A Rainbow Gathering Expose

The Rainbow Family, or The Rainbow Family of Living Light, as they are formally known is a loose-knit tribe of individuals from all over the world, though the vast majority of people who consider themselves a part of this family reside in the United States. However, most members of The Rainbow Family have no permanent residence. Instead, they find that life spent travelling on the road, hopping from one commune or gathering to the next is the only way of life that affords them the freedom that they require - and free is one thing that every Rainbow most certainly is.

This is a group of free thinking, completely non violent individuals whose one main goal is achieving world peace. They gather every year in a chosen national forest for the Fourth of July, in a nearly month long celebration that is aimed at promoting peace, love, one with each other and mother nature, and a free, self-sustainable society.

No money ever changes hand during a Rainbow Gathering. The only exception to this rule is donations that go to the Magic Hat, which is used to buy food and medical supply for the thousands of people that staying on site. Instead people rely on the barter system and trade circles, where you can trade nearly anything you have for nearly anything else that you may want.

Food and water is distributed freely, though it is expected of everyone to help pitch in with chores. This includes chopping wood for fires, collecting clean drinking water, doing dirty dishes, serving food, and a lot more. Communal camps such as "The Lovin' Oven" and "The Warriors of Light" set up large kitchens in the middle of the woods complete with handmade mud ovens, and serve such delicacies as vegetarian pizza, cinnamon rolls and homemade oatmeal and chili.

For entertainment, live variety shows are held at the Granola Funk Theatre. Featuring a stage and setup all built of dead, fallen timber, the Granola Funk Theatre allows anybody who wants to a chance to show off their talents - or in some cases, a lack thereof.

The Rainbow Family of Living Light is not a cult by any means. Indeed, you could very well go to one or two gatherings, and never show up again. Many do not, however. Once they arrive on site to hugs and welcomes from complete strangers, and they find that they truly do fit in here whether or not they fit in anywhere else in life, many find themselves coming back to Rainbow Family gatherings year after year.