In this episode, Joe Moore is joined by Mareesa Stertz and Tania Abdul, the visionaries behind Sphinx Gate, one of Burning Man 2025’s most ambitious and mythic art installations. Inspired by The NeverEnding Story, Sphinx Gate features two towering 34-foot sphinxes and a fully immersive, transformative art experience designed to help participants gain a deeper understanding of themselves.
The trio explores how art and play can catalyze personal and collective transformation—without the need for psychedelics—by helping people reframe inner challenges as quests for growth. They discuss the project's mythic inspiration, how it has evolved into a “transmersive” self-discovery journey, and how community co-creation has made this dream real. With rituals, interactive stations, laser-eyed sphinxes, and an oracle offering personalized missions, Sphinx Gate blends storytelling, inner work, and spectacle.
They also touch on the deeper intention: shifting culture by normalizing integration, peer support, and emotional exploration—through joy. From honoring Indigenous land stewards to designing future traveling versions and permanent “Museums of Self-Exploration,” this project is just the beginning.
Topics Covered:
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What Sphinx Gate is and how it works
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The archetypal and cultural roots of sphinxes
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How The NeverEnding Story inspired the vision
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Designing integration spaces without psychedelics
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Co-creation, community magic, and scaling big dreams
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The emotional and mystical potential of participatory art
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Fantasia Fridays, Black Rock Philharmonic, and more playa programming
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Vision for life beyond Burning Man
Support Sphinx Gate: Help bring this mythic experience to life and fund its future by donating at TheSphinxGate.com
Follow: IG: @thesphinxgate www.thesphinxgate.com
