The 11 Principles

The Burning Man Eleven Principles are written guidelines for the Regional Network – They were crafted not as a dictate of how people should be and act, but as a reflection of the community’s ethos and culture as it had organically developed since the event’s inception. The New Orleans Burning Man Community is proud to be an active part of the Regional Network and has created Engulf to operate with these intentions. The Principles below have been taken straight from the Burning Man website and slightly edited for Engulf.

Radical Inclusion

Anyone may be a part of Engulf. We welcome and respect the stranger. No prerequisites exist for participation in our community. We welcome all people of all identities and backgrounds at our event. In NOLA we have a saying, “Be Nice, or Leave!” and the same applies to Engulf. If you are directly causing attendees at our event harm, you will be asked to leave. Be nice, respectful, follow directions, and come to our event with an open mind.

Gifting

Engulf is devoted to acts of gift-giving. The value of a gift is unconditional. Gifting does not contemplate a return or an exchange for something of equal value. The breakfast tacos you’ve made way too many of are a gift, the song you bravely decided to get on stage and sing for a karaoke event is a gift, and the friendship bracelets you made the night before you arrived at Engulf are a gift. Sometimes the greatest gift of all is as simple as a hug.

Decommodification

In order to preserve the spirit of gifting, our community seeks to create social environments that are unmediated by commercial sponsorships, transactions, or advertising. We stand to protect our culture from such exploitation. We resist the substitution of consumption for participatory experience. Great examples of this are when participants cover the logos of their RV’s and campers with duct tape or signs, and turn the brand names into new names for their vehicles. Pop culture references or commodified clothing is cleverly enhanced or twisted to symbolize something else… Engulf will not be televised, Engulf is not a political playground, Engulf will not be brought to you by Xerox, in four parts without commercial interruptions… you get the idea.

Radical Self-reliance

Engulf encourages individuals to discover, exercise, and rely on their inner resources. You are in charge of yourself, no one else is. You need to make sure you bring enough food, water, blankets, and necessities to survive at our event. Do not expect anyone to help you or hold your hand. You are in charge of what you say, what you do, and how you interact with others at our event. You are responsible for your experience. You must read the survival guide before coming to Engulf.

Radical Self-expression

This arises from the unique gifts of the individual. No one other than the individual or a collaborating group can determine its content. It is offered as a gift to others. In this spirit, the giver should respect the rights and liberties of the recipient. If your form of expression directly harms the recipient it will not be tolerated at Engulf.

Communal Effort

Our community values creative cooperation and collaboration. We strive to produce, promote, and protect social networks, public spaces, works of art, and methods of communication that support such interaction. Volunteer, volunteer, volunteer!

Civic Responsibility

We value civil society. Community members who organize events should assume responsibility for public welfare and endeavor to communicate civic responsibilities to participants. They must also assume responsibility for conducting events in accordance with local, state, and federal laws. It is everyone's responsibility to say something if you see something that goes against our guidelines for a safe event.

Leaving No Trace

Our community respects the environment. We are committed to leaving no physical trace of our activities wherever we gather. We clean up after ourselves and endeavor, whenever possible, to leave such places in a better state than when we found them. We create our city, and then a week from the end of our event it’s as if we were never there! If you see any trash in the Piney Playa that is not in a recycle or trash bin, it is your Civic Responsibility to pick it up.

Participation

Our community is committed to a radically participatory ethic. We believe that transformative change, whether in the individual or in society, can occur through the medium of deeply personal participation. We achieve being through doing. Everyone is invited to work. Everyone is invited to play. We make the world real through actions of the heart. No spectators!

Immediacy

Immediate experience is the most important touchstone of value in our culture. We seek to overcome barriers that stand between us and a recognition of our inner selves, the reality of those around us, participation in society, and contact with a natural world exceeding human powers. No idea can substitute for this experience. Put down your phone and look around you. The Piney Playa is stunning, with magnificent pine trees surrounding you, and a twinkling starry night unpolluted by city lights. If you aren't fully present, you might just miss it!

Consent

Respect the autonomy of the individual: every person has the right to make decisions about their own body, property, and personal space. What you see as a gift might not actually be one if it is unwelcome or unwanted, so when giving a gift, entering someone’s personal space, taking a photo or video, or using someone’s property, ask permission first. Only proceed if there is consent between all parties. 

Do not ever assume that you have consent based upon what a person is wearing or how they are acting. Consent must be mutual, definite, and given consciously, and persons are free to change their mind at any time. Remember that consent for one act does not imply consent for all acts, and consent given once does not mean that you have consent every time. No always means no.