Symbiosis Notes (written on site with no Internet connection.)

After the burn, there’s no better place to decompress than Symbiosis. I first came here in ‘07, hitchhiking from Earthdance, and had the time of my life.

This year I was offered the opportunity to vend the event as part of an agreement to sell merchandise for Alex Grey / Chapel of Sacred Mirrors. I knew going in that this would be both a great opportunity and a bit sad. Unlike last time, I couldn’t run around without a care in the world. I’d have to stay present and aware of the needs of the booth. On the flip side, I’d have the chance to strengthen ties with CoSM & also off-set the annual hole in my wallet left in the wake of The Burning Money Festival.

I had purchased a 20×10 car-port for BM with the purpose of using it for Symbiosis & any left-coast vends that I might be able to put together. After an all night trek into Yosemite, Sefirah & I hit the forest & slept just as the sun was coming up.

By mid-day Wednesday, we were able to scope out the land and were given what appeared to be a choice spot to set up our 20×10.

The week went well, but Symbiosis is primarily an art scene and a burner scene, not an orgy of consumerism, so sales fell far short of an avalanche of cash. That said, we had no trouble closing the booth when sales tapered and running off to see music ’til the wee hours.

And I made some exceptional new friends!

Perhaps my favorite new people are our neighbors, Adam Scott Miller and Amanda Sage. On the first day I overheard Amanda discussing the work of Ernst Fuchs with someone. I’d been introduced to Fuchs’ work by Phil Jacobson, my good buddy, spiritual advisor & one-time work study employer at Naropa.

Not only did Amanda know Phil well, she’d seen him rather recently. She and I shared laughs throughout the weekend, conjuring up images of bears sneaking on site wearing Symbiosis wristbands & ultimately being discouraged by the loud electronica. Bears, we decided, prefer bluegrass and would rather prey upon patrons of string summits.

– well, those are the notes I wrote at Symbiosis. I’m now riding with Sefirah to Earthdance. I can only pray it’ll be as joyous and beautiful as last weekend. Regardless, I feel so fortunate for this extended stay in the Pacific Northwest love bubble!

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