Darrin Drda's blog

Daniel Northcott was an artist, a filmmaker, and above all, a visionary. After years of traveling and filming, Daniel was diagnosed with leukemia, and passed away in 2009. He left over 1000 hours worth of unedited footage to his sister. The project, Be Brave, is now being crowd-funded through Indiegogo. (more)

Burning questions filled my mind and appeared on my Facebook page after my return from Black Rock City. I had a hard time making sense of the default world and understanding why I should participate in it. Inasmuch as I was able to maintain a consistent thought, it was this: What, exactly, is the point of it all?

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Just outside my door at Norbulingka in northern India was a magnificent rendering of the Bhavachakra, the Wheel of Suffering. The more I thought about it, the more it seemed that American culture is a charicature of the human condition, similar to the one in the Tibetan painting.  The cartoonist in me couldn't resist. (more)

The current global crisis represents the greatest challenge our species has ever faced. The very structures that support life are being rapidly dismantled, and our daunting challenge is to come together to engage our collective wisdom, compassion, and creativity to preserve as much life as possible. This requires an authentic, heroic humility. (more)

Over the course of five days, eight astrologers gave over 150 readings. Having honed the "archetypal eye," we began to experience and process Burning Man in terms of the ten planetary archetypes. (more)

While reflecting on Buddhism and Burning Man, I learned of a wildfire encroaching on a meditation retreat. It's an analogy for our crisis. As temperatures rise and natural systems decline, can people of conscience (and privilege) afford to spend so much money and time playing on the playa? (more)

The earth-shaking events of nine years ago can best be understood, I believe, by thinking of the US in terms of its unique psychological profile, and by distilling the tri-colored essence of the American mindset. (more)