Praying For Peace
In the midst of a global war on terrorism, the concept of world peace seems more distant than ever. Over 29,000 casualties, including 4,000 killed, have been reported since 2003, and it's estimated that there have been over 100,000 Iraqi deathsboth military and civiliansince the same year (The Cost of War). Outside of our American bubble things aren't looking any better. Crime rates are on the rise all over the world and let's face it, the issues of racial and ethnic prejudices our country fought to overcome in the sixties are still surprisingly prevalent in parts of the south, bustling urban developments, and isolated rural areas throughout the country. So how are we supposed to take actions against these acts of hatred and fear? In truth, I don't have a solution. I do, however, have a bit of inspiration to share.
Last Friday, as I pondered my topic for this very assignment, my roommate chimed in and asked if I had ever heard of The Rainbow Family of Living Light. I quickly replied that I had not, eager to silence her input so I could get back to my own jumbled thought process. My answer failed to shake her though, and she added, "They're a group of hippies from the seventies that still get together every year to celebrate world peace!" My interest was instantly peaked. I demanded to know where she had heard about such a group, and after some contemplation she went to a bookshelf, rummaged through a few stacks of paperbacks and removed a collection of short memoir-style stories entitled Wild Child. I sat and read the short chapter about the peace-preaching attempt at a revival of the sixties counterculture and was instantly hooked. And while the origins of The Rainbow Family of Living Light are rooted in Native American prophesies many would consider far-fetched, the basic ideas of peace and love are nothing our world couldn't benefit from. In a recent video posted on youtube.com, a founding member of the Family explained, "There are more important things besides yourself and your ego. Out of the I' and into the We'that's the place that we all should be" (Rainbow Elder). And that, my friends, is but the tip of the peace-loving iceberg.
In the fall of 1969 Barry Adams and Garrick Beck crossed paths at a Renaissance Fair in Eugene, Oregon. Barry was one of the leaders of a "hippie" group called the Marble Mount Outlaws and Garrick Beck helped to organize the Temple Tribe, "a group of craftspeople" who envisioned a re-strengthening of the counterculture movement (Perry). The connection the two men felt was undeniable, and after much discussion they decided to host a gathering for both groups and any other peaceful souls who wished to attend.
As a practice run for the mass gathering they had discussed at the Renaissance Fair, the two groups banned together to host The Vortex I: A Biodegradable Festival of Life in the summer of 1970. The Vortex was a weeklong, free rock festival held in Portland, Oregon, that drew upwards of 75,000 people, flashing peace signs and preaching free love to the masses (Perry). The message the group wanted to spread was rooted in the religious beliefs of native Hopi Indians, who prophesied that
The great, great grandchildren of the white conqueror [will] grow their hair long and rebel against society, travel east and west, [and] gather in the mountains under the symbol of the White Buffalo. They [will] dance, sing and chant in many tongues. Their symbol [will] be the dove. They [will] be brothers and sisters to the Hopi, people of peace. They [will] come and go, yet be a sign to the Indian that the spirit is returning (Rainbow Family Hipstory).
The official theme of The Vortex however, was "Victory in Vietnam" complete with an appearance by President Nixon himself where he addressed a group of approximately 25,000 Vietnam veterans who had gathered at the festival. During the festival members of The Marble Mount Outlaws and The Temple Tribe camped out in rainbow colored teepees they borrowed from the Eagle Scouts, which became a uniting factor for both groups who subsequently took one identity calling themselves The Rainbow Family of Living Light (Bateman).
The success The Rainbow Family saw with The Vortex music festival inspired them to further pursue the group's initial dream of holding a mass counterculture-style gathering for all who wished to attend. The planning began even before the conclusion of The Vortex, and after two years of thoughtful consideration, The Rainbows had a clear vision of what their gathering would be.
The concept is really quite simple: a celebration of peace and love open to anyone with a belly button, completely free of charge and the confinements of society. Gatherings are always held on public land with an ample water source, and the location of the year's gathering is always determined at the Business Council of the previous year's gathering. There's no money exchanged ever, and no running water or electricity. All the work of running the gathering is done by volunteers who are willing to contribute and the success of the gathering is a direct representation of that effort. The gathering begins with a core group of "Rainbows," a term used to refer to individual members of the Family, making the trek to their chosen destination towards the end of June. The Rainbow Family has held gatherings in Colorado, Washington, New Mexico, and California, and while the majority of those gatherings have been on or near the west coast, Rainbows have also been known to gather in Texas, Arkansas, and most recently, Pennsylvania. Once they arrive workers prepare the land for the tens of thousands of people that will be joining them for the official week of celebration from July 1st-7th. Makeshift kitchens consisting of clay ovens are molded straight from the earth, and a first aid station they call CALM, or the Center for Alternative Living Medicine, is constructed from large tree branches and whatever scraps of fabric they bring with them (Niman). This core group of Rainbows also dig small ditches they call "shitters", do their best to level the land for easy tent and teepee pitching, and map out the campsite, which often spans over three square miles of land. They create pathways through the forests by clearing the ground of large debris and using branches to mark the paths' boundaries. At the entrance to the camp they set up an Information Center where returning Rainbows and new additions can gather information on everything from what the meal offerings will be to any breaking news from Babylontheir term for the world outside the gatherings. Water purification systems are set up and drainage ditches are dug to ensure the success of the gathering, even in the dampest of weather, all in about a week's time (Mini-Manual 1).
After the hard labor has been done, Rainbows from all around the world flock to the campsite around the first of July. They pack up their families and say goodbye to their Babylonian amenities and travel to the designated site by any means necessary for the seven-day, six-night peace party. In fact, a few Rainbows who find themselves homeless outside the annual gathering are known to hitchhike to the chosen destination, much like their Rainbow ancestors in the sixties (Barnard). Upon arriving at the camp, Rainbows park their cars in an open field and make the mile hike to the Front Gate. A small tent, strung up by its corners between four tree trunks, serves as the Information Center where maps and gathering guides are distributed. Up above, a large banner painted in various jeweled tones exclaims, "Welcome Home!" and dozens of Rainbow brothers and sisters gather underneath to greet new arrivals and hand out a flyer they call Rap 107. A Rap, as Rainbows call it, is any message of inspiration or words of wisdom the author wishes to pass along to others. Rap 107 however is a tenderhearted "written introduction to the infrastructure of the gathering"; phrases like, "Walk softly. Harm no living thing. Harmonize - Blend in" and other tips to help make the gatherings more efficient like, "Cleanup begins when you arrive. Please bring only what is necessary. There is no janitor here . . . YOU are the cleanup crew," are just one of the many ways Rainbows work to keep the camp environment clean and pure (Rainbow Raps). Once inside the campground, there are people everywhere, over 20,000 in all, everyone just "blissing out"Rainbow slang for wandering around the gathering in a carefree state (Niman). The smell of sweat and marijuana hang heavy in the air, some have shed their clothes to escape the heat of the summer, and small drum circles dot the landscape as the constant rhythm of bongos echoes across the forest. Men, women and children of all ages have gathered as one giant "family", sporting everything from tie-dyed t-shirts and tattered jeans to polo shirts and Capri pants.
While the camp is no doubt primitive in nature, Rainbows have learned how to construct everything they could possibly need for the weeklong celebration out of the goods they bring and the raw materials Mother Nature provides. Tents and small shelters are strung up between tree trunks, campfires and water stations, along with crude looking, but surprisingly efficient kitchens spread out over the campground. Food at The Rainbow Gathering is always free for everyone. Usually a meal consists of beans, rice, lentils, or other vegan side dishes that are easy to cook in mass quantities. During mealtime, Rainbows invite each other to sit in a massive circle and eat as one. Large, five-gallon buckets are loaded with the day's sustenance, strapped around a volunteer's neck and walked around the circle as he distributes scoops of the food to his brothers and sisters. When the meal is over someone from the kitchen will pass "the magic hat" around the circle, and anyone willing to donate tosses his or her money into the hat. This is the only time at a Rainbow gathering when actual U.S. currency is exchanged. Money from the magic hat is used to purchase food for the next round of mass feedings, as well as other goods that are necessary to keep the gathering going (Mini-Manual 3).
Luckily, if you're looking for something more than vegan fair, all is not lost. Several smaller kitchens are also set up throughout the camp, like Taco Mike's, that specialize in serving non-vegan foods like pizza, burgers, and as the name suggests, tacos. While the majority of Rainbows do practice vegan lifestyles there's no rules saying they have to follow the crowd, so many Rainbows still chose to eat meat.
It's important to mention that The Rainbow Family of Living Light, while they claim each other as family, have no system of government, no hard rules to follow, and no hierarchy within the group. In fact, their website welcomhome.org boasts
We're the largest non-organization of non-members in the world. We have no leaders, and no organization. To be honest, the Rainbow Family means different things to different people. I think it's safe to say we're into intentional community building, non-violence, and alternative lifestyles. We also believe that Peace and Love are great things, and there isn't enough of that in this world. Many of our traditions are based on Native American traditions, and we have a strong orientation to take care of the Earth (Rainbow Home Page).
Surprisingly this lack of organization seems to work for the Rainbows. Everyone knows that they're expected to pitch in and help, and they do so without question. People stop what they're doing to help each other build shelters, start fires, or chop wood for various purposes. It's the spirit of the tribe, and it's something the rest of the world could learn from.
By the time the second day rolls around people are already camping quite close to one another. It's not uncommon for neighboring campers to form drum circles and smoke dope to pass the time. Children frolic about flying kites, and blowing bubbles; all those normal childhood activities but without the necessary supervision of their parents. Rainbows make it a rule that children are not to be excluded from gatherings. In fact, a large section of the camp is reserved for "Kiddy Corner" where children are entertained by Rainbows eager to baby sit, and for older children who may not do well in a day care setting there's no reason they can't be left to make their own entertainment because the whole place looks out for the best interest of the little ones (Niman). This spirit of goodwill, however, is not just reserved for children; it extends to everyone who attends the gathering. An example written in Rap 105 explains that one person might have the means to build a kitchen but no way of hooking that kitchen up to the water supply, while another may have the necessary water setup, and nothing but a cup to put it in. In true Rainbow style they come together and enhance their own lives while helping other. It is because of this kind energy that small communities of people form as the population at camp (Mini-Manual 4).
Besides the desire to help each other out, Rainbows promote peace by offering hundreds of free workshops every day. If one person is knowledgeable on a subject, and wishes to pass that knowledge on to others, she opens her portion of the campsite to her brothers and sisters for a block of time during the day, and shares what she knows in whatever way she knows how. Everything from yoga to knitting, to living green and caring for the environment is covered, and no fee is ever charged for anyone's time (Mini-Manual 5).
During the day, the most popular thing to do is to take a trip to Barter Lane, or Trade Circle, where they lay out their wares and hope someone's in the market for whatever crafty little project they've brought with them this year. "Ware Bearers'" blankets are spread out all across a small fieldthe process resembles those pesky peddlers who pawn off fake designer good on tourists in New York City. People form long rows so those on the prowl can browse most efficiently, and everything from illicit psychedelics to peace signs woven out of dried grasses is available for trade. The whole point of the makeshift mini-mall is that Rainbows trade their own material goods for the goods others have brought to share. No U.S currency is ever allowed to change hands at Barter Lane. In fact, the Rainbow Family's Mini-Manual on how to have the best time at a gathering claims,
No Money should ever change hands here. Using money jeopardizes our right to use the public land [and] trading unused, commercially produced goods is in bad taste. The gathering for sharing hearts, not making profit, and the funky energy that goes with it (Mini-Manual 5).
Problems with real currency popping up is rarely a problem as everyone in the camp works to make it known that the passing of the magic hat should be the only time anyone even thinks monetary thoughts. Consequently, the only incidents that do arise come courtesy of newcomers who have failed to do their research on the gathering. As the first dozen hours of the gathering roll by activities like Barter Lane, workshops and blissing out are more than enough to pass the time. In fact, for a typical Rainbow at a typical gathering, the first few days go something like this: wake up with the sun, eat breakfast when you get hungry, join a drum circle, roll a joint, find a friend to smoke it with, join another drum circle, scrounge up some lunch, bliss out for a few hours, make some new friends, get naked for a while, make some even better friends, smoke some more dope, head on over to barter lane, learn about the lifecycle of butterflies at a neighbor's workshop, trip the acid you traded your sweatband for at Barter Lane, bliss out for another few hours, find your way to main circle for dinner, stuff your face with vegetarian pizza and steaming hot lentils, make a pit stop at the shitter, and pass out wherever you happen to be when you're tired.
The fourth day of the gathering is a bit different from the rest. Since the gathering is always held between the first and seventh days of July, the fourth day of the gathering just happens to be the Fourth of July, which America celebrates as the birth date of it's independence. While the main purpose of the Rainbow gathering is to pray for world peace, they also come together on this day to celebrate our nation's independence without the glorification of war. On the morning of the Fourth of July everyone wakes without a sound. It is tradition for the entire gathering to observe a silent state from dawn on the Fourth of July to noon when everyone comes main circle and joins hands. Then when the circle is complete, the silence is broken with one resounding, "Omm" and a prayer for peace is said by one of the "elders", who are only given such a title if they're been to more than twenty gatherings over their lifetime. Once the ceremony is complete everyone goes back to talking and carrying on as usual. The remainder of the celebration on July fourth consists of specialized workshops teaching people how to spread peace and love outside the gathering, as well as the celebratory dinner where multiple kitchens come together to provide food for the entire gathering as they all join in another massive circle and eat as one.
While the compassion shown towards others inside the Rainbow gathering is surely something to take note of, the real magic happens once the gathering is over. Over one hundred members of the Family stay behind for up to two weeks after the scheduled gathering has concluded to ensure the forest or park they have gathered in is returned to it's natural state. Grass seed is planted to replenish damage done by parked cars, and trampling footsteps. Hundreds of man-hours are dedicated to picking up trash, breaking down structures, and removing all waste generated by the weeklong extravaganza (Frenay). When all is said and done, the goal of the cleanup crew is to leave the land in better shape than it was when they found it, just one more piece of the Rainbow philosophy.
Unfortunately, the spirit of the Rainbow Family does not often translate to the outside world. Meaning is lost in the inability of outsiders to grasp the possibility of a world where everyone exists in harmony, and tradition fades as children of Rainbows trade a week in the wilderness for a week in Cancun. For now, however, the Family stands strong and as long as there is someone to sign the permit, and hang the welcome banner, there will always be a gathering of peoples to promote peace and love.
This July, I plan to make the trek to Missouri, stand among the masses and truly experience what it is to live without prejudice, without animosity, but with love, pure sweet love. Perhaps it's nave to expect that anything will actually come of my journey, or these words on this paper for that matter. But no matter the outcome, I will never forget the story that surrounds this truly inspirational group of people. Who knows, maybe one day there will be no need for a Rainbow Gathering. Until then I'll save you a place at the dinner circle. Peace.