The Time Has Come!

From the beginning of recorded time at least, prophets, shamans, saints, sages, and spiritual leaders have sought wisdom and change in the desert. Jesus surmounted Satan’s temptations after 40 days of fasting in the desert. American Indian youth use the desert for vision quests and personal discovery. The desert is a divine setting for shifts of consciousness and epiphanies. Surrounded by mountains, Black Rock Desert is an inspirational venue, the largest flat place on earth. The grandeur and power of nature is here writ large. It is a place of passage, purification, enlightenment, renewal, and awe. To us, the playa is sacred ground.

Shift Ministries makes its annual pilgrimage into the Black Rock Desert every August. Burning Man is a community whose rites and rituals have meaning and where we can celebrate communion with people who share and enlarge our vision. Here we seek liberation from all the elements that limit our vision and impede our spiritual development. We believe in the sacrament of fire and receive it as a blessing upon our spirit and body. We leave the desert each September in a state of renewal and sacramental grace, inspired to nurture our commitment to spiritual growth in our selves, family, workplace, community, nation, and the world beyond.

SHIFT 2008

Yes, fellow SHIFTers, we have incorporated as a church. It’s official! We are incorporated in Nevada and now have a separate camp bank account and a separate PayPal account. This means it is time to make financial contributions for the SHIFT MINISTRIES ANNUAL GATHERING 2008! The website is launched and ready at www.shift-bm.com/SHIFT-NEW. It will be updated and improved all the way up to Burning Man, so stay tuned. If you see something that needs adjustment, please let us know.

OTHER THINGS WE WANT YOU TO KNOW

 
FORUM

This is a new tool we will use to collect ride share info and post info about the different projects in the camp. Check it out!

 
DONATE

The new DONATIONS area allows you to contribute to specific projects supported by SHIFT. PLEASE UNDERSTAND that because of requests from last year, we have reduced the number of people in camp for 2008. At the same time, costs have increased. PLEASE DONATE! The basic fees cover food, showers, power, lights, and stage. All the other stuff is extra. Please contribute and select where you want your dollars to be put to work. Some projects are already listed and more information will be added to the site soon. These external projects are supported by SHIFT and contributing to them helps support our non-profit status.

MOOP (MATTER OUT OF PLACE)

In 2007 we failed miserably in cleaning up our camp area and it was tagged an environmental Red Zone. This year we want to be as green as possible. Please bring trash bags and clean your own area daily and before you leave. Every camper should leave with a bag of trash or five. PLEASE be PROACTIVE with your own MOOP patrols.

 
EARLY ARRIVALS & KITCHEN CREW

The core crew will be arriving on site on or before August 18th to begin set up. If you would like to arrive early and help set up please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . We will have seven slots open for kitchen volunteers. If you would like to contribute in the kitchen please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . You will be compensated for your service with reduced camp fees.

 
GREETERS NEEDED

Want to be a camp greeter? Let us know! This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

 
CAN YOU BRING FRIENDS TO SHIFT?

If you would like to bring friends to SHIFT 2008, they are welcome with three simple conditions:

1)They must be drama free.
2) You will be held 100% responsible for their actions.
3) See number 1.

 
NEED POWER?

This year power will provided by two or three (depending on demand) 70 KW generators burning bio-diesel fuel. Power will provided in the form of one 20 AMP circuit to those that pay for the power. You will be responsible for managing your own breaker. 20AMPs is more than enough for A/C and general use but NOT ENOUGH FOR TWO A/C UNITS, THE MICROWAVE, AND A HAIRDRYER. If you do not contribute to the power please don't unplug someone to plug in. NO 12 OR 14 GAUGE EXTENSION CORDS WILL BE ALLOWED. THESE ARE A FIRE HAZARD AND DRAW TOO MUCH POWER FROM THE SYSTEM DUE TO RESISTANCE.

 
Welcome to SHIFT 2008! The American Dream 

Camp is dedicated this year to Wes Harberts, who lived his American Dream and died last March. Wes inspired us and dared us to be better and to go farther than we thought we could. He was always willing to help and to make things bigger and better. Wes was our brother and he will be sorely missed. See a tribute to him at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgZjbJgpn4M.