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“Tomorrow Today” Burning Man Reflections

February 2026

This one took a while. Only 6 short months, but who’s counting?

Burning Man was not an experience I ever thought I would, experience. I generally don’t like festivals. Too many people. Too many drugs. Too much chaos. Too loud for too long. As an HSP (highly sensitive person), festivals are way too intense for my nervous system. However, my dear friend and business partner Dan, had it on his bucket list, and decided this was the year he was going, and he wanted all of us, the Symbio leadership team (Christian, Wesley, Roxy, and me) to go with him. There was certainly some hesitation initially. In addition to my aversion to festivals, we have a LOT going on at Symbio and I wasn’t sure it was a wise idea. Also, it’s literally, the biggest, longest, loudest festival on the planet. I mean really???

My head was saying, “no way”. My heart was saying, “you’re going”. Dan sent us the 2024 Burning Man documentary. From start to finish, I had a visceral response watching it.

“Of course I’m going.”

What I moved through that week was equally one of the most challenging, and most inspiring experiences of my life. What I witnessed was beyond anything I could ever have imagined, and maybe I saw 5% of it. It is immense! The music, the art, the radical self-expression, the Love, the loss, the light, and the darkness. All of it, absolutely stunning.

How do they build an entire city to accommodate 75,000 people in a week-ish? And then take it all down, in a week-ish, without a trace? Unreal.

People are magical, miraculous, magnificent beings. The capacity that humans have to create the spectacular, inspired by wonder, and allow it to guide them, to build the “impossible”.

Breathtaking.

TAKEAWAY: Nothing is impossible. Literally nothing. This was a full circle moment for me, as Symbio was conceived on this assertion:

The impossible made possible. Thank you Rumi.

The very depths of me knows what we humans are capable of, but most humans are not living up to that capacity—no judgement, just observation—so mostly there was doubt.

Now there is no doubt. None.

Something that surprised me about myself, was how much I LOVED getting dressed up in expressive clothing and costumes everyday. I was honestly kinda dreading it, and I reflected on that feeling with genuine curiosity. It made me realize that I was still holding back parts of myself. Not fully expressing who I am because I might be “too much”, and concerned of what people might think. Well, what other people think of me is none of my business. So I am leaning in.

Leaning into my playful, feminine energy by literally decorating myself with clothing, jewellery, and makeup that made me not only feel beautiful, but also interesting, was incredibly freeing. So sweet. So juicy. So joyful. So, I have been bringing more of that into my everyday life, which can be challenging given that Symbio is a construction site, mostly calling for sweats and steel toe boots.

Since returning, over 6 months ago, I’ve noticed a significant shift in my energy, my thoughts, my actions, and the way I interact with others, as well as myself. The inner dialogue that used to sound somewhat doubtful, fearful, and condescending, now sounds encouraging, courageous, and confident.

There has also been a noticeable change in my mental clarity. Words and ideas seem to flow much more easily. I have more physical energy, and surprisingly I am less hungry. It’s a bit bizarre and I can’t quite explain why, but it feels like I am moving energy through me in a more honest and creative way. Life feels more intense, more amplified.

I would describe myself as a realist, not an idealist, but if I don’t have an ideal idea of what I want my life to look and feel like, who will? And if I don’t work toward that ideal, toward that “pie-in-the-sky”, toward that glory, who will? And if I don’t live this life to the fullest, and strive to see all the beauty and wonder of it, how will I feel at the end of it?

I want to get to “the end” knowing I did everything in my power to experience all there is to possibly experience in life. The good, the bad, and the ugly, as well as the messy, muddy, ecstatically, creative. I want to get there feeling euphorically spent from all of it.

And yes, there were some pretty challenging, painful, overwhelming moments as well. I felt quite sorry for myself for a minute, when my back pain flared up and I couldn’t ride my bike by the end of day one. Wondering how I was going to make it through the week. How I could possibly enjoy my time there? How could I see all the art and  people? How could I dance all the dances, to the incredible music that was flowing from everywhere? How would I witness all the sunrises?

Also on day one, I started bleeding, yes my period arrived, after 3 months of no bleeding, thank you perimenopause. I went into the RV and cried for 10 minutes, with my hands on my womb I asked, “Why? Why now?” And the answer came through very clearly, “Lean into your divine feminine energy. Honour your body and take the time you need to rest and land here. Don’t rush the flow of nature.” So I did. I thanked my body for taking care of me, and I lovingly told the part of me feeling FOMO, “I hear you, and we are going to have an amazing time, after we rest.”

I rested. I journaled. I read. I meditated. I sat in the sun and did nothing, which was particularly challenging. I also accepted an offering of Celebrex from Dan for the back pain, and if you know me you know what my “position” on prescription meds has been for many years. I realized that this was a tool, a resource that I had available to me, and I felt immensely grateful at that moment.

LEARNING: Don’t hold on too tightly to your beliefs, because you are likely one experience away from changing them.

I took the Celebrex. I felt better. After two days my mind and body were rested and ready to go. I never thought I would go to Burning Man. I made an uneducated judgement. I had no idea. In the same way that you can never understand being a parent, losing a loved one, going through menopause, or a divorce, until you have. This was another experience where the “student of life” mindset I have chosen to live by, proved that actively participating in experiences to learn from them, even from failures and setbacks, will ultimately result in more resiliency, joy, and a life that feels fulfilling and purposeful.

So I invite you to keep your mind open, keep your heart open, and strive to see the good in people. Together we can do anything.

So let’s DreamTogether!

Much Love,
Trish (Patrizia) Carriera
PS. If you wanna see some pics of my experience CLICK HERE FOR MY IG POST.

 

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Red Tent Agreements

• This is a safe and sacred space of non-judgement.

• We honour each person’s physical space and don’t assume hugging or touching is welcomed. It may not feel the same for us as it does for others.

• What is shared here is sacred and in confidence. We recognize it takes a great deal of courage and vulnerability to share in this circle.

• We do not share any stories that we have heard in this sacred space with others.

• We all hold space for one another through active listening. We do not listen to respond, give our opinion or give advice. “Listen” and “Silent” contain the same letters.

• When we are sharing in circle, we let each person speak until they are complete. We do not interrupt even when our intention is to help.

• This is a gathering of women who understand that holding one another with Love and compassionate regard allows us to create a world where we can truly thrive together – nature included.

With Love & Gratitude,

Your Sisters,

Trish, Teena & Liz

RELEASE OF LIABILITY AND ASSUMPTION OF ALL RISKS:
 

FIRST & FOREMOST: Your experience here begins in the heart. This is a safe, inclusive space of non-judgment. Guests and participants are expected to hold each other in compassionate regard, and to interact with each other with respect. The intention behind these guidelines helps to create a world where we can truly thrive together – nature included. Oneness consciousness is about being aware and mindful as to how we affect ourselves, others, the space around us and nature.

To organize and advance as human beings, we must first learn to take responsibility for ourselves, our actions and the impact we make on the spaces and individuals we interact with. A clear space within creates a clear space on the outside. Change starts from within.

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  3. ASSUMPTION OF THE RISKS. I recognize on behalf of self, spouse, heirs, estate and assigns the risk of injury from the activities involved in this program. I recognize that bodily injuries and/or death, can occur in sports or activities involving height or motion, the activities including but not limited to breath work, meditation, dancing, yoga, training routines, running, climbing, hiking and other physical exercises, and may be caused by terrain, facilities, temperature exposure/changes, weather conditions, forces of nature, civil unrest, condition of participants, equipment, breathing exercises, lack of hydration, injuries inflicted by animals, insects, plants, vehicles, or other factors. While particular rules, equipment, and personal discipline may reduce this risk, the risk of injury still does exist. I KNOWINGLY AND FREELY ASSUME ALL SUCH RISKS, both known and unknown, EVEN IF ARISING FROM THE NEGLIGENCE OF 2863602 ONTARIO INC., and their employees, associates, facilitators, representatives, agents, or volunteers. I assume full responsibility for my participation.

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