Task Descriptions
Shamandome is a Service Camp of about fifty souls. Many of our campers are professional healing practitioners, working in a great variety of modalities. EVERYONE has a background in shamanism, and helps with the important tasks which keep a camp going in the harsh environment of the Black Rock Desert. (We know how compelling the call to experience the magic of the playa is, so each camper is allowed to schedule themselves for one full day off during our five days of service.)
We consider all our camp members participants in healing, whether they're welcoming visitors to our events; working one-on-one in a healing hut; leading a power animal circle or workshop; cooking up delicious, wholesome food; or looking after our precious infrastructure. All campers serve in more than one capacity over the course of set-up, the burn, and camp breakdown -- almost everyone finds themselves chopping veggies in the kitchen at some point.
Stretch yourself!
Hundreds of visitors may visit Shamandome on each of the five days of the burn during which we offer our services to the public. Thanks to our dedicated contribution to Black Rock City, Shamandome was once rated among the top 10 camps at Burning Man -- which, for such a small one, is a humbling and gratifying acknowledgement.
To support our mission, each of our campers contributes a minimum number of hours of service per day (determined by the overall size of the camp - usually three or four), often serving in two or more of these capacities:
One-on-One Healers
Our public service focus is on shamanic healing in the Michael Harner tradition of Core Shamanism: Power Animal Journeys, Paired Journeys, Soul Retrieval and Extraction. While our primary service modalities are shamanic, many of our healers and workshop leaders incorporate other modalities such as Reiki, Massage, Yoga, Sound Healing, etc.
One-on-One Healing sessions tend to last half an hour to an hour.
Core Shamanism Circle Leaders
Everyone Is Encouraged to Lead. We passionately encourage all shamanic practitioners who are capable of leading Power Animal circles to offer to lead them.
Fairy Greeters
This highly public - and quite enjoyable - task is the key to a smooth offering of our healing service. Fairy Greeters welcome our visitors and guide them to the appropriate workshop or healer, based on what each client is ready for. This process involves a high level of intuition. Good people skills are important. A ready smile and “crowd juggling” skills are definitely a plus. Healing begins with a needful client experiencing the embracing energies of a compassionate greeter.
Kitchen Fairies
These blessed campers help our Kitchen Goddess run the kitchen and food services, creatively nourishing the body-temples of our healers, greeters and infrastructure team. Campers with experience in a professional kitchen will take on a meal to lead. They will be teamed with campers who can help chop and mix. Shamandome Camp's kitchen always creates flavorful food alchemy. Often, the kitchen staff becomes a heavenly choir and the meal is truly blessed by song.
Infrastructure Gurus
These masters-of-many-trades lead the setup of the camp and help to maintain all infrastructure during the week, including service domes, the kitchen, our water & power systems and shade structures. If you're handy with the mechanical and technical world, this is a great need and a noble calling. Managing playa conditions can be exhilarating and they can be treacherous. White-out dust storms & big winds spring up suddenly, and wrestling with parachutes, support poles & tie-downs is common - it's all an adventure!
Workshop Leaders
We offer our shamanistas and guest practitioners space and time to conduct workshops on topics they're passionate about. We can accommodate as many as sixty visitors for a workshop. Every year, we get feedback from burners who have experienced powerful transformations. (See Do you have a workshop you'd like to offer? below)
Once the camp roster is close to being set, we'll create a master schedule of tasks and shifts. Each camper then creates their own schedule within it. Again, everyone is allowed one full day off to play on the playa...and you can always ask to switch with a fellow camper if you see ahead of time that you have a conflict with a particular shift.
Our campers receive a Camp Guide, with information they need to feel comfortable and competent in their roles and tasks.
EVERYONE helps with final camp set-up at the beginning of the burn and with breakdown at the end.
The burn is a great challenge - spiritually, emotionally, and especially physically. When all campers help all the way through breakdown, we avoid exhausting anyone. (In 2022, we took multiple campers to the hospital - yes there's a hospital at BRC - for treatment due to exhaustion or heat stroke. We want to avoid repeating that scenario.)
IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO REMAIN IN BLACK ROCK CITY UNTIL AT LEAST 6PM ON MONDAY AFTER THE BURN, TO HELP WITH CAMP BREAKDOWN, PLEASE CONSIDER CAMPING ELSEWHERE.
Are you already planning to camp elsewhere, but want to see what we're about?
Please come visit us, and bring camp mates. Lead a circle in your camp. Stop by and help out when you can.
Do you have a workshop you'd like to offer?
We offer space in our domes for campers and guests to conduct workshops on any matter of interest.
Send an email to Shamanistas@gmail.com (and Cc barnaby.ruhe@gmail.com) with the title of your workshop, the number of people you can serve at once, the approximate amount of time it will take (2-hour max), and a description of it:
Title (50 characters maximum, including spaces)
number of people who may participate in your workshop (60 maximum)
Duration (135 minute maximum)
Description - 120 character maximum, including spaces and punctuation - must use proper grammar, with periods