San Diego Rainbow Family Update.

Defunct Full Moon Circle (Black's Beach)

Just a reminder family, the thing that happes at Black's Beach on the full moon has turned into an alcohol fueled beach party. In July, 2008 a brawl between Irish tourists and skinheads broke out leaving one person in the hospital with multiple stab wounds and a punctured lung. Go there at your own risk. To find out what rainbow circles are happening, join us in Balboa Park on Sunday afternoons. Balboa Park adjacent to Marston Point in the Pine Grove Picnic Area. From the intersection of Sixth Avenue and Laurel Streets in Hillcrest, enter the park going east on Laurel (which becomes El Prado). Turn right on Balboa Drive which is the last right before the Cabrillo Bridge. Follow Balboa Drive as it loops around and look for family near the Pine Grove Picnic Area and the restrooms.

Stuff on our failed attempts to hold onto our full moon circle

A San Diego Family council happened on Saturday, October 13 2007 @ noon @ Stonehenge on the UCSD Campus

The council reached the following consensus:

"In an effort to heal the Black's Beach full moon drum circle, which was at one time a Rainbow family event, San Diego family would like to encourage individual gatherers to take personal responsibility for improving the scene at Black's Beach by teaching Rainbow family values, including discouraging the use of alcohol and drug abuse at the event, and by insuring that the beach is cleaned up afterward and promote a leave no trace ethic."

If you are simply curious as to what minute the moon becomes full because you want to have a circle at some other location, visit California Full Moons prepared by Griffith Observatory

The following suggestions were made on how to improve the vibe:

Work with drummers to faciliate non-drumming communcations.
Make signs regarding Rainbow and Rainbow ways.
Start with a circle approximately 1 hour before sunset
Call frequent circles- Even more frequently than we've been doing.
Clean up. More dedicated people are needed at clean up. Clean up is not being done sufficiently. Charcoal and ash must be buried at the base of the cliffs. In addition, the road into the Glider Port and the Glider Port parking lost must be cleaned up as well as the beach. All trash should go in dumpsters in the dirt parking lot.
Patrol to put out personal fires. Explain the problems it causes for clean up and invite people to our public fire
We need strong people at Welcome Home to emphasize clean up and to make it clear that it there is a long standing Rainbow consensus to strongly discourage the use of alcohol and to ask everyone to not bring any down to the beach.
We need 8-10 people to walk around the gathering throughout the night to welcome people home, discuss clean up and explain the consensus on alcohol and to encourage others to do the same. If a person is approached once during the night about the alcohol issue, he/she will assume that he/she was talking to an anti-alcohol crusader. If the same person is approached repeatedly during the night, it will be clear that this is something that we as a group are serious about. I believe 8-10 people focusing on this throughout the night will make a huge difference.
Encourage individuals to take a strong stand against alcohol around the fire by Whenever alcohol is visible from the drum circle, we should stop the drumming and make it clear that alcohol is not welcome at the gathering and that the drumming will not continue until the alcohol is put away and please do not bring any next time. It is important that many of us participate in this so that no individual is seen as an agitator.
Have a side circle at around 10PM or 11PM to discuss Rainbow and healing the planet.
Sing Rainbow songs and use the music to create a positive and peaceful family vibe.

For More Info - Call the San Diego Lightline! 619-677-0882 No collect calls please. Messages outside the local area will be returned collect.

From the council on Black's Beach, March 31, 2007:

San Diego Rainbow Family events will no longer be posted on the web or on the San Diego Light Line. Everyone is encouraged to come to the Sunday afternoon circles in Balboa Park to find out what other circles and get togethers are happening. Or call the San Diego Light Line and leave a message. Individuals at the council are encouraged to contact other websites and ask them to support this decision by removing any references to the Full Moon Circle.

The Council that met at Black's Beach on the top of the cliffs reached consensus that the Full Moon Circle at Black's Beach is canceled starting with the May (2007) Full moon until further notice.

Sunday Afternoon circles in Balboa Park High Noon until Dark

Bring musical instruments and your smiles. Please support our circles when they are called. The circle is what makes the Rainbow.

Directions: Balboa Park adjacent to Marston Point in the Pine Grove Picnic Area. From the intersection of Sixth Avenue and Laurel Streets in Hillcrest, enter the park going east on Laurel (which becomes El Prado). Turn right on Balboa Drive which is the last right before the Cabrillo Bridge. Follow Balboa Drive as it loops around and look for family near the Pine Grove Picnic Area and the restrooms.

Why was the Full Moon Circle Canceled?

Karin thinks because....

LACK OF RESPECT!

People not respecting the Circle and the Om. Rainbow is all about circling. This is what gives us our center. If you choose not to circle, that is your right, but disrupting our circle ain't cool.

This circle is our sacred space. It is our church.

"Every society needs . . . sacred places. They help to instill a sense of social cohesion in the people and remind them of the passage of the generations that have brought them to the present. A society that cannot remember its past and honor it is in peril of losing its soul." Vine Deloria, Jr.

We want to create a sacred ceremonial space for our children and the future evolution of the human race. Too many people who come disrespect what this circle is about. We respect your right to create a circle to meets your needs, but when you come to this circle, we expect you to respect our ways.

Trash! - Pack It In - Pack It Out

Too much trash and not enough of a cleanup crew. In March trash was left all Torrey Pines Scenic Drive and folks had to clean up the mess that unconscious people left behind. Trash was left on the beach, in the parking lot and on the road.

If you brought it, you should have taken it home with you.

Alcohol! - Rap 151

It has long been a Family tradition to discourage alcohol at a gathering. Our children (that's all of us) need a safe and unthreatening place to celebrate. Alcohol energy can easily threaten. We respect a person's right to drink, but the Rainbow Gathering is a peace and prayer sanctuary, not a booze party. Please leave it at home.

Cigarette Butts!

If you smoke, your butts belong in your pocket. We're tired of cleaning up after your habit.

"Our Beaches and Bays Are Not Your Ashtrays" Surfrider

Get to know this family!

If you want to learn more, please come to the Sunday afternoon circles in Balboa Park and find out what we are all about.

Google Rainbow Gathering or Rainbow Guide and read, read, read.

Hug someone you never met!

General Info on Black's Beach

Black's Beach is a community beach and the path from the Glider Port down to the beach is built and maintained by the community. NEVER NEVER NEVER take wood from the steps, handrails or benches. The volley ball court poles are also community maintained. NEVER NEVER NEVER take wood from the volley ball courts. If you bring anything to the beach, YOU need to take it out again. All trash pickup is done by volunteers and this means YOU!. Please visit the Black's Beach website to find out more about what makes this beach special. Please treat the beach with the love and respect it deserves.

For more information, contact the San Diego Family Lightline @ 619-677-0882 No collect calls please. Messages outside the local area will be returned collect. Or kzirk@earthlink.net