Burning Man's cancellation stings, without a doubt. The event is the highlight of my year, the focus of so much of my and my community's creative energy.

Here's the silver lining: building a virtual Black Rock City in online space will make Burning Man and its 10 principles more accessible than ever before. We can reach new people in new places, opening up whole new pathways for cultural and social transformation.

Make this the year that you invite your parents to Burning Man. Make this the year that your art is accessible to and inclusive of new Burners who never could have joined before due to disadvantage or disability.

Let us take our moment of grief or anger, then let us set it aside and get to work building a new multiverse for new Burners. Let's find new ways to make art, to grow caring communities, and to fuck with The Man in cyberspace. Remember, when the going gets weird, the weird turn pro – and boy, is it weird out there.

And hey, next year was better anyway.