Unveiling the Magic of the Albania Rainbow Gathering

I first heard about Rainbow approximately two years ago and ever since then, I had it in my mind that I would love to attend one of these events. So when I was invited to drive to one in Albania, I was definitely in!

Rainbow started in 1971, with a bunch of hippies. Ever since, it has grown and been happening all over the world. The concept is simple – it is a non-regulated, no authorities, no rules, no violence, no technology, no drugs, no alcohol gathering that occurs somewhere in a rural place, and is set up by participants. "The goal was to create what they believed was a more satisfying culture — free from consumerism, capitalism, and mass media — one that would be non-hierarchical, that would further world peace, and serve as a model for reforms to mainstream society." It happens from new moon to new moon for a month, circling around the sacred fire and singing songs and participating in workshops.

All resources are shared towards food and are gathered twice a day in a Magic Hat, which, accompanied by a song, is passed around. You add however much you feel like sharing; the hat also accepts hugs and kisses. 🎩

Food is prepared on a fire, in a makeshift kitchen, and is prepared by those who feel like serving and helping out, so you would hear a shout across the territory like – HELP IN THE KITCHEN, which means we need more hands helping out with chopping veggies. There are two meals, and depending on how many go and help in the kitchen, that's how quickly the meals can be served. Meals and everything else are announced by shouting FOOD CIRCLE, and if you hear the call, you pass a shout on. There are two calls, and the last one is FOOD CIRCLE NOW. By that time, people start to gather around the fire where the food is brought, and by holding hands, the singing begins.

Singing Rainbow songs is an essential part of the whole experience. Songs are about love, Pacha Mama, unity, togetherness, and family and are pretty easy to catch on. In the circle, you are always welcome to introduce your songs too. The singing can last up to an hour and is finished with a long om. I didn’t always feel like participating in the circle, so for me, the om was for noms, and it was a sign to go down from my olive tree with my bowl to the circle.

The food distribution is very well worked out. All food goes around the circle and is served equally. If there is leftovers, then the food goes around a second time, again equally distributed. Soup first time, Soup second time, Soup anytime.

After food, there is space for announcements or Focus. If you have a workshop that you would like to put on, this is the time to announce it. If you have something to discuss or address - now you stand up before the circle and do the focus. Here also the tasks necessary are discussed, like finding a vocalizer for the food mission, wood mission, shitpit mission, or anything else that needs doing. If you see a job – it is yours! Here is where the drama usually starts. Everyone has different ideas about how long or how important the focuses are, or who’s doing what, or discussion of the general idea, or who’s smoking where. Generally, there always is a pirate camp where the smoking is happening anyway.

This Rainbow was Healing Rainbow, so many discussions were around what is healthy and what isn’t. And here it was important to note that the healing journey for each can look differently, and not everyone is on the same page. There was a whole discussion in the kitchen on flour, which apparently was super entertaining, I am sad I missed it. :D

And after the discussions, the magic hat is brought out and, accompanied by a song, it goes around the circle.

Alright, on to the not-so-romantic but essential bit – the shit pits! That was a whole thing, as people needed to be reminded constantly to cover their feces with ash so the flies don’t fester and not to throw toilet paper in there, but there was always someone who did not do it, and even though the pits were as far from the main circle and kitchen as possible, the flies still found their way there. For days, I also was suffering from diarrhea and was a frequent guest there. Oh boy, to climb up that rocky mountain in the dark to relieve myself was truly a hero’s journey for me, but the purging needed to be done one way or another. In time you get used to it and have your jar with ash always ready.

Water was hosed from the spring down by the beach, so we needed to go down a steep rocky cliff to the beach every time we wanted to gather water, wash, or go for a swim, which of course, in time, got easier and easier to do.

The beach was fantastic! Rocky round stones, bluest, clearest water, and gentle waves, blue healing mud, and a bunch of naked hippies lying in the sun. And what was the most magical of it all – at night when you went swimming, there were shiny plankton, so only when you swim, you can see the glittering lights around you in the water. It truly felt like something out of Avatar! Unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime experience, just adding that magical shine to the whole experience!

We arrived at the gathering after the full moon, for only 11 days. For me, it was harder at the beginning to truly let go and feel comfortable naked – of course, you don’t have to be naked, but if you are in a swimsuit by the beach, you will probably stand out. But seeing how free people are in their bodies, dancing, washing, singing naked not only by the beach, it made me relax more and more with each day. You literally drop all your layers and masks you have been hiding behind and strip bare in your authenticity before the family, and your tan is so much better! 😄

And the different characters I've met and witnessed there truly made me so happy – there was a girl who just oozes music, enthusiasm, and energy, another lady who, whenever there was a sound of drums or didgeridoo, would start trance dancing (turns out she is a geo-anthropologist researcher, whose life is beyond epic). Then there was the sad fire guy, who always found a way to shame us for not adding logs to the fire, grandma rainbow who was great at spiritual bypassing (just be happy!), didgeridoo dude, Mayan shaman (who led a peyote ceremony, and people were upset that he is charging money for it), the quiet wizard, the always horny guy, the Japanese cook, and many, many more unique and inspiring people. Funnily enough, with many that I spoke to, their destination was also to get to India, so I feel when I eventually get there, I will have so many contacts!

As there is no technology, the music is performed everywhere - spontaneous jam sessions by the beach, gypsy songs by campfires, and drum dance circles. It was so beautiful seeing all these talented people create together, and I couldn’t resist joining with my voice in! After those ten days, I really felt my throat chakra, my expression, my voice blossoming and awakening. I felt so much trust in myself, ridding of shame and fear that has held my voice small. I bravely put on my witches’ cloak, danced flamenco barefoot by the fire, spun the stick naked by the beach, sung improvised blues lyrics, and drew in my notebook.

The place, energy, atmosphere were beyond charged, and it was pretty incredible to see how fast the manifestations and thoughts materialized themselves. There were many small things, like thinking of someone and that someone just appears, but for me the cherry on the cake was the arrival of Gingertails – a small ginger cat. Our campsite I renamed Queendom’s Gingertown, because of the high concentration of gingers there, and on the 8th day, there suddenly appeared this ginger cat who just jumped in my hammock and decided to keep me warm during the night. I felt such a connection to this small, furry friend that it was pretty hard to leave him behind. But for me, that was a huge affirmation of my path, of my own power in magic and creating more of it around. Most nights I truly went to sleep with a smile on my face and happiness in my heart, being lulled by the songs from the main fire and the waves of the sea, snuggled comfortably in my hammock, feeling completely safe and free.

There is something so primitively soothing and safe in hearing “Welcome Home” which is said by everyone to anyone who’s just arriving, and calling each other brother and sister. It truly was a homecoming – experiencing simple life in a community, with no limitations, no competition, no urgency, no clothes, but with so much openness and love. I truly understand now why my friend told me not to get stuck with the rainbows, because honestly – I think I could easily live like that! 🌈

Definitely Rainbow Gathering is not for everyone, but if you get a chance to experience it - try, and see how much you can drop and how much lighter your heart can become, when held by a community. 🩷