Mystic began as an outpouring of love, fascination, and gratitude towards everything that Burning Man is. It's a tribe of beautiful and passionate mystics that are compelled to contribute to our ongoing evolution and play!" -Cosmic Cowboy (Co-Founder, Mystic)
Who We Are
Mystic, formerly Camp Mystic, is a legacy theme camp with a 20+ year history in Black Rock City. We offer interactive and immersive art, high vibe music and performance, evolutionary speakers and workshops, and a variety of transformational rituals and ceremonies during our week on the playa and beyond. Mystics are a diverse group of thought leaders, teachers, speakers, entrepreneurs, artists, musicians, and healers who believe that the path to fulfillment and satisfaction is being in the service and contribution to others. We are an intimate tribe who loves to create artful interactions and beauty wherever we go. We do that through our offering of incredible art, music, performance, workshops, speaker panels, and more!
Mystic has become well known on Playa for its interactivity and transformational offerings that now attracts thousands of people throughout the week. Our focus is to consciously curate our Mystic membership for each of our coveted 176 spots each year. We are excited to attract those people who are even more excited to radically contribute to being in service to building and creating our gifts on the Playa. There are no spectators at Burning Man and we are passionate about bringing together those Mystics who not only understand this ethos but are lit up by the idea that the best part of their Burn, what makes it so special, is being of service and having a stage to creating these gifts.
We hail from all over the globe but have large pockets of Mystics in The Bay Area, San Diego Area, Los Angeles Area, Boulder Area, New York Area, and a few here and there who fly in from the UK, France, Costa Rica, Thailand, Australia, Bali, Italy, Brazil, India, and other great countries.
We’re a an intimate tribe of creative talent and energy expressed as artists, thought leaders, entrepreneurs, teachers, musicians, and healers. We’re all about ecstatic contribution, radical self expression and intimate connection. Inspired by a sense of mystery, wonder and our profound interconnectedness, Mystics encourage the exploration of a deeper connection not only to each other as a chosen family, but as to this planet and the universe.
Mystic Mission Statement
May we harmonize our incredible energy of love, tolerance, community, joy, hope and magic in a playful effort to bring forth peace and joy at Burning Man and in our world.
Mystic is a collection of truly remarkable souls from all walks of life and from all corners of the Earth, (including the U.S., England, New Zealand, Holland, Australia, Israel, Lebanon, France, Saudi Arabia, Canada, Uganda and elsewhere.) We can express the possibility of Peace and Love and be heard throughout the universe…and make a difference. Mystic is an ongoing experiment in the power of love, artistic expression, contribution, collaboration, compassion and exploration into our conscious evolution and ultimately the evolution of our human civilization.We gather physically each year at Burning Man and beyond to manifest these intentions and express the possibilities of collectively realizing the fullness of these potentials.
We as a community are bound by these values:
- We like to make things happen by setting a clear intention and then surrendering to the moment.
- We look to enhance every environment we are in and leave it better than we found it. The way art does that, the way science does that, the way human interaction does that, and our dedication to leaving no trace.
- We have a profound curiosity about what empowers people and allows them to be greater.
- We celebrate beauty and creative expression in all forms.
- We look for and welcome opportunities to stretch our boundaries and push our edges.
- And…love is present in everything we do.
Our Values
These are the values that guide our choices and actions and guide how we treat each other. As members of Mystic we are inspired to be iconic representatives of these values and agree to uphold them with our fellow citizens at Mystic camp and in the Grand Playa:
1 Radical Contribution
We embrace ‘Ecstatic Volunteerism’ and look to enhance every environment we’re in and leave it better than we found it...the way art does that, the way science does that, the way human interaction does that and especially our dedication to Leaving No Trace.
2 Radical Compassion
Mystics understand that camp is a refuge, home, and an oasis for its tribe. Our intention is to always allow Love and Respect to be our guiding principles in the way we treat each other. Our commitment is to harmoniously resolve any types of challenges or conflicts that arise and to seek to compassionately understand and then be understood realizing the underlying positive intentions that drives our actions. We ask ourselves ‘How can love live through me now?’
3 Radical Collaboration
Together we make synergistic magic happen by setting clear intentions and then surrendering to the moment. Great collaboration happens when we focus on creating an environment that artfully maximizes the development of everyone inside it. We know that we can create so much more together than we can alone and seek to openly include the wisdom and diverse perspectives of our tribe when we leading, interacting, and making decisions.
4 Radical Self Expression (Beauty)
We celebrate beauty and creative expression in all forms. Mystic and Burning Man is a unique place that encourages us to come out of our shell, let go of our normal social contracts and explore what it might look like to become the enlightened child who interacts and plays and expresses exactly who they are. We welcome creative expression in all its forms and have in fact created a stage for those with extraordinary skill and those with a fledgling talent alike to share their offerings with the playa. We also look for and welcome opportunities to stretch our boundaries and push our edges.
5 Radical Evolution (Truth)
We have a profound curiosity about what empowers people and allows them to evolve. We look for and welcome opportunities to stretch our boundaries. One of the things that bonds our community together is our shared value in exploring the new story of humanity’s evolution and to be explorers of that leading edge. We do that through exploring evolutionary love, evolutionary relationship, evolutionary civilization, evolutionary entrepreneurship, evolutionary leadership, evolutionary sex, evolutionary masculinity, evolutionary femininity, evolutionary community, and more. Come be a beacon of humanity’s evolution riding your own razor’s edge.
Participation
One of the things that makes Burning Man and its culture so different is the fact that there are no spectators. Everyone participates. There are no vendors and nothing is sold (other than ice). Every participant must be radically self-reliant and because of it being in one of the harshest locations on the planet we all must also band together and rely on each other creating an intentional community for the days we are there together There is a special alchemy that it creates which makes it an incredibly transformative event like no other.
Remember that many hands make light work and AFTER build is over (where we work like crazy all day and into the night - enjoying the hell out of the process along the way) we venture to make participating in camp easy, fun, and joyful for everyone. Your participation is what makes this possible. We have a few agreements we want every Mystic to make with respect to your participation.
Mystic Philosophy
3RC - Radical Compassion, Radical Contribution, and Radical Collaboration. We are a close tribe of people who like to enhance every environment we are in. We have a profound curiosity about what empowers people and makes them greater.
Our philosophy is to be safe, be involved, be creative, and be loving.
Mystic seeks to be a refuge and a home for our tribe – a place of mystical soothing, love and community. No matter where you wander in Black Rock City, no matter what you encounter – your camp and its wonderful Mystics will be there waiting to embrace you with shade, shelter, a smile and perhaps an incredible life changing interaction. The harshness of life on the playa tends to melt away as you enter the Mystic harbor. We like it that way…
Founded in 1998, camp was initially a story of survival and artistic exploration. With the building of Camp Mystic’s themed 'Mr. Dahab Camp' in 2002, Camp Mystic became focused on the comfort of our revelers – and has never looked back. Every year we aim to elevate to the next level of luxe, bliss, and contribution to the Playa – you know it baby!
A Brief History of Camp Mystic's Family Tree
(written circa 2005 & edited by Camp Mystic Co-Founder's Disco-Lama aka Daniel Frommer & Cosmic Cowboy aka Jonathan Yudis)
Camp Mystic was founded at Burning Man 1998. Disco Lama (then known as Burning Dan) arrived Monday afternoon with E$ (Evan Nadel) and established camp on the corner of 3rd and Village in between Madame Tang's Opium Den and the Oregon Country Fair. That year, camp consisted of a single 2 person tent, two cars and a tarp. Burning Man that year was ridiculously hot, with temperatures reaching over 115 degrees in day time and a beautiful 75 degrees in the evening. About 14,000 people made it on the playa that year.
Disco had contacted Cosmic Cowboy (Jonathan Yudis) months earlier, letting him know about this insane art festival in the desert he was going to attend that year, but knew nothing more about it really. A few hours before heading out to the playa, Disco used a pay phone to make a call to the Cowboy leaving a voice mail saying "Yudis! I am heading out to the desert now. I hope you can make it! It is going to be awesome" Even then, camp was a last minute gig.
Hot dry and ill prepared, BurningDan and E$ rocked the playa hard, and relatively sober. By Thursday night the party was in full swing. Lost At Last performed at center stage (there was no Center Camp that year it was really the best year ever, but there was a Center Stage can you imagine that??) as some beautiful naked chick performed with an albino python slithering around her perfect breasts. All was magic. Friday morning, E$ took off (never saw the Man Burn how sad) and Burning Dan was on his own. That is, until late Friday evening, when Cosmic Arrived, so to speak, in multiple dimensions.
That year, the Man burned on Sunday evening (it has been on Saturday evening every year since). Cosmic Cowboy was under a vow of silence, and thus began another great Mystic tradition of Disco having to translate for a silent Cosmic Cowboy. Cosmic camped way out on the edge of the city (the first Camp Mystic Annex not to be repeated
until 2004 with Black Rock Industries). Saturday evening, Cosmic Cowboy's True Love, Tia B (aka Mystic Mother and later Cozy Winters) arrived as the rains began to fall. The Playa became muddy, the lunar eclipse electrified Burning Man, and Camp Mystic was truly born.
That Monday morning, after the burn, the first Camp Mystic art project was brought forth on the Playa, as Cosmic and TiaB performed "Cosmic Cowboy Cometh" for a few straggling Burners in a sacred circle – as Burning Dan slept in his rental car, feet bleeding with the cracks of well-earned playafoot. Epic.
Since 1998 Camp Mystic has grown and grown. In 1999 Cosmic brought a film crew to the playa to film "Hands: The Anti Documentary", which brought Captain Nice Guy and Cyberius Rex (Tim Johnson, the King of All Things Hip-Hop,the next year he brought his love Mystic Kelly Darling).
All Mystics at this point can trace themselves to Cosmic Cowboy, Captain Nice Guy and Disco Lama. Three streams of souls converging in Mystical union (sappy, I know).
The floodgates to Camp Mystic truly opened in 2002, the Floating World. That year, Captain Nice Guy brought the Northwest contingent, including Joy Siemion, Jonny Moonrock, Martha, Drew and Gabrielle Siemion, and Monibean, creating what is now the largest constellation in the mystic galaxy. 2002 also saw the arrival of Disco Lama's brother, Vicodin Man (Jonathan Frommer, who later founded Playa Pail Kids Camp), and Blacklight (Bram Portnoy, now known as PlayaStorm, who later merged with Virgins & Villains camp). Our nextdoor neighbor that year, Tantric Dan (aka Daniel Levin and now Pantsless Wonder) has been a nucleus of Mystic energy ever since, and can be found in the corner of camp with his RV and tons of juice.
Gabrielle Sundra (aka Glitter Girl and Playa Mama) has since become the greatest source of Mystic Expansion. She has brought her sister, mother and father, as well as her entire community of transformational rockstars, including Swirly Girl, Zac Adler, Amber Lupton, Michael and Nila Ferrone, Ibrahim AlHusseini, Myriam & Yasmina Choueri, Camille, Sandra, Delia, Marc, Boyd, Liam, Sara J., Nadim, Christine, Abraham, Shannon, Tobin, Ted and others. This year, her beau Raj Sundra (aka Benevolent King) will be in our midst.
Martha and Drew have spawned their own stream of Mystics, including Cat, Ingrid, and D2. Vicodin man has branched out with Jacob Pfeffer, Aron Gurland, Jessica & Margarita and Galaxy. Disco has continued his streak of inviting members of the bar including Blacklight, Sagi Kfir (tzuchik), Robin G, Care and Philippine. The Mystic Law Firm, at this point, appears to be inevitable. This year (2005) we are welcoming close to a dozen new Mystics in our midst, and the streams keep growing exponentially.
What's Our Vibe?
What is the VIBE at Mystic?
With its roots on the Playa dating back to the late 90's, Mystic understands that CAMP is a refuge, home, and an oasis for its tribe. Our intention is to always allow Love and Respect to be our guiding principals in the way we treat each other. Our vibe is positively laid back, stimulating, and nurturing.
On the note of nurturing, we even have a dedicated 'Welcoming Committee' so that no matter what day or hour you arrive at camp you are welcomed with a big hug and instructions about where/how to set up and answers to any/all your camp questions. We also have dedicated and very experienced camp leaders and Burners whose mission is to make sure all Mystics in camp are happy and to resolve any types of challenges or conflicts that arise.
While we are made up of a plethora of artists, musicians, healers, teachers, families and thought leaders, our vibe at camp is about setting a clear intention and then surrendering to the moment. At times this may be connection & community and at other times quiet personal time to chillax and celebrate oneself.
We are all about voluntary and ecstatic participation, contribution, and co-creating an environment of intimacy. This is manifested by the way we operate as a camp, come together for meals, and how we interact both on and off the Playa year round. Daytime offers various exciting and edifying panel discussions, workshops, and speakers (always voluntary and open to the public,) yoga, transformative ceremonies and sessions in the Mystic Temple. Night time at camp often offers electronic music and dance in the Mystic Theater, spontaneous, sensual & passionate connections, and always a focus on play!
We have Opening and Closing circles which bookend our Burn, and at least one big CAMP DANCE PARTY on Wednesday night featuring some of the best DJ's on the Playa, and we often set out as a camp to journey to the Playa together to see and celebrate the Man Burning.
Ultimately, it's the VIBE of Mystic which makes the magic happen and it's the vibe of the camp that have people say it's their favorite spot to be at Burning Man!
What We Build
Given our remarkable group of thought leaders, teachers, healers, musicians, performers, and artists we have created lots of public offerings we gift to the playa each year.
We offer public spaces to showcase a whole array of visionary artists, sculptors, and altar creators.
We offer public spaces to showcase incredible musicians and performers of all kinds including acoustic musicians, electronic music composers, DJs, visual arts performers, fire dancers, belly dancers, spoken word performers and the like.
We offer public spaces for our thought leaders, teachers, authors, and speakers to share their most cutting edge ideas.
We offer private amenities for all our campers so they can enjoy the Playa in style. Mystic offers just the right blend of infrastructure and opportunity to create community and be part of a camp that comes together with your unique contribution. We are a camp where everyone participates, connects, and collaborates. It's our experiment in intentional community with a tribe who considers many of its members chosen family.
To find out how to join us at Mystic go to our Get Involved page.
Public Offerings
Mystic Theater:
Our main structure at Burning Man is our Mystic Theater a 60' diameter decagon shade structure. Come in to our incredible visionary art gallery, performance and presentation space. Come find a cool and relaxing place to lounge in out of the hot day sun where you'll find a covered floor and dozens of cushy mattresses and cushions. During the day you'll find all sorts of offerings including mesmerizing acoustic and electronic music and singers, interactive workshops, panel discussions from some of the world's most interesting speakers on topics like health and wellness, psychedelics and neuroscience, love and relationships, future, technologies and communities, the Burning Man ethos, and much more! During the evening come by for some amazing tunes. You won't want to miss our Wednesday Night Party which attracts some of the best talent on the Playa....musicians like Random Rab, Human Experience, Equanimous, Angelica Moeller, and many others! It's a night to remember.
Healing Dome: We are not currently building this structure. Programming has been moved into the Mystic Temple.
We offer to the playa our 30x30ft healing sanctuary. A quiet place to relax, receiving healing, body work, aromatherapy, ceremony, an occassional workshop, yoga and other mystically centered healing modalities. Come to rest and get out of the hot sun to refresh your body and your mind.
In years past we've offered Saturday Morning Cartoons and Cereal from 9AM - 11AM in the mornings....a total throw back to some of our favorite cartoons. A super fun and light hearted way to enjoy the playa.
Our dome features soft ground, solar powered fans, beautiful visionary art, and altars.
Our team this year may be putting together an interactive experience inside our dome create an intentional experience for those who enter. Come and enjoy this beautiful space.
Mystic Temple
We build a beautiful Lotus Mahal Structure with a 20ft entrance portal in the center of our camp that is our Mystic Temple. It's a beautiful white and golden space designed for workshops, rituals, ceremonies, sound healings, woman's circles, music, tea service, and other offerings. It has beautiful laser cut art, several interactive altars, a sound system and microphone setup and an incredible soft fuzzy and cozy place to hang out and be together.
Infrastructure
For all our campers we offer lots of great amenities that we all help to create and build to make our stay on the Playa fun, clean, and easy. Everyone at camp pays $995 in Dues (unless you register LATE and pay $1095 after July 1st. We will offer 8-10 scholarships each year based on both financial merit and Radical Contribution to camp.
- Water: We provide water to everyone at Mystic which we allocate once you get welcomed into camp. Each person gets around 1.5 gallons per day with a reserve of extra water in case you happen to need more. Leave all those plastic bottles at home! Mystic is striving to cut down on all the trash that we create. Our Hydration station is located in or near the Kitchen where you can fill your jugs, water bottles, and camelbacks.
- Kitchen: We build a Kitchen for our chefs to cook incredible meals during Build (starting Wednesday Night) and Burn Week (until Sunday Temple Burn brunch). It's fully equipped so our participatory Team can produce some of the most delicious meals each day during our Brunch (11:00am- 1:00pm) and Dinner (6:00pm-8:00pm).
- Dining Hall: Meal Time in our Dining Hall ensures our place to gather and enjoy eating together as a tribe. Bring your own plate and utensils and you'll be well fed and nourished. We tend to attract foodies who love to eat well so you'll be amazed out how well you eat while on the Playa. Our big, 6ft tables allow 8-10 people to sit together, get to know one another, and play connection games.
- Steam Shower: We've built an incredible Steam Shower experience that conserves water and also creates an incredible cleansing experience on Playa. We provide biodegradable soaps, shampoos, and conditioners to make sure the system works well. We also have an outdoor shower stall for a more traditional experience that is incredibly refreshing.
- Shade Structures: We build the equivalent of four 48'x40' shade structures for our tenters to camp underneath to block that hot, mid-day sun.
- Mystic Hospitality: Get welcomed Burning Man-style once you find our camp. During daylight hours we'll get you placed, oriented, and give you a quick tour of what we've got at Mystic and how to use it! If you arrive after sunset when it is dark and unsafe to accurately place all forms of shelter, we ask that you park RVs and other vehicles across 2:00 and wait until morning. If you are a tenter in a car, you can typically find a comfortable place to stretch out inside the Mystic Theater or Mystic Temple.
- Meal Time: You'll be supremely nourished by our Meal Plan cooked by our culinary master, fellow Mystic Council member and Co-TCO, Joy and her incredible crew....you'll eat better on Playa than you do anywhere else.
- Power Grid: Our extremely safe, waterproof Power Grid helps prevent the noise and pollution of onboard generators on RVs and Trailers by connecting to shore power. Tents, ShiftPods, and Vans can pay $250 for a 20A connection. RVs, Trailers, and Containers choose between 30A connections (medium sized and newer Class C RVs), and 50A connections (large Class A RVs) under our new Flat Rate All-Services fee. Only 1 person from each vehicle (Shelter Captain) needs to pay the Flat Rate or option for power.
- RV Pumping/Water Refills: For those bringing in RVs or Trailers, RV Pumping and Water Fills are included in the new Flat Rate All-Services fee provided by United Site Services with pumps on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday and refills after Monday and Wednesday's pumps during the week.
Got any questions about camping with us?
Email us at registration@campmystic.org