How Accepting?

[BraveSirRubin]

I have always been fascinated with the idea of the Rainbow Family ever since I first heard about it (through this forum). I've read alot about it from this forum and the various links provided on it, but I have always wondered...

How accepting is the family? Everyone claims that the family takes anyone in... but it seems to go a tad against the modern human soul... especially if one person has completely opposite beliefs. Also, how approachable is the family? Is it actually easy for such a fairly tight group (especially with the people who have been going to gatherings for years) to accept random strangers with open arms? Isn't there at least a spec of an elitist attitude about the whole thing?

It just sounds too good to be true. I myself am foreign, so I am not too aware of the whole Rainbow family thing. I read the facts, but... that's never enough. What's the feeling like?

Cheers for enlightening my curiosity :)

[RELAYER]

I dont remember I was always
drunk at the gatherings :tongue:
j/k
You should go to one Pavel, and
see for yourself.
It's the same as anywhere, some
people are full of shit, and some
people generally know what
Love is.

[Okiefreak]

.

How accepting is the family? Everyone claims that the family takes anyone in... but it seems to go a tad against the modern human soul... especially if one person has completely opposite beliefs. Also, how approachable is the family? Is it actually easy for such a fairly tight group (especially with the people who have been going to gatherings for years) to accept random strangers with open arms? Isn't there at least a spec of an elitist attitude about the whole thing?

It just sounds too good to be true. I myself am foreign, so I am not too aware of the whole Rainbow family thing. I read the facts, but... that's never enough. What's the feeling like?

Cheers for enlightening my curiosity :)
Relative to just about any other bunch of people, it's pretty accepting. You can expect to get hugs and "welcome home brother" from complete strangers. If you look like Dick Cheney or a federal agent, people may be more standoffish, but if you look like your picture, you'll have no trouble at all.

[Bumble]

From my own experience, everyone is pretty much accepting. You sometimes get the angered people, but that could be because they were drunk. Phamily is all about giving and accepting. We even accept the Leos, but if they don't accept us, then we get a little upset. I would say 90% of everyone is accepting, but the other 10% go to gatherings for the wrong things. Rubin, if I see you at a gathering, then I'd accept you for sure! :)

[BraveSirRubin]

Thank ya all for the input :)

Haha, I'm not worried about being accepted meself. I'm a walking bundle of love :D

It just seems a tad too utopic. I want to go to a gathering, but I honestly have no idea what to expect... some people say that at times there are just a bunch of drunk wankers, and others say that it's all peace and love there.

I'm just trying to get a feel for this... is this just one big party? That's what most so called gatherings turn into...

Even though, I do love getting hugs from strangers.

I'll go to a gathering when I can. I would have gone to the Arkansas one if I was in Arkansas... and I missed the one here in Ocala because I didn't allow myself to go in order not to break my meditative solitude here.

Un dia!

[Okiefreak]

Thank ya all for the input :)


It just seems a tad too utopic. I want to go to a gathering, but I honestly have no idea what to expect... some people say that at times there are just a bunch of drunk wankers, and others say that it's all peace and love there.

I'm just trying to get a feel for this... is this just one big party? That's what most so called gatherings turn into...

Un dia!
There are drunks who can get ugly, but fortunately they tend to hang out at A-camp, which unfortunately you often have to go through to get to the rest of the gathering. I'd also say that for a lot of people there (sometimes it seems like a majority) it's "one big party", and of course there are a lot of tourists and first timers who haven't abosorbed the Rainbow norms. But there are lots of really good, spiritual folks there, too. A lot of it is what you make it.

[Bumble]

yes, indeed, I usually experience spiritual journeys while at home. This year I had tremendous awakenings thanks to Yoga camp! :)

[BraveSirRubin]

That's pretty good to know. The whole party thing didn't seem too enticing. I could have a party en la casa... but yeah, I'll probably go to the next gathering near me. Sounds interesting enough.

[hippiehillbilly]

the next gathering near you will be ocala,, an as much as its becoming gathering like over the last few years,, its really not what a high holy would consider a gathering..

as far as elitists,, you bet your ass theres elitists.. we call them high holies.

everyone wants to only tell the good side of gatherings,unfortunately a gathering is still a product of modern society.all about peace an love ,,id say more about cooperation. many kitchens just plain dont care for some of the people in other kitchens. thats why there are different kitchens,, cause not everyone clicks,much the same as society as a whole.


as for me,, i see the same at all of the gatherings,, its just kept more on the down low at the annual...

i live by love all trust noone,, even at gatherings.. there are thieves and predators there in numbers. not a gathering gos by that people aint ripped off or preyed upon.

as far as taking a spiritual journey at a gathering,,pfft..

i think i could find better places.. to be honest pavel weve typed at you for many years(5?? wow.) now an watched you grow up.. i dare say you are far more enlightened than 70% (that number would be upped to 90% for the under 25 crowd)of the people you will meet at a gathering,,therefore it could be a big let down if your expectations are set to high..

that bein said,, a gathering is something everyone should experience at least once,an chances are ya will meet enough like minded folks to long too return again and again.

[BraveSirRubin]

Cheers HHB :)

I can honestly say that I have no expectations, especially... because as I said... there is no solid ground or common opinion on the gathering experience.

But yeah, enlightened or not... I love people... and it could be interesting enough. I will probably be back here in Florida next summer, so I think that I'll pop by for a spell.

[hippiestead]

as far as taking a spiritual journey at a gathering,,pfft..

i think i could find better places.. to be honest pavel weve typed at you for many years(5?? wow.) now an watched you grow up.. i dare say you are far more enlightened than 70% (that number would be upped to 90% for the under 25 crowd)of the people you will meet at a gathering,,therefore it could be a big let down if your expectations are set to high..

that bein said,, a gathering is something everyone should experience at least once,an chances are ya will meet enough like minded folks to long too return again and again.
Come on HHB...just cuz you haven't had a spiritual journey at a Gathering, doesn't mean that others haven't. I've been turned on to many things at Gatherings which have helped me on my spiritual path.

But setting high expectations is usually going to be a let down...I seem to have the best experiences when I just open myself to experiencing (I think it helps if you try to steer toward the positive tho :) )

[dilligaf]

i aint him but was here when he posted earlier n i think twas just meant more to not going with the expectation of having some epiphany or meetin god or seein jesus... :) ya know those preconcieved notions that some get :D... n sure we all have great things come from a gathering expereince however,,,, at the ame time it not like a ever occurring theme whilst there..

but who knows,,,

[luvione]

All are welcome, and just like any family, we dont always see eye to eye, ect. But the love is stronger than not. And so my brother, I hope you will be in Wyoming next July! I think youd fit right in! Whats your guitars name? Happy Trails,,

Truth & Light= LOVE,
Luvione

[hippiehillbilly]

I've been turned on to many things at Gatherings which have helped me on my spiritual path. there is a huge diffrence between things helping you follow your spiritual path and a "spiritual journey" in my opinion..

an as i stated,, as far as a "spiritual journey",, i personally could find much better places to take one than at a gathering..

[BraveSirRubin]

My guitar's name?

"That old piece of shit".

I love that guitar. :)

[unionjack67]

It just seems a tad too utopic. I want to go to a gathering, but I honestly have no idea what to expect... some people say that at times there are just a bunch of drunk wankers, and others say that it's all peace and love there.This about sums it up. The only place that the Drunks and Theives, don't out number the peace lovers is the National.

Be grateful you missed Ocala's Yearly event that lasts from Oct - Febuary. I have been to it a couple of times and A-Camp runs the show there. There is a Christain group in the area that "ministers" to the Rainbows who are there.

If you have not been, you need to experience the National as your first time. Otherwise you are likely to get disillusioned and bitter against the Rainbows like I have.

Going to a National will let you see what it is SUPPOSED to be about.

As far as the Rainbows being accepting... hit or miss. Find out where A-camp is and stay away. One thing you need to be aware of is false friends. If you drive there and/or have money to support yourself, peope will befriend you quick in hopes of getting some of your "assets". This is also less likely at Nationals. Nationals bring a lot of Families, Professionals, and working class. Much easier to avoid the bad elements of the Rainbows.

[cricketlind]

I dunno 'bout anyone else but I am unique and different even by rainbow standards. But I have always been accepted with open arms by 99% of the phamily. I will always dance to my own drum. Rainbows are human too. We come in all shapes, sizes and philosophies of life. With the rainbow family and at gatherings is the "only" place I feel accepted and loved unconditionally.

Peace, Cricket

[dd3stp233]

This about sums it up. The only place that the Drunks and Theives, don't out number the peace lovers is the National.
From my experiences, at some west coast regionals, they're better then the National, in those terms. Never went to any east coast ones so I can't comment on those. Usually a lot of love.

[unionjack67]

From my experiences, at some west coast regionals, they're better then the National, in those terms. Never went to any east coast ones so I can't comment on those. Usually a lot of love.My Experience has only been with the East Coast with the Exception of the Montana National.

[soaringeagle]

pavel, u missed 2 gatherings in russia several in isreal
as for the great big party thing, i think most ppl will find theyre 1st gathering experience is a huge party, but by the 2nd or 3rd they find the deeper aspects to be more previlient, well except those who only go for the party then they tend to be more & more disapointed as they only look to get high..but most ppl after the mindboggling of the 1st experience is replaced by the deeper more meanninmgful spiritual experience find the total acceptence they seek...
every belief is accepted as well, & you'll sometimes see the hare krishnas camped nextto the christians & pagans
ofcourse not every single person is accepting or loving, we invite everyone & everyone comes, & the family as a whole accepts even the unaccepting...
i remember seeing 1 post somewhere by someone from i think jesus camp or bread of life that said something about all the people yelling "we love you" sounded like the barking of demons & something abouit some sis saying "hey brother, need a hug?" was satan trying to lure him
but thats 1 individual, & each & every person is just that a unique individual & limmited to theyre own personal capacity to be loving & accepting..
but as a whiole, most ppl who experience the true gathering spirit are opened up to the love & become more accepting & loving from the experience, so they grow more accepting, & thats why its kinda utopian, think about it, when you live in babylon, traditional society, with all its ills, its easy to fall into that mindset that keeps society sick, but when your placed into a utopian society (or nearly) it affects you as well, & you become more a part of what makes it a utopia, most criminals blame society for making them criminals, well rainbows can blame rainbow for making them accepting loving beautiful ppl.\
by creating a better society you also creat better ppl within it
hope that makes sence

[soaringeagle]

From my experiences, at some west coast regionals, they're better then the National, in those terms. Never went to any east coast ones so I can't comment on those. Usually a lot of love.most regionals are beautiful the only ones that seem to be overrun with drunks are the regionals that happen every year like ocala
but regionals that only happen now & then, like the pa one comming up..tend to be extremely nice & alot more intimate then the naationals
the natinals ofcourse cant be beat for the pure amazing experience, but a nice confy regional is wonderful for really getting to know folks, having an experience thats alittle less crazy
if your in ocala now, you should find your way to the pa regional, aug 10..
it should be a really nice 1st gathering experience

[soaringeagle]

oh
few stories about "how accepting"
west virginia national: main circle on the 4th several thousand folks there, just after the sillence ..i notice 1 brother dancing with a pre-op transexual, naked, had breasts & penis, several thousand ppl around, & it was like noone even noticed, least of all the brother dancing with him/her...the only reason i did was the massive smile that came from being totaly accepted..
pa regional..hmm 96ish?: met a brother named stretch.. skinhead, covered in nazi tats, white power tats, the total opposite image of what youd expect at gatherings..untill you talked to him, & find that the gatherin experience had changed him, made him the most loving generopuse accepting person..& this brother worked his ass off, harder then anyone there..anonomously, i mean he hid the work he did, every kitchen always had a huge pile of firewood & about 15 gallons of water, but noone knew where it kept comming from, hed work under the cover of darkness, & sneak around to avoid getting noticed or credit for all hed done..
new mexico national: met a 10 year old kid, it was his 4th national, and the second one he'd gone to alone without his family.. his parents had gone for years, but when they couldnt make it to those 2 felt confortable sending a 10 year old alone (im not recomending that but only saying what i saw)

i'll think of more later
oh 1 last 1
on the way home from cali, 4 states away, kevin drumm who passed away right b4 colorado was sick & we stopped to find a hospitol, & a cop calls an ambulance for us, then the cops like " dont take this wrong but are u guys comming from a gathering?" & im thinking wtf were 4 states away is there a nationwide alert to watch oit for us? but then he goes on to say " i worked a gathering a few years ago, i love you guys, u might smoke some weed & munch some shrooms but your so peaceful loving & accepting, i cant wait to go back out of uniform"
even the ones we dont want or like being there..cops.. are accepted

ofcourse that idsnt to say that every behavior is acceptable

[CloudFlower]

At my first gathering I was amazed how many people introduced themselves to me with open arms. Everyone felt so free, I saw no fights and everyone looked out for eachother. The kitchens fed all the hungry rainbow children as if they were children of their own. But on the fourth night it seriously seemed as if we had all known eachother all along. It's great to walk up to anyone and start a conversation without getting turned away or looked down on. Accepting is definatly an understatement, yeah there are always a few bad eggs but usually the good vibes overpower any of the bad ones. Once the circle is made and everyone started to ohm is when the real magic happens, not only do you feel a connection to the people around you but a connection to everything around you. Rainbows are a cosmic and magical thing hopefully to be enjoyed for many decades to come. Lovin' You family

[WanderingturnupII]

I have always been fascinated with the idea of the Rainbow Family ever since I first heard about it (through this forum). I've read alot about it from this forum and the various links provided on it, but I have always wondered...How accepting is the family? Everyone claims that the family takes anyone in... but it seems to go a tad against the modern human soul... especially if one person has completely opposite beliefs.

Completely opposite of what? There is no one Rainbow belief, no Irisean Creed, so to speak. We even have two Republicans that I know about. Unless you have multiple personalities that are schizophrenic, you can't out believe all of us.

Also, how approachable is the family? Is it actually easy for such a fairly tight group (especially with the people who have been going to gatherings for years) to accept random strangers with open arms? Isn't there at least a spec of an elitist attitude about the whole thing?

That would depend on the random stranger. If there's a new face, and every time I see this kid and he's not playing guitar, he's hauling firewood or digging holes or cooking supper, I'm going to want to know who he is. And probably smoke him out so he'll slow down and not make me look so bad with my butt parked in my lawn chair. If all this new kid does is sit by the side of the trail dangling his glass piece on a stick and string fishing for nuggets, I'll probably trip over him.. There is a meritocracy. On our bad days we can be more cliqueish than high school kids. Somehow it works in spite of all this.

It just sounds too good to be true. I myself am foreign,

Oh, there ain't nothing too good about it. People who keep hold of all their idealistic expectations of how the Family and it's gatherings ought to be end up disillusioned and bitter and it, seems to me, have very little fun. The miracle is that it continues to function, most of the time quite well, in spite of all the human stupidity and ego and corruption and lazyness &c...Perhaps what the Christians would call the burden of Original Sin... and all the Guvmint's attempts to disrupt things even more than we mannage to disrupt them ourselves.



Foreign? I had to find a Polish-English interpreter at about 6:00 AM at Front Gate at the Michigan Gathering in '01. At Pensylvania '99 there were two sisters from Kiev and Moscow that met at the Owl's Nest parking lot, who came in on the came night on different rides. I've seen Russians at Ocala, and Quebecois, and of course, English speaking Canadians.

I read the facts, but... that's never enough. What's the feeling like?



In all this reading, have you read Niman's book? It's no more misleading than anything else you're likely to have read. Remember, believe half of what you see, and none of what you hear, and all that.



Two other events changed my outlook on life as much as my first Gathering, Nevada, '89. One was loosing my virginity. The other was becoming a father.

there is no solid ground or common opinion on the gathering experience. .

Understatement of the year!



as for the great big party thing, i think most ppl will find theyre 1st gathering experience is a huge party, but by the 2nd or 3rd they find the deeper aspects to be more previlient, well except those who only go for the party then they tend to be more & more disapointed as they only look to get high..

We just about agree on something here, dadgumit. There's a lot of work that goes into making the big party happen. After going to a couple of them, I decided that it was worth doing the work to make the party happen, so other folks could maybe have that same life changing experience I had. Then it took a couple more years to find the place that really fit me.

i remember seeing 1 post somewhere by someone from i think jesus camp or bread of life that said something about all the people yelling "we love you" sounded like the barking of demons & something abouit some sis saying "hey brother, need a hug?" was satan trying to lure him

That was an article from a website maintained by one of the Christian groups who has decided that it is their mission to Mission to us. I can dig up the thread, but the link to the article no longer works. Did anyone copy this article to their computer? I want a copy!

This about sums it up. The only place that the Drunks and Theives, don't out number the peace lovers is the National

We've been to diferent regionals. Or perhaps my favorite metaphor for regional gatherings and the Annual works here. A regional is like a small town. Everybody knows everybody else's buiness. If something bad happens, it's all over camp. At the Big City Annual, you only know what goes on in your neighborhood.

Be grateful you missed Ocala's Yearly event that lasts from Oct - Febuary. I have been to it a couple of times and A-Camp runs the show there.

You haven't been to Ocala recently, obviously. USFuSs changed the camping regulations a couple or three years ago. It's impossible to go be homeless in the Ocala NF from the time the weaher starts to get cold till the gathering and call it seed camp, then hang out till the weather starts to get hot and call it clean up. We have to sign a permit to get away with 4 to 6 weeks in FebMar. Also, the past couple years, Family has been sucessful in geographicly isolating what you call "A-Camp" from Front Gate. They still get to call it FG, but most of the traffic has another way in.

If you have not been, you need to experience the National as your first time. Otherwise you are likely to get disillusioned and bitter against the Rainbows like I have.

If the kid's gonna be in Apopka in Feb anyway, he ought to check it out. I believe we'll be back at one the sites near Salt Springs. I've seen enough bad $hit at Annuals and enough beauty at regionals, and Ocala (a 3rd speicies, IMO) to think that there's any guarantees anywhere.

Going to a National will let you see what it is SUPPOSED to be about.

I'll say it again. A man walking through a forest encounters a dragon and a unicorn. They're playing chess. He says to the dragon, "Hey! both your bishops are on the same color square. It's not supposed to be like that!" The Annual's what its supposed to be, and the little regionals are what they're supposed to be, and Ocala is what its supposed to be.

When is the Annual SUPPOSED to be in the Samual R McElvie, Mr UnionJack Cornhusker?

[21stcenturyjourney]

Hey -- don't go to Ocala -- go to PA -- comin' up soon --


Journey

[SafetyPin]

I was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia when I was 22 years old; the psychiatrists insist that I am still paranoid schizophrenic.

All my life I have thought about fighting more then anything else, next down the line was sex. This, despite the fact that I've never actually been in many fights, never comitted a very serious act of violence, and have only had sex infrequently.

The only time as an adult that I was ever considered "normal" was for three short years, (when I was 19 until I was 22), during which I was part of the counter culture. At that time, I was in a very small nonbiological family that was only together for 2, or possibly 3 months. Tension in the "family" while we were together was so high that we were on the virge of fighting almost all the time. There was also a lot of love in the family.

Now a days my interest and enthusiam for non biologiocal families, (big or small) has diminished, especially in the last 2 or 3 years.

I'm 57 years old now and not getting any younger, and I've been devestated by taking psychotropic drugs for nearly a lifetime. In addition to that, I have for most of my life been cut off and isolated from healthy social, emotional, and sexual relationships. I'm also warn down physically from everytnhing I've just mentioned.

However, my curiosity about Rainbow gatherings is building. They sound appealing to me. Please continue to make more threads and posts about them, please. Even if I don't ever go to one, I like reading about them.

peace and love,
from an old hippy who never gave up,

peter

[nutznfl]

BraveSirRubin, If you by chance get to Ocala, Do stop by CampBurntout.We'l have the hot coco or some Dank Cappuccino waitin for ya..