How Accepting?

I have always been fascinated with the idea of the Rainbow Family ever since I first heard about it (through this forum). I've read alot about it from this forum and the various links provided on it, but I have always wondered...

How accepting is the family? Everyone claims that the family takes anyone in... but it seems to go a tad against the modern human soul... especially if one person has completely opposite beliefs. Also, how approachable is the family? Is it actually easy for such a fairly tight group (especially with the people who have been going to gatherings for years) to accept random strangers with open arms? Isn't there at least a spec of an elitist attitude about the whole thing?

It just sounds too good to be true. I myself am foreign, so I am not too aware of the whole Rainbow family thing. I read the facts, but... that's never enough. What's the feeling like?

Cheers for enlightening my curiosity

 

I dont remember I was always
drunk at the gatherings :tongue:
j/k
You should go to one Pavel, and
see for yourself.
It's the same as anywhere, some
people are full of shit, and some
people generally know what
Love is.

 

Relative to just about any other bunch of people, it's pretty accepting. You can expect to get hugs and "welcome home brother" from complete strangers. If you look like Dick Cheney or a federal agent, people may be more standoffish, but if you look like your picture, you'll have no trouble at all.

 

From my own experience, everyone is pretty much accepting. You sometimes get the angered people, but that could be because they were drunk. Phamily is all about giving and accepting. We even accept the Leos, but if they don't accept us, then we get a little upset. I would say 90% of everyone is accepting, but the other 10% go to gatherings for the wrong things. Rubin, if I see you at a gathering, then I'd accept you for sure!

 

Thank ya all for the input

Haha, I'm not worried about being accepted meself. I'm a walking bundle of love

It just seems a tad too utopic. I want to go to a gathering, but I honestly have no idea what to expect... some people say that at times there are just a bunch of drunk wankers, and others say that it's all peace and love there.

I'm just trying to get a feel for this... is this just one big party? That's what most so called gatherings turn into...

Even though, I do love getting hugs from strangers.

I'll go to a gathering when I can. I would have gone to the Arkansas one if I was in Arkansas... and I missed the one here in Ocala because I didn't allow myself to go in order not to break my meditative solitude here.

Un dia!

 

There are drunks who can get ugly, but fortunately they tend to hang out at A-camp, which unfortunately you often have to go through to get to the rest of the gathering. I'd also say that for a lot of people there (sometimes it seems like a majority) it's "one big party", and of course there are a lot of tourists and first timers who haven't abosorbed the Rainbow norms. But there are lots of really good, spiritual folks there, too. A lot of it is what you make it.

 

yes, indeed, I usually experience spiritual journeys while at home. This year I had tremendous awakenings thanks to Yoga camp!

 

That's pretty good to know. The whole party thing didn't seem too enticing. I could have a party en la casa... but yeah, I'll probably go to the next gathering near me. Sounds interesting enough.

 

the next gathering near you will be ocala,, an as much as its becoming gathering like over the last few years,, its really not what a high holy would consider a gathering..

as far as elitists,, you bet your ass theres elitists.. we call them high holies.

everyone wants to only tell the good side of gatherings,unfortunately a gathering is still a product of modern society.all about peace an love ,,id say more about cooperation. many kitchens just plain dont care for some of the people in other kitchens. thats why there are different kitchens,, cause not everyone clicks,much the same as society as a whole.


as for me,, i see the same at all of the gatherings,, its just kept more on the down low at the annual...

i live by love all trust noone,, even at gatherings.. there are thieves and predators there in numbers. not a gathering gos by that people aint ripped off or preyed upon.

as far as taking a spiritual journey at a gathering,,pfft..

i think i could find better places.. to be honest pavel weve typed at you for many years(5?? wow.) now an watched you grow up.. i dare say you are far more enlightened than 70% (that number would be upped to 90% for the under 25 crowd)of the people you will meet at a gathering,,therefore it could be a big let down if your expectations are set to high..

that bein said,, a gathering is something everyone should experience at least once,an chances are ya will meet enough like minded folks to long too return again and again.

 

Cheers HHB

I can honestly say that I have no expectations, especially... because as I said... there is no solid ground or common opinion on the gathering experience.

But yeah, enlightened or not... I love people... and it could be interesting enough. I will probably be back here in Florida next summer, so I think that I'll pop by for a spell.

 

Come on HHB...just cuz you haven't had a spiritual journey at a Gathering, doesn't mean that others haven't. I've been turned on to many things at Gatherings which have helped me on my spiritual path.

But setting high expectations is usually going to be a let down...I seem to have the best experiences when I just open myself to experiencing (I think it helps if you try to steer toward the positive tho )

 

i aint him but was here when he posted earlier n i think twas just meant more to not going with the expectation of having some epiphany or meetin god or seein jesus... ya know those preconcieved notions that some get ... n sure we all have great things come from a gathering expereince however,,,, at the ame time it not like a ever occurring theme whilst there..

but who knows,,,

 

All are welcome, and just like any family, we dont always see eye to eye, ect. But the love is stronger than not. And so my brother, I hope you will be in Wyoming next July! I think youd fit right in! Whats your guitars name? Happy Trails,,

Truth & Light= LOVE,
Luvione

 

there is a huge diffrence between things helping you follow your spiritual path and a "spiritual journey" in my opinion..

an as i stated,, as far as a "spiritual journey",, i personally could find much better places to take one than at a gathering..

 

My guitar's name?

"That old piece of shit".

I love that guitar.

 

This about sums it up. The only place that the Drunks and Theives, don't out number the peace lovers is the National.

Be grateful you missed Ocala's Yearly event that lasts from Oct - Febuary. I have been to it a couple of times and A-Camp runs the show there. There is a Christain group in the area that "ministers" to the Rainbows who are there.

If you have not been, you need to experience the National as your first time. Otherwise you are likely to get disillusioned and bitter against the Rainbows like I have.

Going to a National will let you see what it is SUPPOSED to be about.

As far as the Rainbows being accepting... hit or miss. Find out where A-camp is and stay away. One thing you need to be aware of is false friends. If you drive there and/or have money to support yourself, peope will befriend you quick in hopes of getting some of your "assets". This is also less likely at Nationals. Nationals bring a lot of Families, Professionals, and working class. Much easier to avoid the bad elements of the Rainbows.

 

I dunno 'bout anyone else but I am unique and different even by rainbow standards. But I have always been accepted with open arms by 99% of the phamily. I will always dance to my own drum. Rainbows are human too. We come in all shapes, sizes and philosophies of life. With the rainbow family and at gatherings is the "only" place I feel accepted and loved unconditionally.

Peace, Cricket

 

From my experiences, at some west coast regionals, they're better then the National, in those terms. Never went to any east coast ones so I can't comment on those. Usually a lot of love.

 

My Experience has only been with the East Coast with the Exception of the Montana National.

 

pavel, u missed 2 gatherings in russia several in isreal
as for the great big party thing, i think most ppl will find theyre 1st gathering experience is a huge party, but by the 2nd or 3rd they find the deeper aspects to be more previlient, well except those who only go for the party then they tend to be more & more disapointed as they only look to get high..but most ppl after the mindboggling of the 1st experience is replaced by the deeper more meanninmgful spiritual experience find the total acceptence they seek...
every belief is accepted as well, & you'll sometimes see the hare krishnas camped nextto the christians & pagans
ofcourse not every single person is accepting or loving, we invite everyone & everyone comes, & the family as a whole accepts even the unaccepting...
i remember seeing 1 post somewhere by someone from i think jesus camp or bread of life that said something about all the people yelling "we love you" sounded like the barking of demons & something abouit some sis saying "hey brother, need a hug?" was satan trying to lure him
but thats 1 individual, & each & every person is just that a unique individual & limmited to theyre own personal capacity to be loving & accepting..
but as a whiole, most ppl who experience the true gathering spirit are opened up to the love & become more accepting & loving from the experience, so they grow more accepting, & thats why its kinda utopian, think about it, when you live in babylon, traditional society, with all its ills, its easy to fall into that mindset that keeps society sick, but when your placed into a utopian society (or nearly) it affects you as well, & you become more a part of what makes it a utopia, most criminals blame society for making them criminals, well rainbows can blame rainbow for making them accepting loving beautiful ppl.\
by creating a better society you also creat better ppl within it
hope that makes sence