25 — What on Earth is a Rainbow Gathering and Why You Need to Go
Life under the Rainbow:
- Running wild in the woods with the naked hippies
- Redefining you inhibitions and desires to create an entirely new view of the world and have lots of fun at the same time.
- Natural fun. No drugs, no alcohol, no technology
We invite Felix Chandler back to the mic to talk about our experiences at Rainbow gatherings and what people need to know about them. Considering it is possibly one of the most enjoyable, interesting and insightful events I’ve ever been to it’s amazing that most people have never heard of them, so definitely something worth sharing with you the listeners!
We try and cover all the things someone who has never been asks and should know before arriving and the effect they had on us including all the challenges it threw at us and our favourite experiences and take homes.
As well as rainbow gatherings we also discuss polyamory, the benefits of having and not having and generally put the world to rights on social media and travel.
Gatherings
More details about upcoming Rainbow gatherings across the world can be found online here:
http://somewhereundertherainbow.org/find-a-gathering/
https://www.welcomehome.org/
There are usually one or two active facebook groups per gathering and far too many to list here. Some of them can be difficult to join without an invite but you can usually message on one of the forums to be invited or try contacting me direct for an insiders invite into the family =]
Listen Here now:
LESSONS
Appreciate things
The story of the rich successful guy who wants to go back to being a poor man on the street was really interesting. He had never tasted something so good as a this skinny cat because he was so hungry for it and so appreciative. If you can culture better appreciation of everything around you this is the key to being happier in your life
Rainbow is a great launchpad for travel
When you want to visit a new country and really learn about it and meet people and have real experiences. It is very hard these days as a tourist going to a new city and trying to actually engage with real life. Going to a Rainbow gathering in the country is a perfect way to meet actual locals and understand what life was like in their history and current times. And you get an awful lot of inspiration and tips for cool things to do in that country and a lot of invites to go and visit people and do fun stuff together. If you see an event happening in a country you’ve wanted to visit it is literally the best place to start hands down.
Smile more
I can’t say how nice it was being in a group of people who always smiled at you as you walk along. Every day I walked lightly on my feet thanks to all the smiles. It’s something I’ve really enjoyed practising out and about since. HAlf the people I smile at look away before they get the chance to respond, but genuinely a lot of people look surprised and sile back and have a connection. and some people I even get a high five for no real reason but it’s awesome. So just go about your day assuming everyone will be nicer if you smile at them and thus you can actually make it so.
BOOKS
Sex at Dawn by Christopher Ryan
Since Darwin’s day, we’ve been told that sexual monogamy comes naturally to our species. Mainstream science — as well as religious and cultural institutions — has maintained that men and women evolved in families in which a man’s possessions and protection were exchanged for a woman’s fertility and fidelity. But this narrative is collapsing. Fewer and fewer couples are getting married, and divorce rates keep climbing as adultery and flagging libido drag down even seemingly solid marriages.
In the tradition of the best historical and scientific writing, Sex at Dawn unapologetically upends unwarranted assumptions and unfounded conclusions while offering a revolutionary understanding of why we live and love as we do.
Somewhere Under the Rainbow by Tom Thumb
This is a well-reviewed book about his experiences at Rainbow gatherings. It’s been described as a great way for those who haven’t gone to learn about it and for those that have been to reminisce and remember what they valued.
I hope that is what I have achieved with this podcast but if you want to know more or remember more then this book is the place to go.
Status Anxiety — Alain De Botton
A fascinating read on how are status affects the way we are treated by others and general dilemmas we face. What we try to acquire it from building a business to an active social media and how we can overcome this massive anxiety we are increasingly developing to end up being happier and more chilled out people.
