The Rainbow Family of Living Light welcomes you to our family gathering. A place where people co operate not compete.
Each year the family holds the Gathering of the Tribes, a totally Free non-commercial sharing of our lives and sacred hearts, in the Cathedral of Nature for the healing of the earth.
There is no authoritarian hierarchy here. It works because each of us takes the responsibility to make it work. Part of that responsibility is a pledge we keep to each other :
Recent councils have reaffirmed original consensus that the gathering of the tribes is intended as an opportunity to experiment with different ways of living. For this reason and others we ask that firearms, radios, tape decks, electric lights, sound amplification equipment, chainsaws, and power tools be left at home. All vehicles stop at the parking lot or bus village.
Beware of people who say things like, "I'm in charge!" We are All leaders of the rainbow. The dishes get done and crappers get dug because We see to it personally.
When you volunteer for main gate you get to see it all come in. Parking crew keeps the roads open and gate crew greets the world with hugs and info. Main gate is where new gatherers first see RAP 107 (Read and Heed!). All weapons and alcoholic beverages stop here. All forms of intoxication can be harmful to the spirit of our gathering. Main gate is where newcomers learn that, in terms of ideas, they are about to enter "Liberated Territory".
Once you have helped a silent forest glade become a bustling volunteer kitchen that serves thousands of nutritious Free meals and becomes a silent glade again you will know what they mean when someone tells you magic did it! Each person needs their Own cup, bowl, and spoon. Wash buckets, including a bleach dip prevents the spread of disease.
Center for Alternative Living Medicine. In this wounded world many of our family come to the gathering in need of healing. CALM provides free health care, healing workshops, a woman's center, an herbal apothecary, and counseling to all in need. Look for the large tents. Healers of all kinds are invited to join the staff!
MASH provides field care and an evacuation vehicle. MASH provides emergency care and volunteer experts who combine gentle natural remedies that promote the body's natural defenses with standard medical practice.
Our Permit to Gather reads as follows: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof or abridging the freedom of speech or of the press or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and to petition the government for redress of grievances."
IGNORE ALL RUMORS OF CANCELLATION!
It is around the council fire that everday questions and the future of the rainbow are decided. When the conch is blown we assemble in a circle and, holding hands we seek to treat each other and the earth with respect.
All council decisions are by consensus. This means that action is taken on an issue only After a clear statement of the proposal has been read and no one has blocked Consensus. This is why it is important to be present when issues that concern you are discussed. Everyone is given an opportunity to speak. A feather is passed to designate the speaker. We respect the person holding the feather with silence and attention. When we hold the feather we respect the council by being short and to the point.
Shanti-Sena means "Peace Center"! There are no "Rainbow Police". We are secure because we watch out for each other. We are All Shanti-Sena. Experienced Shanti-Sena hold regular peace keeping workshops which everyone is encouraged to attend at least once. Do you know what to do in an emergency?
At each gathering we have a magic hat. Its magic lies in the miracles sharing Can do. By combining our resources we can buy in bulk and use our buying power most efficiently. Magic hat also collects for consensus projects like All Ways Free, the newspaper. We feed the multitudes! A banking council appointed by the main council handles purchases and keeps open books.
The rainbow council is in favor of gentle herbal remedies that promote the bodies natural defences. Chemical intoxication of any kind is dangerous to the spirit of our gathering.
Silent Circle For Peace and Healing - High Noon! - July 4 Each year on the fourth we gather at Main Circle and the entire camp is hushed for an hour of silence. Join us in prayer for the peace and the healing of the earth! This event is a central focus of the entire gathering.
Experienced volunteers lead native style sweat lodge/sauna baths for health and pleasure. Sweating re-invigorates you by flushing built-up toxins from your body. The closeness and fellowship of the lodge is an opportunity for prayer and song. Don't be afraid to show up with an armload of firewood. Please don't enter the lodge with an infectuous dis-ease.
Parents camp around Kid Village. Kid Village has a spring of its own. The kitchen is supplied with drink and nutritious snacks around the clock for children and parents. Volunteers and parents share the responsibility of childcare.
Many of our family are nomads, either part-time or year round. When a vehicle becomes a home it becomes unique. Bus village is a small town of unique vehicles. If you live in a bus, park it here!
Many of our family work in various crafts and many bring their best work to show off or to trade for pieces that catch their eye. The mutual exchange of gifts is encouraged. Money changing in the temple is not. Our right to gather on public lands depends on our remaining a non-commerical event!
Bullentin boards, notices, information, networking, rides, and a crew of volunteers to deal with rumor control and camp communications.
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Anyone with a skill may announce a free workshop and post notices on info center bulletin boards. There is also a time for public announcements at evening meal.
The general area of next year's gathering is decided at this year's Vision Council. Experienced scouts are sent out to inspect dozens of potential sites. They co-ordinate their activities by contacting a focalizer for the region and attending Scouting Council in April.
Once a site is chosen, teams move onto the land and begin to mark trails and develop springs. Main Kitchen is raised and begins to feed workers. Sanitary trenches are dug and water lines set. This preparation is necessary to deal with the influx of people around July 4. As many as 20,000 people have attended at peak.
When a site has been chosen the Howdy Folks goes out to focalizers who copy them and pass them on. The Howdy Folks letter is the "Official" notice of the site and should have instructions for finding it and an info phone number.
The gathering runs from July 1-7. Clean up begins the morning of the 8th. Gear and trash are brought in to the center and channeled up the trail to main gate.
WE PICK UP EVERY SCRAP, EVERY LAST CIGARETTE BUTT! All trash is separated for recycling. Recycling Depots are color coded.
Campsites are dismantled and "disappeared". Paths are broken up and bare spots re-seeded. Potential erosion is banked and trees planted. A clean up kitchen is last dismantled and continues to feed clean up crews until the job is done.
In a year's time you won't be able to tell that a small township of people had lived here for weeks! In all things we walk lightly on the land.
Each year at the national gathering a different Regional Council undertakes to publish at least two issues of All Ways Free, the family newspaper, in the coming year. All Ways Free is a totally open forum to publish the diversity of ideas that makes up the rainbow. The paper takes stories, letters, poems and art. Rather than sell subscriptions or advertising space, All Ways Free is produced by volunteers and supported by personal donation, regional fund raising activities, and magic hat. You can Earmark part of your magic hat money for All Ways Free.
At the info booth are signup cards for those who wish to be included in the Rainbow Guide, a networking directory for the use of family members in contacting each other. The guide is distributed free but is supported by donation.
In order to lessen ecological impact and give more people the opportunity to experience Rainbow the family council is encouraging the formation of Local Councils to hold regional gatherings. Contact your regional focalizer as listed in the Guide. All Ways Frees lists dates and sites.
A Local Council can also be a useful way of addressing local concerns and issues. Local Councils hold cleanups, drum circles, pot-lucks, and yard sales. They put energy into shelter for the homeless free kitchens and tree planting. The Rainbow way of "Hands On" problem solving gives people of diverse viewpoints an effective means of co-operating in the healing of the planet.
Positive Energy Alternative Community Foundation is an umbrella for various councils seeking to apply the lessons learned at gatherings year round. These include peace village - a year round encampment, the peace fleet of sail ships and the peace caravan. The Guide lists focalizers and All Ways Free reports progress.
A project intended to stimulate and aid the contribution of artists and crafts-people to the whole. Check All Ways Free for details. Following is information on the Rainbow Family of Living Light and pointers on getting more information. This is a work in progress. Thanks to all on who have provided this info. An up to date list of gathering and council dates will be posted shortly.
The directory of participants and supporters of the Rainbow Gathering of the Tribes. The names and addresses in it are freely submitted and distributed for our family's benefit. It is always free for those who need it to be. However, if you can send a contribution, every little bit helps. New Issue comes out at the National, this year in New Mexico, in July.
All Ways Free (Note that the Eugene, OR address Rt. 2 Box 84 is no longer valid.) Warrens, WI 54666-9802Annual Rainbow-oriented publication, independent of Rainbow Family Tribal Council. Lots of info, Lots of Love! All Ways Free, but a donation is All Ways Welcome!
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Normal camping stuff (this varies depending on "how" you camp):
Alcohol: Near the parking area there is a place called
"A-camp". Rainbow says We love the alcoholic, but not the alcohol." Personalities change on alcohol (and hard drugs). Sometimes people can't control themselves as well. Therefore you are respectfully asked to leave the alcohol in A-camp when you hike in to the main gathering space.
Please understand that all of these suggestions are "agreed" upon by consensus. No one is specificaly bound to these
decisions. You are asked however to respect the space of others and the rights of those who _did_ agree to consensus.
With thanks to the hundreds of contributors who wrote this book.
Original Issue June '87 Revised Summer '88 Reconsensed Sprint '89 FAQ created Spring '95 E-Texted Collated Spring '95
Obligatory Disclaimer: I do not speak for Rainbow; I speak only for myself. And that said, COPY FREELY!
This Rainbow Mini-Manual is intended to introduce newcomers to the basic technique of "Gathering". It Does Not represent the last word on any subject! The contents of this booklet are designed to "Evolve" with the family and not to become any form of "bible". We can do this by basing its contents on the consensus of our councils and by changing those contents as the consensus changes.
The copy you hold in your hand is a "Generic" Mini-Manual agreed upon by the Nevada '89 Seed Council. Local councils are invited to reproduce this booklet for distribution at regional gatherings. Feel free to add "Site Specific" information, art, new titles. You may rework the content in any way you please with the single restriction that if you do, the booklet can no longer be called a Rainbow Mini-Manual.
Focalizers have been supplied with a "copy original", so they can fill requests for copies. Send along a couple of bucks for costs. The "Mini-Manual" is a Copy Freely publication. This means that it will only be distributed as far as people find it useful to do so, not only does this save one group or individual a burdensome "publication" job but guarantees that very few copies will be printed above what its merit justifies! If everyone runs off twenty or a hundred and sends them off to others who do the same there will soon be enough mini-manuals around so that everyone who needs on can get one.
The Original Mini-Manual was designed to be easily reproducable on two sheets of 8 1/2 x 11 paper. Any stock, any means of reproduction! Print both sides, slit lengthwise and collate. With the E-Text version you can Do as You Will, however 17 cpi print at 8 lines per inch, with two columns per side and on both sides of normal paper, will print up to the Rainbow Addresses section on 1 piece of paper, and the rest will print on the front of another piece. HOORAY!
The Map is not the territory-but the map Can teach us new ways to See the territory. The Mini-Manual presents the barest outlines of the process it describes. You must fill in everything else from experience and imagination.
Together, We can create the dance!