, how about looking at gifting in a different way.
The second of The 10 Principles of Burning Man is Gifting.
The second of The 10 Principles of Burning Man is Gifting.
Here’s how it is put forth by The Burning Man Project:
Gifting
Burning Man is devoted to acts of gift giving. The value of a gift is unconditional. Gifting does not contemplate a return or an exchange for something of equal value.
For me, this Principle made me rethink what gifts and giving is all about. This happened beginning in my first year going to Burning Man. For that year, I decided to make gifts that reflected something I liked and could make myself. So, I came up with the idea of making small miniature paintings that could be worn as necklaces. Each one of these was made of poplar wood slating, measuring a bit less than 2 inches square. I sanded each one, primes each with spray enamel paint and then painted various scenes, flowers and Burning Man ideas on each, using a magnifying light ring to get the detailed I wanted. I then attached cording to complete the necklace. In 2009, I made 50 of these. In 2010, I made 100 and in 2011, I made almost 200! Upon arrival on the playa, I gave out the necklaces to anyone who I came upon. In fact, I only have about 30 of these now...all the rest were gifted.
These gifts were given, as the Principle states, without condition. I wanted nothing in return. In fact, I wanted each miniature painting to be not just a gift of painted wood, but a gift of myself through the expression of what I enjoyed creatively – art, scenery, abstraction, flowers, and Burning Man itself. It’s in that expression that the reality – and beauty – of gifting comes out.
The real gift is that of what we ourselves give to one another! Every gift of ourselves should be given unconditionally, unselfishly and with caring and love. In fact, we should see ourselves and what we do in a positive way as a gift we can give every day!! Our lives and our good acts ARE a gift. Think about what gifts you have to give that are a part of you. Think about the value you can give not just to yourself, but to friends, family and everyone around you. What a better world we could have if we looked at each moment, each day in this way.
Below are just a few of the miniature painting gifts of self I produced.
Always know that Burning Man co-founder Larry Harvey wrote the 10 Principles in 2004 as guidelines for the newly-formed Regional Network. They were crafted not as a dictate of how people should be and act, but as a reflection of the community’s ethos and culture as it had organically developed since the event’s inception. Learn more about The 10 Principles and The Burning Man Project at: The 10 Principles of Burning Man | Burning Man
The Man burns in 33 days!!
Many of the miniature paintings can be seen on my Flickr site in two albums:
