Annual Gathering, First Timer

I don't consider myself a full blown hippie, but I dig the ideology. I first heard of rainbow gatherings just a few months ago, and ever since it's always been in the back of my mind. I think it's something I really want to experience and see for myself at least once while I'm still on this rock.

Recently, I had a mind blowing trip (LSA+2c-e), and realized that god/no-god, supernatural/natural, life by design or life by accident, there is no expresion more important than love. Love for ourselve, for one another, love without direction, and love without cause.

I live in oklahoma, and hear this years gathering will be close. And I feel drawn to it. (I also love camping/backpacking/outdoors.)

I guess there's no specific point to this post, but I just wanted to express my interest. I've seen the links, and have been reading up. Anyways, perhaps I'll meet a couple of you guys there, if not in person then in spirit.

If anyone has any advice burning in their mind they need to get out, you can hit me right here, right now on this thread.

 

come with an open heart open mind and open arms


then use those open arms to carry some water for a kitchen

after you cary 20 or so gallons just think how good it;ll feel to use those tired open arms to hug everyone you see


raibnbow love is a high you will not soon forget
it will stick with you far longer then anty trip ever could

have no expectations, just enjoy the ride

dont throw poo at people with dreads, or everyoner will hafta smell it for weeks

 

Sounds good man, really pumped. I've actually got a two friends who I think want to come to. There both good dudes, and think being there will be good for all of us. So you can expect to see some young stapping lads ready cary water around from oklahoma.

 

A buddy and myself are considering attending the annual gathering this year also. I would also be our first time. Where will it be held? I live in Northeast Texas, so the fact that it may be near Oklahoma sounds wonderful!

 

Sweet man, If I see ya I'll say what's up.

Texas\Arkansas\Oklahoma... who has a three sided coin?

 

im hopeing that the national will be inarkansas....thats still close to you ......and there is a good sise regional in missouri before the national ....i think youll love it . just dont expect any single thing to happen and follow your instintual self find the kitchenand coffee house or whatever of hundreds of little movies goin on there ......theres always something super speciaL FOR YOU AT EACH GATHERING ....JUST GOTTA FIND IT .....

 

don't expect anything cause it could be an experience far from what you expect

 

Basically every preconception I've ever had, of anything, has eventually proved itself misinformed. So, I'm doing my best to conciously give up the notion. On the other side of the coin, life fully lived in the moment is rarely left unfulfilled.

 

first timer here... i can't wait.

 

First timer here too, well I hope I will be. I feel really drawn to going but I'm not sure if I am going to be able to.

No I am going, positive thought from you all please. It will happen.

 

mamagoose , lotsa love 2 u and i look forward to seeing u there.
to all first timers i say, "welcome home". meditate on that phrase a bit. its gonna come so natural, like exhaling from a hard days work when u close your house's door behind u. welcome aum. kickin back in the woods is something we've been doing 4ever. love u all and see u soon!

 

I just love hearing of these "first timers." What a heart-warming kind of thing to hear. I hope you folks go and have a good time!

"use those open arms to carry some water for a kitchen"

That's it Exactly. Carrying water can be an almost religious-discipline enlightening kind of experience. I'm laughing as I type that, but it was approximately true for me.

I've only been to one national (1999 Penn), but the key really is to attach yourself to a kitchen, and star volunteering to do some really hard work. I wasn't used to doing hard physical labor, and carrying water was painfully exhausting. But in doing so, I ended up meeting the kindest people and having more fun than I would have otherwise. It seemed to me that it's yet another thing where you cannot get more out of it than you put into it.

 

Cool!!!!

 

hello fellow brothers and sisters! i live in Colorado and i would like to attend a rainbow gathering for the first time but i don't know where or how or when?! i've heard of the goodstock festival but not yet of the gathering. any know-hows of where-abouts this spectacular thing is???

 

Last year nationals was in CO. This year it may be in Arkansas, Texas, or OK. Last year was my first gathering and it seriously changed my life for the good. Babylon has brainwashed me into believing I need certain things to survive, but in reality all you need is love, food, and water. Love builds community and community builds a foundation for everyone to survive. After returning back from the gathering I decided it was time to move out of my parents house. I got rid of 75% of my belongings. Yes, I still have a computer, but it helps me with my school work. All in all I learned how to live. I have NEVER experienced a community that has cared about complete strangers as the Rainbow Family. See the thing is that we are NOT strangers. We are ONE FAMILY and family helps eachother. The advice I have for new family is come with a open heart and leave the selfish energies back in Babylon. Care for everyone. I can't wait to see you all!

Peace + Love

 

well im not a 1st timer but i still remember that 1st time 20 long years ago i had no clue what to expect i was just told to expect anything..& from the momment i woke up as we pulled in & i sat up to look around i was blown away, i had no idea what to expect, but still, i didnt expect all i saw..eyes wide in wonder i went wandering off down the trail..3 days later i finaly found my camp (dont think i ever did sleep there though) for the next couple weeks i did nothing but wander aimlessly seeing what i could see..& i was mind boggled..blown away but still had no clue even whaty this whole thing was not till my 2nd gathering..i showed up there a month b4 the very 1st kitchen with no idea where the gathering would be exactly i spent a month wandering the woods just trying to "feel" out the right spot
finaly we decide to stop & wait..2 days later were woken by voices i climb out on the roof of the bus & peer down over the hill to see the 1st kitchen ariving & unpacking..purely by chance we parked right at the supply trail...
being the 1st there..was able to help with every thing building kitchens bridges digging shitters dealling with fs going to councils partici[pating in weddings helping with a brother in need.. & the more i did the more i knerw..& learned & became a part of..so no longer was i walking through as an observer wondering what exactly was this crazy thing i walked into, but now as a part of something so huge noone really knew how big it could be

i put alot of vids on my myspace that ya 1st timers might like (and every1 else too..lol)
www.myspace.com/iriesoaringeagle

 

LoL lovin you dude, Reading this took me back a little bout 20 yrs too.
Brings a smile everytime i get ready to go home and think of all the wonderfull peoples im gona see. Hope to see yall in the new buss ifn ya get down to Ocala this next feb, wishin i could travel like a lot of people do

Heres a couple of links to the Mini Manual and the Rainbow Guide, This will tell you a lot bout the gathering and give you some ideas on how you think you can best help

http://www.welcomehome.org/rainbow/info/mini-manual.html

http://www.welcomehome.org/rainbow/tech/manuals.html

 

i really want to attend a gathering in the next year or so.
are there any in the PA area outside of pittsburgh?
i've heard there have been some in Philadelphia.

 

there would never be a national in Philly or even close to a city. we have picnics and things like that. there are a lot of phamily from PA that goes to the nationals so maybe you can snag a ride?

 

re: Philly, i think there is a regional in the NE part of the country in the fall, but that's as much info as i have.

As for advice for a 1st Time Gatherer...

Wow! What a concept, Through 15 years and 50(or 60... or...)or so gatherings, i don't know that anyone ever asked that in such a way. Since it's such an unusual question, i have to take a shot at answering it as thoroughly as possible, but of course you should ignore the whole lot of advice and make your own way, follow your bliss and you'll figure it out. But despite all that, here is my list(some items of which even i would likely ignore).

1. Bring clothes and camping gear for nice and wet/cold weather, but be careful about bringing too many clothes as you have to pack it all in and pack it all out. You won't want to be making 3 trips to the car at the beginning and end of your adventure just to haul your clothes.

2. Bring a remnant of Babylon that you're addicted to... a can of soda or a candy bar or whatever, and keep it stashed away as long as possible. Eventually you might need a break from all the madness and want to hide away for a bit. Nothing like a warm soda or melted candy bar to help with that. A special treat for yourself can reduce the risk of culture shock from a giving culture.

3. Bring something to trade. Just one thing that you think someone would like. A crystal, a necklace you've made, a pretty skirt or cool hat... whatever. A lot of the vibe of a gathering can be picked up at a trade circle, you see what people are most into. By sitting for a few minutes you get to see a parade of people. It's almost strange being in the hippie mall for some. Regardless what you pick up from there, the experience should be worthwhile.

4. Bring something to give away/share. The most powerful moment at my 1st gathering was after i was given an orange. i was loving it, eating slices and sharing slices walking around. When it got to the last slice, i really wanted to eat it, but gave it away instead and suddenly got super-high on Rainbow energy. A bag of chocolates, shareable fruit, tiny crystals/rocks, smokes, whatever... bring smiles to those you meet and you'll learn the joy of giving in a most beautiful manner. Choose things without/with limited packaging please.

5. Do a hug patrol! Preferably earlier in your visit, while you're still relatively clean. Hug everybody, hug the cops and the dogs if you want, but hug many consecutive people(respect the sisters!!). It's an easy but appreciated and easily learned job for a 1st Timer and lets you see things a bit and meet some people quickly(at least briefly) before you jump into too much labor(unless the labor needs done now).

6. Help with supply on your way in. It is easier(for smaller gatherings at least) for the food to come in with the people instead of having to send people out for food. Pick one thing(tomatoes, potatoes, spices, pasta, whatever... and bring a bunch of one thing instead of a little of a bunch of things(a bunch being relative to your means of course). If you bring a 1 each of a variety of veggies, it will all go into a big pot and noone will know there's your onion or carrot in it. So bring all of one thing instead.

7. Pitch in. To learn about the gathering it helps to know what goes into it. If possible, try to spend a little Time at all the basics, wood gathering, water hauling, shitter digging, kitchen work, haul supplies. Don't overwork yourself, but help w/ 1 shitter, spend an hour each day hauling wood/water/supplies, help with a meal(or two or...) while you're there. Where you find the gathering is working next to you... the people, the heart and soul who are making it happen.

8. NO PLASTIC FORKS EVER!!! They end up broken in a thousand tiny little pieces that you can't leave in good conscience and is impossible to thoroughly clean up. Your own fork(spoon/cup/bowl) of durable material will make you much happier.

9. Carry out your own garbage(and an extra one as well). Garbage is the ugly 2000 ton elephant in the room. Even hippies make a lot of garbage and not enough people help to get it all disappeared from the site. PLEASE help with the garbage.

10. Throw some energy into Main Circle through drumming, dancing, storytelling, other(acoustic) instruments, fire trolling... whatever. Stay up late at least one night to enjoy the nightTime adventures.

Naturally, i spaced half the good advice while writing(grrrr). i'd say stick around for cleanup but that might be a better 2nd gathering experience(don't stick around for cleanup if you aren't working!!!!). i hope there is something useful in there.