Rosi CornwellSo this is a story all about how (did you sing that like it was the song from Fresh Prince?) I went from being totally anxious about something, counting the days until we could leave, to loving it and wishing we had gone sooner, kicking myself for not getting more involved, and focusing on future scenarios where I don’t let my insecurities get the best of me. Sorry it’s a bit of a long one. BUT A REALLY GOOD ONE I SWEAR.
Apologies though there isn’t many pictures as we weren’t allowed to use “digital devices” in the communal areas, which is totally fair enough. If I did have pictures though it would be of a lot of naked people with guitars.
Back in 2020 when Hollie and I were on a camping trip in Dartmoor, we went to the woods in search of a waterfall, and stumbled upon a community of people who were living in the woods for a month. A man called Hym spoke to us and told us it was a Rainbow Gathering. We got invited to a women’s circle but politely declined as the thought seemed too intense. There were families, a fire circle and groups of people sitting around playing music. It was truly magical, and we even went back the next day to hang out there.
Forward to now, Hollie and I were in Cartagena looking on couch surfing for a place to stay in Santa Marta. Two people responded and told us they were going camping and that we could join them. We looked at the event on couch surfing and to our amazement was a Rainbow Gathering!
I was still on a major come down from our night out in Cartagena, and as much as I love camping I felt apprehensive about leaving a homely apartment with a private room (where we were staying with Leoandro from couch surfing) to travel 5 hours to meet random people and go camping. I don’t want to taint this blog post with my anxiety around that, but basically my gut instinct got me out of a situation that I didn’t want to be in, and one of the guys turned out to be using Couch Surfing to get people to pay for things like petrol, beers and food for him! So always follow your gut. I ducked out of going camping at the last minute and took myself to a hostel where I relaxed by the pool, watched Netflix and regained my zen.
I feel bad on Hollie, as it took a long time for me to feel comfortable with the idea of going off camping, in an unknown location, in Colombia.. but eventually after about a week of arriving in Santa Marta on Wednesday 12th April we stocked up on rice and vegetables, packed out bags for camping, and left the rest of the our stuff at the hostel … somehow our bags were still huge and heavy … and got a tuk tuk taxi to the directions given by a member on Couch Surfing. We rocked up in a street with stalls along the road, and the driver called over two boys on motor bike taxi’s. He said the road was not suitable for the tuk tuk, so onto the bikes we went.
Sitting on the back of a motor bike, with a huge bag on my back, holding onto a probably 17 year old boy for dear life as we went up hills, and got higher and higher up the mountain was an experience in itself! It took about 45 minutes to get to the location, and I felt like I’d done a work out trying to hold myself on and not fall backwards with the weight of the bag!
It dawned on me that we were now literally in the middle of nowhere, and phone signal was likely a thing of the past, so we arranged for the boys to pick us up on Sunday at 11am. The boys led us up a rocky path, along a field and into an area with a mud hut ‘Maloka’ and we were introduced to Melvin, a German guy who had helped source the land, and been there for 2 months! They had running water from the springs, clothes lines, a kitchen in another Maloka, a main fire pit and a shit pit. Although they had a much more poetic name for it in Spanish, but I can’t remember it.
My initial thoughts were still negative, in my head I counted Wednesday, Thursday Friday, Saturday, okay that’s 4 nights, I can do that, and then we will be out of here.
We looked around for a place to set up camp, and as the tent was too big to fit in the nice shade of the woods we went for a spot in the open, where we could see the mountains. They looked pretty epic, especially when the mist came in. There were also lots of huge boulders, which are a pretty crazy spectacle.
Our First Experience of Singing Around the Fire and Eating as a Family
When Melvin was orientating us we heard a shout from a far ” A comer” which he said meant that food would be ready soon, or maybe 20 minutes… or maybe an hour. We later heard “A comer… Ahora” … which means the food is ready now. We went up to the main fire pit, and joined hands with a few people (the technical term for them would be our Brothers and Sisters, but I’m not that Rainbow yet!). Everyone started singing, songs we didn’t know, and in Spanish. The circle grew bigger as people joined in and lyrics were sung that we could recognise “gracias for las comida”, and when this stopped someone would sing a new version, “Gracias for las… Fuego… las ninos… las gatos”…. if someone was grateful for it, they sung about it. The singing went on for about 15 minutes and then silence, and everyone went “OMMMMMMMMM”… then again, and then again. This felt truly vibrational and was quite moving. Then we all raised our hands, put them together and bent down and touched the ground. Then some people rubbed ash on their hands and their body. I thought this was a ceremonious act, but it turns out it was to cleanse their hands due to ashes antibacterial properties, and to prevent mosquito bites. I swear there was no stopping those bad boys, everyone was covered in bites head to toe!
I said to Hollie that I hoped we didn’t have to sing every day before a meal. Me being negative YET AGAIN! (We loved the singing by the end… Especially the song about living in a coconut under the sea… Which remained in our head for many many days!) There was a call for servers and those who volunteered stood around a hugeeeee pot and did another “OMMMM” and then came around and served us rice, soup, veg and salad! People were shouting “Sal connection” … this meant they wanted the salt. And basically when ever anyone wanted to find something, or someone they would shout what was needed, followed by connection. I liked this way of asking for something you needed.
The meal was nice, super filling and we even got a second round!
After dinner someone played the guitar and sung something along the lines of “magic hat, magic hat give your love to the magic hat” …I forget the rest, and someone went round with a hat. We were told that we could put money or a kiss into the hat. As we had spent money on food, we put in a kiss and would donate our stock to the kitchen in the morning. Then were some announcements, including to ensure to keep hands washed and to only shit in the designated shit pit. Important stuff.
There was a fire and people playing mellow guitar playing, and someone announced a talking circle, which we didn’t quite fancy on our first night. But looking back this would have been a great way to meet people and introduce ourselves. However we were intimidated by the thought of it being intense. Instead I called it a night wasn’t very sociable and went to bed.
Considering we were on a bit of a slant, I had a good sleep, with lots of vivid dreams!
Going Down to the River Pool
The next day when we woke up it was super hot, and so we went down a rocky path to find the river. It was fairly treacherous, with vines waiting to trip you up and slippery dusty hills. We found our way and made it to a beautifully serene pool with a small waterfall. The water was crystal clear and we could see fish swimming around. We got straight in for a dip, the water was such a relief to our hot skin as it was so cool and fresh. I floated on the surface of the water, looking up into the trees above. When we got out we spotted a huge butterfly and some funky looking birds. It was a place of true tranquillity.
Family Breakfast and Announcements for the Days Activities
We headed back up to camp, which was much easier than coming down, and eventually heard “A comer… ahora” so we sat by the fire and watched as people formed a circle and started to sing. We mumbled to each other about not wanting to do it, and how it was acceptable to sit as others were too. Eventually those sitting joined in, so we did too. We stood in a circle with mostly everyone barefoot… some people topless and some people naked. Here I felt like an outcast just for wearing shoes! (I don’t mean that I wore nothing but shoes, I mean the small act of wearing shoes made me feel outcast!). After a long sing song, which we tried to join in this time and another vibrational OMMMM we sat down to eat.
Breakfast was some kind of corn/yucca cake, cabbage and onions and some seeds. It was tasty!
After breakfast there was an announcement from a French Canadian guy about doing a French/Spanish workshop, another guy announced yoga and a girl announced a women’s circle. Although she spoke only in Spanish, and this wasn’t translated so we weren’t sure where it was. Hollie asked if I was going to go, and like a grumpy 16 year old I said “if they invite me personally I will, but we don’t know where it is”. .. JEEZE I’m such a loser sometimes!
A nice girl called Coral said that she was going down to the River and said that we should come. We took her up on the offer and followed down to the river for a second time. I was wearing my trusty Crocs and Coral said our shoes were more slippery and barefoot would be easier. I tried this and it was easier, just a little scary about what might come and bite your toes off!
We got to the pool where two guys were playing the guitar. Then more people came and bathed in the cool refreshing water and we were the only people wearing swim swear. One guy broke out into song, and starting to rap in Spanish. It sounded so good! So far it seemed like being in a musical, music all around and people breaking out into song!
We did discuss how it was odd that the pool was the location for the women’s circle and suddenly lots of men had appeared, but we tired not to be cynical.
Our First Women’s Circle
The women asked the men to leave… which seemed to take longer than expected, as if they were debating the reasons for wanted to space just for the women … but soon enough it was just us galz, and everyone was naked except for me and Hollie.
We all sat around and the girl taking the lead said “close your eyes, feel the sun and then tell me what you feel on your face”. I was in a bit of a disadvantage because I was sitting in the shade, but in that moment with my eyes closed, all I could hear was the gushing water falling from the rocks, and it was a moment of quietness in my mind, and pure relaxation. This was the answer that I gave, but others went into detail about the colours they saw, and gave very spiritual answers. One girl acted as the translator so that everyone .. all but 3 of us could understand the Spanish answers.
And then the next question was “tell me which element you feel most connected with”… I sat nervously and listened to everyone’s answers … people were articulating such in-depth, deep and meaningful answers and I was wondering how I would answer with out sounding like a basic bitch. I have never thought about what elements I feel connected with, and had I spent that time thinking about it properly, I may have come up with something. Instead I said that “I am grateful for all the elements, and am drawn to water as I have always lived near it, and I am grateful for the fire for giving us food”.
Hollie gave a nice answer, she said “I feel connected to water as the river flows in different directions and that has been my life for the last few years, discovering where I want to go. I am also connected to fire as my emotions can be a bit fiery sometimes”.
Ultimately everyone’s answers were meaningful to them, and there isn’t a right or wrong when it comes to these things. The space is meant to be there for people to share, or not share. The sooner than I can not compare myself to others, or worry about being on the same level as people … like as spiritual and hippy as everyone … then the happier and more content I will be!
I think in these settings I always feel incompetent… I don’t play an instrument, I can’t sing…and that’s what people do 92% of the time! I can do about 6 cartwheels in a row though.
Tarrot Reading
We had all been sitting on rocks for a good hour and half, and as spiritual and zen as everyone was, it was hard to concentrate. So we moved up to the Maloka and a lady offered to do a tarrot reading. Hollie and I stopped for a sneaky snack of crackers with cucumber and tomato and then headed up. We were given a card and a burning stick. Kind of like sage. I had no idea what to do with it, so quickly waved it around in front of me and passed it on.
I can’t remember the name of the card I got but it was a prince on a horse. The lady asked me to interpret this. I said that when horse riding you are on an adventure, and you have to stay on top. But if you fall off, you can easily get back on again.
I was proud of this answer and for once that day didn’t feel like a blundering idiot.
The lady pointed out that the horse wasn’t moving, so maybe the adventure hadn’t started yet….at this point I’d been travelling for 5 months, so if it hadn’t started yet, then what was going on! The lady pointed out it could be my spiritual adventure, which made much more sense!
The circle ended up with some people crying, because their cards connected so much to what was spoken about earlier in the day. Hollie and I thanked everyone and said our goodbyes with out a tear in sight.
The Mumbai Night
So one night after dinner, a guy stood up and spoke about how he had been into town and got some Mumbai and wanted to share this with everyone. He said that this medicine had helped him become who he is now, and he had spent many a night sitting up with the sharman and talking to the early hours. He said a number of times how the medicine helped you talk about great ideas and that you can stay up all night. To us this guy sounded like a hippy coke head. He passed around this bag of powder and said that you needed to put some liquid in your mouth to salivate and then put the powder in. I really wasn’t sure if I wanted to do it, as I was still feeling a little unsettled, and I was surrounded by loads of people I didn’t know. Although we did end up sitting next to a guy from Maidstone which was very odd as that’s like 60 minutes from our home town!
Just as the bag reached me, this local guy with long black hair, and a lady attached to his hip stood ominously in the shadows and said how this medicine was so important to him. That it should be used to listen. That the music can interfere with it…. and he basically gave a very serious speech which was entirely off putting so I gladly passed the bag along and decided to sit this one out.
This dudes speech had caused the lovely background guitar playing to sease and everyone sat in silence. There was about 20/30 people around this fire, and eventually someone said “maybe the new people who arrived today would like to introduce themselves” …. thank god I had arrived the day before as I would not be up for that sort of self torture. One person said something and then it fell silent again.
I waited for a few minutes and decided that it was time to go to bed.
Hollie came to the tent not much longer after and had informed me that people were silent, and tried to play the guitar but it got shut down again. She said the experience was ruined by how controlled it was by this dude, and eventually people started to talk amongst themselves… but I don’t think it had the desired outcome of our hippy coke head.
The Rap Circle
So this was a fun change up from guitars and general camp fire singing.
We had an American (the Hippie coke head), a French Canadian and a Spanish guy standing around the fire free style rapping. There is something VERY nice about singing, especially rapping in another language. ESPECIALLY FRENCH AND SPANISH. Eminem move over, it’s all about that foreign rap. Although the three of them did do a rendition of ‘Lose Yourself’ by Eminem which was mediocre compared to their own lyrics.
The American guy came in with some controversial lines… he had a hatred for Babylon… said it wasn’t real… sang ” I spit you” “I shit on you” … it wasn’t very rainbow to say the least! But man it was HILARIOUS!!!!
Helping in the Kitchen
On our last day Hollie and I went to lend a hand in the kitchen. We realised we should have done this sooner as it was a social place. We were put to work and had to cut up about 20 Yukkas with a tiny knife that felt like it would break at any minute. We actually ended up getting a blister from this meal preparation!
We were handed the herbs and told we were in charge of the soup, which someone else added some lentils, plantain and potatoes. Hollie threw in some salt, pepper and random herbs and we put the lid on and let it cook. Who knows what it would taste like… we also hoped that we wouldn’t poison anyone as we were informed that Yucca has cyanide in, so had double checked what we could in the HUGE pot.
Sunset Yoga
This was undoubtedly a favourite moment for me.
The guy running the yoga ‘Kaban’ was someone we had spoken to the most, he had a little kitten called Ezra who we loved, despite being slightly worried about how small he was to be taken away from his mum. None the less, Ezra’s owner was super friendly, and always spoke to us when he passed by.
As we started the yoga, a guy with a mandolin came over and asked if he could play. Kaban said yes and this was just the perfect fit to our yoga session. The guy with the mandolin sang and played the most enlightening, uplifting music.
At the end of the session we were invited to lay and Kaban guided us through a relaxation meditation. I used to do yoga at the gym and this was my favourite bit. This was like next level relaxation. It was so perfect with the music, the sounds of nature and ultimately Kaban’s Colombian accent talking English.
I felt rejuvenated and wished that I could start and end every day with a yoga session from Kaban. If everyone did then we would surely live in a much calmer world!
The Talent Show
I cannot begin to explain how EPIC this was.
There had been talk of a talent show happening for a few nights, and it kept getting delayed. In fact one morning in the kitchen there was a very diplomatic discussion about the show, and the general running of the days events. It was interesting to observe.
I had been asked by a few people if I was going to do anything for the show, and said I could do some cartwheels. I realised as it got dark that this wouldn’t be possible, and especially not within the designated stage area that had been made using bits of material for a back drop, attached to the string holding up a mesh material that gave a ‘shadow’ when the sun was out.
The show was opened by a double act, a man and a lady who honestly felt like they had been performing together for years. Ant and Dec move over, these two stole the show, and could have a very well paid career ahead of them in presenting and theatre. It was made all the more amusing as they spoke in Spanish, so half the time we didn’t have a clue what they were saying, but it was still pure joy to watch.
In fact a bit of advice the guy gave me was to do a clown class. He said he had done one, and this trip he was realising more and more that he wanted to act and sing.
Anyway so during the show we watched:
- People sing with their guitar
- A fable about a falcon and some cheese, which required members of the audience to play trees, the falcon, the cheese.. and the fable was narrated in French, Spanish and English.
- A very random out of space skit where two members of the audience translated an alien’s answers to audience questions.
- A girl so light up poi – which looked so epic and inspired me to buy some and practice when I get home! She let us have a go after the show and much practice is needed … !
- And then my favourite was the closing of the show, where the Compere got audience members to be an instrument. He then conducted them to make noises, and had 3 ladies singing. It was hilarious and so clever.
At the end the compares said they had improvised the whole thing! It felt like being at a festival watching such a random erray of acts and talents.
Saying Goodbye
On Sunday we had one last swim in the pool, packed up the tent, and said our goodbyes. We thanked everyone for the experience and off we went.
Sure enough our trusty steeds were right on time at 11am to pick us up. They had come equipped with long rubbery straps to attach our bags to the bikes this time. This was a relief, especially when we got into the main road and I swear they were driving at like 100mph.
Honestly I felt like my face was like a cartoon, if I opened my mouth air would fill my cheeks and my whole face would wobble with the exhaleration!
Thankfully we arrived in one piece, and ended up bumping into Kaban, Matteo (the Spanish rapper and amazing compare of the show) and Laura, so we got to say a proper goodbye which was nice.
We obviously then made our way to a vegan bakery and got some savoury and sweet goods and a ginger beer. We ended up bumping into another lovely rainbow brother and had a quick chat about our experience and a hug goodbye.
A Summary of Our Time
Our time at Rainbow was short but oh so sweet!
It is a true community feel, and maybe not everyone felt like they were super welcoming and open to conversation (neither am I though), but some people have been in this space for 3 weeks and are used to people coming and going. Some people are also on their own journey.
I almost didn’t know what to say to people, what kind of conversation to have with those who seem so far removed from the life I lead outside of this safe space.
Ultimately everyone is a human, and they don’t live in the woods full time. There is a life outside of Rainbow, and even asking to learn more about people’s spirituality and ability to be so free would have been eye opening and educational.
I hold myself back with doubt and fear of judgement.. but am I just reflecting my own actions. Am I judgemental, so think others would do this to me…. I was always conscious about wearing shoes, as I felt I stood out.. but REALLY WHO CARES!
The sooner I can become content with my actions, and be sure of myself, the sooner I will be able to live a care free happy life! I’m not saying I will become a naked hippy, but I will certainly try to take on the naked hippy attitude to life!
