new girl's questions about rainbow gatherings

I've never heard of rainbow gatherings before this site. But after searching around the internet and reading some of the threads here, it's seems like something I could really get into. But I still need quite a bit more info. Do you gather more than once a year? How long do the gatherings last? Is it all over or just in one place? I live in Northern Florida and I'm hoping there is something close by and sometime soonish. What happens at these gatherings? What is expected from each person? Are noobs welcome? I have soooooo many more questions, but I'll just leave it at that for now, see if anyone even answers those. Please help. I think I'd really like to get involved.
If this belongs in a different place, I'm sorry. I'm still learning my way around this place. Only day two here. thanks

 

Though it's not exactly a good example of Gatherings, there is the Ocala Gathering likely right now in northern Florida. There are gatherings all the time, and all are welcome. As for what's expected, the question is more what you are able to give and contribute to making the gathering. YOU are the gathering.

 

Rainbow basics, read before you post please

 

I have read the Rainbow Basics. These questions are after that.
Thank you for your reply. I phrased that question wrong I guess (what is expected), what I meant is, I'm not really talented in any way that I think would help. What would I do then? Would I clean, help destibute food? I'm willing to work, I'm just not sure what a person with no talents would do. I can't build water filtration devises, or work with wood without power tools. Just wondering. I would want to contribute.

 

it doesnt take talent to dig a shitter or spend hours chopping veggies,nor does it take talent to wash dishes,gather firewood,sort trash,collect trash or serve food.

sadly far to many come with a excuse as to why they are not qualified to do any of the things i just listed so they do nothing.

 

sure it does!

Them there some good ole fashion talents!

 

Tisha~

you'd have so much working with wood-construction at a gathering - mostly it's just sticks and rope - for tables and chairs and taj mahals and bridges and pirate ships . bring rope and string .

 

Thank you for your answers.
Rainbow Geek, why is Ocala not a good example of a gathering? And how long do these gatherings last? I've been looking up stuff on the one for Ocala, and it looks like it's going on for weeks. Is this normal? As much as I would love to spend weeks, months, the rest of my life with like-minded people in what seems like a wonderful environment, I have to work. I know my job would not allow me to have weeks off to go to this. How does everyone else get around this? I've heard people saying that they're leaving in January for a Febuary gathering. I would have trouble even having a weekend off.

 

gatherings themselves last for 2 weeks but when u count seed camp and clean up it lasts from 4-5 weeks... Ocala is a tramp/hobo gathering with a strong rainbow flavor...don't speak before u walk on wanting to spend weeks months years to be with like minded people, there is totally a burn out level...most family folk road dogs, work festivals with their crafts or do some work finders labor, or go fly a sign(traveling need gas anything helps,GOD BLESS!)ummm, there's various way to get money flow on the road.

 

Thank you, Dragonfly.
I didn't mean to commit to anything I didn't know about, I know that I need to experience a way of life before I say it's for me. I'm meaning from what I've read, it sounds like something that I could commit to. Now, I get how it would be possible to survive, even thrive on the road, and on your own. But what do you do when you have commitments, family and people who don't want to live that life, but you don't want to be far from? Family is very important to me, and while my family is open minded, they do not go as far as I do, I would not be willing to go into that form of life. If it was just me, I'd be really open to it, but I need a balance. I want to be able to be around people that share my values and learn from them, but I also want to be able to go back to my family. To do that, I need to have a job waiting for me at home. Is there anybody out that is juggling their life like I am? Or is everybody at these gatherings living a life free from these sort of worries?

 

I juggle also, Never gathered in the states but we.nt to Mexico last year. Luckily my job is seasonal so I can get time off.I met all types of people,many have jobs or are in transition.Some make a lifestyle out of it,trippin the rainbow trail

 

i would say the vast majority of people who identify with rainbow have real lives that prevent them from traveling for any length of time.

many plan there vacations around the national gathering,some are teachers and have the summer off etc.a lot of people go to gatherings for no more than a day or two
many are like us and just cant make it to a gathering but every few years.
there is no requirement to be a vagabond.

.we do what we can do and thats all we can do..

 

Well, that makes me feel a whole lot better. I'm getting my degree to be teacher, so when that happens I'll have a lot more free time in the summer to attend the annual one, but for now, I'm at the little pay and lot of work type jobs. The ones that fire you for taking that much time off. And here in the bible belt, nobody's going to cut me some slack for going to a Rainbow Gathering. They'd be more likely to fire me for even expressing intrest in that sort of "witch craft". Small minds in these parts.

 

You are the gathering is a true and complete statement. I think you would have a great experience by what I sense in your interventions.
When you go to one don't look for bosses and people with power because if you do some will become power players around you.
It is good that you try to understand what rainbow is. There are some outstanding people who are rainbow. And there are also some you need to be careful of. Like was mentioned a roadie gathering Ocala with rainbow flavor might even be fun!
You want to check some rainbow stuff check this youtube channel.
Visionrainbow
my 2 cents worth

 

they go on all the time, pretty much somewhere in the world we are always gathering

most gatherings are officialy 1 or 2 weeks, however that is just the main week (or 2) before that theres seed camp that builds the infristructure and sets everything up for the larger crowds that come for just the main gathering. after the main week is cleanup which lasts till theres no sign we were ever there (every tiny peice of microtrash big enough to be seen with the naked eye is picked up) seed camp through cleanup, especialy for the national can be about 2 months

all over the world..
in july in usa we have the national which is the big one, then throughout the year theres regionals all over (nationals new mexico this year) at timesthere may even be multiple regionals at the same time, in august after the national for instance there may be 4 or 5 regionals spread out around the country. in addition, theres internationals around the earth, and the world gathering as well (the world gathering is usualy much smaller then out national i believe)

there is, ocala however, ocala is not the best gathering, for a 1st gathering it can be ok to get a taste, but its not a really good example of a gathering experience.. ocala is held in florida in february, mid winter in nice weather attracts many homeless or road dogs, alcaholics and the rougher crowd with nowhere else to go.. on ocasion it can be a great gathering, but more often then not it lacks much of the possitivity and spirit of other gatherings.

well..that is the question that is hardest to answer because every one is different, every one unique and no matter how long u go you'll find stories and events to surprise you..however lets cover some generalities.. love.. as you arrive your greeted with shouts of welcome homeand hugs, theres alot of sharing and caring and helping one another to have the best gathering possible music music is everywhere, driven by a massive drum circle every camp and kitchen will have music going on much of the time, as well as wandering minsterels keeping it flowing throughout the sute as a whole.. council, council is how we govern ourselves as a growing nation, theres many small councils, for each kitchen, for calm, (creative alternative living medicine, our healing center) shante sena (peaceful place, our way of policing ourselves) and many other councils like main supply banking and so on, then theres the main family council which discisses the day to day business of keeping the gathering going safe and happy .. work theres always plenty of work that needs to be done from digging shitters gathering wood carrying in supplies building bridges chopping veggies and cooking food.... food theres many kitchens that cook food aroiund the clock, at a nationmal there may be over 100 kitchens main kitchens serve food at main circle where ppl go to gather in a circkle and share dinner together as a family, smaller support kitchens dont serve main circle but have food at the kitchens instead... spirit this is a brouad subject that means may things to many people, using the national as an example spirit centers around the july 4th celebration, on the 4th theres sillence in main meadow (and as much as possible throughout the entire site as well) from dawn till noon, which is broken by the kid villiage parade and a long ohmmmmmm then the celebrating begins, durring the sillence theres meditating and prayer for world peace and the healling of the planet.. this is the pirpose of gathering.. in addition, many camps have a spiritual vibe as well theres yoga meadow theres a few camps or kutchens that honour varios religions theres workshops in yoga meditation tantra reiki you name it..heallingthe gatherings are a healling environment so the healling can be of a personal nature and hard to describe here, so i'll just leave it at this, healling happens as well.

well again a big question whats expected is to have a great time, to remain peacefull and not cause problems.. but thise are just the basic expectations, beyond that theres whats hoped for from each, its not expected that every person does all they can to make the gathering great for everyone, but we do hope that most at least contribute to the gathering experience in some way, its hoped that each person does what they can to make the gathering the best gathering possible its hoped that we each grow from the experience and its hoped that when we leave we carry with us what we learned and spread that conceisness out throughout the world.

theres no such thing, thgeres just family that dont know theyre family yet
at your average national 2/3 of the people there may be 1st time gatherers
all are welcome. the only noobs there though are new born babies born at the gathering

if ya got more questions om always happpy to answer them just pm me if ya want

 

i read what everyone else had to say, and i think soaring eagle's comment should be the last one to give ya hints at what a gathering is, really . rather, i think all this is about it. if you can make it out to the woods and if you can clean a dish, if you can gather around and enjoy free food in the woods, if you can wash someone's feet or if you could just pick at some grass, i'm sure you'd be at home.

ocala was fantastic, absolutely fantastic.

i realized this...
i go out there to be with community,
we are the gathering,
yet you are the gathering, yes.
we do all love each other,
and because of thisssss - and this alone, there is the way.



--i dont think i really said anything, really.
but might i say one thing,, there is no set time to really stay or visit,
there will always be another gathering,
now, if ya can, if you're able, imagine a little light,
--or a fire--
you can always follow that right on back Home : )
we are the light of the world right now, believe it or not,
and i say this only to comfort you a s'more to stay a little while.

now, peace be with you, and by no means do i mean this conversation shoudl end, ever. ever. hello, and goodbye. i've got to take care of a lot today, so...

 

You are, of course, speaking from your VAST experience at the Florida winter gatherings. Let's see, which years, and which sites, did you attend?

 

He's a bit re-done of the welcomehere I let a few read for basic's. A little more real than the way its worded on welcomeh ere. I re-worded it from my 1st experience to my last years one. My 1st National was 1973. Shoshone National Forest, Wyoming to be exact and what a spiritual experience. I moved to the Forest in '75 & only still see one brother at todays gatherings that I met in the 70's in Ocala. He is still a local today!!!!


The Rainbow Family, sometimes known as the "The Rainbow Family of Living Light", is an international loose
affiliation of individuals who have a common goal of trying to achieve peace and love on Earth. Those
who participate or sympathize with the activities of this group sometimes refer to the circle simply
as "Family". "Rainbow Family" IS a reference to ALL families, classes,
races and creeds. The use of the 80's phrase "Living Light" in the longer title is a reference to the
Light needed for Living in ALL positive aspects of the environment.


Rainbow family participants make the claim that the family is the "largest non-organization of
non-members in the world". In addition to referring to itself as a non-organization, the Rainbow Family
of Living Light's "non-members" joyfully call the group a "disorganization".


There are no official leaders, no structure, no official spokespersons, and no membership. Instead, the
Rainbow Family forms a temporary community through shared "traditions" of love for the Earth and gather
to pray for peace. It is maintained by counsels consisting of any "non-member" who wishes to be part of
a counsel.


The rainbow family IS made up of tribes and families and people from all walks of life coming together as
one human family gathering together on the land. Rainbow gathering is different for every one. You may
find people creating positive community with one another, learning and teaching ways we can live in harmony
with nature, our mother earth, and each other and celebrating life together.


There is no formal organization or leadership. This is felt by many to be the spirit of the gatherings. It
is said that any one with a belly button OR Heartbeat may consider themselves part of the rainbow family.
We are welcome home as one family.


There have been gatherings called Rainbow Gatherings since at least 1972, and there has been at least one
large gathering of Rainbow Family every year in the United States on public land around the 4th of July &
forever since then. Many gather to pray for peace and healing in the world. There are also gatherings in
many parts of the world, in different countries and on various continents. Some are timed with the solstice
or equinox and at other special times and seasons throughout the year.


The gatherings are called rainbow because they are for all the peoples of the earth, from many families,
tribes, and nations. The FACT of the Hopi people native to North America tell a vision of a time when mother
earth, the land, air, waters, and creatures of all kinds were sick with poisons and ill treatment by people,
the children of ALL the races, AWARE of the RAVAGED World would grow their hair long, wear beads, and come
together with the children of all the nations to heal the earth.


Rainbow Gatherings have always celebrated freedom of choice, encourage diversity and have helped inform
generations of people about various cultural ideologies and Spiritual beliefs. Over the years these
inclusive and freeform gatherings have spawned several gatherings to include what might be termed
"Alternative Rainbow Gatherings". While many of these newer Rainbow Gatherings are still in their infancy,
they do NOT share much of the same Spirit, energy and sense of communal reverence.


While all Rainbow Gatherings share the same traditions, it is not proper that different "tribes" celebrate
these blessings in different manners. Not all Rainbow Gatherings have the same focuses which proves Better
teachings from the true Hopi Vision to the destruction by Un-Taught "Rainbow Family" and the "Rainbow
Warrior" will ONLY emerge WHEN THE EARTH IS RAVAGED.

It is in this diversity that in 2003 the "A Gathering of the Tribes" WANTED to preserve and continue certain
aspects and traditions of the rainbow. It is proven that since this, Tribal want has harmed & split the
true teachers of our children. TRIBES mainly ONLY want to prosper for themselves and again is Proved thru
CURRENT Individual Tribal customs and laws.

 

Thank you to everyone for providing so much info and for the video links. I went on youtube also to see what I could find. I saw a couple that had to do with police brutality. Do the police cause a lot of trouble at these things?

 

Yes they do. I almost got a ticket for parking my tent too close to the main trail in Arkansas. I truly didn't know the rule and told the man that I would move it right away. At first, he didn't want to hear that.

I just got my teaching degree and a job. I want to go to NM, but with all the police activity and my high profile job I'm feeling very intimidated.

Just don't do anything illegal and follow ALL rules that are established by the Forrest Patrol and the LEOs.