I was still in Florida for the warm weather, and had learned through the grapevine that there just happened to be a Rainbow Gathering while I was there. This is essentially a bunch of hippies getting together in the woods to have an un-permitted gathering. It was taking place in the Ocala National Forest. Of course I had to go.
When I first pulled onto the dirt road in the forest at the location of the gathering, there was a man greeting cars. The first thing he said to me was “welcome home!” I drove further down the long dirt road scattered with buses, vans and cars off to the sides, with multiple people walking around. I found an empty little spot and pulled my car into the woods.
I started wandering about, meeting new people along the path when I ran into Mitchell, a guy I had met a few days before at an ecstatic dance. He started showing me different areas of the Gathering. There were individual camps sprinkled here and there, and also bigger camps with kitchens in them. The kitchens had E-Z ups, propane grills and fold-up tables. All day, every day, people in these kitchens would cook food for all the people in the woods, for free, out of the kindness of their hearts. Once they had food prepared they’d yell out: “free food in the woods,” and everyone within earshot came running.
We went over to the trade circle, where anyone could lay out a blanket with random things they wanted to trade. There were all sorts of things: art, crystals and so many random knick knacks. He then showed me the main gathering circle, which was a huge sand pit in the middle of the woods. At the very center was a fire pit that had another pit dug around it in the shape of a heart. I was mesmerized by the good vibes and magic of this entire place. I went back to where I parked my car and set up my tent and hammock in the woods. It was a cozy little place right in the middle of the gathering, but also deep enough in the woods that I had privacy.
Mitchell and I went back out to explore, and as we did a guy named Fancy was walking down the main path, and he was carrying a large machete. He was looking to trade it for booze. I unfortunately didn’t have any, but Mitchell did. They traded each other, and just like that Mitchell had a machete. Mitchell didn’t actually want one or have a use for one. He asked me if I wanted it. Of course I did! And that’s how I was gifted a machete. I walked around the rest of the day carrying my machete with me, feeling like a badass.
Shortly after that, from far off in the woods, we heard a large group of people yelling “circle”. It was the time of day when almost everyone at the gathering got together at the main circle fire pit to eat together. We would start by standing in a large circle around the fire holding hands, anyone who wanted to share any words would and then we would om before eating. Om-ing is a humming like noise that is used in many spiritual contexts, it is believed that it raises vibrations and opens up connections.
When coming to eat anywhere, you would have to bring your own “bliss,” which referred to dishes and silverware. Since this was my first circle, I didn’t know to bring any, but luckily people shared with me. The kitchen crew walked around the middle of the circle serving each person as they went past. We had a wonderful meal of rice and veggies, with a salad on the side. After we were done eating, Mitchell and I walked over to another fire and hung out around it as people played instruments and told jokes. After a bit we went over to another fire where I met a couple called Sugar and Spice. After chatting with them for a while, I retreated to my tent for the night.
The next morning I went over to Jesus Camp, a camp that has one of the main kitchens. They were serving eggs, potatoes, and pineapple for breakfast. I grabbed a plate and took it over to the fire to eat. When I did, I met Kevin. We finished breakfast together, he said he was going to go for a walk down to a nearby river, and asked if I wanted to join. I gladly said yes. The river was about a mile away along trails through the woods. I took my shoes off and walked in the water along the edge. My dog Maggie had a blast there. She ran about attacking lily pads and vines that swooped down close to the ground.
Once we arrived back at camp we ran into Mitchell, who informed us that his cat Woodstock, who lived with him on his bus, was stuck in a tree. He hadn’t seen her for a few days and then last night heard her meowing, and found her about 40 feet up. He had hoped she would come down herself but so far she hadn’t. At this point we were all worried about her and the fact that she could have been in that tree a couple days. Kevin tried to climb the tree to get her, but the branch she was on was just too far up. We couldn’t think of anything else to do, so we left food at the base of the tree, hoping that would lure her down on her own.
I went over to trade circle where I ran into Sugar and Spice. I laid out a blanket with some of my art work, different crystals, and odds and ends I didn’t need. I ended up with a hacky sack and three new crystals, and was happy with my trades. I spent the rest of the day hanging out with Mitchell and Kevin as we wandered about, eating whatever random food people made in the woods, and joining everyone at circle for dinner.
That night we went over to the tree to check on Woodstock. Unfortunately she was still up there. As we were standing under her, wondering what to do, a man came over with climbing gear. He said: “I’m gonna get that cat down.” He put on a harness, boots with spikes on them to dig into the tree and a strap that went around the tree. He started climbing up but it was harder than he anticipated, the tree was large and twisty, and the bark was loose and kept falling off. But he persevered and eventually made it to Woodstock!
He was able to coax the cat to him, and tried climbing down the tree with her in his arms. But between her clawing because she was so scared, and the tree being too difficult, it wasn’t working. He said: “guys I’m gonna have to drop her to you.” Kevin agreed to catch her, and when she was dropped, he did catch her, but with his face. Woodstock landed right on his head, knocking him to the ground before running off into the woods. He had a big, bloody scratch across his face to show off his contribution in saving the cat.
The next morning I went over to Jesus Camp for breakfast again, where I met Fez. We sat around the fire talking and quickly became friends. After breakfast I retreated to my camp and laid in my hammock with Maggie for a while to recharge.
Later, I walked down to the river again with Mitchell, Kevin and Sugar. Going down to the river with whoever wanted to join became a daily thing. That day we arrived back at camp just in time. As I was walking down the path, there was a truck with someone beside it yelling: “ice cream floats in the woods!” I ran right up and got myself one. You haven’t really lived until you’ve enjoyed an ice cream float in the woods. There was so much ice cream I was even able to get seconds.
That night at circle we ate soup and a rice dish. A bit later as I was walking down the road, someone yelled: “steak in the woods,” and I went up to a nearby kitchen where they served everyone thick, delicious steak. My belly was full the entire time I was there.
I carried my machete around with me wherever I went. I had acquired a little holder for it so it was attached to my hip. I loved having it at the ready and whipping it out whenever I wanted. People joked around and said it was intimidating, especially when I carried it in my hands. I talk with my hands, so the entire time I talked, I would be waving it around. I even challenged Mitchell to a sword fight. He used a large stick for a sword, and I definitely won that match.
One day while there, I was feeling extremely lazy. I just didn’t want to do anything. I ended up going over to the big sandpit and just laying out in the sun. There were a few others doing the same. One man was sitting next to the fire making flutes out of bamboo. He used a metal piece heated up in the fire to poke holes into it. I was intrigued, and he handed me one to try to play. I think that was the first time I’ve ever played an instrument and actually had it sound good on my first attempt. The man making the flutes was impressed and said: “wow, you made it sound really good; that one’s clearly yours,” and he gave me the flute, asking for nothing in return. I did bring him back a beer and some crystals as a token of gratitude. Then I spent the rest of that day, and the entire gathering, playing it. Even as I walked along the paths through the woods, I continued to play.
Towards the end of the gathering my friend Mikey, who I had met when I first started my travels, arrived. I showed him around and a big group of us went down to the river to hang out.
During the gathering everyone kept talking about Nola, or Mardi Gras. It seemed like a majority of the people there were going to go to it. I had wanted to go also, so this seemed like the perfect opportunity to make a plan. I talked to Mitchell and Fez, and we all decided to go along together. Mitchell lives in a bus that he converted himself. It has everything you would possibly need: running water, a stove and oven, a fridge solar panels, and even an air conditioner. Fez is a backpacker, and I, of course, am living out of my car.
As the gathering started slowing down, it was time to hit the road again. I didn’t want to leave this wonderful bunch of people, but I knew it was time. The three of us loaded up and were off to spend some time on Florida beaches before we hit Mardi Gras. Mitchell and Fez rode in the bus and I followed behind.
My first experience with the Rainbow Gathering was magical. The people who gather consider themselves a family - the rainbow family of living light. The number of people wanting to give and help each other out was amazing. No matter what you needed there was someone there with a supportive hand. It gave me hope and faith in the world as a whole. There was no greed, only sharing and kindness, asking nothing in return other than you also sharing and being kind. I’m so glad I found the Rainbow Family.
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