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Burning Man 2005

Burning Man Camped with Poly Paradise. - (83) more edit 2005-08-30 - rec# 187

That first year I had gone to the Human Carcass Wash, which was put on by Poly Paradise, my introduction to them. That was the hook for me. When I returned to Black Rock City I wanted to be a part of that project and joined the PP camp. The Human Carcass Wash is a simple and profound exercise. There are four plastic tubs, each large enough to stand up in and a couple dozen squirt bottles, some with water some with soapy water. And there are people, all kinds of people. We start by talking about boundaries, we all have them. We need to know our boundaries, respect them and explore them, we also need to recognize and respect those of others. Most participants are naked, though that's not a requirement. Two people are positioned at the first tub and given squirt bottles with soap. This is the washing station. Another is standing in the tub about to be washed. It begins with a question, "What are your boundaries?" Perhaps it's don't get my new tattoo wet, or I don't want a person of the opposite sex to touch my genitals. Perhaps the response is "none", or "I like genital contact", or "no penetration". In all cases it's up the the person to state their boundaries (we all have them) and for the washers to respect them. We always ask first, that's the most important thing we do there. At this station you are soaped up and scrubbed. You then step forward into the next tub. At the second station we being with a question, "What are your boundaries?" This is the rinse station where you are squirted with fresh water and rubbed down. "What are your boundaries?" and the third station begins. The squeegee station. Again fresh water, this time it's less water and more squeegeeing (is that a word?). I LOVE having caring hands on me. I don't get enough of that. Based on the response we get every year at the HCW most others don't ether. Why not? I read this past week that 30 minutes of loving, non-sexual touch lowers cholesterol, BP and lowers the risk of cancer and does all sorts of good things. We deny ourselves that. Why? Theories later... "What are your boundaries?". We are at the drying station. No water, lots of hands. The line begins as a worker at this station. When there's a spot in the third station you move up, then to the second and the first. Finally you're standing in the first tub and you hear the question that by now you're really familiar with..."What are your boundaries?" An important question. The Human Carcass Wash is not about sex, it's the most non-sexual thing you can imagine. It's not about getting clean. Lord knows everybody in BRC is dirty and covered in dust when they come in, but they're going to return to that condition as soon as they leave the HCW. It's about cleaning yourself of shame, shame of your body (it's not "good enough"), shame of being touched (even caringly), shame of touching ("what will they think"), shame of your boundaries. Everyone has boundaries. The question is never "Do you have any boundaries."� Knowing yours, articulating yours, protecting them is important.