| Author | Message | ||
     Anonymous |
I was a member of the "New Age Counterculture" group, the "Rainbow Family of Living Light" (it is a loosely organized "non-organization" according to them) for a number of years, attending many of their "Peace and Healing Gatherings". They are not officially recognized as a "cult" but they are a social group for sure. They do use the methods of Love Bombing, strong group peer pressure, chanting, singing, drug use (well-known by legal authorities), and meditation to reach altered states of consciousness, an "Us vs. Them belief regarding "Babylon" (society), loaded language and words they made up which only make sense within the group or common words with different usage in society-at-large and the RF has changed the words' definitions to mean something within the group, name calling and verbal abuse of those who "go against" the RF's "consensus" of how they prefer things to be. Anyone else have experience with the Rainbow Family of Living Light? Other groups such as the Hare Krishnas and the "Love Family" have attended many of their "gatherings" to recruit people also. Regards, Anonymous | ||
| Barry S. |
Well, Anonymous, I am a current member of the RF and we have a RIGHT to do ANYTHING we WANT to do, anytime we want to do it. The Forests belong to the Rainbow Family of Living Light! We are a Sovereign Tribe and Babylon Society OWES us free land! We are reincarnated Native American Indians. Go Look at the old Hopi prophecies. Barry S. Florida | ||
| Susanmiller |
Thre is a NEW Yahoogroup list for EX members of the Rainbow Family of Living Light and others who are interested. NO current RF members please. Ex-Rainbow Family of Living Light exrainbowfamily@yahoogroups.com LISTED UNDER (In Yahoogroups): Cultures & Community>Groups>Expatriates | ||
| Leslie |
I am trying to find ex-members of the commune (or Intentional Community) called The Farm, or The Second Foundation located in Summertown, TN. I have a young daughter who is considering joining this community, and I'm concerned primarily about the financial obligations as well as finding out their community in general. Any information will be greatly appreciated. Thank you Leslie | ||
| Anonymous |
Leslie: Information on Intentional Communities and The Second Foundation at: http://www.anarchistcommunitarian.net/articles/communitymov/abidealincl.shtml Information on The Farm at: http://www.thefarm.org This is a group with interests in Eco Liberation Movements Libertarian Socialism Anarchy Revolutionary thought Anti-Capitalist thought New World Order type mentality Militant Activism Direct Action A connected organization is found at: http://www.peaceroots.org/ It appears to be pretty much the same mindset as Ramtha with the addition of a full time commune. I do not know what the spiritual affiliation is with this group - but I suspect there will be some heirarchy to the group with an authoritarian, IAM God, like figurehead. Hope this helps. | ||
| Anonymous |
This is to Barry S. You are not a reincarnated Native American. And you don't own the forests. You are who you are, someone who has been lied to. | ||
| DUMBBARRY |
BARRY S YOU OWN THE FORESTS? ARE YOU GOING TO PAY FOR THE CLEANUP OF ALL THE TRASH AND LITTER IN OUR NATIONS FORESTS? IF YOU ARE GOING TO STEP UP AND OWN ALL THE FORESTS, BE PREPARED TO CARE FOR THEM!! | ||
| cleanup |
actually, rainbows always clean up the site after they use it, or at least they have for the last several years... | ||
| Anonymous |
Yeah, they have ever since actual taxpayers started complaining about the hippies trashing the forests they pay to maintain. Probably because they don't want to get run out of every town they visit on rails. Also, when cult members chime in on threads asking questions with potentially negative answers, and ignore the questions to proselytize and defend their lifestyle, doesn't that just make you more suspicious of the cult? It does me. | ||
| Anonymous |
re "Anonymous" posting on November 8: the Rainbow Family has no leader. perhaps leaders plural as in tribal elders but no Big Boss. no Ramtha. and speaking of the Intentional Communities listing I do not think that Ramtha or IAM would describe themselves as either anarchist or favoring direct action, anti-capitalism or libertarian socialism, whether you support those principles or not. as I said on another board here I had hellish experiences at the two gatherings I attended and know some shifty people get into it. but then shifty people live everywhere you can go. the group does... perhaps out of ignorance... allow the Children of God to recruit there. (as well as ISKCON and maybe others...) and the Garbage Eaters will show up as well. I would not expect a cult to allow missionaries from other faiths to turn up and compete for its own market share. | ||
| Anonymous (67.42.123.208) |
this is also for Barry ...i have seen how you and your rainbow family cleaned up in the uinta mountains ...my daughters was up to girls camp and they couldnt get in the streams or any kind of water up thre because thats where you went to the bathroom ....the least thing you guys could do is have some respect . then when it started raining i got to check some of you in the hotel where i was working and then got to clean the filth up you all left behind in brand new rooms....you all take showers or just used the water to pee in? I have never seen such filth in all my life! | ||
| sparkles (sparkles) New member Username: sparkles Post Number: 1 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 65.27.144.59 |
i have attended many gatherings and never have we left it trashed for the most part the forest is better off with us there to care for the lands its more trashed when we show up then it is when we leave. | ||
| mingodrake (mingodrake) New member Username: mingodrake Post Number: 1 Registered: 4-2005 Posted From: 64.12.116.9 |
This is my first post guys.... I found this site while surfing and spent 2 hours last night reading posts on the board. I will be here a lot. I went to my first rainbow gathering in the late 80s. It was s aplit gathering half here in Alabama and half in another state. I knew nothing about it then but had a pretty good time. Met some great people. At that Gathering ( 15 years or so ago), when it was done nothing remained to show anyone ever walked in those woods. When you think of 1000s of people in the woods it seems like it would be harmfull to the area but from what I have seen in the last decade rainbow takes a lot better care of the earth then any other group. For the lady who said people were pissing in the stream at a gathering perhaps someone told her that and she did not see it with her own eyes..just a guess but since water is a rare thing miles in the woods and the people she thinks were pissing in the water would be drinking it....and others would be drinking it those doing the pissing would probably be getting there ass kicked..peace and love not withstanding. As for the rooms....well that happens sometimes with any group. Ever had collage kids on spring break there? or a sales convention? probably did more damage . Of course I understand that with someone who has been living in the woods for months the effect of any damage is made worse because you already see them as troublemakers because of how they look. If you want to know how folks at rainbow gatherings take care of the land some info is at http://www.perkel.com/rainbow/mini.htm Most of the horror storys I have ever heard involved " a-camp" but even if some did not you have to remember a gathering is a small city and a bad experiance with someone or some group there is like having one in any other town. You cant say everyone in Waco Texas is nutcase just because some people there were. Rainbow is a place thats easy to get caught up in....no question about that but as a WHOLE its not a cult. Notice how I put that please. There is no rainbow cult..there are some groups in rainbow who are very cult like...there are also some groups in pensyvannia who are cult like but pennsyvannia is not a cult of itself. I was at the Ocala gathering this year serving capachino and feeding hippies energy bars . I'll go back next year with more capachino and energy bars....the rest of the year I'm out here in the real word PAYING TAXES, working my butt off to provide for my family and otherwise being mr average american. | ||
| tiredofit (tiredofit) New member Username: tiredofit Post Number: 6 Registered: 3-2005 Posted From: 12.207.221.107 |
I thought they just begged for money for food! Seriously, I believe the rainbow folks are harmeless and have a right to do their thing in the forest. But I will say this. If you are going to travel w the tribe, bring some damn money because I am not buying you lunch because you are too damn lazy to work! I know, probably not all of them do it, and I am generalizing. But, some do, and my answer is always the same "No!" | ||
| mingodrake (mingodrake) New member Username: mingodrake Post Number: 4 Registered: 4-2005 Posted From: 152.163.100.9 |
Most of the people you see begging for money are whats called " A-campers" They dont go in the gathering (booze is frowned upon) a lot. they stay in the parking area and drink. Some are great people with a bad addiction. A lot are vets getting by the only way they can on what money they have. Inside the gathering usually miles in the woods are kitchens set up to feed everyone. No one has to go into town beg for money for food. I know it happens but those who do are missing the point and doing it for reasons other then food. as far as lazy....to make a gathering work you have to bring in food water and kitchen supplys we dont drive them in we carry them in...usually for miles.You have to find , cut and carry wood to cook with..you basicly built a town and then take out every trace of it ever being there when you leave. Water is heavy<lol> I carried 25 gallons of water for 3 miles this year in one day. In order to feed people . It took several trips and all in all I walked 30 miles in one day carrying stuff for my cappichino camp. There is no belief system you have to belong to in order to be part of a gathering. There are a lot of Christians there and buddhists..and Krishna..and wicccans...and yes some assorted odd cult types. The July 4th gathering is supposed to be a time to get together and ALL people pray for world peace. Your ideas and beliefs are accepted no matter who you are and people from all walks of life go. Lawyers...doctors.....homeless kids.....construction workers...hippies...ravers...rednecks... The problem is most people see people in town...or drive by and see a-camp and thats there percepton of a gathering. If your nearby a gathering go down to main circle...meet some people and see what you think. of course like anywhere else there are wingnuts... just smile and nod Mingo | ||
| tiredofit (tiredofit) New member Username: tiredofit Post Number: 7 Registered: 3-2005 Posted From: 12.207.221.107 |
Thanks mingo, I admitted in my post I was generalizing, and that I knew not all of the people at the gathering begged. Otherwise towns would be completely taken over. It's like anything else. I am a Christian, but most of the time, the ones that are most visible, are the ones who do not get it at all, and are serving themselves more than God. Maybe next time when one of them asks me for money I will respond "sure, I'll buy you a happy meal, if you will take me to where those rainbow folks are cooking up all that good food!" | ||
| rjchinook (rjchinook) New member Username: rjchinook Post Number: 2 Registered: 5-2005 Posted From: 207.200.116.203 |
As a member of a federal recognized Native American tribe it saddens & offends me to learn that this group of non-natives are claiming to be reincarnated Native Americans. Its not right to make this claim and its an insult to Native Americans. These non-natives have no idea of what's it like to be raised by parents who survied the goveronment and religous boarding schools, or the oppression we have endured over the years & still fightng to heal & overcome. This type of mockery & appropriation of our culture is rooted in western colonization, basically taking what they want & adapting it to fit their own selfish needs. These Rainbow people are behaving the same as their colonist ancestors, actually they're worst because they have the tools to educate themselves, but mock us instead. They may try to justify their actions by claiming to be reincarnated Native Americans or they're really giving us a compliment. However, in reality its racism at its worst. | ||
| curious1 (curious1) Junior Member Username: curious1 Post Number: 28 Registered: 5-2005 Posted From: 70.185.109.254 |
mooch money "for food" then spend it on drugs and alcohol as they dumpster dive for food. they preach of love for man and nature to your face and behind your back harbor domestic terrorists and destroy others property. aged hippies preaching peace and love as they get under age girls high so they jump on them and when they come up pregnant disappear into the underground network. they bitch about the system while they lie to obtain social services to get medical and food stamps then trade that for money to buy drugs and alcohol. Oh, Barry, do tell how you wrested Florida rainbows and national money to your benefit, oh, and don't forget the great stock swindle! yeah, a really good group, uh huh! | ||
| curious1 (curious1) Junior Member Username: curious1 Post Number: 29 Registered: 5-2005 Posted From: 70.185.109.254 |
the US Forest lands do not belong to "Rainbow". they belong to the US population and its care is entrusted to the USFS, Dep't of Agriculture, etc. Rainbow is worse than the worst aspects of the government. they're all take take take under cover of lowlife shams. | ||
| mazocondo (mazocondo) New member Username: mazocondo Post Number: 1 Registered: 7-2005 Posted From: 168.40.81.3 |
It's interesting how the comments most people fasten to are those that are most incendiary (or some may say ignorant or idiotic). This is how right wing radio works and professional wrestling. If you want to know how Rainbow really works, go there and participate. Otherwise, it's better to listen to Mingo than Barry S. Like all things, this is a microcosm. Should we scrap the US because it harbors terrorists, has a large amount of cult activities, oppresses it's indiginous peoples, and consumes over 50% of the world's drug supply? Well, most would say no. But these are some of the complaints against Rainbow, which is really just people getting together, creating community. And just like in your own family, there are the crazy uncles, the black sheep teens, the evangelista aunts, and the alcoholic grannies. The difference is, Rainbows invite them all over for thanksgiving and give 'em all a big hug. | ||
| hyena (hyena) New member Username: hyena Post Number: 1 Registered: 2-2006 Posted From: 207.207.127.251 |
Let's see... I am "a member of a federally recognized American Indian." (As one poster put it.) I was raised in Oklahoma on tribe land in the traditional manner. I completely support the Rainbowers and what they are trying to achieve. I would never hurt the land, never. Nor could I support someone who does. | ||
| viet_bong (viet_bong) New member Username: viet_bong Post Number: 12 Registered: 2-2006 Posted From: 70.26.242.23 |
so is this some kind of homosexual group? whats with the rainbow? | ||
| jasonerik Member Username: jasonerik Post Number: 58 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 24.59.177.209 |
i have been to 5-10 rainbow gatherings and was part of the rainbow family in salt lake city. being 'part of' meaning basically we were all freinds, we went camping together, we shared food together when we could, went to the park, went camping, socialized, celebrated, played music, etc etc together, bascially what you would consider 'hippies' to be doing with their time. the rainbow family is basiscally a hippie mentality. many rainbows are not happy with the world today. many dont fit in. i have generally enjoyed the time i spent with the rainbows, and espeacailly at gatherings in the past. its rather hard to describe the rainbow family. the people of the rainbow family are not perfect, they are just a group of strangers basically coming together, in forests all opver the world and camping , breaking bread, living together for a few days, weeks, or months, then moving on. there are ALL types at these gatherings, good, and bad. you cant keep out the bad because there is no filter really. there are buddhists, christians, jews, native americans, you name it and they are usually some there...sharing and camping together....usually peacefully... alcohol is strongly discouraged from entering the gatherings, other then in the 'A camp' the front gate camp, where alcohol is allowed. no one is gonna search your cooler or bag for a bottle of wine but the rule is there to keep peace i believe.... another rule is nothing should be bought or sold at a gathering, it should only be bartered or traded, or given freely. no vendors selling hotdogs or sodas, all food is shared and given freely to all. there are kitchens set up all over the forest, and you never really know what kinda food will be served, but it is usually vegetarian. there are some vegetarians at the gatherings, but generally meat is hard to keep, and in a forest far from refrigeration, meat is not a good idea usually some kitchens go as far as to make stone ovens from forest rocks and bake bread/pizza.... its actually pretty amazing im not here saying the rainbow family is the answer to your woes or the place God dwells, but i am here to just share my info on the rainbows. yes drugs , generally marjiuana is present at rainbow functions, and i just tell u this to be honest and upfront about it. there are some people that goto 'gatherings' just to 'PARTY HEARTY' and other that go to make friends, another may go to tell people about their religon/beleiefs, another may go to share massage techniques with anyone who wants to learn. there are wierdos, wackos, preps, bums, off duty police officers, bikers, republicans, etc etc at these things, but mostly just hippies who wanna get out into the forest... i wouldnt suggest a female go alone to a gathering , not because of most of the men there, but because of the 1 in 100 or 1 in 1000 who have no respect for anyone , sometimes those people show up at these things, how could you keep them out? its happens everyday in your nearest city someone is vicitimized, even with the law enforcement etc etc right down the street. anyways im trying to be totally honest and upfront, for the most part the rainbows are just hippies getting together in a forest, doing what ever it is hippies do.... there are families at these gatherings, elders, youths, middle aged...and every race and color... ok hope this helps someone i may possibly be at the gathering this year in colorado, im not sure yet, take care, jason from syracuse, NY | ||
| lulu96 New member Username: lulu96 Post Number: 1 Registered: 6-2006 Posted From: 71.208.75.21 |
This seems to be an older board, but i decided to throw my 2 cents in anyway. I live in steamboat springs, Colorado, where the "gathering" is being held this year. Its a small mountain town with an extremly low crime rate. all of our citizens are very prideful and we take care of our town more than most people do. I am honestly very upset at what i have seen from the rainbow people. they call themselves "hippies" but they are nothing close. these people are honestly filty and disgusting and i am enraged at what they are doing to my town. people claim the rainbows accept all races and nationalitys. and that they are very conscience of what the do to the earth. i since the official gathering hasnt started yet, i cant complain about them messing up the forest, but they have been littering like crazy in the town. a group sat outside of the grocery store, begging for money which im sure was for booze, smoking ciggerettes and throwing the butts on the ground. when my friend asked them not to pollute the ground with the ciggerettes, they called her a ••••••, spear chucker and jungle bunny. then when my friend reveiled that she was purto rican, they refered to her as a spick. yes, it sure seems like they are tolerant, earth-loving people. they also have no sense of decency. they have been kicked out of almost every public bathroom in town for bathing themselves in the sinks, most of the time naked. then they started going to the produce sprayers and washing themselves there, letting all the dirty water sit on food that they have no intention of buying, therefore leaving it to the shoppers. they poke holes in meat, chips, crackers, and chicken, so the store is required to throw them away, then they dive into the dumpsters after them. i have no problem with them digging in my trash, but they are taking food away from people who want to legally but it. Also, our town food bank is compleatly dried out. our food bank collects food all year round to give to familes within our community that are unable to buy food for themselves. Our hungry are now forced to go without, because these "hippies" have dried us out. and the worst part is that we only have about 500 of them in town so far...20,000 are expected. here in steamboat, our population isnt even 20,000 people. i dont think our stores will have enough food to sustain everyone. and its getting rediculous. i find myself locking my car, which is something i never do in steamboat, because we have been warned by the police that these people steal. and i honestly dont even feel compelled to be nice to these people: they ask for money, i tell them to get a job. they try to bathe in my grocery store, i dump soap on them. maybe then they will get the hint that they are UNWANTED | ||
| nolurkingonme New member Username: nolurkingonme Post Number: 25 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 69.85.147.100 |
Rainbow entry part "une" finally, i'm onto something here, folks. this is where i was originally stalked from. someone told me this quite a while ago. my first perspective; let's say i am 19 years old. there is this creepy old man who lives next door to my mother, and her new husband. the year is 1971. he, and his wife are both professors at the nearby state university system. he has long hair down to his waist. looks, and acts really scary. she has stringy unwashed, and long hair too. they don't look like they bathe much. i am thinking; why do people who i know have large incomes live so weirdly? why are they living in that 2 bedroom tiny house? why don't they pay their taxes so they can have utilities like other people do? why do they get propane instead of Gas and Electric? why don't they like family life, and other people's pets? why does he watch my brother, fiancee, and me have fun together like he does? why does our carefree childhood make him so uncomfortable? why did he set out traps, and catch the cats? why did he shoot the neighbor's teeny pet monkey when it accidently got out? why are they so scary, and private about everything? why do they have a winnebego, but say they they are environmentalists? then my parents come back from their honeymoon vacation (o.k., it took about 2 years, but they came back). so, all us kids go out to make lives for ourselves. but, things aren't going as usual. i see odd people always following us. things start to disappear, and the door is open after i've locked it. i accuse my husband, and he yells at me. food disappears after i've purchased it, and i get blamed for not shopping. even the left overs disappear when we aren't there. 2 eggs left after a dozen purchased the day before! my husband wouldn't fry an egg if someone held his hands to the flames! i come home from work, and my clothes are scattered all over my bedroom, and my husband says i'm a lousy house keeper. what the heck is going on? the refrigerator is empty, and he doesn't every drink milk. where the heck did my milk go? then our dogs get run over, and on, and on this scenario goes. finally i start asking other people about it, and they say "it's the Rainbows"! well, i think they are playing with me, because the last i heard of "Rainbows" was a girl scout organization. i thought they were talking about "Rainbow Scouts", which was part of the Blue Bird child organization. An off shoot of the Girl Scouts.so i disregard the comments. but, then it starts happening again. my gas tank is empty the morning after i filled it the night before. i finally have the courage to confront my husband. he starts labeling me paranoid. he doesn't make or handle the money in the family so he isn't worried about the disappearance of funds, and how we are going to eat, and buy gas. so we keep arguing, and i leave. my father, and family emotionally supports me. but i don't divorce immediately. i wait. then my brother calls, and said that my ex-husband isn't returning my dog. the dog my father gave me. he tells me a story to cover up that someone killed the dog. this is in another town far away from me. then suddenly someone kills my female dog. she has 3 newborn pups, and never left them, ever. the one i live with. more things are missing. life continues to go badly. cash is missing, jewelry is missing. i hope all of you are starting to understand where i am going with this. because if you don't let me tell you it goes on for another 30 years...and is still happening. | ||
| jad New member Username: jad Post Number: 1 Registered: 1-2008 Posted From: 76.105.172.75 |
Well well.... I have been to rainbow gatherings twice, and both times I have never felt more alientated, isolated alone, and estranged anyplace else, except for public school. At one of the gatherings I was there for like two weeks, and still felt this way as I was leaving. Also, many years later, I actually roomed with a rainbow family member. I hated this experience. He just ripped me off, charged me $400/month for a room which wasn't really my room. He kept all of his stuff in there, and I had to relinquish use of the space when his friend came over. Also I had to sleep on a broken bed. They guy was so cheap, that he almost forced me to take the garbage down the street to a dumpster, because he would not get garbage service. Also he would never buy his own food, he would have other people get handouts and then give the food to him. This was while food was rotting in his fridge. He was always taking everything that he could, maximizing! A very ugly man. Yes and he was big into the Rainbow Family. What was funny, was that his girlfriend was a hippie witch, who said that she was a shaman. She not only could not heal me, she didn't even try. I don't think that witches OR christians can heal anybody. After so many years, I don't think that the civilized have any medicine or healing. Also it seems to me that people are basically evil and ugly. Jason |
