Gifting

Most of us have heard that Gifting is one of Burning Man's 10 Principles. But what do we really mean by that? You may have also heard that Burning Man has a "gift economy." This can be confusing territory. The uninitiated often assume that it means barter. We live in such a transactional culture that true gifting can be difficult to fathom.

Before we go further down this rabbit hole, I suggest watching this gem from 2017:

Watch the Video →

When I work with Burners attending our New Camper teleclasses, I often hear elaborate plans to bring friendship bracelets, pendants, and other tchotchkes to hand out as gifts. I also see a mad frenzy on the last day of the burn to give away all the gifts that were brought but never distributed.

Something important is being missed here.

Often, the most welcomed gift is a heartfelt hug. The greatest gift of all is the ability to genuinely receive. Truly receiving—openly and honestly—is the most vulnerable part of the interaction, and it is usually in the shortest supply in this crazy world. Think about that.

Naked Heart is a camp with a potent gift to offer the playa. Many of you are here with us in 2026 because you received our gifts in the past. You might think our gift is our workshops—and that's true—but it misses the larger point.

Our gift is ourselves.

It is our open hearts.
It is our bravery in confronting our shame stories.
It is our vulnerability.

In Naked Heart, we are the art.

Every floundering step we take on our personal journey becomes a brushstroke on this canvas. Every action in this manifest world is an offering to our fellow travelers so they can see their own journeys mirrored back to them.

How we show up is not always about us. We can never know what another person is experiencing, and there is no need to curate someone else's experience for them. Our job is simply to show up as boldly, brightly, and authentically as we can in each moment.

We simply do the best we can.

Each of you has chosen to join us this year for your own personal reasons. Some of those reasons may still be a mystery—even to you. Now that much of the administrivia of dues, tickets, and logistics is behind us, we can turn our attention to our real art project:

YOU.

If you are one of the many applicants who listed in your intentions for 2026 that you want to lead workshops—perfect. This newsletter is for you. Inside, you'll find the information you need to be profoundly successful in sharing your gifts.

Thank you.

Timeline

All times Pacific

Workshops

The most easily visible gift that Naked Heart provides on the Playa is our workshops. These are offerings crafted by our campmates. If you have camped with us before you have probably spoken with members who have led workshops and returned to camp glowing. Maybe that is what is inspiring you to lead a workshop this year.

Fully half of our camp roster this year has never camped with us. That means that half of you have no idea what I am talking about here. It occurred to me that I should create a new camp expectation. Here it is: If you haven't attended a "How to craft a Workshop Teleconference", please listen to this recording:

Workshop Teleconference Recording →

This is an important listen even if you never have any intention to lead a workshop. Our camp culture is our workshops. The way they are created is unique to Naked Heart and it is important to know the internal process that our workshop leaders have gone through to stand up and share this piece of themselves.

Each year about 25% of our workshops are led by people who have never led a workshop and have never been to Burning Man!! You can do this!

For Seasoned Workshop Leaders

If you already have your workshop constructed, you can submit it here:

Submit Workshop →

The deadline for submissions is May 15th.

Inspiration

You may have missed it on our web site, but we have an inspirations page:

Inspirations Page →

The first 2 are my favorites, but everything there is a real gem. Someday I will make a Youtube playlist of all of them and you can just binge watch them in bed :) There is even a form at the end where you can add your own favorite links.

This is actually more important than it may initially seem. We are a camp with no geographical center. We don't all get together for dinner on weekends or have big work parties. The only two places we meet is here in cyberspace and on the playa. This collection of inspirations is our creation story, it is part of the narrative of what we are creating. It is a little like the directions to some IKEA flat-pack furniture; if you are skillful and diligent, you can figure it out, but it is a lot easier when you have the directions. This page is a resource for you to use and to co-create. The link you add this year may yield fruit 10 years from now. Give a gift to your future self.

These links are an incredible download and attunement for discovering the workshop that lurks inside waiting to be born.

How to Create your Workshop — Teleclasses

If you have not yet created your workshop, we have a tutorial for you on our website:

How to Create a Workshop →

If after reviewing the tutorial you still feel a little stuck or you are having some difficulties crafting the logistics of your workshop, I will be hosting some workshop teleconferences on the following dates:

For additional assistance connecting to the meeting text "Call Me" to the Dial-In number above and you will be called into the conference.

The most important homework for attending the Teleclass is to listen to this recording:

Workshop Teleconference Recording (MP3)

Submitting your Workshops

Once have your workshop constructed, you can submit it here:

Submit Workshop →

The deadline for submissions is May 15th.

Tickets

The Steward's Sale Closes

Ticket Aid

The application for Ticket Aid is opened very early this year: February 25. I suggest that everyone who thinks they can qualify apply for this program. We get about 20% of our tickets this way. We have instructions for how to be successful in this sale on our Wiki:

Ticket Aid FAQ

Ticket Aid tickets are $250. You can read more and apply here:

Ticket Aid Program →

Ticket Questions?

Vibe Team

Dream of building Naked Heart from the inside out? One of the best ways to do that is to join the Vibe Team! We're in charge of building the camp's soft structures (not the physical ones). And we need your help!

The general Vibe Team oversees all the Sub Teams, but the Sub Teams are where the real magic happens! Each team is led by one person, who gets all their gift shifts (work shifts) covered for taking this role.

We are currently calling in all Leads to start managing the work! Each team Lead is in charge of a specific list of tasks, and can add more if they choose. If you're ready to join the integrated work of bringing the Naked Heart gift to Playa, email Lona now at:

LonaGarner@gmail.com

We most need a Gift Shift Coordinator, Kitchen Coordinator, and Workshop Coordinator, but other roles are available too. Check out all the roles here:

All Roles Document

And if you want to know more about what the Vibe Team is and some FAQ's then check out our intro page here:

Vibe Team FAQ

To join the Vibe Team and get added to our separate email list fill out this form:

Join the Vibe Team →

PODS

In the latest Vibe team meeting we discussed strategies for how to bring greater intimacy and intentionality to the Naked Heart experience. We proposed sub-groups called PODS. If you would like to create a POD experience, show up to the next Vibe Team meeting to learn how to interface with the planning process. You can also register your desire here:

Register POD Interest →

Build Team

I have received quite a few e-mails recently. They have been from members who are inquiring about how they can be a part of the early Build team for this year. In January! Yes, Build is that special. You see, there is no other part of this whole Burning Man experience that comes close to Build. It is the one moment when we are all looking inward. There is nothing to see on the playa yet. We are all working along side each other. We are supporting each other; we are encouraging our camp mates. Hell, I have people each year who say "I want to come for Build, but I don't want to stay for the Burn." I get it. Me too.. sort of.

We are taking Build to the next level this year. We are establishing our team leads early. We are training in our craft. We are perfecting our art and we are dumping in a huge dose of intention. I need your help with this. I need a lot of help in general, but I really need some capable people by my side to properly instantiate our camp as we build this thing we call Naked Heart. Expect new things and new ways this year. Join our team. Fill out this form if you think that this might be for you:

Join Build Team →

Interactivity Ideas

Last year was an amazing year for Naked Heart on Playa. Not only did we present about 170 workshops, we also had a vibrant scene of interactivity under our Jellyfish shaded courtyard. We had parked 3 massage table there and people had set up a community massage exchange. In the past people have used the puzzle mats for Acroyoga. Sometimes we have had eye gazing stations. We want to do more of that. All the people who are waiting around for the next workshop are a resource that we can funnel into ever more profound communion.

This is an invitation for you to imagine offerings that can be ignited in our courtyard. What would you like to experience? What would you like to lead? What is the world requesting of us? Please put your ideas into an e-mail and send it to me.

Our application for placement is due in about a month. Our planned interactivity is the bulk of what is written. Let's try to get any new ideas hammered out in the next couple weeks. Here are some ideas that have been proposed:

Goddess Temple