Washington Rainbow Gathering 2011

Marie Hanson (RIP)

2012-02-02T06:55:00.000-08:00

Marie and Bandit @ the gathering

While the search for Marie's remains is over, and no doubt the thoughts of many gatherers are looking to the future and this summers gathering, let's take a few minutes to remember Marie. There's an article this week in Seattle Weekly on Marie and the gathering. The gathering parts are a bit sensational if you ask me, but it's a good recap of the how Marie's remains were found and the story thus far. But as they say, it's not over til it's over.

Marie Hanson’s Family Finding Closure

2011-10-12T19:45:00.000-07:00

From (MyNews4.com & KRNV) South Lake Tahoe, Calif. – Loved ones of a South Lake Tahoe woman who went missing nearly 3 months ago say they’re beginning to find closure.

Marie Hanson’s Family Finding Closure

Marie RIP

2011-10-09T20:53:00.001-07:00

--From 10/10/11 Updated on 10/11/11
Marie's family has confirmed that the remains found yesterday at the site in Washington are Marie's.

Services will be held this Saturday, October 15th at Sierra Community Church, Sierra Bvd in South Lake Tahoe at noon.

1. The Search Fund has now become the Marie Hanson Memorial Fund ... Donations can be made at 1036 Al Tahoe Blvd. S. Lake Tahoe, CA 96150
or at mariehansonmissing.com. All donations will help the family with expenses. Most people have life insurance, but Marie did not.
2. Please come show support for Marie's family and friends by attending Saturdays Memorial Service. Please bring a dish if you are able.
3. Pray, Pray and Pray for her family and friends. She is sorely missed by us all.

For those who were at the gathering, Marie's body was found up the Rd 32/3220 (past the 150 road and before Road 166), before you come to the big "drop-off" .... Her body was on the far side of the road - about 200 yards off the road. An investigation is underway. Once there is more information to share, it will be shared.

--From 10/9/11
Late this afternoon the Skamania County Sheriff informed Marie's family that human remains and jewelry were found at the search site. Positive identification has not been made, however the remains were located near Marie's camp, and there are no other missing persons reported. Sheriff officers will remain at the site throughout the investigation.

Marie's family requests that you allow them their privacy for a couple of days. When positive identification is made, we will post the news.

Thank you friends for your loving support.

Family and Friends Searched for Marie Last Weekend

2011-10-06T20:11:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, gatherers, local folks, local law enforcement and Marie's friends gathered on the site to search for Marie. At this point there is a very high probability that Marie's body is up there although it has not yet been found. Cadaver dogs will search again for her remains over the next few days. For an interview with Marie's daughter on what the search turned up, click here.

We love you Marie!

Fundraiser for Search Efforts on Sept 24 in Woodland, WA

2011-09-22T06:48:00.001-07:00

Searching for Marie Before the First Snow Fall ~Sept 30/Oct 1~

2011-09-19T19:44:00.000-07:00

Inviting all people in the area or from distant lands to rendezvous at the site of the 2011 Annual Gathering of the Tribes to search for Marie before the first snow fall. Meet around 10 AM on Friday, September 30 and Saturday, October 1st on US Forest Service Road 3111 -- about a mile west of the Lone Butt Snow Park. Road 3111 picks up a 1/4 mile west of the intersection of Wind River/Meadow Creek and Forest Service Road 30 (also called Lone Butte). Drive about another 1/2 to 3/4 mile and you'll see find the search party. ~~the intersection of US Forest Service Road 32 and 150~~ ~~(back gate)...~~ For directions, click here.

We need self-sufficient persons... i.e. people who have their own transportation and, hopefully, bring a Search Partner as we will be using the buddy system so we don't loose anyone else.

Bring warm, brightly covered clothes... Hunting season is upon us and we don't want you to get shot.

We'll be asking all volunteers to go through a workshop concerning the search -- please honor this process as we want to find Marie and protect any evidence we may encounter while making sure you stay safe. If you come, you are liable for your own safety. This is rough country so be prepared for freezing temperatures and wet weather. Wear hiking boots. Be prepared for bugs, bugs and more bugs.

We will be doing "grid work" meaning walking close with one another for 2 days.
We respectfully ask you to move out of the immediate area Saturday night - people will probably retreat to a campground in the area. Folks on site will plug you in once you're there. Marie's family will be with us and it would be great if a few people can come and focus their energy on supporting the family during this stressful and emotional time.

We strongly encourage all local town folks to come participate in this search. We need your help ~~ the more legs the better and you all know this area better than we do.

EVERYONE, please take the time to watch this video and see if you remember seeing Mellow on the evening of July 7, anytime on July 8 or July 9 & 10. Cathy is in the background when Mellow is being interviewed.

~~ HOW TO HELP EVEN IF YOU CAN'T MAKE THE SEARCH ~~

We're trying to reach out to any person who was at the gathering on July 7 and/or 8th and who may have been on the road past the 150 gate on FS Road 32 near Omnivore Cafe and 1 mile in either direction on 32. If you were in that area and saw any of these people, this car or this dog, please email me, post anonymously to this blog, contact the family directly or either of the sheriff's departments involved in this case.

    * Skamania County Sheriff - Detective Tim Garrity
    * (509) 427-9490
    * Case #11-05271

    * Or South Lake Tahoe Police
    * (530)542-6100
    * Case #1107-1214

Mystery Man Who May Have Seen Marie on July 7

Bandit the Dog


Marie and Bandit

Mello

Cathy, aka Cat

Marie with young child

Cathy's Car. Marie was last seen on USFS Road 32 the night of July 7 near this car. If you remember seeing anything around this car between sundown on July 7 and July 10, you may have the missing info that will help us find Marie.

Other than Mystery Man, we know who everyone else is. So if you know who Mystery Man is, please ask him to share what he and Marie talked about that last day.
On a tangential issue, I'm looking for information on anyone who did ceremony at the gathering in a tent with a shaman named Troy where Bandit the dog was present.

Please download and distribute this flyer in your local co-ops, head shops, dispensaries or any place you can think of in your area were hippies or gatherers might visit. For general info and more photos of Marie, click here.

Please help in what ever way you can. Contact the media in your community and get the message out. In forty years of gathering, we have yet to loose anyone from the gathering site. Please don't let Marie be the first one. This is our chance to show the local folks how we walk our talk. Let's help Marie's family find closure by finding her remains so they can morn, celebrate her life and bury her according to their beliefs.

And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
~~ Nelson Mandela

The Dog That Everyone Remembers (with Marie)

2011-09-01T18:46:00.001-07:00

I'm trying to get a higher resolution photo, but in the meantime, do you remember meeting "Bandit" the dog at Loven Ovens or Safe Swinging. Bandit would have been accompanied by Mellow, Marie or Cathy.

Bandit & Marie

The Search for Marie Continues and Goes Back to the Land

2011-09-01T06:49:00.000-07:00

Cathy's Saturn

Marie was last seen late on the night of July 8 camped near this car on the 3220 road (where all the cars were parked), past the 150 road/gate (Kitchen Drop Off, Ominvore Cafe, dirt road to Loven Ovens).

She was camping with Mellow and Cathy, aka Cat or Cheshire Cat. For photos of all three, click here. If anyone saw Marie, Mellow or Cathy on July 7, 8 or 9, every detail of when and where the interaction happened is very important. Also critical is things like the vibes you got, what kind of a mood they were in, what they were doing and even what they were wearing. If you remember anything, you can contact the sheriff (509-427-9490) or you can contact the family by going to the Find Marie Hanson website. If you prefer, you can call me at 858-405-7503 or email me. Finally, if you want to remain anonymous, post a comment on this blog with any information you may have.

July 6 Mystery Man

There was a man Marie was seen with on July 6. He is described by the witness as a white male adult, late 40’s or 50’s, approximately 5’08”, and a thin build and is shown in the sketch to the left. He wore many silver necklaces with medallions, and had rings on his fingers, wore a dark colored Duster type jacket and carried a cane. If you know who he is or are him, we are trying to figure out what was going on with Marie on July 6th.

Also, anyone who was around a dog named "Bandit." The dog was white with a black patch of fur over the eye like lil raskles or a racoon. Hence the bandit name. The dog was being care taken by the man in the sketch. The dog's owner was Cathy. The dog never left Cathy's lap once she arrived at the gathering.

Shanti Sena Search Party

This weekend (Labor Day Weekend), folks will be going back up to the site for three days of searching for Marie Hanson and camping with each other. The search will be through rough terrain, so bring your hiking boots, rope, basic camping gear, plenty of drinking water and some food. This is not a gathering, but a Shanti Sena Search Party and Camp-out to see if we can find Marie Hanson's body. The directions to the gathering are here.

When searching, please use the buddy system, at least 3 people within visual sight of each other at all times. The reason for three is that if someone gets hurt, one person stays with the hurt person, one person goes for help. Furthermore, this will allow you to serve as each other's witnesses in case you find anything.

If you go to the land and find what you believe may be human remains, do not touch anything. Keep everyone back from the spot, send someone to call the sheriff and leave at least 3 people near the site. Take photos if you have a camera. THIS IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT. There may be evidence on the body which we do not want to contaminate.

Finally if you have any information about Marie Hanson’s whereabouts feel free to contact Detective Tim Garrity at the Skamania County Sheriff’s Office at 509-427-9490 or email him.

Can you help find out what happened to Marie?

2011-08-18T19:23:00.000-07:00

Marie

For forty years this family has gathered and to the best of my knowledge we've never lost anyone. Let's make sure Marie doesn't stay lost. If she's alive, all her family needs from her is a phone call. If Marie is deceased, her family wants her body back so they can grieve and bury her.

Marie came to the gathering with Cathy and Mellow. She was last seen on the morning of July 7th.

Cathy

Marie’s family is now asking everyone who saw Marie, Mellow or Cathy at any time during the gathering come forward with dates, times and specifics about locations and people who were seen with Marie. If you met any of these people at the gathering, know the details may help us find Marie who has now been missing for over a month. Her grandchildren are hurting and finding out what happened to Marie will help them and the rest of her family heal. Don't leave Marie's grandchildren crying for her.

Mellow

Marie arrived at the Gathering on July 2nd with “Mellow” and camped near Lovin’ Oven.
She and Mellow moved their camp to the Rear Gate on July 5th.
They were joined by Mellow’s girlfriend Cathy on July 6th.
The last sighting of Marie was the morning of July 7th near the rear gate. She never came back to camp, leaving all of her belongings.
Mellow searched for Marie, showing her ID to people at the Gathering until the morning of July 10th, when he and Cathy returned home.

If you saw Marie, Mellow or Cathy at the gathering, please contact the family or if you prefer to remain anonymous, you can post your comments on this message. If you wish, you can email me any information you have with instructions to not reveal where I got it and I will honor your privacy. All we want is to find Marie: dead or alive.

Even if you don't remember these three people, if you were near the rear gate (150 Road -- kitchen supply drop off; handicapped parking; Omnivore Cafe) on July 7, please contact me with everything you can remember about that morning. No detail is too small. For more information, photos and details of the search efforts to date, visit http://mariehansonmissing.com/.

Please share this plea with everyone you know who attended the Washington Gathering this year.

Marie's Family is Heartbroken

2011-08-11T19:11:00.000-07:00

For the latest plea for help and sanity, click here.

Cleanup Seems to Be Done

2011-08-11T19:09:00.000-07:00

I got a call from a friend who was at cleanup and he's left the site and apparently so has everyone else. He will share a cleanup report in a few days.

Marie is still missing

2011-07-28T08:27:00.000-07:00


Marie is in jeans on the right in the photo

I find it very strange for a 54 year old woman to blow off her husband, kids and grand kids. For more information and the groovy flyer you can distribute in your area, click here. Or see the Missing Mom post from a few weeks ago. Also, anyone from Jesus Camp, Kidde Camp or Lovin’ Oven who may have seen Marie or spoken to her please contact the family.

Rainbow Music

2011-07-27T08:06:00.000-07:00

A kind brother has a webiste full of recordings he has made of folks making music at the Gathering in Washington (and other years as well). Check it out when you're homesick.

Cleanup Update

2011-07-27T08:02:00.000-07:00

I don't have much info about cleanup at present. Until I post something that says clean up is done, it will be ongoing. Word I heard was that trash was a big issue and at this point I would expect cleanup will go on until sometime during the first week of August.

The folks doing cleanup can always use some extra hands, so if you have a day or two and you live in the area, go back up and put some sweat equity into the gathering. Bring work gloves, a shovel and ask any dirty amazing family what needs doing. If you do go back up and it fits into your budget, bring some fresh fruit or even ice cream (if you have the coolers for it) to boost moral. True Rainbow Magic is ice cream at the end of a long time of hard work.

Word is that the mosquitoes hatched and are out in force, so prepare yourself.

Did you get a ticket on the road into the gathering?

2011-07-26T19:31:00.000-07:00

If so, please read the top of this blog if you don't know how the game is played. If you didn't deal with your ticket, Jeff Kline has offered to try to help you sort it out (at no cost). Email him.

Or leave your contact info as a comment to this post, and someone will be in touch.

Learning Lessons

2011-07-23T08:37:00.001-07:00

For those of you who hang out with me, you've heard me share this rap, but I'll reiterate just for the hipstory of it.

The gathering was under siege by the United States Forest Service (USFS) from the late nineties until 2008 with the worst years seeming to be from about 2001 building to the incident in Wyoming in 2008 (where the USFS cops shot pepper spray guns at folks in Kid Village).

During these years, myself and many long time experienced gatherers put most of our time and energy into dealing with the USFS not into dealing with our own internal issues. I'm not saying those of us who did that where right or wrong, I'm just saying that from my point of view that's what happened. I know personally that besides endless permit issues, I spent a lot of time trying to keep my family, especially my young brothers and sisters, from getting arrested. At the time it seemed like a good idea. When I have it to do over again, I may do the same thing only I'll have a different perspective on it.

However, ten years in the gathering is an entire generation. An entire generation of people who started coming to gatherings where main council rarely happened, people weren't willing to step up and focalize things for fear of being labeled a "leader" and going to prison for it like so many of our very wise long time gatherers did. An entire generation where proper sanitation techniques weren't being appropriately shared with new kitchens, where recycling has gone the way of poodle skirts, where people didn't feel main council was a good place to bring their problems, concerns or ideas for the positive evolution of the planet.

During these years, there was a lot of focus on the "individual" nature of the gathering as proof we shouldn't have to sign a permit and very little focus on the "collective" nature of the gathering. Even though we are individuals, we are also creating a temporary community which has a "collective" nature. I'm not talking in a legal sense because I feel as if trying to define who we are in reaction to law is a losing proposition. We need to define who we are based on our collective and individual visions of what this gathering, this family, this world can become.

Starting in 2009, we started having main council daily from July 1 through 6 (excluding the 4th). (Thank you David and Cody for your hard work in grounding our gathering.) I feel the energy shifting. People are coming and discussing real issues on the land. Nuts and bolts problems that we need to solve together. We do have a shortage of long time gatherers and especially the "earlies" at main council. The less experienced gatherers are hungry for what you have to share.

The hipstories have returned with people sharing collective stories from 1972 on to the present. We have workshops galore now after years of diminishing workshops.

However, we can't drop our own traditions for ten years and then except people who never knew them to pick up the moment we stop feeling under siege from the government. Since the spring of 2008, I have created an annual blog for each gathering where I rap about stuff I have learned in my years of gatherings. This is just one way to share the hard won knowledge and wisdom of this family. I know other people in this family are doing their part to share the wisdom in whatever manner each person sees fit. We really need to ramp this up, but not from a place of, I'm smart and you're dumb, but with this entire history of how we got to this point. Because the problem isn't the less experienced gatherers, its the more experienced ones who dropped the ball (for valid reasons).

Some experienced scouts started a page on Facebook to discuss scouting and share their knowledge with less experienced folks. (Great idea) and the discussions and ideas are flowing freely there on the topic of site selection.

This year specifically, I felt that lack of a site specific Rap 107 contributed to our struggles with keeping people camped back from the creek and not swimming in the creek. It was my understanding that some of the younger family didn't want the environmental impact of the paper. I can respect that
position, but we need a very small Rap 107 (printed on 100% recycled paper) that everyone gets coming in which includes site specific issues like Bull Trout eggs getting ready to hatch - hence we need to protect the creeks. That sure would have save me personally a lot of stress.

I'm sure everyone reading this has other ideas on how we can increase the speed at which people are learning gathering basics and our hipstory. I truly believe this is the heart of the various problems so many people are bitching about.

Be the change you wish to see in the world.

Peace out!

Rainbow Guides lost in transit

2011-07-22T17:08:00.000-07:00

They were shipped back and forth the country and never made it to the gathering. However, the guides were printed and are available by following these directions:

Some 2011 Rainbow Guides are now at my house and ready to be sent by regular mail to anyone who sends a request to Rainbow Guide. You can also ask to be sent via e-mail a PDF file of it. You can ask for more than one copy, and amounts of up to 75 can be sent to regional focalizers.

If you want to be included in the 2012 Guide, you can send an entry by Clicking here or sending an e-mail to Liz.

The Guide is available at no cost to anyone who wants one, but it costs $1.09 for the stamp and approx $1.85 for the envelope to send one guide thru the mail. It cost 42 cents to print and ship from the printer one issue of the 2011 Guide. Contributions of more than than the total of these amounts help to make up for the people who don't contribute, and to print the Guide next year.

You can direct PayPal to send money here.

You can also send small bills ($20 or less) thru the mail safely to:

Rainbow Guide

3015 Oklahoma Ave.

Muskogee, OK 74401

Do not send checks or money orders made out to "Rainbow Guide". There exists no personal or business checking account with that name where they can be cashed.

Another lost brother (who is now found)

2011-07-21T16:25:00.000-07:00

Dennis is OK and is hitchhiking home.

Since we had two missing women, (one who has been found one who is still missing) it's only fitting that we now have a second missing man. All we're asking is that he contact someone and let them know he's doing OK. He's an adult so he doesn't have to, but when folks are worried about you, it's nice to let them know you're doing OK from time to time.

**Begin forwarded message**

My brother, Bruce Davis, attended the Rainbow gathering and we have not had contact from him since. He was supposed to be in Colorado by last week, but has never arrived. I understand that someone named Virgil saw him on July 5th at the Gathering and said Bruce was in "good spirits with good vibes."

Could you please post this information and ask the Blog readers to send information if they have seen Bruce or know where he is? If you do, please email Hildreth.

Personal Reflections

2011-07-18T19:39:00.000-07:00

I came into this gathering a bit hesitant (due to personal issues). I packed heavy and managed to stay warm and dry the entire gathering (even during the stretch of rain that lasted 36 hours straight). Here are some of my own thoughts and reflections.

Due to the snow, seed camp got a late start. Although I arrived on June 23rd and there were kitchens already set up by then, the gathering seemed like a ghost town. I hiked around the meadow trying to find some place to camp and couldn't find any place that felt like a place. I ended up spending two nights at the gate by FS Road 150 where I had friends. A lot of kitchens came in late and the money started coming into the magic hat pretty late as well. Getting such a late start on seed camp was hard to recover from although people worked hard.

I participated in the Town Hall Meeting the night of June 24. There was a great turn out and lots of good conversations happening. For a copy of the handouts that were distributed at the meeting, click here. (Warning! It's a large file). Once back on the land, I ended up plugging into INFO and spent most of my gathering hanging out there and trying to help other people have a positive gathering.

Gathering participants met with the USFS Resourse folks and worked out an unsigned operating plan on the land. Click here to see the PDF version I scanned.

One of the things I really noticed this year is that there are a lot of amazing and wonderful younger family plugging into to kitchens and getting things done. Yet it still seems like some of the tasks that deal with the gathering as a whole are under represented by the younger folks. Some examples: meeting with the Sheriff and Emergency Medical Services in the area; working out gathering logistics with the USFS Resource Advisers on the land, dealing with the circle on the 4th, and parking. I didn't really realize this until after I left but as I was thinking back on these things, I realized we as a family need to do a better job of making sure our younger family knows how to work as individuals with various government agencies and how to think about gathering wide issues (such as not camping next to the creek, protecting our non-human family and coming to the town meetings). I guess this is food for thought for next year.

I met hundreds of day trippers and over nighters. Starting on the night of July 1st, they came in droves. Arriving by car at 1 PM and by the time they made it into the gathering, dinner circle was winding down and the day trippers had flip flops and hoodies - many didn't even have flashlights. Every evening as it got dark, they landed at INFO, lost and not sure how to get back to their cars--cold, hungry and thirsty. We tried to help them as best we could, but it was tough. Despite all the warm clothing people brought to share with others, it went as fast as it came in.

Despite the high numbers of first time gatherers, most everything rolled on peacefully and positively. The nights were cold. The nights were cold. Some of the days were cold as well, but the sun did come out for the weekend of the 4th.

The Rainbow Guide went into shipping hell and never made it to the gathering, nor was there an Always Free, but a new focalizer for Always Free has stepped up so I'm thinking good thoughts for next year.

Thanks to my wonderful friend Cody's hard work at facilitating Main Council, it happened every day. I made it twice and we had people discussing pressing issues regarding the gathering. I also made it to the Cyber Council and it was great to put some faces to people I only know online. We had a lot of people listening in to the discussions and some very good points were made. The two best points where that using the Internet to share directions, raps, etc. is great, but that we need to remember we make decisions on the land. The other good suggestion is when circulating info on the Internet, always include information on what a gathering is, a few of the raps, and make sure people understand what they are going to when someone post directions to a rainbow related event.

We had the usual Shanti Sena issues and lots of people plugging in. There was a Shanti Sena Council on July 3rd that had a small group of people sharing methods and styles of dealing with various issues. There was a lot of discussion on preventative measures and how people can make sure that no one is getting lost or starting to feud with their neighbors. We had a great mix of young folks who have been actively doing Shanti Sena and experienced folks.

Because most of the meadows were marshes, dinner circle happened on a small spit of dry land between Montana Mudd and Rainbow Crystal Kitchen. It was cozy to say the least. On the 4th, there were two circles: a small intimate one in the dinner circle meadow and a large one that spanned the perimeter of Main Marsh. The children made it to the side of the circle where they stayed before the oming even started (kids were a bit early if you ask me). The circle at the far end was pretty sparse with fingers stretched out to touch fingers, but I think we closed the circle before the Om broke.

The USFS Resource Advisers came in a couple of days at the end of June and July 1st. Other than that, Gary Campbell and Mary King came in and walked around a few days. While about 150 people received tickets on the road, the LEO DID NOT server warrants in the gathering. I repeat, there were no bands of armed and hunting law enforcement officers inside the gathering. I only heard six up a few times in almost two weeks. From July 2nd until July 6th, we didn't see any forest service. They did return on July 6th although I was driving out when they were coming in so I don't know why they were coming into the gathering.

For what ever reason, we never manifested a Welcome Home. There where 3 or 4 gates depending on how you counted them and people coming in all of them. This made it very confusing to direct people out as everyone came in via the "main gate." Luckily 3 of the 4 gathers dumped people out very close to info, but I know a lot of people had a hard time with the chaotic energy where they came in and it would have helped out a lot to have a Welcome Home camp that was actively greeting people. The INFO crew was out in force on the busy nights welcoming people home and helping them find the camps they were looking for.

The parking scene was a bit tight. Much of the road side parking was covered in snow drifts that were 2-3 feet high when I drove out on the 6th. I came into the gathering twice and both times was greeted by a friendly and peaceful face (Thank you front gate - you rocked!). Unfortunately, some of our family is pretty stupid when it comes to parking and a few people did get their cars towed, but for the most part, we controlled the road and it was tough to stay on top of it. The USFS LEOS did close the road for 12-14 hours, but then the blockade came down and people started double parking and blocking the road. Hey family! DO NOT EVER PARK SO A FIRE TRUCK AND/OR AMBULANCE CANNOT GET THROUGH. We have medical emergencies all the time and need to get our family medical help. Don't be an ass. If you have to park 5 miles away so you're not blocking the road, do so. The life you save may be your own.

I was also dismayed at how many people think pitching a tent two feet from the bank of a creek is OK. Never, never, never camp on the bank. All the foot traffic causes erosion in the banks and that's not good for fishes and other creatures who live in the creek. Plus this sort of damage is very hard to repair. Creeks are sensitive areas. This year in particular, Bull Trout eggs were getting ready to hatch downstream. Stirring up dirt in the creek can plug the air holes in the eggs and prevent them from hatching. Please remember to consider all the living creatures who depend on the ecosystems in which we gather. A standard rule of thumb is 50 feet back from surface waters.

A big shout out to the folks on the land early who shoveled snow to get into the gathering. That's hard core energy and I'm glad it was you, not me.

Loving all of you!

Missing Brother Has Been Found.

2011-07-17T11:14:00.000-07:00

Dennis has been found. Thanks to all who helped!

*************BEGIN MSG*******

Our adult son is missing. We have not heard from him since June 24th and are getting concerned.

His name is Dennis Robertson, he also goes by Yeramy
He is 32 soon to be 33
This was his first time at the gathering, although at age 14 he was quite influenced by those he saw from the Rainbow family that had passed through our town
He left with some camping gear and hitchhiked there. He also does a lot of flint napping and was planning on trading a lot of the things he had made.
He was alone

He was going to contact me in a couple of weeks by phone.

Here are a couple of recent pictures of him. Please let us know if you have any contact with him or any information.
Thank you,

Kathy

Email Kathy

Vision Council

2011-07-15T19:10:00.000-07:00

Originally this post had the general wording of the consensus. This is now the wording as read on the land.

OFFICIAL WORDING: Consensus for the 2012 annual gathering was reached with 10 seconds of silence on July 16 at 3:55 pm, pdt. We the people on the land at the 2011 annual gathering vision council of the rainbow family of living light, have reached a consensus to hold the 2012 annual peaceable assembly and free speech gathering in the White Mountain National Forest (in the N.E.), or the Appalachian states of Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Georgia. We Love You

I've created a blog for the 2012 gathering, which you can find here.

R.I.P. Steve and Amber "Aya"

2011-07-15T08:13:00.000-07:00

While two babies were born this year, we lost two beautiful people due to pre-existing medical conditions. Ignore all rumours about other causes.

In alphabetical order by first name


Aya

Amber "Aya" M. Kellar, 28, passed on to her new life on July 6, 2011 at the Rainbow Gathering in Washington state.
Her partner is our brother Rudi Bega of Warriors of the Light kitchen. Amber had a heart
Amber was a native of Tully, NY, who lived in the Syracuse area for most of her life and was currently residing in California. She was an accomplished artist who was known by many for her artistic talents as well as for her kindness and loving nature. Her brother, Robert Mersfelder, predeceased her in 1999. S...urvivors include her mother, Dale Kellar; her father, Steven Kellar; her sister, Kimberly A. Kellar; her nieces and nephews, Michael, Robert, Stephanie, Kyleigh, Autumn and Bella; and her aunts, uncles and cousins. Everyone is welcome to celebrate Amber's life at a gathering, "Aya's Festival of Life," which will be held at one of Amber's favorite places, 3720 Tanner Road, Syracuse, NY 13215. Beginning 10 a.m. Friday, July 15, remembrance services will be held at the property, and then Amber's burial will follow in Howlett Hill Cemetery. "Aya's Festival of Life" will continue, following her burial, until Sunday at the Tanner Road property. For those inclined to do so, contributions may be made to a fund established for arrangements.
A second memorial has been scheduled for the weekend of Friday, July 29 · 12:00pm - 3:00pm @ 17106 Player Court --Weed, CA

A gathering and celebration of Amber's Life will be held at our home in Weed, CA. We are going to be gathering for the whole weekend, and celebrating at Amber's favorite spots. North Shore at Lake Siskiyou, McCloud Falls, Pluto's Cave, The Buddha Hole, etc. If you can only make it for 1 day, the 29th will be the one you are looking for. If you can join us for more of the weekend, please do. We have a really really big house, all are welcome to stay, plus there is camping all over around us. Amber would love for you to come share her memories and her favorite places and pastimes, here in the Mount Shasta area. Also I would love to give you all a hug.

Online condolences at CarterFuneralHome.com

Donations can be made to:
Dale Kellar
3816 Split Rock Rd.
Camillus, NY 13031
It is requested that in the memo space, that "For Amber" is added.

Some additional information from a friend who has been in contact with the family:

Amber had a pre-existing heart condition. The times I've met and laughed with Amber and Rudi there was such fun, love, and care humbly expressed not just for one another but for our responsible stewardship of the Earth. She is so sourly missed by all who've been blessed to have been touched by her journey.

New York Steve (Steve Pierce) , 50, of Ft. Bragg passed at the Ovens on 6/24. Steve was making sticky buns at Loven Ovens when he passed on to the earth or the sky or heavens. Family and Forest Service united to try to save Steve's life to no avail. It was a team effort and one that touched all who participated deeply. Thank you to all who where there when Steve moved on or up or down. (Photo above is Shalom, Marion, D, Marilyn (Front/Center RIP), NY Steve (lower right) Leaving 1993 Alabama Gathering)


New York Steve and a Friend

Steve had been working on improving his health and he had lost 100 pounds since the last time I saw him. Steve traveled with cooking gear, lots of cooking gear. I have a wonderful image in my mind of him sitting at Welcome Home in Wyoming 2008 with a huge pile of cooking gear around him that he was trying to get to the ovens. Like a kid sitting in a pile of blocks, Steve sat in a pile of cooking gear. I wish I had a photo of that moment to share with you but hopefully I've describe it well enough for you to picture it.

Please share your memories of these two shining stars by commenting on this post.

Now we have a missing mom

2011-07-12T20:02:00.000-07:00

Name - Marie Colello Hanson
Age - 54
Hair Color - Brown
Eye Color - Brown
Last Seen - July 7, 2011
Last Seen By - Alan Peck and Catherine Ward
Medical conditions - back problems
For more information, click here.

Marie has no ID, no credit cards, no cash, no phone. The people she was last seen by/with have all of her stuff. They left the campsite without her. If anyone has any information please contact Michael Hanson, her son, at 619-818-5292. Please help.

7/22/2011 Additional Info from news article
It has been over 2 weeks since Marie Hanson was reported missing. Marie, a resident of the South Lake Tahoe community, decided on a whim to attend this year’s Rainbow Gathering held outside of Portland in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest with her neighbor.

Separated at the Gathering, the neighbor retuned home to report Marie’s disappearance. Marie is without her identification, cash, and vital medication. Those interviewed claim she was last seen wearing jean shorts, tennis shoes, and a pink and white tank top. A man known only as “Owl” who is described as about 6’1, slender build, with a gray ponytail was the last person seen with Marie.

**** Additional Info*****

Hi everyone - I'm Penny, the webmaster that created http://mariehansonmissing.com/ and I'm the auntie of Tawny and her brother Mike, Marie is their Mom. First I'd like to thank you all for thinking of Marie and posting the link to the website. We are hoping that Marie is ok. The story we were told is that the guy that transported her there lost his car keys and it took several days to panhandle enough money to get a tow truck to the site. Or maybe they were locked in the car, not sure which one. If I had been in Marie's place and my critical prescription medicine was locked in a car I would have grabbed three burly men with rocks and taken care of the situation, but I'm not Marie. She not only takes pain medicine for her recent huge back surgery but for her mental health as well. I personally sat by her husband's side and discussed her medicine, and I personally know that if she was denied access to her medicine it would only be a matter of a day or two before she was not able to make any sound decisions or feel well or feel like herself. It took 3 or 4 days to get into the car, she was never re-united with her ID, her money or her medicine. The driver of the car left without her, although lots of people saw her there after he left. We'll leave that issue to the police. I'm glad I'm not in charge of dealing with that aspect because I'm furious. In the meantime this poor simple grandmother has been abandoned without her money, medicine, ID or her common sense, thanks to the situation that left her in the woods without her medicine. We hope to find her very quickly so she can get the medical attention she needs immediately, and get back to the family she loves, and that loves her. For mental health and the love of grandmothers everywhere, please pray that Marie is found quickly.

And Rainbow followers - can anyone tell me where the Regional Montana Gathering will be held and when?

Operating Plan

2011-07-10T19:01:00.000-07:00

This year various gathering participants worked with the United States Forest Service on an operating plan. I scanned the latest copy I have and you can find it here if you're interested. My scanning software is limited so the cover of the document is actually page six. Please copy and distribute this information freely.

Freaked out Family (Hope has been found)

2011-07-10T11:54:00.000-07:00

A 20 year old sister named Hope hasn't been heard of since July 2nd. I'm guessing she may still be at the gathering, but here's some info. If she's left the gathering and you run into her, please have her call her folks so they will stop stressing. She's an adult so is free to ignore her parents, but it would be very cool of her to call or email to say she's OK.

Hope Lindsay Johnston Height: 5’ 7” Weight: 150
Hair: Brown Eyes: Green
Residence: Canton, GA 30115
Birth date: October 26, 1990
Last Seen: July 2, 2011, Washington state heading into National Forest at Gifford Pinchot National Forest near Cougar.

Tattoos

Multiple on arms, legs and back. “Shoot The Moon” text on left arm. Cat paws on both hip bones. New flower tattoo on left torso.

Large woman warrior on left thigh

MISSING!!- Call (404) 679-9000 or (404) 788-1250 w/Information or e-mail confidentially.

Lost and Found (people, pets and things)

2011-07-08T17:08:00.000-07:00

Lost People

Every year people go to the gathering and their loved ones worry. Just a reminder, there usually is no cell phone reception at the gathering. This year, there were a couple of places on the road where Verizon and Creedo could get out sometimes but not all the time. If you haven't heard from your friends and/or family since they went into the gathering, odds are they are still in the meadow and can't call you. The other usual event is that the person decided to go on the rainbow trail for a while and didn't feel like letting you know. Either way, it's generally safer for people to stay inside the gathering, then to run the cop gauntlet to make a phone call. Most people usually surface by July 15th as the clean up crew starts shrinking by then, but people will be on the land until at least the end of July (and on the land means no or haphazard access to telephones). If in a few days you still haven't heard, email me and include this information:

How old is he/she?
Was this her/his first gathering?
Was he/she planning to camp with any camp in particular?
Did she/he travel to the gathering with friends who have since left the gathering?
Did she/he have any mental and/or physical health issues?
What kind of drugs (if any) does he/she typically use?
Was there a specific previously agreed on plan for he/she to return home at a certain time or at least check in?

Lost Things

For those people who went to the gathering and lost something, found items are taken to Info or sometimes to the nearest kitchen so don't give up yet. If you didn't check the lost and found items and Information, your stuff may be there. Even if you did, many items are discovered during cleanup. At the end of cleanup, all the valuable lost and found items will be taken out of the gathering site. To try to get reconnected with your stuff, at the end of July call the Northwest Tribes Lightline @ (503) 727-2498. Leave your name, phone # and a brief description of what you lost. Someone will call you back if your or similar items are there. Keep in mind, lost and found at this level is for things like wallets, cameras, expensive gear. We don't try to reunite people with lost t-shirts, bliss wear, etc.

Lost Animals

For those people who left without all the animals they brought, please go back to the site and retrieve your pets. If you don't, folks on the land will find a home for your pet. We never leave any pets behind. Every pet will leave the gathering with a human companion ~ hopefully the one they came with. If you can't go back yourself, try to connect up with a friend in the area to retrieve your pet. Just a reminder, pets on leashes don't get lost as often as those not on a leash.

New Updated Directions to the Site

2011-06-25T18:00:00.000-07:00

PLEASE NOTE THERE ARE NEW UPDATES (again!) AS OF THE EVENING OF 6/27/11.

These are updated directions from the ones posted earlier, below. They are based on phone calls from folks who have driven these paths. Please note that these directions are based on actual road signs and do NOT directly correspond with the road numbers and road names listed on Google Maps. Many roads have multiple names, for instance, Meadow Creek Road on Google is Wind River Road on the land.

Enroute to the Gathering, please remember the following:

1) Do not camp on private property.

2) Respect the Townspeople and Do not Panhandle.

3) Please shop in the small towns enroute to the Gathering.

4) Speed Limit within the National Forest is 35mph unless otherwise posted.

5) Only park on the left side of the road, coming in, all four wheels off the road.

6) Have a legal vehicle. Tickets are being given for every little thing. Remove danglies from your rearview mirror, and make sure your head and breaklights are working.

7) If you get a ticket, court is being held in Tacoma which is 120 miles north of Woodland, WA.

********************************************

FROM PORTLAND:

From Portland, Oregon, take I-5 North 30 miles (through Vancouver, WA) to Woodland, Washington. Take exit 21, and go east on Road 503. At approximately 48 miles from Woodland, down Road 503, you will come to a fork. One is 503 South and the other is a 503 "spur" to Cougar, Washington. Take the Spur to Cougar. (Looking at Google Maps Street Views... this looks like you should continue straight to Cougar, instead of turning right to Amboy). 503 is also called Lewis River Road.

You will pass through Cougar which is the last village before the Gathering.

Continue on Road 503/Lewis River Road, which will become Forest Service 90 (FS90).

About 18 miles past Cougar, just past the Pine Ridge Ranger Station, you will come to a fork where HWY 25 continues straight and FS90 turns to the right. TURN RIGHT here, staying on FS90. Keep going and then turn right on Curly Creek Road. Drive 5 Miles. (Curly Creek may become Forest Service Road 51). Turn left on Wind River Road and drive 2.5 miles. At the corner of Wind Ridge and FS30, you will see the Forest Service LEO Incident Command Center. Here you turn left onto FS 30 (also called Lone Butte) and drive 1/4 mile to Road 3211 and parking.

Here you will find the first Welcome Station.You have the option to park here and walk about 3 miles to back gate camps listed below. Another option is to drive 4 miles, turn right at junction and then another 1.9 miles to front gate (kitchen supply drop off.) At about 1.5 miles on this road you will pass another welcome station which is where you can walk in about a mile to land at INFO BOOTH.

****
If coming from Portland, an alternate route is to take Hwy 84 East out of Portland for 42 miles to the BRIDGE OF THE GODS, and pay a dollar to cross the river onto HWY 14 East in Washington. Go East to Carson, and follow the directions from Carson below. This route is advised for BUSES and large vehicles as it is much less twisty than 503 from Woodland to Cougar and in. It is easier for night driving as well.
********************************************

FROM CARSON, WASHINGTON
If you're coming from points east - Take I-84 to Hood River Oregon. Go north on the Hood River Bridge (Hwy 20) to Hwy 14 in the state of Washington. Go west on Hwy 14 to the town of Carson, Washington. Going out of Carson, turn left onto Wind River Road (signs will say

"Carson" and "Carson Hot Springs", but road is not well marked at junction which is a few miles East of Stevenson.) Once on Wind River Road, go 30 miles north. Just 1/10th of a mile past Mile Marker 30, make a left onto the road Lone Butte Snow Park. Here is the first welcome station. You have the option to park here and walk about 3 miles to back gate camps listed above. Another option is to drive 4 miles, turn right at junction and then another 1.9 miles to front gate (kitchen supply drop off.) At about 1.5 miles on this road you will pass another welcome station which is where you can walk in about a mile to land at the INFO BOOTH.)

***********************************************

We'll gather on the land at Skookum Meadow which is at 3,200 feet about sea level. For current weather, click Weather

CRITICAL INFORMATION:
Cougar, Washington and Carson, Washington are the closest towns. PLEASE be respectful to the locals... pick up garbage and NO SPANGING please!!!! We are getting way too many reports of panhandling from the townsfolk.

TEMPERATURES, SNOW, and MAIN MEADOW CONDITIONS:

Come prepared for lots of MOSQUITOES! Long sleeves and repellent are good things to bring.

Come prepared for cold wet weather... you are coming to the Great Northwest and this summer there is still snow in the shady areas, and alongside roads and paths. It was 46 degrees at noon on the 24th of June in Main Meadow and it gets down into the 30s at nighttime. Another reports said it can get down to the 40s, though. So, the lows are fluctuating. Pack accordingly. BRING WOOL SOCKS! Main Meadow snow has melted and the meadow is currently a marsh. It is unknown if it will dry up as time goes on.

PARKING:

Parking is going to be alongside the roads this year, on the left side of the road as you enter, but currently many of the road edges are still covered in snow. It might be wise to bring a shovel if you have one to dig yourself a parking space! You will be towed if you park on the right side of the road. Local authorities are being very cooperative this year, but please make sure your vehicle is in good running condition, is legal, and that you give them no reason to get messed with!! Make sure your head and tail lights are working. Remove danglies from your rear view mirrors. GP National Forest speed limit is 35 unless otherwise noted.

FRONT GATE:

Drop off may be 1-2 miles from gate in next few days as the larger volume of
people arrive. Gear can be dropped at gate, and left while you go back and find parking.

THE HIKE IN:

The front door has a long hike in, but pretty much all on a road. One source said 3 miles, another said 4 miles. Images of the path and the meadow can be seen in this news footage. There are two back gates, but parking is limited there. The first one is for Supply. FS220 is gated (looking at the map, perhaps this is FS3220), but people can walk in from there, on a road, and then a short cut off the road into the meadow. Do not have info at this time on how to get to the back gates. This is a great site for wheeled conveyances like wagons, carts, wheelbarrows, etc.

AIRPORTS:

The closest large airport is Portland Oregon (PDX). After that Tacoma would be next and the Seattle next closest after Tacoma.

BUSES:

I don't have a lot of information about buses. What I do know is that there is a Greyhound station in Longview, WA on I-5, which is just a couple miles north of Woodland where you begin to travel east. I am told you can also take the bus to Hood River, and follow the directions from there. If you have other Bus information, please post it in the comments for this post.

LOCATIONS OF SOME KITCHENS:

Near the Back Gate is Lovin' Ovens, Montana Camp, Camp Eugene, and Kid Village.

There are three large meadows. The first is Skookum but there are not many kitchens there because of water on the ground. Then there is the Middle (Skinny) Meadow, where you will find Phat Kids, Bread of Life and Montana Mud). There is a large meadow on the other side of the Middle (Skinny) meadow and there you will find INFO BOOTH, Nick at Night, KID VILLAGE (which I hear is across the meadow from INFO) and I-Don't-Know Kitchen.

LASTLY:

Leash your dogs...and please walk lightly on the land... bring garbage bags, and hike out your garbage. At the end of the Gathering, take at least one bag of garbage when you leave, and take it at least 100 miles away before finding a dumpster for it. DRESS WARM!

You're walking into the most well-known Bigfoot habitat, Skookum Meadows!!

Have fun and we will see you there!!!

The link to the map below can be found by CLICKING HERE.

View 2011 Washington Rainbow Gathering in a larger map

TV News Story with Images of Main Meadow and the Hike In

2011-06-24T16:54:00.000-07:00

This video footage of a news story was just posted today by KVAL out of Eugene, OR. The reporter actually hiked all the way into Main Meadow with his camera crew, and you can see the path and footage of the meadow which, I am pleased to say, does NOT appear very snowy! (Reports are that the ground is wet though... pack accordingly!)

Link to Gathering Weather Forecasts

2011-06-24T08:42:00.000-07:00

Many people have been asking about the weather on site. At this writing, there is still snow in the meadows and drifts in the shade. Standing water is expected in the meadows when the snow melts. Night temperatures have been in the low 40s lately. Daytime highs average in the mid to upper 60s.

Here is a link to weather forecasts the part of the forest that includes the Gathering site. When reading this, keep in mind that the site is in the 3,200-3,600 foot elevation range. "Valley" weather descriptions would probably be most accurate.

UPDATE: Many thanks to the anonymous commenter who pointed out that you can get a forecast for Main Meadow itself by clicking HERE!

Please bring any spare warm clothes, blankets, sleeping bags and tents you may have, for those without.

Pack for cold nights and wet ground.

Bring all good things.

Keeping our family warm

2011-06-21T16:16:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately, there's lot of folks coming home in hoodies with a thin blanket. If you have spare blankets, warm sweaters or coats, and are coming home in the next few days, please bring what you have for those who don't. Any extra usable tents are great as well. We've still got snow on site even though we're there and keeping people from getting hypothermia is critical. Please be prepared to never see these items again as they will probably go home with who ever uses them at the gathering or be passed on to someone else.

Welcome Home - Gathering Directions

2011-06-17T10:32:00.000-07:00

Welcome Home

40th Annual
Rainbow Family Gathering of The Tribes

Please protect this Beautiful Land

Walk softly. Harm no living thing. Harmonize - Blend in. Use only down, dead wood. Do not cut living trees. Preserve the Meadows . . . camp in the Woods. And remember, We are caretakers of this land.

Everyone sharing makes a strong Human Tribe!

Please Protect the Water Sources by staying out of DELICATE spring areas. Avoid camping, peeing or washing above spring areas. Keep ALL soap out of streams, springs or the creek! Use a bucket to take your bath 300 feet away from the water source. To be certain drinking water is safe: boil it for ten minutes at a rolling boil!

Use the slit trenches or covered latrines - cover your paper & waste with ashes or lime, wash hands afterwards. Break the fly/illness connection: shit-fly-food-you! Dig no shitters near water areas or kitchens.

Protect our Health!

Use your own cup, bowl & spoon! Wash them after eating and rinse in bleach-water. Go to C.A.L.M. if you feel ill - especially if you have a contagious disease - or are injured.

Camp Together – Establish neighborhoods. Community Fires only! Keep a 5 gallon bucket of water and shovel nearby for Fire Protection. If you are the last to leave a fire PUT IT OUT! Please, NO fireworks! Keep you camp secure. “Tempt Not Lest Ye Be Lifted From.”

Pets are discouraged, but if you must bring them, keep them fed, on a leash and out of the kitchens, springs & fights. Clean up their poop. Love them.

PACK IT IN - PACK IT OUT !!!

Cleanup begins when you arrive. Please bring only what is necessary. There is no janitor here . . . YOU are the cleanup crew. Separate Garbage for recycling. Please DON’T LITTER - Find a collection point. Compost in pits only.

You are the Gathering!

Participate and Volunteer! Participate in Shanti Sena (the peace keepers council), work crews, workshops, councils and all activities. Volunteer wherever and whenever needed: kitchens, welcome home, firewatch, parking lot, shitter digging, supply, front gate, etc. R-E-S-P-E-C-T your Sisters’ & Brothers’ energies.

Keep the Balance: Earth, Sky, Trees, Water & People!

Alcohol is Discouraged, Guns are Inappropriate, Violence is contrary to the Spirit. Please do not take pictures or videos of people without asking their permission first. Discourage Drug Abuse.

Buying and selling endangers our right to be here. The Magic Hat is our Bank, please donate early to fund our needs. The Magic Hat goes around at Dinner Circle and with the Magic Hat Band.

Our power together is many times our power separated.

Enjoy the Rainbow with an open heart and you Will see the Vision.

Join us on July 4^th for a Silent Contemplation & Prayer for Peace, respect those maintaining silence from dawn.

Hold the silence until the arrival of the Children’s Parade.

When on-Site... PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD.... BUILD UP, NOT DIG DOWN... meaning build HEARTHS.... i.e. on ground spread rocks, and dirt, then build FIRE UP... i.e. so when clean-up remove ashes... dirt, rocks... water the roots of the grass underneath... Meadows are delicate....

6/21/2011 BE PREPARED FOR ROUGH CONDITIONS FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS AND BE SELF SUFFICIENT AS THIS IS STILL SEED CAMP. DO NOT SHOPLIFT. BE SHANTI SENA WHEN IN TOWN.
Folks are planning on moving on site today. Please use the buddy systems when walking around the gathering as folks have been getting stuck in snow drifts and have had to be rescued.

Be prepared for mosquitoes.

* * * Directions * * *

From Portland, take I-5 North 30 miles to Woodland, Washington, Take exit 21, and go east on Road 503 which becomes Forest Service Road 90. Continue on FS90 (when it come to the intersection of hwy 25 and rd.90 stay to the right and continue on 90). Turn right right on Curly Creek Rd. Drive 5 miles. (Curly Creek may become Forest Service Road 51). Turn left on Wind River Road and drive 2.5 miles. Turn left at Forest Service Road 32 and drive 1/4 mile to Road 3211 and parking. Here's a google map.

If you're coming from points east - Take I-84 to Hood River Oregon. Go north on the Hood River Bridge (Hwy 20) to Hwy 14 in the state of Washington. Go west on Hwy 14 to Carson, Washington. Take Wind River Road north 26 miles to Lone Butte Snow Park. Turn left on Forest Service Road 32. Drive 1/4 mile to Road 3211 and parking. Here's a google map.

Entrances to this area from the east and the north are not passable at this time because they are blocked by snow. SNOW SNOW SNOW. Do not go this way and get stuck in the snow.

We'll be at Skookum Meadow which is at 3,200 feet about sea level. For current weather, click Weather

CRITICAL INFORMATION:
gates are to be opened soon..snow plows need to get in to clear some snow..so please be patient..try to hang out for a few more days, cause you might get there and not be able to park yet..walk in is estimated to be about 3 miles from one source..but iam not 100% sure on the parking yet..Cougar Washington is closest town...be respectful to the locals..pick up garbage and no spanging please!!!! come prepared for cold wet weather...your coming to the great north west and this summer there is still snow!! local authorities are being very cooperative this year..but please make sure your vehicle is good running condition and you give no reason to get messed with!!leash your dogs...and please walk lightly on the land...your walking into the most well know big foot habitat..Skookum Meadows...have fun and see you there!!!

The closest large airport is Portland Oregon (PDX). After that Tacoma would be next and the Seattle next closest after Tacoma.

Northwest Forest Pass Not Required

2011-06-15T09:21:00.000-07:00

Because so many people have contacted me regarding the Northwest Forest Pass in various Washington State Forests, I took the time to contact the Gifford-Pinchot National Forest (where Spring Council is currently taking place). My assumption all along was that folks out scouting would not be looking at areas that would require the pass.

In response to my email, I received the following:

"Only designated areas with improvements require a Northwest Forest Pass. We offer a brochure outlining these sites. General Forest parking is free"

7-Day Zone Forecast for South Washington Cascades

2011-06-15T07:58:00.000-07:00

This is the area in which Spring Council is currently taking place. Usually, but not always, the gathering site ends up being within 100 miles of the Spring Council location. Rumor has it that folks showing up for seed camp (once a site is selected), should be prepared for snow. Folks who live in the area say the weather changes frequently, so layers are the ticket.

Click here for a 7-Day Zone Forecast for South Washington Cascades

Access Rap

2011-06-14T19:45:00.001-07:00

For people with special needs, ask for Handicamp - a space for people with mobility and other related disabilities with lots of folks willing to help you make the most of your gathering experience. While the trails can be tough and conditions vary from site to site, there's usually a couple of friendly folks just waiting to assist with the rough spots. Sometimes we have cool things like rickshaws to assist people in getting around. Bring your own personal supplies (catheter, wraps, chair, medical supplies, diapers, cleanup, etc.). Bring own attendent if you need assistance with personal care (bowel programs, skin, transfer, catheterizations, wounds, etc) or supervision issues or other issues (mobility, access, safety) as needed. Please, ask for help when you need it and give another gatherer a chance to be of service.

Counciling in 1972 by Garrick Beck

2011-06-14T14:00:00.000-07:00

Dear Everyone,

I thought you might like to see this image from our Council Circle from July 2, 1972. I think it's inspiring. This is from the 2nd day of our Gatherings ever. Most of the people in that circle had never ever met each other before. Notice how we are listening and paying attention to the person talking, as though what they are saying might really be important. Maybe it's beause everyone there believed that our participatory process was an ancient idea brought to life again in our times, in this moment. Or maybe each person had a different idea about what it meant. But everyone there is really caring that this council is going on. And I believe it's the force of the ideas that were streaming thru us then that have sustained us right till now.

We are approaching our fortieth Rainbow Gathering. Forty years at the edge of the wilderness and is there a promised land? Is there hope that the culture we have grown and grown up with is going to survive and actually help humanity survive? I think so. Take some inspiration from the past and bring it into the present.

For what the truth is worth....there were many arguments in those old time circles. People hollered at each other, interrupted, cat called, threw things, all the great stuff of councils happened. The lesson? Don't give up, don't give in, don't give out. Keep on keeping on. We are on the good long road together. Take courage and strength from each other. Learn from each other's mistakes. Help each other over the hard parts. We may still be in the wild lands, but wherever we gather, there is some hope, there is the rainbow brought to life.

Peace, Love and Understanding will overcome fear and despair. People will learn to live with each other in Harmony. For all our rough edges and foolishness we are keeping on the good long road together.

I will see you at the Gathering in Washington...

Peace, love, milk and cookies,

Garrick

ps. Picture taken by Alan Carey, True Light Beavers Photography

Circle

2011-06-13T11:46:00.001-07:00

Our Relationship with the United States Forest Service

2011-06-11T19:01:00.000-07:00

It's no secret to those of you who have attended gatherings in the last 10 or so years that the United States Forest Service Law Enforcement Division and many gathering participants haven't exactly been getting along. This year the Incident Command Team consists of all new staff except for the Health and Safety Officer. While I strongly recommend you pay attention to the notice at the top of this blog, there have been some dialogs that seem very positive. This year in Washington, I believe we have a chance to change the way we interact with the Law Enforcement Officers.

Now I'm not telling you that the USFS Cops are going to leave their guns at home, spend their days digging shitters and their nights at the drum circle, but ..... I do believe that we have the opportunity to forge a different relationship with the cops. That being said, we have a lot of years of bad blood to overcome and rebuilding trust will come slowly. But if we want to create peace in the world, we need to be that peace and create that peace in all our interactions with everyone, including the cops.

Here's some info from Plunker (who was one of the folks who started the gathering) on his interactions with the Forest Service.

*********BEGIN PLUNKER'S NOTES***************

howdy,

Now that the word is out on Spring Circle... and i am back in Montana, i have written up the meeting... Friday, June 3rd between individuals and the forest service supervisor, others regarding this Year's Annual Gathering --
four people were at this meeting who intend to attend...
my raps are on what i observed and raps i shared.... the topics i mention were shared 'round-robin" fashion, altogether with all sitting around, and by each of the individuals who attended with each of the Forest Service attending... it was, a good meeting.... --- note: folks who would like to be at these meetings... please come out to scout, etc, ---- these meetings, with the Forest Service Stewards of the National Forest are done in Respect to all the rest of the People of the United States of North America who share the public lands....
when the Forest Supervisor, others comes to the land... speak up, be up.. peace.... [note; my notes are incomplete... only my observes] beaplunker

i wasn't on the phone conference call (reported, in part, by Karin) -- with Incident Commander, etc....
(see attached)

I been out scouting, starting may 8th.... for some days... then back to Montana, then back to the field (snow still out there)... and while there, due to some good chance, etc... when the suggestion came up that folks outa consider meeting with the Forest Supervisor Janine Clayton (sp) at her offices in Vancouver... i, plus several other folks agreed to go forth, contact and meet... [note: in various raps i have indicated i would be going scouting and seeking to contact the fs... i.e. in region... i spoke of this at Tksgiving Circle, etc...

prior to the meeting, i called garrick and asked him to encourage Leane Martin (sp) - forest supervisor from penn... to contact with supervisor clayton... gb sent out a contact... he met supervisor martin in penn..... . and held good raps....

arrived at offices, in vancouver, wa... for 3pm.... four Individuals attended... "sister", "genoem" (sp), Teryani, and me... barry..

supervisor clayton and some of her resource staff met with the four of us in a conference room....

Her first words went something like this, 'welcome, how can we help you".... and the meeting got more positive after this.... supervisor clayton, and her staff, were gracious, helpful... spoke of the public lands, glad that folks were into use of national forest...

Earl Ford, Natural Resources Staff Officer i.e. resource coordinator, (afro-american).... informed, experienced... gave us some tips on potential sites... [a couple mentioned were ones already being considered]
Chris Strebig, public affairs... informed, helpful, also help point out potential sites
Diane - Secretary, goods vibes
Ed Audelo, resource

Four of us... Speaking, acting only as individuals, sharing knowledge i.e. relating basic raps:

(1) only individuals,

(2) circle on the land is where the process is worked out...

(3) only there (in meeting) as information gatherers...

(4) Gathering is peaceable assembly, free speech event

(5) Gathering is composed of many elements and people, including "rainbow family"

(6) requested preference for communications, working out situations that supervisor Janine Clayton, others of forest service, etc... meet with other individuals, ON THE LAND work out situations through operations plan... as Leanne Martin (sp) did in Annual Gathering in Penn..... [ Janine Clayton said she knew Leanne for years, were friends]

(7) On the Land is where things get worked out and in the process of this peaceable gathering, free speech event... there is an effort to enjoy "shared power" of equality.... Teryani spoke an excellent rap on "shared power"... Sister was very good, and Genoem also....

(8) expressed interest in various areas of the forest... maps were gotten out... and areas were discussed... including criteria such as meadows, parking, water, size of area (minimum 1 sq mile for gatherings, these days)

(9) i mentioned (among others) that it was hoped "no guns" and the I.C. law enforcement to be better than in the past...

(10) i mentioned that it was hoped jennie would not give up her Delegation of Authority...
and when.. a third resource guy named Ed mentioned "a permit" if not doing "disbursed camping" ... at that time i spoke to Janine and said that gb
[when i mentioned the new mexico case... it seemed to be recognized]

when i mentioned "interpretative rule" janine was interested.... and pointed out it may take a "political appointee" to instigate such a rule.... i mentioned that i have asked one of my Facebook friends mark rey, who was a political appointee with agriculture to help [i have, and am encouraging others to contact him-- he ain't replied yet]

An example:
of an "interpretative rule" in 36 cfr 251.261 i.e. when there is no "signer" OR possibility of "signer" i.e. like in Gatherings of individuals in free expression.... then --

District Ranger and/or authorized officer shall use an alternative manner... THIS ALTERNATIVE MANNER CAN INCLUDE ADMINISTRATIVE OPTIONS, SUCH AS OPERATIONS PLANS, etc.... TO ACHEIVE THE ADMINISTRATIVE GOALS OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, HEALTH AND SAFETY OF USERS, etc.

Something like this would be an Option for any assemblies of persons on forest land.... who can not, or do not, or will not.... agree to a "signer", etc...

(11) I asked in 5 different ways, as to what areas in the Forests... Gifford Pinchot.... and Mt. Baker/ Snoqualimine (north of highway 12) are open for exploration, scouting....

the Forest Service Reply, from janine and Earl and Chris was:

ALL THE FOREST IS OPEN, except for the MT. ADAMS WILDERNESS, THE INDIAN HEAVEN WILDERNESS... TRAPPER CREEK WILDERNESS, two small places i.e. the WIND RIVER EXPERIMENTAL FOREST, and. one other experimental forest.. plus the BIG LAVA BEDS which are impossible to gather on...
Note: Wilderness are not in scouting vibes to begin with...

(12) This means that the Skookum meadow, Lone Butte areas listed as WILDLIFE EMPHASIS AREAS... are beautiful areas with fine habitat... AND, according to Forest Service, at this meeting, when we indicated gatherers don't camp in meadows..... that ALL AREAS WERE OPEN (these also) for consideration...
good news ---

FOREST SERVICE: Janine indicated she would come to the circle on the land, work with the process, and if she had a problem she would speak up....

(13) i gave her and staff a copy of the DVD of Wyoming 2008... (j. kalafer)

These folks, in my opinion, were gracious, helpful, curious, acted in very respectful fashion.. in fact, i said after, (and still) IT WAS THE BEST FIRST MEETING WITH FOREST SERVICE I HAVE ATTENDED IN OVER 40 years of doing this stuff.... from what was said by others in attendance... they felt good about the meeting also....

A couple more items...

1. Janine indicated the tax base in the area is low... so few (if any) emergency facilities.. i.e. gathering is on its own for ambulances... etc...
2. and she indicated they would likely enjoy influx of money from gatherers....
3. SPECIAL NOTE: NOXIOUS PLANTS AND WEEDS ... Supervisor Clayton is concerned... PLEASE dont bring outside plants and weeds... AND, please check your vehicles for such... clean before entering area...

This was a very positive meeting... and from what is being reported concerning the Law enforcement Incident commander call (see karen rap) also somewhat positive... this could be a GOOD YEAR...

SPRING COUNCIL DIRECTIONS ARE UP ON NORTHWEST LIGHTLINE.... for June 12th....
HOWEVER.... GO SLOW, THERE IS SNOW in area, and after melting.. places will still be wet...
1-503-727-2498.... these directions are good for those coming from the South and/or West...
if you are traveling from the East and/or northeast... you may consider....

See the town of Carson on hwy 14, north side of Columbia River... travel north on WINDY RIVER road over Old Man Pass... Windy River Road turns into Meadow Creek Road... then you come to the corner of Curley Creek Road, turn LEFT i.e. West then travel over the hill to FR90 or Lewis River Road... turn Left onto FR90... past EAGLE CLIFF... then you will come to where 503 and highway 25/131 that runs toward Mt. St. Helens... turn NORTH on 25... travel until you come to FR 9300.. turn right i.e. East... travel to FR 9310... then turn RIGHT -- travel a mile or so... to Spring Circle (old quarry)...

FROM THE EAST: The town of Carson can be reached either by traveling hwy 14 and/or traveling Interstate 84... south side of Columbia... toward Portland... then, at Biggs.. cross over to Northside to highway 14....
continue to Carson....

Spring circle may happen... and be there for a few days.... plus, even if a site is known... with the weather the way is has been (biggest snow in 14 years)... so meadows will be WET, EASILY DAMAGED... Gathering Site may be ready ONLY by around 18th or 20th of June.... things gotta dry...
Patience is Waiting! Grok!

When on-Site... PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD.... BUILD UP, NOT DIG DOWN... meaning build HEARTHS.... i.e. on ground spread rocks, and dirt, then build FIRE UP... i.e. so when clean-up remove ashes... dirt, rocks... water the roots of the grass underneath... Meadows are delicate....

PARKING WILL BE A DIFFICULTY ------ AND, PLEASE BRING TRASH BAGS... many of the places where people stop in Washington seem garbaged....

This is a Beautiful area... Gathering amidst the "Ring of Fire" "Triangle of Lights" " " Eternal Flames", etc... Volcanos - Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Rainier, Mt. Adams, Mt. Hood...

this Year must be extra-cool because of the apparent location

also, tragedy is part and particle of this area.... so healing is the vibrations....

These woods are magical.

Loving the Gathering to happen...
I head out again... soon come --

peace, love, just us,
barry, plunker, montana, rainbow family tribe (imagi-creed)
**************END PLUNKER'S NOTES********************

*******BEGIN KARIN'S NOTES ON CONFERENCE CALL**********
Hey everyone,

Just to make sure we're not keeping secrets, today (6/7/2011) there was a conference call that got thrown together at the last minute regarding this year's annual gathering of the tribes. I did not take formal notes, but here is a high level overview - other people who were on the call should feel free to chime in with corrections, clarifications or additional perspectivies.

The call included USFS Law Enforcement Special Agent in Charge for the Northwest Region, Barb Severson; Deputy Regional Forester for the Northwest Region, Lenise Lago; Gifford-Pinochet Forest Supervisor Janine Clayton; Coleville National Forest Supervisor, Steve Rawlings; USFS Health and Safety Officer Bob Begley, and USFS LEO ICT Commander, Gary Campbell in addition to a number of gathering participants, many of whom were silent participants.

Gary Campbell indicated a strong desire to change the paradigm by which the gathering and the USFS interact. Gathering participants and Gary Campbell expressed a strong desire to increase the amount of and frequency of communications as well as work on how these communications/interactions take place.

It was clearly stated on the call that any decisions about the gathering need to be made by people on the land, that individuals on the phone call were not representatives, but rather participants in gatherings, and that while we could not completely ignore the past, it made more sense to focus on the future.

Various recommendations were made by gathering participants including but not limited to having a daily circle with the USFS near INFO, encouraging gathering participants to walk with USFS staff inside the gathering, changing the manner by which the LEOs handle minor vehicle infractions on the road in, coordinating USFS LEO movies inside the gathering the minimize escalation of conflicts, numerous methods of deescalating behaviors for both gathering participants and LEOs. Further discussion included increasing communication among a variety of government health departments and gathering participants.

There was no discussion about the group use regulation or the permit requirement what so ever.

Gary Campbell has started to meet with and brief his team. From what he said on the call, he seems focused on creating in his team a new way of thinking in relationship to the gathering.

Personally, I feel very positive about today's call and I myself am going to move forward with an open heart in the hopes that we can be the peace we want to see at our gatherings. The olive branch has been offered. While I understand that years of negative experience may leave us jaded, I hope that we can think positive thoughts, have productive communications and keep our eyes open.

Much love,
Karin

********END KARIN'S NOTES*************

Town Hall Meetings June 20th and June 24th

2011-06-10T11:58:00.000-07:00

Town Hall Meetings are a great place for local residents to meet gathering participants since normally local residents have to trek out to the woods to find out what's happening.

The purpose of a town hall meeting is for gatherers and the local community to talk, ask/answer questions, and address concerns. This is an open meeting. We strongly encourage all individuals in the
communities surrounding the gathering to come meet with us and ask what ever questions are on your mind. We strongly encourage gathering participants to attend the meeting. The best way to make sure we have a positive impact on the community is to meet the community face to face. Person to person communication is very effective. As always, no experience necessary. We welcome all media to attend the town hall meeting. Often times employees from the United States Forest Service attend these meetings as well.

Meeting on June 20th

From 7:00 to 9:30 PM on June 20th at the Skamania Couty PUD Hall 1492 Wind River Road in Stevenson Washington.

Meeting on June 24th

From 7:00 to 9:00 pm on June 24th at the Yale School Gym, Cougar, Washington.

It's that time of year folks

2011-06-09T08:48:00.000-07:00

Seems like every year, just before the gathering and just before Spring Council, stress levels increase, tempers let loose (including my own), and the hurt feelings are piling up like cow patties in the meadow. Levels of trust sink to all time lows, the finger pointing and accusations of impropriety are all over the place, kinda like flies on cow patties.

It's the time of year when I need to remind myself to breath. Inhale and exhale. And to remind myself that things are always this way when we're scattered across the continent and around the world and communicating in fits and bits via a multitude of technologies: none of which replace sitting in a circle on the land and sharing from our hearts.

We'll be there soon. So in the mean time, take a walk on the beach, fix the holes in your tent, or give a massage to a friend.

Om Namah Shivaya

1983 Pre-Howdy Folks Artwork

2011-06-07T20:04:00.000-07:00

Spring Council Starts June 12

2011-06-06T07:32:00.000-07:00

Spring Council is a council/counsel/circle where people gather together, hear reports on sites from people who have been out scouting, and decide where to go. The decision can happen via a consensus by silence or a consensus by foot. The process can take a couple of hours or a couple of days. This year things seem to be moving slowly due to snow in the mountains. Often, but not always, Spring Council happens within 100 miles of where the gathering ends up being.

As with all things gathering related, the council is open to all peaceful people, no experience necessary.

If you attend Spring Council, please be self-sufficient. Bring food and water. Be prepared for cold wet weather. Bring extra blankets for those who show up in hoodies and flip flops.

Once Spring Council reaches a decision, people move onto the land to start seed camp. Some of the tasks are to develop water systems, set up the first kitchen a health care system, and dig the first latrines. Seed camp folks design the layout of the actual Gathering by developing trails, selecting a Main Circle site, marking parking areas and setting up Welcome Home. Coop and Banking Councils are set up to address the needs of Seed Camp. Please do not show up for seed camp unless you are willing to chip in on the work.

Please keep in mind that the ratio of law enforcement officers to gatherers is very high during seed camp and those who attend seed camp are much more likely to be stopped and search on the roads.

FORWARDED DIRECTIONS

***the washington state light line has this information as well @ 509*217*6573*** on the I-5 you are going to take exit 21 out of woodland Washington (about 30 miles north of Portland, Oregon)... go east onto hwy.503 hwy 503 becomes forest rd 90 continue on f.rd 90 tell you merge to the left onto ...forest rd 25 go on rd 25 for 5 1/2 miles to forest road 93 or 9300 go on forest rd 93/9300 for 4.1 miles turn right onto forest rd. 9310 got 1.3 miles to the council site.. please come self sufficient and prepared for cold wet weather..this site will be active for a few days while we council and wait on snow to melt..please bring food and water and lots of love!

DO NOT USE THE FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS. PEOPLE HAVE TRIED UNSUCCESSFULLY.
~~If you are traveling from the East and/or northeast... you may consider....~~
             See the town of Carson on hwy 14, north side of Columbia River... travel north on WINDY RIVER road over Old Man Pass... Windy River Road turns into Meadow Creek Road... then you come to the corner of Curley Creek Road, turn LEFT i.e. West then travel over the hill to FR90 or Lewis River Road... turn Left onto FR90... past EAGLE CLIFF... then you will come to where 503 and highway 25/131 that runs toward Mt. St. Helens... turn NORTH on 25... travel until you come to FR 9300.. turn right i.e. East... travel to FR 9310... then turn RIGHT -- travel a mile or so... to Spring Circle (old quarry)...

    ~~FROM THE EAST:      The town of Carson can be reached either by traveling hwy 14 and/or traveling Interstate 84... south side of Columbia... toward Portland... then, at Biggs.. cross over to~~
~~Northside to highway 14.... continue to Carson....~~

Spring circle may happen... and be there for a few days.... plus, even if a site is known... with the weather the way is has been (biggest snow in 14 years)... so meadows will be WET, EASILY DAMAGED... Gathering Site may be ready ONLY by around 18th or 20th of June.... things gotta dry...
    Patience is Waiting! Grok!

When on-Site... PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD.... BUILD UP, NOT DIG DOWN... meaning build HEARTHS.... i.e. on ground spread rocks, and dirt, then build FIRE UP... i.e. so when clean-up remove ashes... dirt, rocks... water the roots of the grass underneath... Meadows are delicate....

More fun at the gathering

2011-06-05T10:36:00.000-07:00

2006 Colorado Pirate Ship Stage

There's lots of cool things to do at the annual gathering of the tribes when you're not digging shitters, cooking in a kitchen, parking cars, hauling water or meditating for World Peace.

If you like to build things, get involved with Granola Funk. Every year they build an amazing stage like the Pirate ship that hosts all sorts of great shows like the Gong Show, The Talent Show, Hipstories (stories of the Rainbow Gathering), the Dating Game and more. If you're more of a performer than a builder, you'll want to plug in as well.

Then there is the wonderful and calming Serenity Ridge: a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with one another that they may solve their common problems and help others to recover from suffering. This is a drug/alcohol/smoke free space with a tea kitchen, Brew Ha-Ha serving a variety of herbal teas, which are all caffeine-free. Plus for those of you in recovery or wanting to get into recovery, there are 12-step meetings twice a day and all souls are welcome to attend.

If you're more a fan of Jesus, then Jesus camp is the place to be. Bible study, good food and possibly even foot washing. Plus the music is good and the people are friendly.

Of course no gathering would be complete with out the Hare Krishnas. For a wonderful and funny video of Krishnas building a kitchen at the 2005 Gathering in West Virgina and one that always makes me want to come home, check out the video from the Krishna Bus Tour:

These are just three of the wonderful and amazing camps at the gathering. I hope you have a chance to check them out.

Superhero Party at the Gathering

2011-06-04T07:47:00.000-07:00

From the folks that brought you the prom in 2004:

It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s……. the SUPERHERO PARTY at Camp Eugene!!!!!!! Come one, come all, to the most happenin’ party at the gathering this summer!
Saturday, July 2nd, Camp Eugene, 4:20pm.

Come dressed as your favorite superhero. Think Marvel and DC Comics. Or think Rainbow superheroes – i.e. the Wingnut Whisperer, Shanti-Xena, the Super Duper Pooper Scooper, or everyone’s favorite, Whatever Man. Or create your own.

Bring your super self, your super costume, super snacks to share, and, of course, your super powers.

There will be music and refreshments. And maybe even a mystery game or two……

Please pass on this invite!

Kids and the Gathering

2011-05-30T16:46:00.000-07:00

There are a couple of really good write ups on bringing kids to the gathering. If you're planning on bringing your children or grandchildren to the gathering, read Info Karen's Rap on Kids and the Rainbow Rap on Kidz.

If you've never been to a gathering before and you don't already have a tribe you're camping with (like Fat Kids, Northwest Tribes, Jesus Camp or Granola Funk to name just a few), I strongly recommend you camp at Kiddie Village. Not only is the food more plentiful there, but you will be able to connect up with parents who have brought their kids to many gatherings and can help you and your family have a positive experience. Plus they build kid friendly shitters which is a very big deal.

You'll also want to see if your kids want to participate in the Kids Parade on the morning of July 4th. Ask for info at Kiddie Village.

If you're an expectant mother, please check in with CALM and make sure someone knows how you're planning your baby's birth. Some mamas choose to have their baby at the gathering, some would rather go to a hospital. The choice is yours, but it's best to be clear ahead of time what you want and meet the wonderful midwifes, nurses, doctors and other health care providers who will help you before you go into labor.

The Call of the Gathering

2011-05-29T13:06:00.000-07:00

The gathering calls us from the depths of the earth and the tallest tree. The gathering whispers secrets in the wind, in the dirt being dug for a shitter, in the heartbeat of the drums. We are on a journey to an unknown destination. One ruled by unknown words and the longing for a future we have not yet created.

I answer this call sometimes against my conscious will. The amount of time, money and energy it takes to gather could take me on a three week ocean cruise with a comfy bed, three meals a day and no stress. But at the end of the cruise, I would still be the person I was before, although probably fatter (which I don't need) and well rested (which I do need).

In a world where money and efficiency rule, our souls hunger for more. For a way to relate to each other outside of traditional power structures and beyond the exchange of money for love. Some might call it madness and perhaps trying to hear the heartbeat of the earth is madness. If believing that the world is more than computers and jogging on a treadmill is madness, then we are absolutely insane. We are mad with love for life and this crazy world we call home. We are mad with love for each other, the creeks, the boulders, the tiny yellow flowers growing in the meadow.

I cannot count the times someone has quit the gathering, only to come home again. The call of the gathering is strong.

The gathering has left me in tears and so angry that I broke glass bottles on the side of a camper. I have yelled at people and hugged them a moment later. I have seen people in so much pain that all they can do is try to hurt those who would love them. I have seen people prey on us to fill the holes in their hearts. The call of the gathering is powerful.

I have worked myself to exhaustion and witnessed my brothers and sisters do the same. We have chopped wood, hauled water, treated the injured and loved the lost. The call of the gathering is full of hard work.

Sometimes things don't work out and people suffer. Kids get lost. Fights happen and people get hurt. Dreams are destroyed and people die. We experience the lightness and the darkness as nature includes both death and rebirth. The call of the gathering involves suffering.

In a culture that tries to erase suffering and darkness, that tries to protect every second of our lives, we have lost the ability to experience ecstasy and horror. The gathering restores this experience to us, puts it in our body, allows anyone to be the hero or the villain of the movie du jour. It allows us the freedom to learn how to work together, to be a community, to find ourselves and grow into humans with respect for all living creatures and this beautiful, amazing planet we call home. I have cried with my family and celebrated joy with them. I have seen the worst of myself and the best. It's has been a long strange journey and one that keeps calling me home.

The call of the gathering is life.

Anticipation, rumors and airports (oh my)

2011-05-20T08:17:00.000-07:00

Seems like every year about this time, people get gathering fever. Everyone is looking forward to coming home and the rumors are circulating widely. The truth of the matter is there's heavy rain and even snow still in mountains in Washington State and scouting is going slow due to the weather.

I doubt home will be in the Olympic Peninsula but other forests in Washington State are still being scouted. I know people are antsy about airfare. Depending on what you want to do, you can either purchase a ticket to one of the centrally located major airports now (or in April as I did) and get your really cheap tickets, or if you want to fly into the closest regional airport you'll just have to wait until the Spring Council location is announced. Most years, Spring Council is less than 100 miles (and often less than 50 miles) from the gathering site, although occasionally it's a bit farther.

If you're excited, the best thing you can do is prep. If you're planning on driving make sure your car is 100% legal (see Rap 420 for more info). If you arrive near the gathering with a broken tail light, you'll be the proud owner of a mandatory court appearance ticket, so deal with it before you get within 200 miles of the gathering unless you like playing the Forest Service Kangaroo Court game.

If you're looking for a ride, check out my blog post on Tips for a Safe Journey Home and a Positive Gathering.

Now is the perfect time to think about all the wonderful skills you have that the rest of this family would love to learn about in a workshop. Or work a bit extra and buy supplies for your favorite kitchen. Or if you live in Washington, write letters to all the media outlets sharing your viewpoint of the gathering. Or make a new dress to wear on the 4th of July or hold a potluck in your area to arrange a caravan or group camp.

I personally am not a fan of holding camps. Seems to me that if people have so much free time on their hands, why not plan a pre-gathering, gathering in an other state or perform volunteer work in a town in Washington to bring the spirit to folks who live there year round? This means I don't pass on directions to holding camps. But just cause I don't, doesn't mean other people aren't. Just think about how much snow/rain camping you're really into. It's been a cold wet winter on the Pacific Coast. I'm at the southern end and it's still raining off and on and not very warm.

And now, back to the regularly scheduled rumors and innuendos.

Tips for a Safe Journey Home & a Positive Gathering

2011-05-19T08:02:00.000-07:00

If you plan on driving, make sure your car and driver is 100% legal-all lights work, valid insurance and registration, seatbelts, car seats for children. Our government assumes that we are criminals. Please try to arrive during daylight hours as the roads into gathering sites can be tricky and we want you to arrive home safely. If you can make space in your vehicle for a rider or you need a ride, ride share is happening on any locations craistlist.org, at http://www.erideshare.com/rainbow.htm or if you're into Facebook, there's a group called Rainbow Ride Sharing "Gotta ride? Need a ride?".

If you will be sharing a ride, please meet the folks you'll be riding with at a local coffee shop, make sure you feel comfortable traveling a long distance with them, and establish the ground rules. If you are coming via bus, plane or train, try to connect up with a ride from your destination before you get there. If you are planning on hitchhiking, please travel with a buddy, only bum rides during the day and if you get a bad feeling from a ride, PLEASE don't take it. There will always be another one.

*Always* say no to requests for search, no matter what they tell you. It is not illegal for cops to lie to you, and they often will do so to get your consent to search. "You might as well give us permission, because if you do not, we will go get a warrant and you will be here for hours." This is a bluff. Don't fall for it. Their time is much more valuable than yours.

If they insist on searching over your objections, don't prevent them physically in anyway - but continue to repeat "I do not consent." Ask for names and badge numbers, write down time, place, and what happened in detail. Every little thing matters in a court of law, even the things that don't mean much to you or me. If you can, take pictures, videos, and/or tape recordings.

Also, if they ask you if you have contraband, and tell you that if you have just a little bit and give it to them that they will not search you, tell them no. Never, never, never incriminate yourself. That means don't consent to anything, don't give them anything but your license, registration, and proof of insurance, don't admit to anything.

When approaching the Gathering site, remember that you're coming as friends in somebody else's back yard. Treat the local folks with the courtesy, respect and concern that they deserve as members of the Family of Humankind. Be Loving and Kind. Don't be rude, steal, trash the town, disturb the Peace, or try to "shock" people. Be mindful of others' sensitivities. Remember the original Golden Rule when dealing with BOTH Babylon AND Rainbow: Treat Others the Way you want to be treated!

Please, make your journey a safe one. Don't be under the influence while driving.
Let's all get home safely.

DRIVE SAFELY!
Ignore all rumors of cancellation or organization!
Live Lightly with the Land and People!

Feeding the Family

2011-05-15T09:40:00.000-07:00

Just a reminder to all my beautiful wonderful family that we need to take responsibility for feeding and healing each other. Going to local food banks in the gathering area ain't cool. We generally gather in rural areas and with things they way they are, the people who have lived in these areas for generations are struggling to take care of their families and communities. They didn't invite us to come so we have to be extra considerate guests. We have plenty of wealth in our own family that we need to be sharing with each other. My vision of a communal future needs to be one in which we create our own resources, not bum resources from other people.

Rap 108 / 801

Before and After the Gathering:

While you are waiting for news about the gathering site, and later on when you travel to the next event, hold in your heart the spirit of the Gathering and live what you have learned there.
If you are camping, walk lightly on the land. Remember, she is your mother and she deserves your care and respect. Harm no living thing.
Recycle whenever possible, and clean up when you leave. Leave no trace behind you.
If you camp with others, work together to manifest the community that nourishes and supports us.
Share your resources, learn from your brothers and sisters, expand your creativity, and develop a self-sufficient life-style.
Get to know your neighbors and take responsibility for maintaining peace and harmony among them. Shanti Sena is a way of life.
Remember that the presence of large numbers of folks traveling through a small town can heavily impact the residents there. Please treat them with respect. Your attitude and actions will leave them with a life-long impression of Rainbow. Make it a positive one.
Be well!

On Creating Community at the Gathering

2011-05-07T08:48:00.000-07:00

One of the ways in which we create community at the gathering is by creating hundreds if not thousands of smaller communities or camps. Each camp has its own vibe and its own focus. Some camps are a handful of friends who have pitched tents next to each other. At the opposite end of the spectrum are large camps with large kitchens that feed the entire gathering complete with banks of shitters, elaborate advanced planning and hundreds of people plugging into the kitchen.

Camping in community is the heart of the gathering. Not only does camping in community allow people to look out for each other and watch over each other's belongings, it allows people to practice consensus based decision making (if that's how the camp decides to operate), meet new people, share and learn from each other and create the energy that the camp feels is needed at the gathering.

The beauty of a gathering is that pretty much anyone is free to plug into any community (with the exception of Sister Space which is yonis only). Some people come to a gathering and never leave their community. Other people camp in one community and visit other communities for fun, to participate in workshops, or to work.

2009 Gathering Map (click to enlarge)

If you've never been to a gathering before, I recommend you arrive early in the morning, then hike in and wander around the gathering checking out the camps and trying to find a place that will contribute to your creation of a positive gathering. (Keep in mind that sometimes the most challenging situations create the best gathering). If you're looking for a particular type of camp (like one based on religious beliefs or dietary styles), stop by the Info Booth and people can point you to camps that would accommodate your preferences. As always at the gathering and life in general, listen to your gut. If something doesn't feel right for you, no explanation necessary, just pick up your gear and move on down the trail.

I suppose I could give a rundown on some of the camps that are generally at the gathering, but I'm not sure I want to do that. Each gathering is different, and whatever I may say about a camp today based on my personal past experience, may not be true in Washington. Each community consists of many people and it's the combination of people that make the community what it is. Since no two gatherings ever have the same mix of people, nothing is ever the same.

However, there are usually camps dedicated to most of the major world religions, geographical areas, theater, activism, abuse of alcohol, abuse of herb, raw foods, bridge building and more.

For those who like to know what they're getting into, that's not really the best way to experience the gathering. Come, explore, meet people, learn about yourself and others, share the best of yourself with the gathering and you will have an amazing experience. That being said, here are links to info on various camps that other people have compiled and the map (above) from the 2009 gathering showing some of the larger camps.

There is a list at WelcomeHome
Rainbow Gathering 2.0 has a long list of links to various tribes.

Here's a great video called Where Are You?on finding places at the gathering just for fun! You'll be doing this a lot once you're at home.

Scout Rendezvous May 8

2011-04-25T10:12:00.000-07:00

Scout Rendezvous is a meet up for anyone who wants to plug into the scouting process. If you've not been before, please read Scouting 101 so you can prepared to contribute to the process.

Per old family paranoia requests about the feds obtaining the directions, some people are asking that you call the Northwest tribes lightline for directions to the Rendezvous (503) 727-2498 of 541-915-1295 where you'll get another number and a top secret security clearance to obtain the info (I'm just kidding on the security clearance) and I've taken down the directions that had been included in this post)

This is not a gathering, campout or drum circle. As with all things gathering related, no experience is necessary. Even if you don't have time to go scouting, but you do have time to make the Rendezvous, please come out and take the opportunity to learn from family who have lots of experience scouting.

Recent Article Talking about 1981 Washington Gathering

2011-04-24T09:31:00.000-07:00

Susan Sayler is an author living in San Diego. This year she wrote an essay on post scarity cultural and anarchy that spends a lot of time dwelling on her experience at the Washington Gathering in 1981. While some of her observations may slightly misrepresent things, I truly believe that she writes about what she experienced. To check it out, click here.

Rainbow Raps

2011-04-21T20:33:00.000-07:00

A great source of Rainbow Raps is available at the Rainbow Guide website.

So you want to focalize a kitchen?

2011-04-17T17:58:00.000-07:00

In my humble opinion, the gathering needs more kitchens like it needs more dogs, but for some reason, everyone wants to focalize a kitchen. Seems to me that being part of the kitchen provides an amazing growing, learning experience on working collectively and provide safe and healthy food in the woods.

However.....

The reality of focalizing a kitchen goes something like this.

Unless you're serving main circle (dinner circle), Main Supply won't provide food for cooking. This means you provide the free food in the woods. While some kitchens have a donation can on the counter for after people have been fed, in reality most of the cost of food is born by those running the kitchen. You'll need to provide pots and pans for cooking, 5-gallon water buckets for dish washing, filtered drinking water for you and your crew and hopefully for all gatherers. You'll need to chop wood, haul water and wash dishes in addition to cooking. You'll need to make sure you provide sanitary cooking and serving facilities, keep sick people out of your kitchen, deal with late night movies and work your ass off.

If you've never plugged in with a kitchen at a gathering before, you might think about joining your energy with a well established kitchen to get a sense of how hard cooking in the woods can be before you strike off on your own.

If you're ambitious enough to serve main circle, make sure to be at kitchen council so your kitchen gets some of the supplies (often around 11 AM near Info). But keep in mind that even those kitchens serving main circle only get a portion of the food they serve from main supply.

Sure late night zuzu cooking is fun, but it also is hard to work around all the tripping hippies -- especially those who need baby sitting at 2 AM.

You'll also need to have some serious shitter movies going down. Not only for your crew but for anyone who is attracted to your camp. This can mean digging a new shitter every day from July 1 to 3 when the gathering population swells.

When the gathering is over, you get to disappear your kitchen so no one knows it was ever there. You get to haul your trash out, bury your compost and fill in your shitters.

What do you get for focalizing a kitchen?

More personal growth than you ever imagined possible in a couple of weeks. More stress than you can imagine and more people smoking you out that you could ever wish for if you're kitchen is dank. You get to move your kitchen three times because the US Forest Service keeps changing the rule on how close to surface water the kitchen can be - play it safe and go 500 feet if you want to avoid the move your kitchen game.

You get people bugging you at all hours of the day and night because they're hungry or thirsty. You get random dogs digging through your supply tent and eating the food you just hiked three miles on your back. If you leave your kitchen unsupervised by trusted kitchen crew, you come back to a kitchen missing pots or oranges or a tarp.

The wonderful tarps you strung over your kitchen collapse from rain in the middle of the evening meal. And above all, you get to have a complete temper tantrum when your nerves snap because no one wants to help wash dishes or dig the next shitter. Of course, you can plug into an existing kitchen and learn from experienced family how a great kitchen works. (Try the Ovens, Kiddie Village, Musical Veggies, Granola Funk, Instant Soup, Tea Time, Warriors of the Light and BARF to name but a few of the great kitchens. Ask at Info when you get to the gathering). Most kitchens welcome new people who are willing to work.

It's a wonderful magical crazy ride and worth every second if you last. But please, please, please read the Kitchen Mini Manual so you don't get your family sick due to lack of proper hygiene.

If you've every plugged into a kitchen, please share your words of wisdom.

Looking out for the health of our family

2011-04-04T20:11:00.000-07:00

When we gather, we form a small city of dreamers, spiritualists, visionaries and others committed to living in community and harmony with the land for at least a short time. One of the key tenets of the gathering is that we provide and care for each other. Everything is free.

Every meal, every visit with a doctor, nurse or herbalist. Every massage, every musical performance and every circle.

While everything is shared for free this doesn't mean that there aren't expenses incurred by sharing what we have with each other. The expenses are covered by anyone who chooses contribute to the gathering by donating dollar$$ or bringing supplies

Today's topic is healing and wellness. Every year the gathering treats thousands of small injuries and generally a good number of larger ones. From Herbalists, Medics and Acupuncturists to Registered Nurses and Medical Doctors, my friends work them selves ragged trying to make sure that each and every person at the gathering gets the necessary medical care and the type of care the patient prefers.

The list of health care issues dealt with at a gathering is endless, but includes things such as sprained ankles, broken legs, heart attacks, people falling out of trees, major cuts, upset tummies, stress and anxiety, burns, mental health challenges, injured dogs, child birth, and the list goes on and on.

How to help

If you are a practitioner of the healing arts, we need your help on the land to help our family be healthy.

If you have a chronic medical condition and will need support to attend the gathering without stressing your medical condition, email CALM ASAP and start a dialogue We don't have a full hospital in the woods, but generally experienced CALM family can work with you to create a management plan so that your health is not comprised at the gathering and to make sure your needs can be met.

Volunteer to do labor at CALM.

If you want to plug into CALM, please check out the CALM website. There are many ways to plug in and this includes opportunities for people with no healing experience.

Providing Supplies

While all services are freely shared, many of the supplies aren't. Here's a good page listing supplies that are always in demand.

If you can't help out by bringing supplies by June 25 or so, donating green energy now will allow folks to obtain good discounts on bulk supplies. Click here to donate $$. Of course, cash donations at the gathering are always welcome as well and can be given to your favorite CALM volunteer, but unless you plan on being at the gathering by the Summer Solstice, it would be more helpful to donate ahead of time. The sister who is volunteering her PayPal account is a hard working medic at the gatherings and I've known her personally for almost twenty years.

Together we can help keep our family healthy and insure the injured receive the care they deserve.

Scouting 101

2011-03-26T08:39:00.000-07:00

The first Scout Rendezvous, called by Thanksgiving Council, is happening Sunday, May 8 at a location to be announced the first week of April on this blog and all the other usual places.

As with all things Rainbow, no experience is necessary to participate and new blood is always needed provided you can be self sufficient, have a dependable car or gas money to donate to someone who does, and want to do the hard work. The more people who come prepared with potential sites to the Rendezvous the better. Do your homework before you come. I realize that weather conditions may preclude actual walking (Step 7 below), but map work should be done ahead of time and if you come to the Rendezvous with sites in mind, bring the topo maps and all the research you've done on the area: endangered species, first national (tribal) land issues, grazing permits, etc. For all you know, someone else scouted that site last year and found some reason why it was unworkable. It's hard to find sites for the Annual Gathering and it's important we use our collective wisdom in site selection.

If you've never been scouting, here's my short list of how to scout (based on the collective wisdom that has been shared with me and my own hands on experience). We generally gather on lands managed by the United States Forest Service (USFS) but some areas of the country do have good land managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). We don't gather in federally designated wilderness areas, national park, or national monuments as these areas are not compatible with our needs due to one of the following reasons: no cars, focus on protecting wild life and land, need to preserve sensitive ecosystems, and entrance fees to name but a few.

Step 1) Pick a gathering or gatherings that you personally attended.
Step 2) Find those gathering sites on a topo map. I was taught to use 7 minute maps. Many university libraries have good collections of topo maps. Or visit topo zone maps online.
Step 3) Once you find the topo map, correlate the parking lots, kitchens, main circle, and various camps you remember with spots on the topo map so that in your head you can see a gathering on a map.
Step 4) Pick a national forest or area under BLM management that you feel would be appropriate for a gathering - if you're planning on scouting for the annual gathering in 2011, we're looking in Washington State.
Step 5) Look at the topos for that area trying to find a site that has the qualities you liked about the previous gatherings you've attended. Some of my personal favorite features are a good hike in at least 1 mile, closer to 2 if it's an easy hike because I feel that the harder it is to get into a site, the more committed people are to staying and creating gathering reality. For a large gathering, having a main meadow and a couple of separate smaller meadows is a good thing, water is of course necessary. Places to hike away from the main part of the gathering for people wanting to get away. Two roads in and out to the gathering site (Front Gate/Back Gate). No roads into the gathering site proper or the cops will drive into the heart of our gathering.
Step 6) Make sure the site is far away from civilization to minimize gatherer/non-gatherer conflicts and runs into town for booze.
Step 7) Go out and walk the site and see if it has what the maps showed and the above mentioned features, if it's workable and if it has the magic. In my experience, if you have done you're home work on five sites, maybe one is workable as there are always issues that don't reveal themselves until you are on the land.

Thanks to all my family who are spending time and money scouting for this gathering! We Love You!

It's been 30 years

2011-03-15T20:32:00.000-07:00

Since the Annual Gathering of the Tribes manifested in the state of Washington.

Just a blast from the past to show folks how old school communcation worked.

The less tangible side of gathering

2011-03-13T12:58:00.000-07:00

At the annual gathering in Pennsylvania in 2010, a few people mentioned how much they love these series of blogs but were interested in the why or less tangible side of a lot of what I post on this blog. That's a tough one to accomplish as it gets very personal. However, I will attempt from time to time to give some more of this side of gathering. Keep in mind that what I write represents my opinion or my experience only. I'll try to include links to other people's thoughts when relevant. So here goes post #1 on this topic.

Why I gather:

If I went into how I started gathering, I'd be writing for months, but looking at why I want to gather in Washington and why I gathered in Pennsylvania, it's all about learning. Every time I go to a gathering, I feel like I'm entering a huge sandbox where I get to learn about other people, creating community and myself. Here is one example - the details may be off as life becomes a blur after a while but the truth is accurate:

A lost child:

Every time I go out looking for a lost child I am faced with challenges. Remembering what the child looks like, trying to put myself in the place of the child so I can try to go where that child went, making sure I'm observing details, and talking to other gatherers about my search for the missing child. At the New Mexico Gathering in 2009, I was at INFO after dark when a frantic mom came to report that her son was missing. He was eight or nine but had some issues that left him functioning at the level of a much younger child. The mother said he loved fires and drums and hung out by the hydration station.

A group of people instantly ran off in the direction of the hydration station along one side of the main meadow. I walked into the main meadow and stopped, trying to listen the my heart. Gazing around the meadow, I noticed the big boogie pit at the bottom of the meadow and headed there. A large crowd was involved in drumming and dancing and just hanging out. When a small break in the music presented itself, I stood up next to the fire to get people to quiet down so I could let them know about the lost boy. Many people told me to leave that this wasn't the time and place to discuss a lost child. Others shouted them down and told them to listen to what I had to say. Finally after a bunch of back and forth, silence fell and I could explain the situation.

When I was finished, a sister said that sounds like the boy who was over here bothering us so we told him to leave. (This broke my heart) I said where did he go. She pointed up the trail en route to the trade circle and I immediately left (not without wanting to lecture her and all the others at the drum circle who thought drumming was more important than helping a young boy be safe and happy, but finding this boy was my mission).

I hurried up the trail and stopped at each fire. At the second fire, I found the young man listening to some kind family playing guitar and singing and he was entranced. I squatted down and asked him his name. After he confirmed that he was in fact the boy I was looking for, I took his hand and said, let's go to Kid Village and find your mom (all lost kids and lost parents should always be taken to kid village). As soon as we were on the trail, I saw a friend of mine with a radio and asked him to call in and let everyone know the child had been found and we were en route to kid village. (we walked that way together as it's always best when escorting a small child to have at least one other person with you to ensure the safety and sanity of all concerned). Half way across the meadow, a man ran up claiming to be the father, but in his infinite wisdom he said he would walk with us to kid village as I didn't know him from a dragon.

I'm sure I don't need to spell out all the lessons I learned in finding this boy, but they are powerfully strong lessons and very sad at the same time. I find that people who aren't willing to learn the lessons that the universe is teaching them, tend to have trouble gathering. After all, if you want the world to conform to the way you believe it is, you're not going to be happy when the universe keeps breaking down your sense of self and reality. But then again, this is just my opinion.

Other People's Thoughts:

If you're interested in some other opinions by people who I highly respect and have been gathering far longer than I have, try one of these great explanations:

Why Gather
What is the Rainbow Family of Living Light?
What is Rainbow?

The practical side of gathering

2011-03-05T15:37:00.000-08:00

While everyone is welcome to show up at the gathering in shorts and flip flops, I find that making sure my basic personal care is taken care of helps me focus my energy on fully participating in what ever the gathering desires from me. Bring too much stuff and you're a prisoner of your possessions, bring too little stuff, and the nights can be very cold.

Keep in mind that depending on the site, you will be hiking your gear in from one to three miles. (Sometimes we have special parking locations for those whose physical abilities preclude them from long hikes; sometimes we have Sherpas who help other people carry their crap in). Don't bring anything you can't keep on your person that you don't want to loose. While most people at a gathering are honest, there are usually a few thieves in the crowd and every year some bellies get stuff stolen from their tent. Of course, camping in a community and making friends with your neighbors, helps with the "tent neighbor watch" and keeps you and your neighbors junk safe.

Here's what I consider essential.

Tent, sun shower, my personal toiletries, sleeping bag, pad to sleep on, a tarp for over the tent if conditions are rainy, personal water filter, warm clothes, sun hat, sunscreen, water bottle, hiking books and a pair of sneakers. Heavy duty work gloves. A stash of apples, carrots and granola bars. A flashlight. Emergency C. Rain poncho and day pack. And of course a bowl and spoon. Some green energy for the magic hat. A couple of roles of TP. I always bring a number of small cotton wash clothes that I use as a "pee rag" so I don't use too much toilet paper.

There's a great rap on this very topic called the Turtle Rap, which you can find here.

Remember, if you haul it in, it's your job to haul it out again. This means empty soda cans, used tampons, clothes (even if wet and muddy), pianos, and small children. The only thing to leave behind is fruit and veggie scraps in the compost pit, poop and toilet paper (buried in a shitter never on the ground), and pee behind your favorite bush.

My oh my

2011-02-15T17:24:00.000-08:00

Sunday's post to this blog sure generated a lot of feedback. Some positive, some negative, some in between. It obviously hit a nerve. Seems to me to be a good thing to get people talking about issues and ideas. In reading all the amazing and wonderful comments one of my take aways was that some people feel that by acknowledging the ways in which we differ, we increase the separation. Some people seemed to feel that noticing our differing vantage points would remind us to find balance or intersections. Since I'm not an omniscient narrator in this saga, I have no idea what the outcome will be in a week's time, three month's time, or ten year's time.

I am amazingly proud of this family and the ways in which we were/are able to discuss our differences of opinions in such thoughtful and peaceful ways. Thank you to all who have weighed in and I hope the discussions keep happening in circles and cyber-huddle's around the world. Very important issues being raised by all. Keep it coming.

The Yin and Yang of the Gathering

2011-02-13T11:19:00.000-08:00

Please note: this is a revised version of an original blog post. I've tried to make it more symbolic and less literal so people will get the metaphor and not focus on literal truths about literal people. Legend, reality, metaphor are all different things and in the interest of peace I've tried to make my editorial less literal. 2/15/11.

The words yin and yang are used all the time, but for purposes of this editorial representing my own thoughts on the gathering, I'll rely on a Wikipedia definition "Yin yang are complementary opposites that interact within a greater whole, as part of a dynamic system. Everything has both yin and yang aspects, but either of these aspects may manifest more strongly in particular objects, and may ebb or flow over time."

The roots of the gathering were planted in the compost of the 1960s with anti-war activists, living on the land communes, civil rights movements, LSD, Marijuana and all the other things that you already know or can easily find on the internet if you're not up to speed. All these various energies came together and various people have written various hipstories or personal stories about the beginnings of the gathering.

We live in an increasing polarized world with people of differing religious or political beliefs showing increasing levels of hostility to each other. But the gathering can and often does move beyond that. Lately though, I've been seeing an increase in polarization at the gathering and I wanted to take this opportunity to look at some of the polar opposites and shine a light on their union.

For purposes of this discussion, I will use two friends of mine (who may also be friends of yours) to illustrate the opposite but complimentary energies of the gathering and how critical each of these energies is to creating a positive gathering that fulfills the dreams laid out in the first invite to the Rainbow Gathering. These two friends are by no means the only people involved or the only representatives of two opposite but complimentary energies, but I have known each of them for many years and had many interactions with them separately and together. I also am using them in a symbolic fashion and in no way should anything I write in this editorial be construed to indicate any truth or factual representation of past events. I love and respect both of these people with all my heart.

I'll start with the light, peaceful, sowing of organic seeds and smiles energy that I see embodied in Blue Flower. She/he comes from an east coast radical artsy background and is full of smiles, able to easily convey information, went to college, was an anti-war activist during the Vietnam and subsequent wars, enjoys beautiful things and wears clothing indicative of First Nation tribes around the planet. She/he is playful, energetic and excited beyond words every time the gathering manifests itself in time and space. Or as you might say - the more spiritual or new age energy.

Then there is the street living, hard scrabble, slut refusing to be ground under the boots of those in power that I see embodied in Green Flower. She/he wears leather and plowed farms for a living. A Vietnam war veteran she/he loves to live in the woods and eat the flesh of animals he and his friends have killed. As committed to creating peace as Blue Flower, She/he leans heavily on military strategies, hard living family and the rough and tumble of life growing up in the wilds of a western state in a small cabin in the middle of no where. Or as you might say - the dirty kids energy.

Every time we gather, we need to include both Blue Flower and Green Flower. A gathering with too much Green Flower can be full of pie in the sky ideals and too much time spent in meditation or enjoying sushi and strawberries with family. A gathering with too much Blue Flower energy, ends up in drunken brawls, fights and a steady diet of venison, rice and beans. When Green Flower and Blue Flower are working in consort, we have beautiful gatherings where people are free to be themselves, the shitters get dug, the cars get parked and we share our collective energy to creating a future that honors the needs of all creatures on the planet and also takes care of our day to day needs so our children can grow up. It is these children who will take what generations of gatherers have created and make it better.

Blue Flower and Green Flower have been friends for somewhere around 50 years. That's a long time to remain friends when your life and lifestyles are very different. I think each of use need to learn from this example. When we embrace our opposite while allowing our opposite to be true to his or her self, then together we become a whole circle.

Consensus Based Decision Making

2011-01-23T08:57:00.000-08:00

One of the driving forces behind the gathering is this idea of consensus. Consensus can be formal or informal. Typically at the gathering, things seems to operate on either informal consensus or some combination of formal and informal consensus.

My definition of a formal consensus is when all parties involved come to consensus. At a gathering, this would typically be through a council process in which all people attended. I was at one regional where 99.9% of the gathering participants attended council. Given that all the other gatherings I've been to, council happens with a subset of gathering participants. Therefore I believe that when ever consensus is reached may be considered formal, but if it is honored by other gathering participants, who did not participate in the formal council, at the end of the day we end up with a mismatch of formal and informal.

A really great example of a combination of formal and informal is the site consented to by Spring Council. While all or a subset of people at the Spring Council may participate in the consensus process, it becomes informal when thousands of people honor the consensus by showing up at the site selected.

A strictly informal consensus would be something like don't shit in the creek. I don't know that a formal council has ever reached consensus on this issue, but gatherers at large are pretty much in consensus that shitting in the creek has bad health implications for human and non-human creatures and the ecosystem at large. If some person does shit in the creek or suggest that as an option, gatherers at large would generally take issue with this behavior and take the time to explain to the clueless person why this is a bad idea - thereby bringing the clueless person into the consensus.

All this being said, there is a lot of great things to understand about consensus that can be applied to both formal and informal consensus. I've included some links below. Take the time to enhance your understanding of consensus so you can be of greater assistance to the gathering when you are there. These tools will help in so many ways. I find that ever gathering deepens my understanding of what consensus really means and how to achieve it. I also believe that without consensus there is no peace. If we all can't agree on something, then we will fight. I also don't believe there is a state of perfect consensus as we are constantly negotiating and re-negotiating consensus in small and large ways. It is this process that I love so much about the gathering and which teaches me so much about myself and the world at large.

There are many more resources out there, take the time to educate yourself and then bring that knowledge to the gathering, share it and use it.

Good consensus links:

http://www.welcomehome.org/rainbow/focalizers/council-mini.html
http://www.nd.gov/ndsd/docs/consensus-process.pdf
https://www.msu.edu/~corcora5/org/consensus.html
http://www.welcomehome.org/rainbow/focalizers/consenseus.html
http://www.republicart.net/disc/aeas/burnicki01_en.htm

Rainbow Guide Contact Info

2010-12-10T19:41:00.000-08:00

If you want to be in the guide, want to donate money to help fund the guide or want to plug into the effort to create the Rainbow Guide in 2011

Rainbow Guide 2011
c/o Elizabeth Slate-Rutledge
4211 State Route 13
Thruxton, NY 13158.

Notes from Thanksgiving Council

2010-12-10T19:40:00.001-08:00

Rainbow Family Thanksgiving Council, Northport, Washington, November, 2010

The council was held on a farm near Northport, Washington, in the northeastern part of the state. A barn was converted to a council and live-in space by volunteers from Spokane, and bales of hay were stacked on all four sides extending to the rafters, with the bales set in tiers above the floor and used for sitting and sleeping. A cast iron stove was used for heating, and a large table was used for serving food. Sheets of plastic were secured to the rafters overhead, which afforded a comfortable space for the event. Food was cooked in a house on the property, and brought to council area.

About 34 folks arrived on Thursday and Friday, and hipstories and heartsongs were shared. Also on Friday, agenda items were listed in preparation for counciling on Saturday. A brother spoke of the gathering being a destination for the economically displaced and politically discouraged, in reference to folks without rainbow experience. RAP 107/701 distribution was encouraged. The Rainbow Family of Living Light is pro-peace and pro-environment. We live in a peace village that we construct on the spot with our resources, time, and shared intent. The community movement of the Hippie era has waned, many of the folks who gather are seeking community. Our arms and hearts are open.

Pictures of sites that were scouted in Washington State earlier this year were shared by two folks that came to council.

Agenda items for the council on Saturday, November 27, were: Security, Welcome Home, intergenerational, a review of the annual gathering this year in Pennsylvania, dates on milestones, creation of an office (P.O. Box, bank, contact), death camp, front gate, announcements, breakouts/reports, scouting, Washington State local participation, and missing persons.

On Saturday, the council started at rainbow noon. It began with a consensus to have a scout rendezvous on May 8, and the site to be announced on April 3, 2011. Scout contacts may be made by calling a northwest rainbow lightline voice mail 503-727-2498. Leave a message with a phone number, to ensure a call back. Also another contact may be made by calling 541-915-1295.

The formation of an office, complete with five volunteers, was created with local folks in the Oroville, Washington area. The office will open the mail and receive magic hat donations designated for scouting and office expenses. Any remaining green energy will be turned over to a new bank to be created after Spring Council consenses to a site for the annual gathering next year in Washington State. The address is: Rainbow 2011, P.O. Box 76, Oroville, Washington, 98844. (Note: the word rainbow is needed in the address) A sister who is on the office has offered her e-mail address as a contact,.

Helping each other was encouraged, with the spirit leading.

Sheila sends her love, as well as Val and others who were not able to attend.

Spring council dates were discussed, and Sunday, June 12 was consensed, site to be announced by the office.

Town meetings were proposed, to be held at a location close to the gathering site. Two meetings, the first to be in the evening of Monday, June 20, and a second in the evening of Friday, June 24, with the events to include the local community.

The creation of a shanti sena workshop near main circle was presented, and folks in the circle encouraged respect as well as communication.

Death camp is a camp that attends the gathering each year. "Thanksgiving council discussed how to interact with what are perceived by some as disruptive camps within the gathering. We, Thanksgiving council consense to continue working with these camps with an open heart".

Trespass, legal issues, lawyers, as well as Federal and State laws need to be included in information to be passed on. Do shanti sena, not "i am shanti sena".

Sunday was open discussion on two agenda items, including the annual in Pennsylvania where an operating plan was created after many days of council at the site, and discussing the fall regional gathering in eastern Washington State earlier this year.

WE LOVE YOU

T-Council (afterwards)

2010-12-02T19:42:00.001-08:00

Lots of folks looking for info from Thanksgiving Council. Seems to me that it usually takes a couple of weeks or so before the minutes get written up and distributed. We're on rainbow time after all.

Missing Person Found

2010-11-24T21:33:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Rainbow magic, someone saw the original post I had here, called her mom and Porche and her family are talking. Everyone is happy!

Porche: We love you and want you to be happy!

Some additional info on T-Council

2010-11-21T11:05:00.000-08:00

Lazy-Daze Retreats (509) 732-6686 is in Northport Washington, around 15 miles from the farm.

They have cottages/cabins they will rent for the weekend, (4 or 5 I believe) from 60/night for 2 people up to 80/nite for 4... none are so far rented. They add $10-$20/person if more people end up staying in any of them... in case folks are interested...

I talked with folks from spokane and the weather report is predicting 9 degree fahrenheit weather the 24th and 25th... and snow.

******************************************
it will be cold. it is already chilly. expect below freezing weather.
bring layers, layers, layers.

there is a campground in Evans that is down the road from Northport for $5 a day. it will be cold.

the site has a barn open to one side, (to be likely tarped off), which will be heated by a stove or two. there is wood ready for a bonfire, and for heating/cooking. there is some other inside spaces, and there will be made warm space outside as best can be, there is room for as many as come,.... but it will be cold outside,.. very,.. beautiful,..

grab supplies either in colville, or kettle falls (groc. store and gas in northport as well too), (decent cheap rooms at the kettle falls inn $35-$40/per since it's just out of hunting season, but they are a scenic 45
min drive from site.)

Forest Service and the Rainbow Gathering

2010-11-13T07:10:00.000-08:00

As many of you who have been gathering for a while know, we have a complicated, sometimes contentious relationship with the United States Forest Service. If you're into understanding things from their point of view, a kind brother has put together a series of pages with lots of the USFS documents he obtained via FOIA requests.

Find the 2010 document and links to earlier years here.

Thanksgiving Council Information

2010-11-11T17:48:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving Council will be taking place on a farm near Northport Washington in the northeastern corner of the state. If you're flying, the nearest major airport is Spokane, Washington.

The farm has animals including llamas, a partially insulated barn with a woodstove for counciling, etc., and cooking facilities. There will be some additional propane space heaters to help keep people warm. A work party will start on November 18 to prepare for the council. If you are self-sufficient, interested in helping and aren't already plugged into this effort, please email me for more info. If you are planning on coming for the council and aren't able to be part of the work party, please do not arrive before Wednesday, November 24.

Please be aware the farm is at a 3,000 foot elevation and has already experienced some bouts of snow this season. Word is that snow doesn't last long, but be prepared. There are lots of open fields and plenty of parking. Wood and water are plentiful. 1/2 the barn is insulated, 1/2 the barn is not insulated.

DIRECTIONS:

From Spokane, Washington (on I-90) take Hwy 395 to Hwy 25 north to NorthPort (approximately 100 miles)

In Northport, go east on Aladdin Road (there will be a sign saying Deep Lake). Go 3 miles. Take the second right (Stoddard Road) and go one mile to the end of the road and park.

This is a family farm, so be respectful and keep your dogs at home or on a leash so as not to frighten the llamas.

There are a couple of hotels within 15 miles or so if you prefer indoor accomodations. They're not cheap - close to $100/night according to my sources. 509-684-2010 (Comfort) or 866-925-7881 (Best Western)

Karin's Editorial

I was hoping that each one of you could reach out to family in or near Washington state and encourage them to attend at least a day or two of the council. This is a great opportunity to meet the other folks who will be putting energy into the gathering, learn how to plan the gathering, review potential sites for the gathering, share your sites with others to scout in the fall, and learn about how things happen.

Often, but not always, T-Council picks the dates for one or multiple scout councils (rendevouzs) and Spring Council. Often a mailing address is selected. Often people share their heartsongs and start creating the energy to manifest a beautiful gathering in the summer. Sometimes we argue and bicker. We are a family!

As with all things Rainbow, no experience is necessary and everyone is welcome. I am sending out positive thoughts that we will have good representation from the younger gatherers. This gathering can only continue when we share and learn the collective gathering wisdom.

If you’re new to counciling or need a brush up, I highly recommend reading the Counciling Mini Manual or the a rap on consensus so you can contribute to a positive council.

Getting in the Mood

2010-10-17T07:36:00.000-07:00

At the 2008 gathering in Wyoming, a brother shot footage which became a documenatary film called "We Love You." I just got a message from him today that the film is now available online for your viewing pleasure in HD. For more information on the film, visit www.weloveyoufilm.com. Enjoy!

Focalizing Thanksgiving Council

2010-10-07T20:56:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year folks. Thanksgiving Council (happens on the holiday weekend) is coming up and people in Washington are starting to focalize where the council is held. If you're not clear on the concept of focalizing Rainbow style, click here. As with all things Rainbow, no experience is necessary, just a willingness to work cooperatively with others.

Traditionally, the folks in the area of the upcoming gathering take the lead on focalizing the council, so if you're in Washington and want to plug in, email me and I'll hook you up with the effort.

The more positive and strong energy we put in at T-Council, the better the rest of the year goes. There's many things to do besides council like cooking food and child care and just getting a deeper understanding of what goes into focalizing a large gathering. Here's to a strong showing from Washington family.

Planning for 2011

2010-09-28T18:56:00.000-07:00

Here's some things we can do to prepare ourselves and contribute to a safe and sane gathering for everyone.

Stock up on toilet paper to bring to the gathering
Get a local circle going to discuss ways your local family can contribute to the gathering. This could be 3 people or 30.
Build a handicapped person shuttle rickshaw.
Get your camping gear in order.
Brainstorm on something positive you can do for the local community on your way into the gathering.
Go to http://www.welcomehome.org and read all the cool info about gathering to prepare yourself.
Start getting your car in working order - all lights, turn signals, wipers, seatbelts, etc. Make sure you have registration, a drivers license and insurance or you may receive a mandatory court appearance ticket from the USFS LEOs
Build raised shitters - a Square plywood box with a whole on the top and a lid and no bottom for people who can't squat.
Get a job and earn some money so you can buy a bunch of fresh fruits and veggies, or medical supplies, or water filters to bring to the gathering.
Fix up some of those old tarps laying around and bring them to the gathering.
Collect art supplies and bring them to the gathering and plan an art camp.
Do a teach in for all the folks planning on coming home in your local community.
Plan a dog or cat camp to care for dogs or cats whose owners don't have their shit together.
Plan a ceremony to share with the family
Prepare an act for the variety show
Plan some activities to do with the kids in Kid Village
Make a commitment to work Welcome Home and the Front Gate with a few of your friends.
Do the ground work for hands free hand wash stations.
Do a fund raiser in your local community and donate the proceeds to the Magic Hat.
Start working out so you'll be in shape for hauling stuff at the gathering
Prepare a workshop to share with the family on something you are interested in.

And the list goes on and on.

The more planning energy we manifest now, the higher the gathering will be in 2011. Be the magic you wish to see at the gathering.

Where Will The Gathering Be in 2011?

2010-09-05T10:54:00.000-07:00

Usually when someone gets on my email list, this is the first information I send them. So to you out here in blogsphere, here's that same information.

From the invite to the very first Rainbow Gathering in 1972:

We, who are brothers & sisters, children of God, families of life on earth, friends of nature & of all people, children of humankind calling ourselves Rainbow Family Tribe, humbly invite:

All races, peoples, tribes, communes, men, women, children, individuals -- out of love.
All nations & national leaders -- out of respect
All religions & religious leaders -- out of faith
All politicians -- out of charity

to join with us in gathering together for the purpose of expressing our sincere desire that there shall be peace on earth, harmony among all people. This gathering to take place beginning July 1, 1972, near Aspen, Colorado - or between Aspen & the Hopi & Navajo lands - on 3000 acres of land that we hope to purchase or acquire for this gathering -- & to hold open worship, prayer, chanting or whatever is the want or desire of the people, for three days, but upon the fourth day of July at noon to ask that there be a meditative, contemplative silence wherein we, the invited people of the world may consider & give honor & respect to anyone or anything that has aided in the positive evolution of humankind & nature upon this, our most beloved & beautiful world -- asking blessing upon we people of this world & hope that we people can effectively proceed to evolve, expand, & live in harmony & peace.

The truth is no one knows where the gathering will be at this time.

In July 2010, Vision Council on the land in Pennsylvania called for it to be in Washington State.

Thanksgiving Council

The next step in the process of landing on a site is Thanksgiving Council (T-Council) which takes place over the four day Thanksgiving Holiday in or near the area for the following gathering. This year T-Council will be in Washington State. This is a time of people to council and share their hopes and dreams for the 2011 gathering. If you have potential sites you think are worthy of scouting in the spring, bring topo maps and forest service maps. Directions and more information on T-Council will be available later - usually late October or early November so check back here or any of the other usual places.

Scout Council(s) or Scout Rendevouz

T-Council will pick dates for one or two Scout Councils. The locations will be announced one or two weeks before each date (here and all the usual places). Scout Councils/Rendevouz is a time for people out scouting to connect up, share information, talk about scouting efforts. As with all things Rainbow, no experience is necessary, just a desire to walk, learn, teach and share. If you come, please be self sufficient - have green energy for gas, food, etc. You don't need your own vehicle if you can be a positive traveling companion, but $$$ are always in short supply for scouting, so please bring enough for yourself and some to share with the person whose vehicle breaks down.

Spring Council

Spring Council is when all potential sites for the gathering are brought to any people who want to be involved in selecting a site. The council usually takes one to seven days and normally ends with either a consensus by silence among people at the council or an exodus of the majority of people heading to the site. T-Council will pick a date for Spring Council but the exact location generally isn't determined until one to two weeks before Spring Council starts.

Seed Camp

Once Spring Council reaches a decision, people move onto the site and start Seed Camp. Seed Camp is about creating trails, building kitchens, digging shitters, taping springs and dealing with the United States Forest Service. Historically, law enforcement harrassment is highest during Seed Camp so if you are planning on being there, take the necessary precautions to keep your self out of the system.

The Gathering

The main day of the gathering is July 4 when we observe silence from dawn until high noon and put our energy into manifesting world peace, the positive evolution of the planet and other good things. Many people observe this with a prayer or mediation for world peace. Others do Yoga for world peace, blow bubbles for world peace, etc. Basically, if it's a silent, gentle energy then it fits in very well. As to when the gathering starts, that's dynamic. It's usually one day during the last week of June when some friends and I look at each other and say "today it's a gathering." The earlier you come the more self sufficent you need to be and the rougher things with the Forest Service are. If you show up later, say after June 27, then most (but not all) of the drama has subsided.

Until spring council reaches a decision, there is no answer to the question "where is the gathering?"

Ignore all rumors of cancellation or organization!

Live lightly with the Land and People!

Vision Council

2010-07-09T16:28:00.001-07:00

Vision Council Consensus reached on July 7 during the Pennyslvania Annual Gathering:

"The Vision Council of the Rainbow Family of Living Light on the land in Pennsylvania consent that the 2011 Annual National Rainbow Gathering be in Washington State."

Washington Rainbow Gathering 2011

Marie Hanson (RIP)

Marie Hanson’s Family Finding Closure

Marie RIP

Family and Friends Searched for Marie Last Weekend

Fundraiser for Search Efforts on Sept 24 in Woodland, WA

Searching for Marie Before the First Snow Fall ~Sept 30/Oct 1~

The Dog That Everyone Remembers (with Marie)

The Search for Marie Continues and Goes Back to the Land

Can you help find out what happened to Marie?

Marie's Family is Heartbroken

Cleanup Seems to Be Done

Marie is still missing

Rainbow Music

Cleanup Update

Did you get a ticket on the road into the gathering?

Learning Lessons

Rainbow Guides lost in transit

Another lost brother (who is now found)

Personal Reflections

Missing Brother Has Been Found.

Vision Council

I've created a blog for the 2012 gathering, which you can find here.

R.I.P. Steve and Amber "Aya"

Now we have a missing mom

Operating Plan

Freaked out Family (Hope has been found)

Lost and Found (people, pets and things)

Lost People

Lost Things

Lost Animals

New Updated Directions to the Site

TV News Story with Images of Main Meadow and the Hike In

Link to Gathering Weather Forecasts

Keeping our family warm

Welcome Home - Gathering Directions

Northwest Forest Pass Not Required

7-Day Zone Forecast for South Washington Cascades

Access Rap

Counciling in 1972 by Garrick Beck

Circle

Our Relationship with the United States Forest Service

Town Hall Meetings June 20th and June 24th

It's that time of year folks

1983 Pre-Howdy Folks Artwork

Spring Council Starts June 12

More fun at the gathering

Superhero Party at the Gathering

Kids and the Gathering

The Call of the Gathering

Anticipation, rumors and airports (oh my)

Tips for a Safe Journey Home & a Positive Gathering

DRIVE SAFELY! Ignore all rumors of cancellation or organization! Live Lightly with the Land and People!

Feeding the Family

On Creating Community at the Gathering

Scout Rendezvous May 8

Recent Article Talking about 1981 Washington Gathering

Rainbow Raps

So you want to focalize a kitchen?

Looking out for the health of our family

Scouting 101

It's been 30 years

The less tangible side of gathering

The practical side of gathering

My oh my

The Yin and Yang of the Gathering

Consensus Based Decision Making

Rainbow Guide Contact Info

Notes from Thanksgiving Council

T-Council (afterwards)

Missing Person Found

Some additional info on T-Council

Forest Service and the Rainbow Gathering

Thanksgiving Council Information

Getting in the Mood

Focalizing Thanksgiving Council

Planning for 2011

Where Will The Gathering Be in 2011?

Vision Council

DRIVE SAFELY!
Ignore all rumors of cancellation or organization!
Live Lightly with the Land and People!