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"Congress
shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting
the free exercise thereof;
What is the Rainbow Family of Living Light? First
of all, be prepared for a different answer from each person who responds. We, who are
brothers & sisters, children of God, families of life on earth,
friends of nature & of all people,
The 3000 acres never materialized, and the first gathering took place partly on private land offered for temporary use, and partly on National Forest land. As you can see, this was intended to be a onetime event. However, people liked it so much that gatherings continued to happen annually on federal lands, each year in a different state. The length of the gathering has since expanded beyond the original four-day span. For many years,
there was only the one gathering, and the spiritual focus was foremost
in the minds of everyone who attended. Most folks were identified
with the "hippie" movement of the times, engaged in establishing
alternative social, economic, spiritual, political, and/or environmental
consciousness. Many were involved either in the Peace movement in
the cities or the communal, back-to-the-land movement in the country.
In either case, exploration of alternative spiritual systems and states
of consciousness was often a common theme. In
the past few years, the spiritual focus has been less obvious, due
to the huge influx of people who may not realize the central purpose
of the gatherings. These folks may come to party, to hang out, to
find like-minded people, to gain support for their political causes,
or whatever. Who knows? (I sure don't, since I haven't spoken with
all of them.)
The interesting thing is that we all consider ourselves to be part of a huge, extended family, no matter what our reason for gathering, no matter what our spiritual or religious or political or economic or social views may be. And many people who have not yet had an opportunity to attend a gathering also feel they are part of this family. Another interesting
thing is that there is no formal organizational structure. There are
no membership qualifications, no fees or dues, no leaders, and virtually
no rules other than the one of "peaceful respect." Each
year, individuals take personal responsibility and work together with
others on whatever they are inspired to do, from office work, to scouting,
to building the kitchens at the gatherings, to hauling in food and
first-aid supplies, to peacekeeping, etc. Every project undertaken
operates essentially on a consensus basis. Participation, communication,
and cooperation are how things get done. The gatherings
are free and non-commercial, and everyone is welcome. Each person
is asked to bring their own camping equipment (this all takes place
in remote areas of the National Forest), their own cup, bowl, and
spoon, and whatever they might want to share to help the gathering
happen (tarps, shovels, musical instruments, bulk food, etc.). No
one will be turned away because of lacks in these areas, however.
The Magic Hat is passed at mealtimes and around camp. Donations are
used to buy food in bulk for the kitchens and whatever else may be
necessary for the communal well-being (plywood covers and lime for
the latrines, first aid supplies, etc.).
For me personally, the Rainbow Family is where I have found my greatest opportunities to learn, to grow, to celebrate, to be one with my fellow beings and my mother Earth, to serve, to pray, to play. The gatherings for me are living theater, evolution in process, creativity manifest. I am passionately in love. Picture twenty
thousand people in a sunlit meadow, standing silent in prayer, holding
hands in one huge, unbroken circle. Picture a parade of children approaching,
singing songs, their countenances bright with enthusiasm and face
paint, baloons and banners waving in the breeze. Picture the breaking
of the silence with a cheer from the circle, then the silence returning
once again, to grow slowly into a thrum of voices united in a single
OM reverberating through the valley and on to the hills beyond. Hold
the OM in your mind. Let it spread through and around and in you.
Feel it pass from hand to hand and heart to heart.
People
of the Rainbow: A Nomadic Utopia
The Rainbow Guide is a freely printed publication of Rainbow friends, tribes, communities and co-ops world over, and has been in public circulation for many years. Each couple of years the Rainbow Guide passes to a new family tribe to continue the vibration and spread the love of a family united as one. For the forseeable future, the "tribe" overseeing the Guide is now a virtual one, and consists of folks all over the country (and can involve folks all over the world -- including you!!)
60s & Further has always tried to connect with the Rainbow Family but never has.. especially any Arizona Tribes or Clans--if you read this and would like to connect with us... Please feel free anytime. I want to go to a Gathering!!!-LH- International
Rainbow Family Websites North
American Rainbow Family Websites ECOLUTION
More
'Beyond Babylon '
Mark Henson's Political and Tantra Galleries 1967 San Francisco Human Be-In Brother Yama's "Rainbow Memoirs' Gilbert Weingourt '60s Manifestations'
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