focalized by Brother Brian Love
First Revision: July 27, 2004 – 5 pm
Last Revision: November 12, 2007 – 6 pm
Latest Announcement (12/08/07)
9/26/07 9:45am
Announcement: Due to a recalculation of trail miles we will be starting in White Springs (not Buckman's Lock) which is a people-friendly old town. As soon as I can I will post more specific trail information.
10/10/07 9:09pm
Announcement: I now have maps of the Florida Trail segment we will hike. If you want to order them, there are 3 at $5 a piece, they are maps: 15 / 16, 17 / 18, and 19 / 20. Florida Trail Store Thru Maps. Apparently, White Springs is approximately 170 trails miles from Rt. 40 outside Ocala, FL.
We want to be able to accommidate everyone. So we will still meet in White Springs and council how we should proceed. White Springs is an especially friendly town so it is ideal. The council will be based on the presence of elders and the general condition of the attendees, the groups general focus and current information on the Valentines Gathering Seed Camp. If our intent is to take our time on the trail, gathering, foraging, and planting seeds, or to have a brisker pace and safe such activities for spare time. We may decide to carpool to a trail head further along the trail. We may have one car that moves further and further up the trails, giving people the chance to have days with out hikes and plenty of time for other activities. This will also give us the chance to be intouch with the outside world if necessary and I'm sure there would be other benefits.
If you are in a group you may want to goto Ocala before White Springs and leave a car there to make it easy for you and others to return when leaving the Gathering.
I sent out many emails resulting in some very positive interest and a lot of visits to this page. One response was from an elder with a rainbow-orientated tree farm in GA with 100 acres. Another, also from an elder, who hosts the well-known Rainbow Family Gathering MSN Group.
Alot of good points have been made, most or all of which have been addressed in this Announcement and the updated Packing List. I'm really glad that this project is starting to take on a life of its own.
11/04/07 10:45am
Announcement: In the next week, I will know where exactly, what campground, we will meet. I just ordered the Florida Trail Companion Guide for Long Distance Hikers which should provide the best information.
11/12/07 6:25pm
Announcement: I have added a link 'White Springs Starting Point' above. The page containts information on White Springs, town commodities and our starting point. The information is exciting plus I will be staying at the tree-farm (mentioned above) so hopefully I will inspire some rainbows to make the trip and we will have a decent sized group. Peace.
12/08/07 8:21pm
Announcement: For the people who are coming to the Suwannee Valley Campground in White Springs, when I arrive, I will leave notice with the campground and written if there is a bulliten board there, so we can find eachother. Please try your best to arrive Jan 10th.
Forward:
The Rainbow spirals upward. Many of us have been seeing visions of the Rainbow Trail. I, myself, have been aware of the concept for seven (7) years. The visions that were brought forth by fellow Brethren and Sistren, as well as, those of the Spirit (through animals and other signs) during the Vision Council (of the 2004 National Rainbow Family Gathering in Likely, CA) point toward a reawakening of the Rainbow Trail, a tradition captured in our Future-Past.
Primary Purposes:
Secondary Purpose:
Sign Up:
Goto the Drugs and Dreams Forum: Rainbow Trail Sign Up
or Send me an email (see Sample E-Mail)
The Vision:
The youth of the Rainbow represent a coming age of new elders. They are not elders in the traditional sense, a Stature of physical age and experience. However, those who work with computers and the Internet as a tool of second nature could be considered as elders within the consideration of the tool’s true nature. The Internet is a melting pot of information. These highly intelligent people who are incredibly proficient with the Internet have put together all sorts of information, that was not readily available in the past, into a consistent picture that describes the current nature and potential future of our changing world. They have developed new and effective ways and can be considered our future hope and in this way they are the ‘Elders of our Future’ in our now.
Unfortunately, the intellectual solutions of the Elders of our Future and the wisdom and experience of the Elders of Stature are not enough to solve the current issues of the Family and, in reflection, those of the world. Misconceptions of age, foresight, insight, wisdom and intelligence have created a schism between these two types of elders. This misunderstanding exists in and can be resolved though the definitions of ‘elder’ itself. The second and third (noun) definitions of ‘elder’ are “a person of advanced years” and “an ancestor”, respectively. Many youths have awakened to their ancestral identities of thousands of years in bodies that are merely twenty years of age. These youths are of ‘advanced’ years in many aspects of the definitions, these are all the definitions: “in front of others; forward”, “ahead of most others; having greater knowledge or superior skill”, “very old; far along in life”, “far along in development”, “increased”, and “carried far or too far toward an extreme”. Those youths that fit these characteristics can be considered Elders of our Future. Often, not being aware of these changes, Elders of Stature felt an attack when offered an explanation that the Elders of our Future may feel obvious. These explanations are often to allow resolution, such as the explanation contained within this paragraph, however as a result of the youths’ speed of discovery and revelation, this attempt for resolution is impeded by insensitivity; the youths inadvertently disrespect experience and wisdom of the Elders of Stature.
Unfortunately, what was proven method during the first 33 years of the Rainbow Gathering is no longer working. The Rainbow Gathering is attracting many people because of Internet publicity (the very same tool of the new elders). The Gathering’s purpose is not clear to many that come and at the same time many come without acknowledging the existence of such a purpose. Furthermore, many who hold the old keys and remember the first visions have left because of the troubles of accelerated growth. Respect is not given in fullness and our Ancients are often written off as wingnuts. Hurt brothers, who are just tuning in, are being pushed away.
Stability is of the greatest essence. Within the realization that the problem stems from Future and Past, the solution becomes clear:
Timeline:
January 10 – 11, 2008:
Before the Ocala, Florida Annual Valentines Regional Rainbow Gathering, the Rainbow Trail will begin. Participants starting at the beginning of our pilgramage will meet at Stephen Foster, White Springs in the Region of the Suwannee River.
Please come early, keep referencing this page because dates are subject to change.
January 11, 2008:
Brother Brian Loves Birthday
January 12 – 25, 2008:
Participants begin hiking South on the Florida Trail; starting the first leg of our estimated 150 mile hike to Ocala, Florida.
Develop the ways of the new, the future.
Learn the old ways from the Ancients and Elders along the trail.
January 26, 2008:
We part to find our way to the Seed Camp Site for the Valentines Gathering, or to the ac