I am writing to you today to offer an alternative insight and exploration into a predominant issue within the media recently, the police arrests at the Rainbow Serpent Festival.
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Everyone is aware of the fact that the price of living is immensely high and this leaves little time for working on oneself. This brings me to my point. Rainbow Serpent is much more than just a party in the bush or an excuse to ingest illicit substances for the majority of people who eagerly await this week in January.
It is a time of rejoicing, relaxation, a celebration of the unity of humanity, brought together by a deep passion for music, longing for freedom of expression and the Australian outback. The earth offers reconnection and the landscape offers clarity. The festival offers time to reflect and self evaluate; a refreshment that is so rare these days.
Nothing is for everyone but many, like myself, find solace in this avenue. I am a new addition to the rainbow family and have been inspired by the power of a friendly conversation, the sharing of love, food, gifts and the electric energy of the crowd.
So why take that away from us because of a small minority of people? However, I feel this uproar from police is necessary as it also allows the rainbow community to have their say, to explain to the general public why the majority of people attend and why we love it so much.
It also acts as a platform for these offenders to be questioned and shown the severity of their actions on the wider community and themselves ultimately.
Rainbow promotes unity rather than competition like all sporting events. In addition, Rainbow Serpent doesn’t serve alcohol. Rainbow doesn’t promote drinking as a necessity throughout the duration of the event and with this orientates its focus on the celebration of music, nature, community and harmony with its name for starters.
Rainbow Serpent serves as rest time for our bodies and our minds. It allows people to wear, think, feel what they want and break away from normality.
The pure pleasure of waking up to rolling hills all around you and to be dictated by the sun or the sound of a grumbling stomach rather than the hands of a clock brings us back to the primal way of existence- simple and effortless.
The constant hum of the music acts as a pulse that brings humans together from all over the planet and brings smiles and purpose, rhythm and healing.
Lastly, this serves as a good opportunity to shout out to those people who know that they attend these festivals for the wrong reason. I call for some self-evaluation.
This press coverage gives great opportunity for the government to be realistic. Don’t take away the ability to connect with others or our beautiful landscape we so proudly call Australia but rather let’s implement increased drug testings at festivals and education in all realms of life.
The education would encompass the background of the dreamtime and maybe even what goes into creating a festival from the bottom up- the money, time, effort and progression over the last 20 years (2017 will be the 20 year anniversary).
Moving past this let’s celebrate the passion and love and acknowledge how influential an event like this has been and will be for years to come.
Lastly, people of the Earth, let’s respect this opportunity of expression and be grateful for what we have and let the media attention surround all the positive aspects of our gathering and prove the sceptics wrong.