Beneath the fantastic celebrations of life, humanity and creativity that occur during the annual seven day Burning Man Festival, there is a powerful spiritual under current that pervades this event. When 50,000 people come together not to transact but to interact without money and normal roles the separation consciousness that divides us so often in “normal life” dissolves. Many who attend Burning Man feel this beautiful connection, even if they may not be completely conscious of it.

This year’s official theme for Burning Man 2009 (the first week of September) is “Evolution”. Given that our world is at the proverbial cross roads, I’m excited about this year’s evolution theme. I believe we either evolve our consciousness so that we live in harmony with each other and the natural world or greed and fear will prevail and lead us into ecological, economic and societal destruction. Our fate and that of our world is in our hands, minds and souls.

I invite you to join me at Burning Man to screen movies that will inspire all of us to choose to evolve our hearts and consciousness toward the realization that, like waves in the ocean, we are all connected to the flow of the Universe. Please feel free to suggest videos that you think should be shown during Evolution Cinema Night by adding a comment below. For a beautiful description of this emerging consciousness view the below short presentation by the amazing spiritual teacher Marianne Williams.

Evolution Cinema Night – Movies for Screening:

One amazing movie that I suggest we show is “Humanity Ascending” with Barbara Marx Hubbard. This forty minute documentary featuring author and futurist Barbara Marx Hubbard focuses on our conscious evolution and suggests a vision toward our evolution and birth as a new humanity. After witnessing the nuclear bombing of Japan during World War II at the age of 15, Barbara Marx Hubbard dedicated her life to answering the question of how our technological power can be consciously directed to advance the world and all living beings. She envisions us evolving from Homo Sapiens into Homo Spiritus.

Watch the movie trailer for Humanity Ascending -

What the BLEEP Do We Know — First released in theaters in 2004, WTBDWK!? went on to become one of the most successful documentaries of all time. Now distributed in over 30 countries, it has stunned audiences with its revolutionary cinematic blend of dramatic film, documentary, animation and comedy, while serving up a mind-jarring blend of Quantum Physics, spirituality, neurology and evolutionary thought.

Watch the movie trailer for What the BLEEP Do We Know –

Other Far Out consciousness raising videos Ed Buryn, the Author of Vagabonding in the USA, intends to bring a few of his favorite consciousness raising videos, including Zeitgeist I and II (the Addendum).

Watch Zeitgeist I trailer below:

ZEITGEIST II ADDENDUM (FULL MOVIE!)

After reviewing over 100 proposals to road trip North America this summer, this year’s “Roads Scholars” have been chosen. The class of 2009 is a smart, talented and adventurous bunch. I expect they will take us all on an amazing virtual adventure this summer. To view their profiles and proposals visit Roads Scholars.

Today I sent the scholars an email – call it an online “orientation” (see the below email). Let me add that I’m not encouraging young people to simply quit their “day jobs” and go vagabonding about. I’m advocating “digital vagabonding”, which means having your work and income come with you.

Telecommunications technology these days enables many of us to work as easily from the road as the office. That’s why on the side of my motor lounge it reads “Digital Vagabonding – Using Technology to Make the Word Our Office and Playground, Any Time or Place“. OK, that’s my responsible disclaimer. Now on to the orientation:

My email to the Roads Scholars – Class of 2009

Subject: Welcome Roads Scholars and congratulations!

What amazing field trips await you on the road of higher education. I hope that you get to know your classmates and help support each others journeys until you meet in person at the Burning Man Festival the first week of September.

Now for your first assignment.

Matador Travel, which is perhaps the most soulful and intense travel community on the globe, has been very supportive of the Roads Scholarship and is our official co sponsor. I’m a member of this community (view my profile and blogs). I encourage you to sign up as a member as well and begin sharing some of your writings, photos and or videos.

Then add me and your fellow Roads Scholars to your network. I also suggest adding our Digital Vagabonding community page as a “supporter”. I will then add you and all your fellow scholars to the network for this community page. This should enable us to be a community within the larger Matador community.

I encourage you to then write about any travels you undertake this summer and share them as blogs on your Matador profile. Feel free to also share any articles/blogs you may have even when you’re not on the road. You can also get active on Matador’s community forum and submit articles for publication. They have an outstanding network of talented writers generating articles on many interesting topics and trips. Be sure to sign up for their excellent newsletter.

Today Matador announced the news about the class of 2009 (see Roads Scholarship Winners Announced and Upcoming Travel Writing from the Roads Scholars). Feel free to comment on these announcements and share them with your friends.

In addition to sharing his experiences on Matador, Kyle is expected to also keep a multimedia blog during his summer road trip. We are currently working on creating a new WordPress powered blog that will have a look and feel tailored to Kyle’s unique mentality and style. This blog will be up and running before Kyle begins his road trip later this month.

Stacy is going to be supporting all of you by promoting your journey and writing using social networking and possibly the general media this summer. He will also act like a Digital Vagabonding Ambassador – encouraging those following your journeys to make suggestions for places, people and ideas to encounter. I’ll bet this hybrid “position” was not suggested to Stacy when he met with his career counselor in high school. So just what should we call his position? I’m open to suggestions. Anyone?

I also encourage you to visit the Bat Country website and join as member. This is where I’ll be camped out in the Destiny motor lounge (Digital Vagabonding’s HQ) and where the graduation party will be held. When you sign up mention that you are affiliated with Pat the Digital Vagabond and DigitalVagabonding.com. Once you are registered you’ll be able to view all the members of Bat Country and the events we’ll be sponsoring during Burning Man, including your graduation party. This camp has a “Gonzo” Hunter S. Thompson flavor to it. So chaos and spontaneous insanity are not only tolerated but encouraged.

Although the registration for camping in “Bat County” is officially closed, I reserved plenty of space for our little Digital Vagabonding ghetto and should be able to squeeze you in. Otherswise feel free to camp where ever and with whoever you’d like.

Ed Buryn, the author of Vagabonding the USA and the original inspiration for Digital Vagabonding, will be camping in Bat Country as well. He has agreed to be our acting dean of “Vagabond U” when the diplomas are handed out.

Which reminds me, it would be irresponsible for me to encourage you to travel before I’ve sent you a copy of Vagabonding in the USA. It is after all, the “Bible” of vagabonding. Please email me your mailing address so I can get you a copy.

Well that’s it for today’s online orientation. I encourage you to email your fellow classmates and begin bonding and vagabonding.

Great adventures await all of us in the world and within us!

Be well and Live Large, Pat the DV

P.S. Feel free to call me on my cell 612 385-3563 at any time. However, for roadside assistance call a tow truck or use duct tape. Note – the people cced in this message are all members of the Matador team. They’re great people to get to know.

From the late William S. Burroughs

Most advice, including my own, is not worth listening to. As the saying goes, “Opinions are like assholes. Everyone has them and they all stink.” However, I think the wise words from the late writer, junky, beatnik and social critic – William S. Burroughs - will serve all who are on the road of life and don’t want to be befuddled by the straight jacket of middle class morality.

Be Well and Live Large – Pat the DV

P.S. Ok, if you’d now like something a little more cheerful, check out the Eight Principles of Happy Bullshit.