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European Rainbow Gathering in Finland, 10 July – 11 August 2010

Latest update at this page: KIN 42-3 Wind/ Wednesday 2 September 2009.


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A Reflection on the 2009 European Vision Council Consensus

At this page, I would like to share with you my reflection about the consensus that has been reached in the Vision Council of the European Gathering in Ukraine, Sunday 16 August 2009.

The reflection I share with you here is just one vision. If you want something to add or to correct, please mail to me: BasRoufs(at)gmail.com. Especially if you have attended the Vision Council or other parts of the European Gathering in Ukraine, I would appreciate receiving your feedback. In case other interesting visions will be mailed to me, I will redact and publish them here.


2010 European Gathering in Finland
The 'consensus' in the narrow sense of this expression can be summarised in two phrases.:

The next European Gathering will be in Finland, from New Moon 10 July 2010 until New Moon 11 August 2010. The Full Moon Celebration will start at the 25th of July and go on till the early morning hours of 26 July.


Background information for a proper understanding of this consensus.

It is impossible to properly understand this consensus without taking into account some issues we intensively reflected about in the 2009 Vision Council and elsewhere at the European Gathering in Ukraine:

  • how to deal with 2 good, legitimate invitations – from Moldova and Finland?

  • how to properly deal with travel and visa problems?

  • 'Rainbow Basics': what is 'Rainbow' and how to communicate this to each other?

Below, I share with you my vision on these three issues.


Dealing with two legitimate invitations

As I said, the two invitations came from Moldova and Finland and were both perfectly legitimate:

  • both of them have wholeheartedly been supported by committed, dedicated and reliable sisters and brothers;

  • for each of both invitations, there were good reasons for support.

Good specific reasons for Moldova were:

  • the possibility to stimulate there the coming into being of a new Rainbow Family with committed sisters and brothers.

  • the pleasant and healthy Mediterranean nature, climate and food.

  • the possibility for many different nationalities to come there without visa.

For Finland, there were good, specific arguments as well:

  • a general 'energy and spirit' guiding the Rainbow Family to the North – this became clear the past few months in the Vision Council, as well as elsewhere inside and outside the Gathering;

  • the feeling that the circumstances in Finland are perfect for a 'resourcing' of the Rainbow Family, in order to find again the basics – see below;

  • the opportunity to collaborate with the Nordic Ting; while the Ting is well in touch with basic values important for the Rainbow Family, the Rainbow Family has a kind of spontaneity and creativity inspiring for the Ting.

  • the fact that there has not been any European Gathering in the North ever since +/- 20 years.;

  • the pleasant climate and long days in summer time.

After thorough reflections, discussions and examinations I decided to support the Finland consensus. The choice for Finland comes from a valid, legitimate and positive argumentation – not from a flight out of the East. Ever since 1999, at least half of the European Gatherings took place in Eastern Europe. Sooner or later, a next European Gathering will come again in the East. The Holy Spirit comes and goes where He wants.


How to properly deal with travel and visa problems?

Best possible efforts will be made to help those sisters and brothers who want to come to the 2010 European Gathering, but who need visa for Finland to get there. - especially for those living in Russia, Belarus, Ukraine and Moldova. After the Vision Council, a special visa circle has already been organised – still at the European Gathering in Ukraine. From now on, the information exchange on visa issues will go on via internet – amongst others at this Eurogathering website and forum. If some Russian speaking sisters and brothers are able and willing to translate information material on visa into Russian, it can also be published at this website in that language. In case you want to help publishing such material, mail to: BasRoufs(at)gmail.com


On the other hand: everybody who really wants to come to the European Gathering in Finland, can get there.

In whatever country a European Gathering will take place in 2010 and later: there will always be practical travel and visa problems for some sisters and brothers of the Rainbow Family By example Ukraine is visa-free for several nationalities in East and West. But Israeli need expensive visa to get there; that's why there were less Israeli compared to previous European Gatherings. If you live in Lisbon, Madrid, Novosibirsk or Vladivostok,....Ukraine is visa-free, but very far away..... Someone at the Vision Council wisely said the following: “... everybody prefers to have the European Gathering in the own backyard...” But in most of the cases, will need a bit more effort to get there.


Rainbow Basics; Welcome Centre

Another important issue reflected about in the Vision Council is the 'Rainbow basics'. We want to remind each other and every newly coming sister/ brother what Rainbow is. We feel that the energy in Finland is excellent to get forward to Rainbow basics - this is one of the important reasons why there is consensus for Finland.
We want to organise the Welcome Centre in such a way it that will be more easy to really welcome every sister and brother coming to the European Gathering. We want to invite/ stimulate everybody to stay to stay one or a few days at the Welcome Centre before going on to the gathering at the main area. That's why, the Welcome Centre will be positioned +/- 3 - 5 km. from both the main area and the parking. Moreover, already a few sisters and brothers have expressed their
intention to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere at the Welcome Centre.


Special Councils to support the scouting and organisation process

The scouting and organisational process for the European Gathering in Finland will be supported by special councils meant to take decisions on important subjects. By example: the region(s) where scouting will take place and the organisation of the seed camp and welcome centre. A first council of this kind will take place in the autumn or winter.

A 2nd one will be in the spring or early summer – when the results of the scouting will be compared with a view to making a decision on the exact location for the European Gathering in Finland. Other special councils will take place for the Welcome Centre, the kitchen, the focalising, the medical area, the magic hat, etc.