PLUR –Peace Love Unity Respect. Our culture  When the kandi is made and traded, there is a special ritual that is done during the process. It brings us closer and celebrates differences. At the end you join hands and switch bracelets. Over the years my traded kandi collection has hit the hundreds. They all tell stories and have memories I will never forget with new friends I will always treasure!

Rituals-pushing your body to its limits  A main dance that I have personally practiced for years is called shuffling. You will see people everywhere showing off their own personal take. During EDC you dance for 3 nights straight for hours on end, on a few hours of sleep at most, very little water and little to no food. It could be considered a ritual form of fasting and dehydration, putting our bodies to the max. I go to the gym all year for one reason, to go non- stop for one weekend each year.

 The insane traffic is a milestone in and of itself. You can expect no less than 2 hours of traffic before and afterwards, each night. While sitting in traffic people are blaring music and trading kandi through windows and dancing. Patience is a virtue. You sleep 2-4 hours, get up get ready, sit in traffic, dance all night then do it all again.  Another ritual is making totems. Usually used to help keep large groups together.  Clothing worn ranges from fluffies on your legs, tutus, leg wraps, tops adorned with diamonds and special ordered outfits as well. I can’t count the hours I’ve spent with friends preparing outfits and making kandi.

Reintegration  Coming home is welcome after such a draining weekend of non stop excitement. It can also be very sad, people will often say how depressing it is coming back to daily life but yet would not trade those memories for the world. Watching the hour long fireworks each night is exhilarating and breathtaking. Understanding just how much effort that goes into setting up events like this is exponential.  We do come back home with a sense of happiness and achievement that is hard to come by. Surviving EDC with a whole new idea of what it is to be happy in life.

There has been one time when I made it to the front of the main stage. Over an hour of maneuvering through the crowd. As one of my favorite djs starting to play the guy next to me help me on his shoulders. Hearing over 40 thousand people yelling behind me was the most magical experience of my life. I can’t describe the emotions and energy from so many people all in in the happiest place on Earth. Gives me faith in humanity, that even with all the war around us, we can still come together under the electric sky.

EDCLV 2012 Official Trailer EDCLV 2015 Official Announcement Trailer See if you can find me in this video ;) Some links to Youtube videos to give you a better idea of this insane pilgrimage, enjoy!