Rainbow Gathering
Rainbow Gatherings are temporary, loosely knit communities of people, who congregate in outdoor locales around the world for one or more weeks at a time with the stated intention of living a shared ideology of peace, harmony, freedom, and respect. In the original invitation, spread throughout the United States in 1971, the "Rainbow Family Tribe" referred to themselves as "brothers & sisters, children of God", "Families of life on Earth", "Friends of Nature & of all People" and "Children of Humankind". All races, nations, politicians, etc. were invited with the aspiration that there could be peace among all people. The goal was to create what they believed was a more satisfying culture — free from consumerism, capitalism, and mass media — one that would be non-hierarchical, that would further world peace, and serve as a model for reforms to mainstream society. However, the values actually exhibited by the group have at times varied quite a bit from this ideal, with recent decades showing increasing levels of crime at the events, and some organizers stating that the core principles have been modified, and become more mainstream, in an effort to attract more attendees.
Influenced by 1960s counterculture and the non-commercial rock festivals of the early 1970s, Rainbow is a "revitalization movement" with many philosophies and practices that have roots in the historic utopian traditions of the mid-19th century. The first Rainbow Gathering was held in Colorado in 1972 and was attended by more than 20,000. In the 1980s, gatherings started to form outside of North America as autonomous but connected events around the world.
Media coverage of Rainbow Gatherings since the 1980s has described Rainbow Gathering attendees as "aging hippies", "grown-up flower children", or "middle-aged white folks". In the 2000s, the media focus shifted to the increase in crime in the local communities closest to Gatherings, ranging from petty crimes like retail theft to violent assaults and serious traffic charges, such as driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Participants have developed a reputation for excessive drug and alcohol use, in addition to engaging in disruptive and criminal activity. Cultural appropriation and misrepresentation of Native American traditions and beliefs have also given the Gathering a poor reception from some nearby reservations. In the U.S., these issues may be contributing factors in the decline in attendance at regional and national Gatherings.
Background
Rainbow Gatherings and the Rainbow Family of Living Light claim to express utopian ideals, bohemianism, hipster, and hippie culture. The gatherings have roots clearly traceable to the counterculture of the 1960s.Rainbow Gatherings have their own jargon, which helps to create a sense of community and the ability to express attendees' thoughts on society and social justice. In particular, mainstream society is commonly referred to and viewed as "Babylon" -- a term also used by Rastafari culture -- from the Christian New Testament connoting the participants' widely held belief that modern lifestyles and systems of government are unhealthy, unsustainable, exploitative, and out of sync with the natural systems of the planet.
History
The original Rainbow Gathering was in 1972, and since then gatherings have been held annually in the United States from July 1 through 7 every year on National Forest land. Throughout the year, regional and international gatherings are held in the United States and in many other places around the world.The first Rainbow Gathering of the Tribes was a four-day event in Colorado in July 1972. It was organized by youth counterculture "tribes" of the Rainbow Family, based in Northern California and the Pacific Northwest. The first three days of the festival took place at Strawberry Lake, outside of Granby, Colorado. The lake is in a wooded area elevated above the surrounding area. Campsites surrounded the lake, and there was no event stage of any kind. On the final day, July 4, 1972, most in attendance migrated to Table Mountain, a barren summit located a mile away from the lake. This was ostensibly for the noon sighting of a white buffalo, as had been envisioned/prophesied by Barry "Plunker" Adams, a spiritual leader of the Family. A week before the festival was to begin, local authorities banned the event and state police blocked the road to the lake. A film of the 1972 Gathering states that Paul Geisendorfer, a local landowner, offered his land as a temporary site as over 10,000 attendees gathered behind police barriers. While there were hundreds of arrests, the huge number of attendees caused authorities to stand down and let them pass through the barriers. Estimates of attendance vary between 20,000 and 45,000.
The first gathering was intended to be a one-time event; however, a second gathering in Wyoming the following year materialized, at which point an annual event was declared. The length of the gatherings has since expanded beyond the original four-day span, as have the number and frequency of the gatherings.
Although groups from California and the Northwest region of the U.S. were heavily involved in the first Rainbow Gathering, the U.S. Southeast was strongly represented as well. At least 2,600 people from throughout that region attended and provided support for the 1972 Rainbow Gathering of the Tribes on Strawberry Lake, above Granby, Colorado. There was also strong representation from other regions of the U.S.
In 2017, the United States gathering was held near the Malheur National Forest in eastern Oregon. Between 10,000 and 18,000 attended the multi-day event, near Flagtail Meadow, with the largest crowds expected on July 4. The 50th Annual Rainbow Gathering took place in Taos County, New Mexico, in July 2021.
The 50th anniversary gathering in July 2022 was held in Routt National Forest, Colorado, with over 10,000 in attendance.
Social aspects
Non-commercialism
As Michael Niman notes, "Rainbow Gatherings, as a matter of principle, are free and non-commercial." Using money to buy or sell anything at Rainbow Gatherings is taboo. There are no paid organizers, although there are volunteers who are crucial to setting up the gathering site. Participants are expected to contribute money, labor, and/or material. All labor is voluntary and never formally compensated; conversely, there is no monetary cost or prior obligation required to attend a Rainbow Gathering.Aside from taking up collections for essential items purchased from the local community, there is little or no exchange of currency internally at a Gathering. The primary principle is that necessities should be freely shared, while luxuries can be traded. A designated trading area is a feature at most U.S. Gatherings. It is called "trading circle" if it is circular, and "barter lane" if it is linear. Frequently traded items include items such as sweets, books, zines, crystals, rocks, gems, and handcrafts. In some rare cases people may even trade marijuana or smoking pipes. Snickers bars have emerged as a semi-standardized unit of exchange at some gatherings.
Non-membership
There are no official leaders, no formal structure, no official spokespersons, and no membership. Some 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" also playfully call the movement a "disorganization". However, there is a changing network of "focalizers" who take responsibility for passing on Rainbow information year-round, and serve as contacts listed in the Rainbow Guide.Consensus process
Gatherings are loosely maintained by open, free-form counsel circles consisting of any "non-members" who wish to be part of a conversation, which use consensus process for making decisions. According to the Mini-manual, "Recognized Rainbow guidelines come from only one source, a main Counsel circle at the annual gatherings."Talking circles are also a feature of rainbow gatherings. Each participant in the circle talks in turn while all others present listen in silence. A ritual talking stick, feather, or other object is passed around the circle to allow everyone the opportunity to speak without being interrupted; this is a custom appropriated from Indigenous peoples of North America.
Creativity and spirituality
One of the central features of the annual U.S. gathering is silent meditation on the morning of the Fourth of July, with attendees gathering in a circle in the Main Meadow. At approximately noon the assembly begins a collective "Om" which is ended with whooping and a celebration. A parade of children comes from the Kiddie Village, singing and dancing into the middle of the circle.Spiritually, there is a strong tradition of cultural appropriation. Native American leaders of several tribes have spoken out against the Rainbows' misappropriation of their religious ceremonies as well as their trespassing onto Native sacred sites.
Many spiritual traditions are represented, often with their own kitchens, from Hare Krishnas to Orthodox Jews to several denominations of Christianity and many others.
Creative events may include variety shows, campfire singing, fire-juggling, and large or small art projects. At one gathering, a cable car was rigged to carry groups of four quickly across a meadow. Faerie Camp was "alive with hundreds of bells and oddly illuminated objects". Musicians and music pervade all Gatherings, at kitchens, on the trails, and at campfires.
Gathering logistics
The Rainbow Family has governed Gatherings of up to 30,000 people. Regional Rainbow gatherings can attract as many as 5,000. The U.S. annual rainbow gathering occurs around July 1-7th, but people come up to a month earlier to help set up and remain on-site up to a month later to clean up and to engage in site restorations.Although each event is more or less anarchic, practical guidelines have been reached through the consensus process and are documented in a "Mini-manual". Items that are strongly discouraged at gatherings, by some, include firearms, alcohol, tobacco, and pets. Other items that tend to be discouraged include radios, tape and CD players, amplifiers, and power tools.