Updated 11/20/16 7:00 p.m. (PST)
The annual gathering of the tribes, which takes place over the 4th of July, has a cyclical process. While various regions in the USA often host a Thanksgiving get together, this blog deals with the annual gathering. In Vermont this summer,
vision council on the land reached consensus that the 2017 gathering
will take place in Oregon.
But then what?
Because the Rainbow Gathering has no leaders, no board of directors, no
staff and no one in charge of anything, we depend on people working
together to do all the preparation for the gathering in the north east. So
over the years a process has come together to make sure that planning is
open to everyone who wants to be involved.
The year starts off
with Thanks giving Council, T-Council, or Fall Council/Counsel over the four day weekend of the
same name. This is a time for people interested in plugging in, talking
about visions for the gathering, discussing scouting, strategies about legal issues, etc. to get together. (see we don't even agree on the name).
T-Council generally takes place in the state or region where we will be gathering although sometimes it happens in other areas not to far from the consensed upon areas. It's usually a camp, cook, council, share heart songs kinda of thing. Often but not always, the people at T-Council pick the dates for the Scout Rendezvous
and Spring Council. Some times a PO box is established for snail mail
and a banking council is formed to deal with any donations.
As
with all things Rainbow, no experience is necessary, just a willingness
to participate. Keep in mind this is not a gathering, it's a working
council and the way this council unfolds sets the tone for the
gathering.
I'm hoping that there will be a real mix of
generations at T-Council. We need older people, we need younger people,
we need more experienced gatherers and we need less experienced
gatherers to come together to create a vision for a peaceful, healing
and fun gathering in 2017. Be the change you want to see in this
world.
Dear Family,
This year’s Fall Council will take place in the Eugene, OR , on:
• Friday, Nov. 25th, from noon-7pm
• Saturday, Nov. 26th, from noon-7pm
• Sunday, Nov. 27th, from noon-5pm
There will be a potluck feast and circle on Thursday, November 24th. Please bring food to share.
Remember, this is not a gathering, but rather a working council to plan for the 2017 annual gathering in Oregon.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Parking and camping space is extremely limited on site!!!! If possible, please carpool and plan for alternate accommodations. When you arrive, be ready to unload your gear onto the property right away. Family will be there to keep an eye on your stuff and direct you where to park within a close radius.
Pet owners are strongly encouraged to leave their pets at home; there is no place for pets to shit!
This is a private home in a suburban residential neighborhood in Eugene. Please be respectful and help to maintain the quiet neighborhood vibe.
The address is 119 Arbor Drive, Eugene, OR 97404. Directions from I-5: take exit 195 from I-5. Take a right at the Y to go West on Randy Papé Beltline (OR Rte. 569) for 4.2 miles. Get off at Exit 8, and turn left on River Road. Drive for 1.3 miles, then turn left onto Arbor Drive. The house is on the left, at the corner of Rome Lane and Arbor. If you are driving a bus or large rig, you MUST call before arriving. Tel. 541 915-1295.
The communal kitchen will serve dinner on Thursday, brunch and dinner Friday and Saturday, and brunch on Sunday. Please bring food to contribute, such as veggies, fruits, grains, pasta, bread, spices, coffee, tea, dairy and dairy-substitute products, and zuzus.
What to bring: cup, bowl, and spoon; food to share; green energy to donate to the hat for communal food and porta-potty rental; warm clothing and rain gear; visions, ideas, maps, positive vibes, and every good thing.
Limited sheltered floor space will be available for sleeping.
Prepare for wet, cool days, and wet, cold nights (this is Oregon, folks!).
Sunday, July 24, 2016
Thursday, July 14, 2016
Where will the gathering be?
For directions to the 2017 gathering, click here.
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:
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 2016 Vision Counsel of Rainbow Family of Living Light on the land in Vermont has consensed to invite all peoples, out of love and with respect, to gather peacefully for silent meditation on the morning of July 4th, 2017 until noon; and a peaceful assembly of free speech and expression from July 1st through the end of Vision Counsel; in the public lands of the Oregon.
Thanksgiving council
The next step in the process of landing on a site is always Thanksgiving council (T-council) which takes place over the four day Thanksgiving holiday weekend. This is a time of people to council and share their hopes and dreams for the 2016 gathering. If you have potential sites you think are worthy of scouting in the spring, bring topo maps and forest service maps. Directions to T-council usually come out in the first half of November. Check back then. If you're not familiar with T-council, read more here.
Scout Rendezvous
T-council usually picks dates for one or two scout councils. Scout councils/rendezvous 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 preferred site. Spring council goes until a decision is reached by consensus or by foot. The exact location for this council generally isn't determined until one to two weeks before spring council starts. Until the spring council process reaches a site, there is no home. For more information on spring council, click here.
For those of you who think the site is picked in advance and want to get the 411 now so you can book plane tickets. I'm sorry, but there is no site picked at this time.
Keep in mind that weather conditions (which are unpredictable) play a part in all of this. So let's say someone finds a great site during the summer of 2016 (and I have no knowledge that anyone did or will), for all we know come the first week of June, 2017 that site is still under snow, then what? Keep in mind that 4 feet of snow at a gathering is rough (anyone remember Washington 2011?).
Drought and high fire danger can have the same effect. A great site that was nice and wet in August 2016 can be dry as a tinder box in June 2017. If the Forest Service has a no open fire ban on that site that looked so great last year, guess it's not looking that great this year. Available water can change year to year as well depending on snow melt. Conditions change all the time. The family needs to find the best possible site for the health and safety of gathering participants and the land on which we gather.
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 harassment 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 if you so choose or need to. Bring your own food and drinking water. Bring first aid kits.
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." (of course you may pick a different date than I do when it feels like a gathering and not like seed camp).
The earlier you come the more self sufficient you need to be and relationships with the Forest Service can be rougher. On the other hand, showing up for seed camp allows you to influence the way the gathering goes. If you show up later, say after June 27, then most (but not all) of the drama has subsided. Traditionally the dates are listed as July 1 to 7, but most years people start leaving in droves on July 5th.
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 2016 Vision Counsel of Rainbow Family of Living Light on the land in Vermont has consensed to invite all peoples, out of love and with respect, to gather peacefully for silent meditation on the morning of July 4th, 2017 until noon; and a peaceful assembly of free speech and expression from July 1st through the end of Vision Counsel; in the public lands of the Oregon.
Translation: The 2017 gathering will take place in Oregon.
Thanksgiving council
The next step in the process of landing on a site is always Thanksgiving council (T-council) which takes place over the four day Thanksgiving holiday weekend. This is a time of people to council and share their hopes and dreams for the 2016 gathering. If you have potential sites you think are worthy of scouting in the spring, bring topo maps and forest service maps. Directions to T-council usually come out in the first half of November. Check back then. If you're not familiar with T-council, read more here.
Scout Rendezvous
T-council usually picks dates for one or two scout councils. Scout councils/rendezvous 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 preferred site. Spring council goes until a decision is reached by consensus or by foot. The exact location for this council generally isn't determined until one to two weeks before spring council starts. Until the spring council process reaches a site, there is no home. For more information on spring council, click here.
For those of you who think the site is picked in advance and want to get the 411 now so you can book plane tickets. I'm sorry, but there is no site picked at this time.
Keep in mind that weather conditions (which are unpredictable) play a part in all of this. So let's say someone finds a great site during the summer of 2016 (and I have no knowledge that anyone did or will), for all we know come the first week of June, 2017 that site is still under snow, then what? Keep in mind that 4 feet of snow at a gathering is rough (anyone remember Washington 2011?).
Drought and high fire danger can have the same effect. A great site that was nice and wet in August 2016 can be dry as a tinder box in June 2017. If the Forest Service has a no open fire ban on that site that looked so great last year, guess it's not looking that great this year. Available water can change year to year as well depending on snow melt. Conditions change all the time. The family needs to find the best possible site for the health and safety of gathering participants and the land on which we gather.
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 harassment 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 if you so choose or need to. Bring your own food and drinking water. Bring first aid kits.
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." (of course you may pick a different date than I do when it feels like a gathering and not like seed camp).
The earlier you come the more self sufficient you need to be and relationships with the Forest Service can be rougher. On the other hand, showing up for seed camp allows you to influence the way the gathering goes. If you show up later, say after June 27, then most (but not all) of the drama has subsided. Traditionally the dates are listed as July 1 to 7, but most years people start leaving in droves on July 5th.
Ignore all rumors of cancellation or organization!
Live lightly with the Land and People!
Please copy and distribute this information widely
Please copy and distribute this information widely
Tuesday, July 12, 2016
Vision Council Consensus
"A consensus made with love, respect, and earth conscious intent by
the individuals assembled as the 2016 rainbow family of living light
gathering of the tribes vision counsel on the land in the Green
Mountains of Vermont near the peak of Willard Mountain...
...states that all individuals deserve to feel safe at the gathering. Be aware and respectful of consent before hugging, kissing, or touching another individual.
...states that all individuals deserve to feel safe at the gathering. Be aware and respectful of consent before hugging, kissing, or touching another individual.
...states that
some substances can be detrimental to individuals and communities and
encourages individuals to be mindful of the manner in which they
consume, offer, or share any substance.
... affirms an intent in our hearts and minds to be as earth conscious as possible in our personal, camp, group, and economic decisions on the land, in our travels, and in our homes.
... encourages individuals to join in a prayer for peace on July 4th, 2017, and to gather in solidarity from July 1st to the 7th of 2017 in Oregon."
... affirms an intent in our hearts and minds to be as earth conscious as possible in our personal, camp, group, and economic decisions on the land, in our travels, and in our homes.
... encourages individuals to join in a prayer for peace on July 4th, 2017, and to gather in solidarity from July 1st to the 7th of 2017 in Oregon."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)