Rainbow Gathering Safety Questions

Hi everybody,

I want to go to the National Rainbow Gathering this year. It'll be my first but I've been reading about it. All the great things that people experience and all the tragedy.

Tent and everything stolen, parked cars smashed to pieces, folks tied to trees and beaten -some of the stories are too gruesome to believe. I live in the city, so I know how to comport myself around trouble, I'm not afraid of that. Personal safety should be the same, huh?

I may end up going alone; I don't know anyone going out there yet. I plan on connecting with local groups though. My question is about the security of my stuff. It would suck to come back to the camp and find that I didn't have a tent, or bowl, or anything to sleep on or a change of cloths.

The only advice I have heard is to tent near other folks. That seems kind of vague, what is too close or too far when you don't know anybody or you come by yourself? Wouldn't it seem creepy to have a single dude park his tent right next to yours?

I have done a bunch of surfing on google and there are photos where it looks like 15 people are camping together under one big tent, or where the tents are spaced like 4 feet apart, and where they are 20 -60 ft apart with lots of brush and trees between. The last arrangement seems like it would be very unsafe.

What is the camp etiquette for parking your tent next to someone you don't know?

Any concrete advice on protecting your belongings. I know it isn't suppose to be about stuff. But folks aren't coming with a truck full of possessions and putting it all in a pile and letting someone else decide what they can keep. Anyway, you see folks with costumes and musical instruments, massage tables etc. Valuable stuff. What do you do to keep it from getting ripped off. Do you know of anyone who was ripped off, and how could they have prevented it?

Any recommendations? Is there a kind of tent? A way to pitch it? How do you decide where to pitch your tent when you go?

Are there certain days of the week or times of the day to look out for? Are folks just walking in and out of any tent they choose? Can you leave your tent with out having someone there? If I pitched a tent out front of my house right now with all my stuff in it, it wouldn't last the night.

Thanks all, any advice appreciated.
Peace

 

Mychal,

I want to go to Chicago. It would be my first but I've been reading about it.

Robbery, Burglary, People Beaten, Raped AND EVEN Killed-some of the stories are too gruesome to believe. I live with wild animals, so I know how to comport myself around trouble, I'm not afraid of that.

Safety is in Numbers. I Know you have single creepy dude's living on your block or in your building.

Dont piss in their firepit. Treat ALL like you would like to be treated.

For real...... Walk around and find some Folks you dont think are so Creepy. Tent's.....Wow if you're lucky to have one go for it!!!!!!!!! I sleep under tarps and in Boxe's (I LIKE them better). Weekends really rock, But the mid-week is quite and GREAT for Prayer. Guess you really have to get to a gathering to feel the real air and freedom our Country started on. So much for you to learn.......Ah to be young again.

ID - PR

For all those who cant get the quote right:

BELEIVE NOTHING YOU HEAR.........

AND ONLY HALF OF WHAT YOU SEE.

by A Pre-Roman Magician

 

Seriously, Just find a group you would enjoy hanging out with and stay near them. As for how close to put your tent, that really depends on the landscape, and people you are tenting with. Try and find a kitchen you would like to help (there are lots of them) andmeet up with famiy.

I have often camped off by ourselves and we have not really had anything taken, but you do need to be sensible, "Tempt not lest Ye be lifted from" If you are leaving your tent put anything of value out of sight, or with you in your backpacck, or better yet don't bring anythin valuable. Car keys, wallets and such should be kept in a backpack that you keep with you at all times.
Its really not as dangerous at a gathering than it is right here in suburbia where I am.

Take time to read the raps, they give useful advice, get to know people, have fun, spread the light and go into everything with a good attitude and all will be fine.

Blessings

 

.

 

What is the camp etiquette for parking your tent next to someone you don't know?

You can camp practically right next to someone you don't know, but you'd be happier if you got to know someone a little bit. Just say hi.

Any concrete advice on protecting your belongings. What do you do to keep it from getting ripped off.

Since ur gay, you might like Faerie camp. They seem to get along real well, and hang out in camp most of the time.

Do you know of anyone who was ripped off, and how could they have prevented it?

It is rare, but one brother i knew had his car stolen, but he had a missing window and many possesions in plain view. He had his most valuable possesions on him, so he wasn't that bummed.

Any recommendations? Is there a kind of tent? A way to pitch it? How do you decide where to pitch your tent when you go?

Whatever tent you have is okay, once again i think faerie camp would be safest and most comfortable. I'm not gay but have hung at faerie camp and it seems nice. Otherwise a Krishna camp would feel real safe.

Are there certain days of the week or times of the day to look out for?

 

we are all family brother..:sunglasse

its up to you to decide who ya click with at this big ole reunion..

 

ummm ????? what the fuck does farie camp have to do with bein gay??????????

man me an dilli both laughin over that one...

 

i've personsalty seen people leave all theyre stuff by the side of the trail, inluding the clothes they were wearring.. over a thousand dolllars in the pockets, & not come back to get them for 3 days..the money was removed from the pocket, & a note telling them where it was stashed was put in its place.. in general people waytch out for eachther & everyones stuff.. there may be 1 or 2 assholes wandering around stealling shit.. but generaly its very safe.. if you dont knoew anyone..find a kitchen to camp with..one that fits your vibe..

 

i didn't say faerie camp is gay, it is probably more gay friendly than A-camp, and one of the safer camps at rainbow.

http://faeriecamprainbow.tribe.net/

 

oh, campin near kid villiage ofcourse is the safest & most peaceful.. but then u also gotta watch your own behavior.. the foljks at kid villiage dont take no shit..theyre all about keepin that space safe for the kids..so if u can respect that its a really kind freindly spot
if ya wanna camp lil ways from the crowd.. i'd suggest hookin up with luvin overs, or granola funk..both are kynd places to chil;ll, not too crazy, & have good folks..
honnesztly tho, i;'ve been going 20 years, never once even thought about security & leave my shit unatended all the time..& only once did i have anything stolen, & that was by some asshole i met at bus villiage & was gonna get a ride with

 

The only asshole I've ever met was the fire NAZI at Montanna 2000, The guy came into our camp and tried to put out our fire becuase he didn't believe we had lined our pit with rocks (prevents underground root fires/more smouldering than anything). But we had our 5 gallon bucket of water, our shovel and our pit lined with rocks. This guy preceded to put out our fire with our water and stumbled away... "what a dick" is all I could think about while we shoveld out all the dirt and water that was now in our pit... The guy was messed up real bad, very high on something. It was better to let him put it out and continue his journey than to comfront him and have him spazz out. but ya thats my only bad expierence, didn't help it was about 2 or 3am pretty chilly up there at night...

Mike

 

oh man bro's and sista's. i am getting really homesick readin' all this good gathering stuff....... and dreamin' of ocala (& granola funk!)
Newbie brother, gathering's generate magic, and magickal people and the forest is magic. you will be awestruck by the wonder and beauty of it all. You will attract positive energy perhaps like never before in your life, all at once, everyday in multitudes of little ways. You will be embraced over and over in genuine and heartfelt ways by many loving folks. You will be passed many bowls of herb to share the healing medicine. Perhaps, shamanic revelations will unfold as you dancedrum with the fires...your life will be transformed.
And soaringeagle soars high above...he is a soul brother of love!

 

Thank you all. I am grateful for the response.

By googling "Rainbow Family" I've found many albums and journals documenting gatherings that Family have attended. You read about the joy that Keanua Otter describes. That's mostly what I've read; but people do like to write about their suffering. I know that the violent incidents I mentioned were undoubtedly personal, not random acts.

Myself, I've never had a problem meeting people, or starting a conversation. Am I more open to that? Sometimes it's annoying, like if I'm shopping and trying to concentrate on my list, of the ten people standing around in the store, I'm always the one a customer will seek out to ask "which onions are shallots?" I'm not complaining, I'm just sayin.

My concern was with security and first impressions. Like I said, I may end up going alone. All your suggestions are useful; other folks searching this forum will think so too.

I probably will tent with the Faeries. I've helped with a couple fundraisers for the Radical Faeries, I know some of those folks around here -I just missed out on making it to the sanctuary a couple times. We lost touch, but I do know how to get into contact. Even without Faerie Camp, I'd be okay with pitching my tent anywhere, including A-Camp.

peaceful -Thank you for your thoughtful answers.

hippiehillbilly -Buying protection with a keg, sounds deviant and sexy. I had to laugh, there's a short movie-script in that!

soaringeagle -your story of the people leaving stuff by the side of the trail did a lot to quell any anxiety I had. Thank you. I had visions of everyones unattended tent being rummaged through. You gave good suggestions on where to pitch tent for folks who want to keep away from drama.

I don't want to close this thread, If people have any other comments to add please do.

 

my suggestion is to not bring anything to a gathering that u couldnt stand to lose.
if possible, leave camping gear in vehicle till u take a walk-through of the site and find your perfect tentsite. no, it is not common to have people randomly going through tents and we dont accept that behavior from each other.
get to know the people who work in the kitchens and the people who look like they feel right at home. chances are they ARE home and these are the people u will later see at other gatherings. soon it'll seem like u know everyone and everyone knows you. just like family.
welcome home

 

i would just like to comment that that is the cutest tickle me mouse icon i have ever seen!

 

The mouse icon is in my hipforums album.
You can use it in your hip forum messages by adding:

{img}http://www.hipgallery.com/photopost2/data/500/mousie.gif{/img}

transpose [] for the {}.

 

you're a naturally generous brother. (you're gonna be so fine with rainbow!)thanks for the mousey.

 

Tent and everything stolen, parked cars smashed to pieces, folks tied to trees and beaten -some of the stories are too gruesome to believe. I live in the city, so I know how to comport myself around trouble, I'm not afraid of that. Personal safety should be the same, huh?



FYI- THE ONLY BAD THING WILL COME IF YOU TRADE BUNK DRUGS MAN

TAKE WARNING



STAY AWAY FROM A CAMP (DRUNKS )

 

The only undesirables I've met have been old dudes or just dudes tryin to get a piece, this happens alot. That and high holies, theyre all like its not om its aum. The complainers too, theres lots of those (could you please stop fire dancing I find the smell really offensive). All in all tho its awholelotta love and light.
I haven't had anything stolen but I did pick up lice once in Quebec. eeew
Lots of tics in Mexico too. eeew
A friend of mine alomost got raped in mexico.
For all the bad theres a million times more good.

 

Keep one eye open and on your shit while you're sleeping...