The Temple Burn
The Temple burn at this years festival was programmed for the unusual time of 3:00pm Linden time on a Monday. It still managed to pull a crowd, and was in my opinion the closest thing I've experienced on SL to a religious ceremony.
People started to gather a good while before the event was about to start, and I guess it was with some trepidation that I made my way over there. Deep down I was wondering if the turn out would crash the sims, or worse so few would arrive it would be a flop. I should not have worried because approximately 100 people were there. And yes we did temporarily lose a sim, but it was almost instantly back online.
The Lamp Lighters gathered inside the temple with the "The Spirit of the Burn".
Before the ceremony began, Iridium Linden took a moment to thank all of the hard work that had gone into this years festival. The normally shy and retiring Iridium was alive, sprightly and beamed with an unusual level of frivolity.
Iridium's Avi always makes me laugh, and I know it shouldn't.
After several rounds of applause the crowd hushed and the ceremony began. Some did joke that they had scoured SL for a virgin to sacrifice, but none could be found.
After a few words from the Spirit, the Lamp Lighters retired to a safe distance.
Then almost instantly... the Temple was ablaze.
The open structure was engulfed in flame, and there was little to do but stand and watch. I found myself reflecting on everything that had transpired over the last few weeks... and then wondering about the future for Burning Life.
And while I was introspective, other people just stood and stared. I wonder what they were personally considering?
And as the building started to collapse a true wave of energy came across everyone and they started to dance.
And from there onwards everyone seemed to start joining in.
And for the next few minutes we watched and danced to the ceremonial background music.
When the temple was down and burnt the only thing left was the font of messages. These were messages left by visitors to the temple and to be offered to the gods of fire.
The Spirit made it's way into the center of the messages and worked a little burner magic to send them on their fiery way. And as we continued to dance each message was read into the chat box... line by line. Some lines were funny, some were eloquent, some mildly profound and others distinctly personal.
It was a strange experience, and when I think back to it I actually get goosebumps.
I can't quite explain the feelings it left with me, but it did leave something. And while every little comment drifted etherially away, the people got down, and even got a little naked.
Yes... hedonistic pleasure marked the demise of the Temple and the start of the end for the 2007 festival.
Parties went on for a long time, but by bedtime it felt as if we were all just waiting for the following day... and the packing up of our festival builds.
Again I would like to thank the builders, scripters and performers in this event. And also I'd like to thank those who worked on the festival as a whole. I know that lots of people did work for little or no acclaim, and these are truly the heroes of Burning Life 2007.
Thanks also to Linden Labs for providing the sims and to Iridium for dealing with a lot of squabbling and name calling, some of which seemed very personal.
This is not the end of the blog entries for this year, although I am tired of it right now. I hope to put up some more pictures and information too.
I missed everything this year since I was working behind the scenes. Still, I was hoping that the temple could be set up in such a way that worked for everyone who wished to burn something. I am surprised that a script could of been developed to have all the things read out in the chat window.
Thanks so much for blogging diligently throughout this event. I dont know if there is a future for me next year but it is a thought.
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I was unable to be there at both the burning of the man and the temple due to business.
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