Rainbow basics (read, comment, vote please)

ok, so this is basicly me writing a ruff draft for what we would like to be the sticky topic so that people don't have to keep asking the same questions and posting the same answers. I would really love it if you guys would post things I forgot, take things out, or write up your own basics thing and then we can PM Skip and ask for some version of one to be made sticky.

so, with that said, this would be the post:
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hello and welcome home! This should answer some of your basic questions and help you figure out basicly what the rainbow family of living light is all about.

A pretty acurate description is "the largest non-organization with the most non-members"

First of all, there is no such thing as "members" here, if you have a bellybutton you are a rainbow.

there is a post here that explains everything so beautifully and eloquently, I sugest reading it before going any further, it can be found here: http://www.hipforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=3761&postcount=9

Your best basic resources are www.welcomehome.org (for historical info, stories, and lightlines, but the site is no longer updated) and www.welcomehere.org (for calendars and things like that, always being updated)

before you do anything, I suggest going to welcomehome.org and going to the "general info" section. There are quite a few article on why we gather, the permit issue, and some great links.

Then go to "historical stuff" where you can find native american prophesies about the warriors of the rainbow, tons of photos, past gathering sites, and lots more good info.

Once you've digested some of that, or even before, head over to the section called "rainbow clans" and you can find some family in your neck of the woods, it's divided into "north american rainbow" (the US and Canada) and "International rainbow" (europe and all other places not in north america) On that same page you'll find links to the sites of lots of kitchens and camps to explore.

To find rainbows near you, you can also call a lightline, here is the list from welcomehome. It has not been updated in some time, so if the number is out of order, post and ask here.

Florida Lightline (352) 463-0450
California Rainbow (916) 747-6269
Colorado Lightline (303) 595-1077
Dutch RB Info-line 020 468 3344
Rhode Island LightLine (401) 785-3175
Philadelphia LightLine (215) 701-7233
North East Rainbow Family NERF (845) 774-4100
North West Tribes Hotline (503) 727-2498 (Portland OR)
Mid Atlantic Hotline 202 797-3625 (Washington DC)
HO! Lightline (770) 662-6112 (Atlanta)
OM Valley Rainbow (513) 956-1675
Great Lakes Rainbow (Ann Arbor MI) 734-761-4243
New York City lightline 212 560-7111
Dallas Drum Hotline 214.823.DRUM
Arizona Moonlit Gatherings (602) 306-DRUM or go to the MoonLit Gatherings web site.
Last updated Jan, 13, 2002

there is a rainbow glossary located here: http://www.welcomehome.org/rainbow/info/glossary.html
and a thread from these forums based on just that here: http://hipforums.com/forums/showthread.php?postid=38382#poststop

Now, if you feel up to it, you can check out welcomehere.org. I should say here that there is some contreversy and politics surrounding welcomehere. Now, personally, I don't know what it's about, and I've got no opinoin one way or the other on it, I'm simply including this as a possible source of information for all you out there to do with as you will, since it would pop up in any google search you would do on your own. So just to be clear, I'm not taking a stance one way or another on the argument, because I know nothing about it, I'm neutral. At the very top of thier page is some lovley introduction to rainbow, I suggest giving it a read. From there, clicking on different parts of the picture on the main page will basicly get you to different places, kynd ride share, calender of events (click on the woman), or a page to find rainbows by state, by clicking on the bowl at the back of the table. From that page, there is a list of links to the left that will guide you all around the site. If you have real player, click on "rainbow spirit" at the very bottom of the page, it's got tons of music from a movie of the same name. I've never seen the movie, but the music is good if you need a rainbow campfire song fix. To that end, you can also go here---> http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/1968/rainbow/rainbowsongs.html

There's a forum there as well, and a couple links to other rainbow forums (including this one), that are worth checking out, for variety and curiousity's sake.

Now, before we get into anymore links, I'm going to answer as many basic questions as I can.

As I said before, there are no members, come with an open mind, an open heart and be ready to pitch in, that's all. There is no money exchanged at gatherings, you don't need a ticket to get in, but if you have money that you can spend, it's appreciated if you donate to the magic hat, which goes to buying food and essentials at the gathering.

There are no rules about possesions or where to live, there is family that lives in homes, in busses, or out of a backpack.

There are as many different sides to rainbow as there are people, and you're pretty much gauranteed to get a different answer about what it is from everyone you ask. So what rainbow is exactly, well, a good post on it can be found here: http://hipforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=32356
There's a great little definition of it at the begining of welcomehome.org

with that said, I'll give you some links to look at.

a great ride share can be found here: http://kindrideshare.net/rideshare.html honestly, I'd go there before the one at welcomehere, it's been around longer and is just all around a better one (in my opinion)

another fantastic 101 sort of site, that's real simple is http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Museum/6864/manual.htm
that's got your basic breakdown of everything you may need to know, from main gate, to council. I highly suggest reading through that one.

for a groovy "virtual rainbow" tour, you can go to this site ---> http://members.aol.com/gypsyvideo/

http://groups.msn.com/LostFoundRainbowFam/yourwebpage3.msnw this is a great site, with a forum, pictures and an insaine amount of links, and just alot of really good info.

For some great videos, songs, and stories, check out SpunOne productions, located here: http://www.spunoneproductions.com/
I suggest listening to the stories first, they're wonderful and all from a brother called Little Hawk.


So, that's the extent of it really. You can get alot of info from the links I've put here, but your best bet for understanding rainbow is to find family near you and expierience it yourself. Nothing beats firsthand expierience, in fact, I knew near nothing about rainbow at my first gathering, and while I wish I had know a couple things, I learned more in 5 days of expierience than a year of reading online information could have ever taught me.

The most important things to remeber are, Be kind, we are all family no matter how we dress or even if we consider ourselves rainbow or not, treat others as you would like them to treat you. Be ready to work, things don't get done by themselves, if something needs to be done, do it, if someone is doing something, ask to help. Find a job you like and can be good and useful at and do it. Be respectful of the site, and the earth in general, pick up after yourself, and if you see trash around, pick it up and throw it away or recycle it. We want the land to look better than when we got there. Stay for clean-up! If you want to be treated as family, act like it.
And most importantly, WE LOVE YOU

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So that's about it guys, like I said, post your own version or corections of mine, I'm sure I spelled more than a few things wrong, lol

so, your votes and comments would be appreciated, and once we've got some input we can PM skip and ask for something to be sticky.

I love you all!!!
Molly (paix)

 

Sounds awesome, I'm looking forward to my first Rainbow experience.

 

Wonderful Molly!! I think its just what htis forum needs.

 

Really nice write-up IMO.
I would also add that there are as many "angles" on what Rainbow is as there are people.
I'd add info on ridesharing, like www.rideshare.net
and agr via newsgroup server or google groups.
Loving you
Becca

 

bravo paix [thats french for peace right] what would we do with out you .see ya soon

 

its looking good paix.............

 

Becca, you're so right, thank you! I'll add rideshare.net right now, and also your comment, do you want to elaborate on it, or should I just go ahead and write it up? Also, what's the exact site for agr? Do you have a site for any other groups?

Michelle and Greg, thanks for the comments, and yes, paix is french for peace How is Al's bug? I love you guys!

thanks all for your comments, love you family!
Molly

 

Al's bug still lives. He takes good care of it and feeds it well lol. Zoe added and green anole lizard, so now its 3 kids, 3 pets and 2 (slightly crazy) adults on the bus!!!
Are ya still plannin on headin this way?

 

you guys have so much of my respect, I'd be totaly crazy, lol.

I'm not sure if I am or not, I have to talk to my boss, cause I really love my job, and also, my insurance depends on me being a student, so if I can switch over to some that doesn't, then I'm thinking I'll take like a month off work, come to Ocala and see what else is going on and then head back, but if the insurance isn't working out then I'm not sure.

We'll see what happens, I miss you guys, I'd really love to get there!

 

I tried to reply to this, but the computer ate my post. See my recent post to the "User Support" forum. Excellent work, have a couple of suggestions, I'll try again tomorrow, and thanks, Sis!

 

That was a great tips on the sceane. Your a goddess foriver. Thanks for them links!!! u gave.
One Love Bloncie B.

 

great work paix, and god did u say it is gonna be ur first rainbow experance? well have fun and good luck, i still dont know if iam gonna be able to make it out there becasue iam on paper now for 18 months, wait less then 18 months, but iam gonna for sure hit up a few reginals, if ant of u see a guy named neo (phil is his real name) tell him i send him my blessings and love, (neo is like a brother to me)

 

thanks for the kind words you guys, I really appreciate it. If you have any criticisim and suggestions I'd really love to hear it!

Stoney, it won't be my first gathering, I've been to a couple, but not many. I'm not sure if I'll be there either, we'll have to see. On an unrelated note though brother, I'm really glad you're ok, I know we've never talked, but I was worried, I'm so happy to see you're alright

love and blessings to you all
Molly

 

thanks molly u really did do a great job, and i never knew before i canme back of corse that this many people really cared., and i was speaking to god he was saying it was his gonna be his first time expearnce,

 

Whenever I expound I confound, but I'll try
I'm trying to say that a Rainbow seeker could type "Rainbow gatherings" or "NRMT" or "Kid village" or "Rainbow Family of Living Light" into a search engine and spend the next four years reading all the links you get. Then they could spend the next ten figuring out who's who "on the land" and get hundreds of opinions on what's Rainbow.

Here is a link to agr: http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&group=alt.gathering.rainbow
I don't know if it will work. BTW, be careful who you invite here, or we might need a moderator here soon! Some crazies to be sure

And stoney, I too am glad you're here.

When you have something finished, perhaps we could practice consensus by having a new thread you post and if it stays with no replies then we'll sticky it. Remember then to say in bold, don't reply if you like this!! I don't know if that will work or not...

Becca

 

Yeah...So much information...I can rember when a Google Search for "Rainbow Family" would yield only WelcomeHome (About 10 years ago, or a bit less). The new Family just coming home has access so one hell of a lot more "Rainbow Theory" than I did when I first started going to Gatherings...

 

I hope you can make it molly, but of course I maybe we will head back out west and visit if you don't. Gigi got her a lizard too, so now we have a male and a female lizard.

 

This will be the 3rd time I have tried to reply to this post. If this dang machine won't let me this time, I'm gonna reprogram the thing with an Estwing framing hammer!

I have heard us described as "a disorganization of non-members". I think that fits really well. Perhaps you could throw that in somewhere?

I love that post, too. An excellent bit of writing that needs to be spread around. But what the Sam Hill does he meanby all those "­"s?

I've been throwing those #s around on this forum for I guess a couple of years now, and no one has reported one as out of service yet.

Did you consider citing Michael Niman's book, that the glossary is from?

There are Guidelines...and hippies are really good at coloring outside the lines

How about "pack it out", instead of "throw away" or "recycle"?


ThankYouThankYouThankYouThankYou!! I could not have done better myself, and feared that I might get stuck with the job...I see now that someone relatively new to the Family like you was the right person to have done this. I have honestly forgotten what its like to be a new player in this game. Being new yourself, it seems that you have a good feel for the questions that people want answered. Big ol' Psychic Hugs from here in the Lower Right Hand Corner, to way out there on the Left Coast!

 

www.rideshare.net seems to be a bad link. nothing there. otherwise a fabulous thing you've done.

 

The largest non-organization with the largest amount of non-members is one I've heard lots and like.