hip·pie also hip·py
n. pl. hip·pies

A person who opposes and rejects many of the conventional standards and customs of society, especially one who advocates extreme liberalism in sociopolitical attitudes and lifestyles.

I think it can be defined in many ways. Having long hair in the 60s meant something very different then now. It was a statement against war as people were getting drafted sent to possible death in 'Nam. Now I think it is more a style or expression and more excepted. I used to have long hair past down to mid back, but cut it for my 8-5. Surely soul and life philosophy is a part of it. Choosing to support local bussinesses over corporate ones, buying organic, growing your own food, supporting thrift stores,or making ones own clothes, political activism, meditation, exertenally simple, internally rich, instead of Man over nature, people living within nature, co-housing, and intentional communities, third parties, hemp clothing, plant based diets, alternative medicine, and so on.

Hmm...long hair and VW buses are both very impermanent. Come to think of it, so are attitude and life philosophy. Soul, however, is the one thing that does not change during life. Sure it may be masked and that mask may be modified, but soul seems to be the only unchanging and universally accepted concrete "hippie" trait. I don't think I'm a hippie, but there is something else that draws me to the "crowd". Perhaps that unnamed intangible is the answer.

More on that later.

A real hippie well respect people for who they are,and they well also respect mother earth..pEaCe

Happy

Intelligent

Person

Pursuing

Infinite

Enlightment
!

pseaking out against the all capitalist or litigious bastards.

I think its an attitude of the heart and soul. I used to think, just because someone had long hair and drovea VW Bus, they Must be cool...That kind of thinking has gotten me ripped off a few times. To me Hippiedom is based on the golden rule. Do unto other as you would have them do unto your....or ...Do as you will but harm none. Be true to your heart. When you encounter something you find offensive, open you heart, try to understand why you feel the way you do, and then follow the right path. (only you can know your truth)...I have cut my hair, and I wear 1/2 way common clothes.(golf shirt, shorts, and sandals)

When A Mommie Hippy and a Daddy Hippy go into the back of a VW bus at a Dead show...

Later,

Allan Greenblazer

Non materialism. Love. Seeking to live in harmony with the Earth and those around you, without feeling a need to conform to societal expectations. Following your bliss. Speaking out for what you believe in. Non violence. Becoming the change you wish to see in the world. And the greatest of these is love.

knowing the importance of bettering one's inner self over and above bettering their material standing in the world

One just knows and is.

well, according to the dictionary, a "hippie" is 1. a young person of the 1960s who rejected established social mores, advocated spontaneity, free expression of love and the expansion of consciousness, often wore long hair and unconventional clothes, and used psychedelic drugs. 2. Any person resembling a hippie of the 1960s in attitude, dress, and behavior.
I get called a "hippie" a lot. I guess I pretty much fit almost everything but the free expression of love and the drug part. I tend to take the unconventional way of doing things and I'm not really into guns, war, or technology. I think I would better fit in with the quakers or amish than the hippies (I'm getting rid of my computer after college, I swear) haha.

Well, I am an "Old Hippy" I was there in the 60's flashin' a big smile, whether it was due to the LSD, music or just the love in the air..... I'm not sure. I do hold to those lessons learned.

I do know that it was a time of Rennaisance, it was a bold step back then. It was about questioning the establishment, their morals, their religion, their way of life. It was a time to create a new way. We were sick of the Vietnam war bullshit, sick of doing the 9 to 5 thing and wanted to expand our consiousness. Some of us did and some not, some died and some were reborn. It was a very interesting time.

San Fran was a magical place, as was Venice Beach, and Old Topanga...I learned a lot, about life.....back then it was easy. It was all brand new. Music set forth a new world then and we bounced to the beat of it. It was a great time to be 16-19 yrs old. I have a heart full of memories and experiences....Loves, Krishna

Wikipedia is our friend:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hippie

I posted this over on the Kan'Nal tribe and thought it was relevant to this thread. Enjoy!

I'm 42 and been part of the counter-culture for most of my life as I was born & raised my first 4 years of my life on a Commune in Isla Vista, CA. I've been going to Rainbow gatherings for over 24 years. Several years later I started going to Dead Shows. But Rainbow Family is my main connection to the Tribal & Pagan community that became my lifestyle. I watched over the years as that culture changed, always redefining itself. Back in the day we all wore torn up Levis & tie dyes etc..
In the mid 80's Central & South America became the new India to us and many begin traveling there and exploring their culture & their tribal spiritual ways. They brought back the friendship bands & Guatemalan clothing that became the new hippy look mixed with Dreadies coming from the Reggae scene. Then some family began visiting Malaysia & Bali and realize that the clothing looked a lot like the Guatemalan clothing and brought that back. Then corduroy patchwork along with Indonesian clothes became the look as well as the Ravers begin to blossom as the Eltronica hippies & started adopting the flared out corduroy patchwork pants & hoodies. The culture started evolving away from communal to tribal. World Rainbow gatherings started getting bigger & bigger. The young hippie kids weren't using the term hippie anymore even though thats what they were. They started using terms like Tribal or Tribalist or the people. The hippies of the 60's & 70's had evolved to the tribalist of the 80's & 90's but they didn't disassociate themselves completely from the term of hippie.

Then the bloody media jumped in and started stealing our ways for the fashion world while at the same time stereotyping us as a bunch of dirty freeloading fanatic environmentalist kooks. Friendships bands started popping up on the wrist of trendy kids & yuppies were wearing Guatemalan hoodies & pants. And you saw bumperstickers like the Peace sign with the words "Back by popular demand" & "The 90's make the 60's look like the 50's", on the back of BMWs & gas guzzling SUVs.

As the 90's progressed the Counter-Culture responded by stepping up further into the mainstream to counter act the negative stereotyping & misrepresentation that was happening. The Artist freaks earlier on ran off and created "Burning Man" which started becoming really popular in the 90's. The Dancing & drumming freaks ran off and created Earthdance. The musician Freaks ran of and created the High Sierra Music Fest & Bonnaroo Music Festival and all the other counter cultural music in between, from Bluegrass to Folk to Rave music to Tribal/World music created their version of the vision. It was also during this time that Jerry Garcia died which to be honest was the best thing that every happened to the hippie sub-culture called the Deadheads (which I am one). These kids suddenly didn't have a band to follow anymore & forced them to come out of their Deadhead cocoons and blossom into the hippies butterflies that ran off in different directions & created the Bluegrass scene at one end & the Jam band scene at another & the Tribal/World music at the other. And others ran off in other artistic directions.

The Counter Culture to me has grown up & is in its young adulthood. Its getting stronger every year. At first we influence them with our fashion which we used to open a door to influence them in other ways. Organic Farming, Bio-Fuel, Artistic & World music, Community building etc. etc. etc. has begun to become more & more common in the mainstream society & this is a good thing. If they walk & talk like us long enough they start becoming like us & that can only be good for Mother Earth & the World Community as a whole, no? The 60's was crazy and most of the negative stereotypes placed on hippies comes from that hectic time. At the end of the sixties the world was changing. A bunch of folks got together at the Vortex gathering in Oregon in 1970. Musicians, artist, craftsman, co-ops, ashrams and all the other movers from the 60's decided they had to find a way to preserve the best parts of the 60's and started planning the first Rainbow gathering. Heres a link of a brief history of the Rainbow Family: www.welcomehome.org/rainbow/...jody.html

This gathering is the pioneer of all the many gatherings & festivals we have today. They were the first to challenge the system, open the mind & preach that we should have the freedom to express ourselves through our music & art, and to gather together as a community, etc... Later Burning Man stepped forward to challenge the system and many more have blossom from the fertile soil the Rainbow Family planted their seeds at Strawberry Lake in 1972. What do all these folks have in common? Tribal Community building, Free Artist expression, Environmental awareness & World consciousness.

Many of them old hippies think we failed and sold out and became the very establishment their grandkids are challenging today. Kinda ironic, no? The hippies of today look a lot different than the hippies of the 60's & in most cases don't even use the word anymore for fear of the old stereotype being placed on them. That is sad, cause then that means the establishment has manage to win one small battle. The word Witch & Pagan have negative stereotype meanings as well. But that didn't stop those Pagans in the early 70's (who by the way were all hippies at that time) from reclaiming the words. We should also reclaim the term Hippie and use it as it originally was intended. To be hipped to whats going on! To be a spiritual & artistic freespirit etc...

Mama Gaea takes offense cause I call Kan'nal a hippie band cause she has the negative stereotype of what a hippie is stuck in her head. She didn't grow up in the same culture I did so doesn't see the history & cultures that bands like Kan'nal were born from. I love Kan'nal and everything they stand for. Their music screams Tribal Community! Their music screams Civil Rights for all people! It screams respect for Mother Earth! It screams out against the dead industrial society that tries to oppress the spiritual & artistic heart of our children.

The Rainbow Family planted them hardy seeds in hard & rocky soil. But each generation tilled that land & slowly removed the rocks & enriched that soil that has produced the rich counter culture we have today. Kan'nal is part of that harvest today.

Earlier today I talk to a Rainbow friend of mine some in Kan'nal might or might not know. His name is Felipe. Those who have been to Rainbow gatherings know him from Kiddie Village. Those who are involved with Rainbow on the International level will know him along with Fantuzzi as being big focalizers in Mexico, Central & South America and supporters of Tribal ways.

Felipe saids he sees Rainbows everywhere now & it makes him feel good. We have a saying at Rainbow gatherings. "Welcome Home!". We believe that everyone is Family they just don't know it yet.

Our vision? I believe Kan'nal saids it best.

One people, one color, one earth!

I do believe I been hearing them words spoken for over 24 years around the community campfires at the Gatherings!

That Kan'nal for continuing to carry the torch first lit in the 60's.

Happy
Intelligent
Person
Pursuing
Infinite
Enlightment

/|\ Gypsy /|\

Anyone who is free thinking enough not to allow the media conjured label to be slapped on their forehead.

~peace

everything!

:)

I like this question....think it really depends on the individual! For me I didn't wake up one day and say "I want to be a hippie" But about 99% of people who know/met me would call me a hippie...why? I have dreadocks, own a 77 VW westy with the name Kermit, have certain recreational choices that society wouldn't do, I love to travel, live on a whim, have lived in 5 states, pick up hitch hikers, carefree, don't mind traveling along, meeting new people, I wear oils, I own long skirts, dislike shoes, rather be out in nature then indoors, I dislike bras, dislike the norms of society, farmers markets over food stores,dislike the concept of $-perfer barter system, etc....I could go on and on. This is how society classifies me as a hippie, but if they knew I was working on my 3rd degree and a minor at a state college, I own make up, live in a apt/house, I pay taxes, own a cell phone and a laptop,etc they might think twice?!

I think the real factors would include attiutude, soul, vibes, happiness, sharing, life philosophy, mindset, to name just a few topics. I wasn't born during the 'hippie generation' but I do get those people to turn their heads towards me and smile or/and give me a compliment or even strike up a conversation. It is a culture that still thrives today, whether some accept it or agree with it doesn't matter, it didn't matter back in the 60's.....be who you want to be!

You create your own reality.
Seth Speaks

Peace-n-Love
Sarah

Well, I think what make a hippie is someone who is down to earth. I don't think it means you have to have dreads or dive a VW bug or bus. It's someone who helps mother earth, loves her, is out in nature all the time. Lives a healthy lifestyle maybe like vegan or vegetarian. I didn't grow up in the 60s or 70s or anything like that but I know a lot of true hippies. One thing I don't care for myself (at least for me wearing it) is Tye Dye. But Some people call me a Hippie..It's because I like mother earth and spend a great deal of time outdoors. I also do what I can to help mother earth like precycling, swapping items, freecycling, vege. gardening and more. I also don't eat/drink dairy.
Misty

How do you define a non-conformist?

Being a Hippie, well it is different things to different people. One does not have to have long hair, drive a VW or do any of the things typically associated with the Counter Culture.

Being a Hippie is a state of mind and way of life, it is how I choose to live my life. Some may agree while others will disagree. I see many parallels between 40 years ago and today, yet I see much more that is different even though, to some, it may seem similar.

This is only a small fraction of what I am as a Hippie.

the ones who see more

and therefore do not subscribe to the consensual bulldung version of reality


we call science/religion/system

there is a higher science/religion and we look for this

it has nowt to do with hair beads and so on

hippie is a state of mind a consciousness

a hippie can wear a suit

i mean he/she looks like a dick in it but he/she can wear it

a hippie never makes an advert (bob dylan did not but iggy and johnny rotten do)

one is a hippie in my book the other two sell outs

i am fifty now and i will say that a hippie knows what is true when he she is 16 and still when 50/60/80

a hippie does not "settle down" with age

he/she still eats feather burgers and soma shakes

a hippie never ever takes drugs or only the sacred weed and hallucinogens not drugs holy foods NO CHEMICALS

and to me the most important THING a hipppie sits on the floor

humour is a hippie thing too

shit my wigwam has just flown off i was too busy stirring me nori

anyway smoke out smoke on drip in drop out dread lock chilum over is this a pixie on the horizon

no it is merlin in track suit pppeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeace


bros and sissssssssssssssssss

A hippie: it's a wonderful specimen of a awesome species of human beings that should have been in this planet since ancient times to show other human beings how to love the earth, to take care of it, how to share, to live in peace and how to keep the balance with the cosmos,,, if they had been here since that time our planet wouldn't be sick as it is now....

Anybody whose values,sensibilities and way of life are the exact polar opposite of those espoused by Rush Limbaugh.(That awful bloated souless excuse for a human being).