can we join?/picking names?

I heard about the gathering in Maddox county, CA. Sounds pretty cool. Unfourtunately I can't make it up there. Ok, 2 questions:

1) Can me and my 53 yr-old dad join?
and
2) We want names like a lot of the family, how do you choose your name? any good ones?

Thanx a bunch for all the help!

Peace

You're asking questions like there's some sort of membership to it. If you have a belly button, you're already a part of the family. Even if you DON'T have one, you're part of the family. If you're a forest ranger or cop riding through the area on horseback making sure people tie up their dogs, you're part of the family. There's no membership fees, no hierarchy(sp?), no rites of passage, no restrictions. Just show up.

Too many people think that the Rainbow Family is some sort of cult, or organized commune, or some form of established group. Not true. Well, there's a tiny amount of organization from the council, which is made up of everyday people like yourself. If you wanted to show up to Spring Council, you could. And you'd have a say in the matters at hand. The only ones who don't have a say are the ones who don't show up. We don't get paid for doing the gatherings, nor do we pay anyone to participate in them. In fact, we encourage EVERYONE to try to help out in anyway they can, in order to lighten the load for those dedicated few that put so much time and energy into trying to keep things flowing smoothly. Whether you're digging a shitter, or directing traffic at the parking lots, or cooking in a kitchen, or making a simple donation to the Magic Hat(which goes towards food for the gathering, waste removal, and other essential parts of the gathering) or to one of the kitchens. This year I decided to bring in some food as well as helping out a bit in a kitchen(the 4ums kitchen, which is related to this particular site).

As for Rainbow names, I've never had one. There was one guy who called me "Poppa Bear", but it never stuck with me. I just go by my birth name or my Forums user ID.

I hope this helps a bit. If you need more info, try checking out www.welcomehome.org and look around to see what other people have to say. Rainbow means something different to each individual. I know for a fact that I took something different from Rainbow than the next person.

We Love You!!!
Mono

you get the names, just like any nickname, something will stick. If you don't have a fancy rainbow name, people often go by "just" Bill, or "Just" Cindy, i even saw a wedding anouncement where it said that "morningdew" & "Just Chad" were wed........

that sounds cool! I just went to a friend's wedding and I'm getting married in 1 yr and 1/2. morningdew is a very pretty name.

I got my name at Little Dry Creek, just north of Silver City NM, in Feb 1994. There was a very small gathering where we stayed for two weeks. This (very drunk) "elder" who sayed his name was Rainbow name giver, pronounced my name to be Road Toad.

Works for me!

If there's a gathering in your area, go to it, take your father and your grandfather if they're open-minded. Dress warm, prepare for weather.

i don't know if you're ready for the naming ritual yet






(just kidding, there's no ritual)
Everyone's got different views about the rainbow names. Some are nicknames from grade school, some are simple variations on ppls names, some are just made up, some are given by others, some are offered by spirit. My name "Steps(to Freedom)" originally was just something that popped into my head and i went w/ it. The "to Freedom" part of the name was spirit offered years later.

Just be sure that you like the name someone tries to give you(or that you make up) and i'd say try to find names that are unique(there are a million gazillion sunshines and butterflies and anything a bear can do)