We Left New Mexico for Health and Vehicle Reasons

Raven and I left New Mexico after having troubles with our vehicle and some harassment from unknown persons in Albuquerque. We're not sure if it was rainbow related but for the two days that our van was broken down, we made some serious changes in plans. You have to know that we really pondered and prayed about our life enough to realize that we wanted to get our vehicle fixed to be in good condition for traveling remote highways and mountains. That would take some serious cash flow, we knew. My writing doesn't exactly make enough to cover that. So we headed for Idaho where we have some family.

There were other considerations to make about our life. Health is becoming an important factor in our decisions and ever since the serious illness we both faced in Tennesee we have not exactly been in good health. This will take some thought and effort as well. What better place to make those considerations and changes than to a town that you know and where you have some family close.

Raven and I are looking for work and I intend to keep writing in hopes that my blog rank will climb high enough to get paid better and to get assignments on other blogs. That will take focus and effort as well. As you can see, we have a lot to handle in the next few months. I didn't even mention the past due bills that continue to pile up since our trip to DC and all the break downs in our van on the way home to Idaho coupled with our illness.

Truly, we intended to visit friends in New Mexico to discuss this year's rainbow gathering. We even sent a postcard to our friend Indian Bob who lives on the New Mexico mesa to tell him to expect us in the next few weeks. We really need to send another postcard.

It was our intention to close out some storage units after paying off the past due amounts, but that doesn't seem to be working out either. We wonder what the universe is telling us.

Raven and Summer Breeze Made it to New Mexico Yesterday

Photo Credit: Summer Breeze, a/k/a The Midnight Writer
Raven taking a nice walk on one of our pit stops. He's minus the hair now though. Yikes!
Through high winds, rain, sleet, hail, tornadoes and crazy drivers, we finally arrived in New Mexico yesterday. We're a little weary from the road trip from Tennessee but stoked to be here. We can't wait to see a lot of our old friends here in Albequerque, Santa Fe, Taos and our homestead (where we never get to stay home) in Tres Piedras on the mesa with our friends Indian Bob and Cascades, The Mustang Family. We'll be heading up there next week before we make a run to Utah, Idaho, Oregon and California.

That's a lot of traveling in the next two months but we have to make our rounds to see family and relatives and friends. We have business to handle before the gathering so we can relax and enjoy being on the mountain for a month or two. I'd like to stay the whole time and I think Raven feels the same way this year. We haven't stayed for the whole cleanup since Montana in 2000 and that was one of the best gatherings of our lives. Oregon in 1997 ranks as the best, of course.

I'm looking to find out when scout rendezvous takes place so we can be there before we make our run. Raven and I are meeting with family and doing some preliminary scouting in the surrounding mountains. I've got my camera ready so I can load photos right here. Let's hope Governor Bill Richardson will meet with us and support our efforts at a peaceful gathering this year without the guns firing on us.

I'm sitting at a Starbucks right now working on some writing assignments while Raven rests. He's tired from driving and lack of sleep. We'll get busy with visiting tomorrow. If you're in New Mexico and you read this, you'll be hearing from us soon most likely...or we'll just show up on your doorstep for a hug.

Lovin you family, and we can't wait to go home.
New Mexico in 2009.
Summer Breeze and Raven

Will the Front Gate Run Similar to the Wyoming Gathering?

This photo is pretty self explanatory. Law Enforcement has established a roadblock and their presence with weapons, or "guns in the church" as folks at the rainbow gatherings say. I believe this photo was taken in Colorado, where a road block took place during a long segment of the gathering.

In Wyoming 2008, Front Gate crews worked harmoniously to keep the gate alcohol free and to keep the Law Enforcement from blocking access to the gathering. It was not a complete success, but there was definite progress in this co-operative effort that made a huge difference.

I helped maintain a welcome kitchen/camp at the front gate in Wyoming to feed the gate crew, fire crew, Welcome band of aging and young hippies of the rainbow family of living light. I was in great company, to include the body and soul of one Barry Adams, montana, plunker who held down the gate for well over two weeks. Plunker started before Raven and I arrived and he maintained his stand at the front gate to keep the LEO's from blocking it to take it for their vantage point. When his partner arrived, plunker went inside the gathering to be with his family. Raven and I stayed for the duration of about three weeks.

I am wondering how it will operate this year and would love some dialogue about this issue. Is anyone interested in maintaining or volunteering at a welcome center front gate camp this year?

We are Walking In the Valley of Decision

I love this video and hope you'll share it with all your friends.

This is the strong message for this year, in the sector of rainbow gatherings and in all aspects around the planet. It is time to decide where you stand. The earth is ripening for God's harvest so put in your sicle and reap but be sure to stand on the right side of peace, love and all the aspects of God that put you on the holy side of His spirit.

I'm Thinking about the Changes in the Administration and What it Means for Rainbow

Last year we had a certainty about the players in the regulation talks as far as government representatives with the Forest Service, the Department of Agriculture and the chain of Law Enforcement Command. And of course, we knew the current President Bush and his policies about gatherings.

But this year is different. President Barack Obama campaigned with the slogan for "change" and his winning the election was the first big change in this country. For the rainbow gatherings, not only did the Presidency gain a new representative, so did the Department of Agriculture and the Forest Service.

Mark Rey, Undersecretary of Agriculture

Last year we all knew that talks with the Undersecretary of Agriculture Mark Rey were progressing at an expected pace over the past two years. Now Mark Rey has retired from that position after seven years and vanished into the private sector without a peep and sworn by the nature of his office oath not to be involved in any official or policy making capacity.

Most of us know the face of Mark Rey. But who knows the face of the new Undersecretary of Agriculture? Has one been appointed and approved by Congress? That is a question to answer right here in the coming days of this blog.

I Pulled my Rainbow Tye Dyes and Skirts out of Storage

Photo Credit: Dan 1 - taken in the Ochoco National Forest September 2007

Yes folks! It's almost that time. Can you believe it? It's nearing the end of March and I'm already thinking about, dreaming about, and planning to be at the annual gathering of the tribes of the rainbow family of living light.

In fact, Raven and I are in Texas planning to visit some family here before we head on up to New Mexico. There is a lot of family we want to visit in all parts of New Mexico and we want to get an idea of the snow packs while we refresh our memory on good sites to start scouting come early May. Are we a little anxious, do you think?

Raven and I have both shared the dreams with each other about rainbow gatherings we've been having for over a month now. The scenes in the dreams are about large groups of people walking and talking together, playing music, dancing around the campfires, cooking food together, loving, laughing and working the shanti sena peace scene. I believe we are in love with our family and the gathering of the tribes.

I personally think about it a lot more these past five years since so many close friends have passed over the rainbow to the spirit in the sky. Raven and I will be missing one brother in particular when we go scouting this year, but I know that Sailor will have that map pulled out scouting right along with us and he'll be pulling out the topo software on that laptop in the sky to give us a lesson on where to look and why. Sailor will be looking for the pretty flowers to photograph, so I'm taking my camera to capture a few for him that I'd like to gift to Catherine.

It's been just over a month but we sure miss this brother already. Sailor, we love you and good journey. I know your spirit will walk closely with us this year. It's good to be thinking about going home.

Summer Breeze,
The Midnight Writer

By the Rivers of Babylon

This is one of my favorite songs that I relate to the annual gathering of the tribes of the rainbow family of living light.

The version in the video above is supposed to be the original. There are a few others that I would like to share with you.



and yet another version...



I am really hoping to find a video produced at a rainbow gathering if one exists. I posted a request on agr at this link so I hope it produces a response.

A couple friends of mine sing this song on a regular basis at rainbow gatherings. Marty Heartsong wanders around in his rainbow tam and guitar visiting campfires at rainbow gatherings. Marty usually sings this song. In fact, he has made an audio recording of it which I don't have with me to upload. When I see him, I will ask for a new copy to upload here for your enjoyment. Usually, Marty Heartsong joins in a duet with Gary of Rainbowcrystalkitchen for the most beautiful rendition of this song rainbow style. I would love to record them singing it together.

Please email themidnightwriter1@gmail.com if you have a video version of the Rivers of Babylon.

Thank you and rainbow love. It's almost time to go home again.

Summer Breeze
The Midnight Writer