Shanti Sena part 2

Shanti Sena – part 2

Some of you folks seem to be looking for hard and fast answers to our problems. I don’t believe in those sorts of answers. How can the answers be simple if the problems are complex? But if folks want to deal with some of this family’s main problems, there are a few simple things to do.

1. Take the time to get to be of service at welcome home, front gate, or in the local towns. When there is enough of a peacful loving presence, the trouble makers go elsewhere.

2. No two situations are identical. Camp in communities, report problems to your local camp and then get the more experienced Shanti Sena involved if necessary.

3. There are no rules. Behavior that is acceptable at one gathering is not acceptable at another gathering. The people who are gathering need to decide for themselves what is acceptable and what isn’t.

4. People who have been victims at Rainbow Gatherings can press charges agaiinst the person they believe is guilty.

5. I suggest that anyone who is looking for a place where there are very strict rules to join the military.

6. Meet people, work as a community. Talk to your neighbor. When you see a problem, it’s your responsiblity to fix it. Circle every day. Circle with your camp, with the gathering as a whole, with the towns folks.

7. Those of you who are screaming about the problems, why don’t you start planning the solutions. Who is going to anti up the $$$ to rent a motel room in the local town and organize teams of folks to spend a day or two in town doing Shanti Sena.

8. I love you. My glass is half full =)

Love,
Karin

http://sbas.abac.com
http://www.sandiegowriters.org

> 8. I love you. My glass is half full =)
> Love,
> Karin

hey

now this is what its all about. Karin has such a positive attitude and burning desire to make our rainbow family better that its and inspiration to me and I’m sure many others as well

peace
jeffrey

In article <39A70A...@earthlink.net>, Karin Zirk <kz...@earthlink.net> wrote:

> Some of you folks seem to be looking for hard and fast answers to our problems. I don’t believe in those sorts of answers. How can the answers be simple if the problems are complex?

you have some very good suggestions and your head is on staight, but sometimes more than one truth can run paralel. for instance having babies is very complex and also almost too simple. i think maybe some of the solutions aren’t complex, just difficult. Changing old habits, or instincts, is one of the hardest problems, and patience is primary.

> 5. I suggest that anyone who is looking for a place where there are very strict rules to join the military.

careful, they might believe you

> 8. I love you. My glass is half full =)

a pessimist says the glass is half empty, an optimist says the glass is half full, a pragmatist says ‘is this enough water for what we need’.

namaste’ patch

Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.

My opinion: take the power away from the “Shanti Sena Army” and restore the fact that we are all shanti sena, not some power tripped camp. Deal with problem folks with healing and kindness, because if we govern them, then we are indeed an organized group, and the legal BS would have substance. Just my opinion folks.

peace, love, harmony,
rev. papabear

Http://embark.to/papabear

Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.

Karin Zirk wrote in message

> 7. Those of you who are screaming about the problems, why don’t you start planning the solutions. Who is going to anti up the $$$ to rent a motel room in the local town and organize teams of folks to spend a day or two in town doing Shanti Sena.

{{{{{{{{{{{{{{Karin}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

I believe it was me that first brought up using a motel room or safe house in town for a base. I don’t think I was ‘screaming’ in my posts, figuratively speaking.

As a matter of fact, I thought that was what was happening, planning solutions. After I posted several ideas, the thread sorta went by the wayside. At least my newsreader tells me it did since the thread hasn’t been posted to in a while.

I also mentioned that folks here are but a small portion of Rainbow and could anyone get comments/criticism from offline family. I don’t know where to start here, I have barely been able to get to a drum circle. And I don’t want to walk in cold and start talking about stuff that goes on in AGR either, w/out consensed agreement from a majority here.

I’m not trying to pull a cop-out and I would like feedback from my suggestions.

Papabear mentions something about everybody being Shanta Sena and I agree w/ him. However, how would forming a small group of folks be detrimental? Just curious, guys, and asking for information.

love/light,
avesi

Ave Guenthner wrote:

> I also mentioned that folks here are but a small portion of Rainbow and could anyone get comments/criticism from offline family. I don’t know where to start here, I have barely been able to get to a drum circle. And I don’t want to walk in cold and start talking about stuff that goes on in AGR either, w/out consensed agreement from a majority here.

Why not?

> I’m not trying to pull a cop-out and I would like feedback from my suggestions. Papabear mentions something about everybody being Shanta Sena and I agree w/ him. However, how would forming a small group of folks be detrimental?

It’s a moot point, I think. I doubt anyone could get it by the council because of the well known slogan “everyone is Shanti Sena” as well as the likelihood that it would violate the very concept of “Shanti Sena” as propose by Ghandi. I for one would block it. Although I won’t elaborate here I can think of several very serious practical reasons for security functions not to be limited to any defined “group,” _especially_ at the Rainbow Gathering.

(The preceeding assumes I understand you question correctly. Sorry if I didn’t.)

> Just curious, guys, and asking for information.

Not trying to be picky here, but are you addressing this question to men?

(Just trying to point out that women are as much Shanti Sena as men.)

-Marty

--- papabear wrote:

> My opinion: take the power away from the “Shanti Sena Army” and restore the fact that we are all shanti sena, not some power tripped camp. Deal with problem folks with healing and kindness, because if we govern them, then we are indeed an organized group, and the legal BS would have substance. Just my opinion folks.

Haven’t been able to participate fully in discussions -school just started, so my focus has shifted to connecting with the 200 teenagers in my classes each day (if I could just bus them to a gathering, they might really learn something...) - so I’ve just been catching bits and pieces on the email side of the conversation....but the words karin and papabear offer ring true in my heart. Love to All...saint stephen

Do You Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Mail - Free email you can access from anywhere!
http://mail.yahoo.com/

Marty in part:

> Not trying to be picky here, but are you addressing this question to men?
> (Just trying to point out that women are as much Shanti Sena as men.)

I asked this question concerning use of the word “guys” of someone about a year ago, and was answered that it is an all-inclusive term now. Come to think of it, I hear the younger folks using it in this manner alot these days. Geesh! “younger folks”...”these days”. Where have the years gone? Feelin’ old.

raindog

Ave Guenthner wrote:

> I believe it was me that first brought up using a motel room or safe house in town for a base. I don't think I was 'screaming' in my posts, figuratively speaking.

Dear Ave,

I wasn’t referring to your posts, but to more recent posts. As long as what you’re doing is what you are doing, that’s all that counts.

Love,
Karin

http://sbas.abac.com
http://www.sandiegowriters.org

In article <39A70A...@earthlink.net>, Karin Zirk <kz...@earthlink.net> wrote:

> Some of you folks seem to be looking for hard and fast answers to our problems. I don't believe in those sorts of answers. How can the answers be simple if the problems are complex? But if folks want to deal with some of this family's main problems, there are a few simple things to do.

Wonderful topic: Keep on complaining, sweet victims! Whether it be a backpack, camera, banner, or even food. I am at my best when I am protecting innocent victims. In fact maybe some of you have these problems when you are out in babylon also. You talk about shantia sena!, here’s a security system for you. At this point I have to say that of course I would do anything possible so just remember that as I proceed into more of my style-extreme writing. Aahh I get a warm feeling all over when I am reminded to think about security at it’s finest-the iron triangle. There’s a topic, brothers-don’t be afraid to “feed the troll.” To exist a teepee of rifles...one long range, one for blast power, and the other for fast eddie. God how I can sleep under such a baby’s security blanket. Add a shared bowl of rice to it and i’m in heaven! Thank you God and the lord jesus christ himself (and unome). Many wise men have commented about the exact codes of procedure politically correct when approaching the triangle; but to be there! To stoke the campfire, and watch the woman prepare the meals. I invite you, wayward souls, to build the teepee with me. In some legal fashion, let’s say paintball guns or miniature bows and arrow or something. NO pussey weapons allowed! But, of course, pussies invited. love and eternal teepees

> I invite you, wayward souls, to build the teepee with me. In somelegal fashion, let’s say paintball guns or miniature bows and arrow orsomething.

Puts me in mind of the antics of one Spiderman at an ocala holding camp at buck lake 95 or 96...

I’d arrived about a week early for the gathering and found myself at buck lake for the first time. I found some folks I knew and added my wagon to their circle. Camped next to us was this staff making beother and his family. He had like eighteen of these pine staves and each had a great big interesting growth...I forget what it was, but it made ‘em look like cudgels. He was giving them away, so a number of our camp got them and some folks from elsewhere around buck lake too. One of these others was Spiderman. He considered himself a hair-wrap maestro and I guess he was okay in that respect.

He made a wrap for his staff, and then for a few other folks staves too. The folks with wrapped staves start following this Spiderguy around. He starts talking about covert ops and security and he and his gang with their pretty cudgels are actually patrolling around with these big puffed out chests and equally big heads although none can compare to the spider. But his gang isn’t big enuf, so he lets on that everybody who has one of the ORIGINAL staves WITH one of his wraps on it will get smoked out with tons of kind bud at the National. Poof! There are only three of us left who maintain wrap-free staves and will not join in his reindeer games. Now spidey has a respectable mob...and mob they are. He’s pumped ‘em up and they’re just itching to beat the crap out of somebody. Working toward the day they’ll be able to do that, they spar with eachother...or with trees. Meanwhile...

I’m on a dumpster run with this red-haired guitar playin’, turquoise wearin’ Irish-Winnebago philosopher whose name is Joe. We hit the big lots and it looks like war. Busted squirt guns galore. Most of them aren’t even noticeably busted...just leak. All different colors and sizes. Now spidey had set up his base of operations right near where I was camped at buck lake...and we always had a crowd because...well, what can I say? We were stylin’ with the victuals, herbals, and general good vibes. We didn’t mind he’d settled in ‘cause we could keep a better eye on him that way. There’s this big oak nearby, and when spideys gang members were “off-duty”, they’d stack up their staves around this tree. So, back at the dumpster, Joe and I are ogling the armaments and this supernova lightbulb goes off in my head and I look at Joe and he’s lookin’ at me and we both know we’re thinking the same thing and we smile. We take all the squirt guns.

Back at buck lake, in an all but empty camp me an Joe are sittin’ with the brother who provided the staves in the first place...sittin’, smokin’ and having some coffee, and waiting. Occasionally folks will stroll by on the trail that circles buck lake. Reactions unanimous. They see the spectacle of the old oak tree and bust into hysterics. As the dinner hour draws near, folks start trickling back into camp. Them who bear wrapped staves take pause. They regard the oak tree. You can really hear them thinking, and not without reason for piled around the base of that tree are scads of guns. Sure, they’re neon colored plastic guns. Squirt guns. But guns nonetheless. Some of the wraps come off. The “patrols” stop. Spiderman pouts. Later, during gathering time he gets in trouble for making advances toward the underage sisters he’s been attracting to his RV with promises of hot showers.

Was that a hipstory?

raindog

{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{Marty}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

I could tell by your first ‘why not?’ that you would be one to block such a group. If you want to help me and make a non-inclusive group that essentially changes w/ need, talk to me!!

love/light, avesi

Ave Guenthner wrote:

> I could tell by your first ‘why not?’ that you would be one to block such a group. If you want to help me and make a non-inclusive group that essentially changes w/ need, talk to me!!

My idea is the following: volunteers arrange to arrive early and set up a schedule for driving through the local towns looking for early arrivals. When one is spotted the volunteer offers a ride to the gathering, a meal, necessities like clothing, sleeping bag, backpack, etc. (possibly funded through contributions raised either here or at the gathering site.) Volunteers could optionally avoid being targeted by the Forest Service by looking and acting like tourists. Those willing to run the risk of being ticketed could go to local businesses and warn them of the impending influx of new arrivals, explain that it’s not the end of the world, and discretely ask for assistance in getting all the new arrivals home (e.g. by watching out for the new arrivals and letting the volunteers know as they are making the their rounds). The volunteers could also inquire about any damages that need restitution and make requests for funds through the magic hat. This is the best I could think of off the top of my head.

-Marty

> They regard the oak tree. You can really hear them thinking, and not without reason for piled around the base of that tree are scads of guns. Sure, they’re neon colored plastic guns. Squirt guns. But guns nonetheless.Oh! Goddess! Oh! Oh! Oh! Squirt guns and cudgels and wrapso’hair! Oh! My!

Goddess yes! Hipstory, indeed! You grok, raindog! m the r

In article <0000827221023.02928.00000128@ng-fs1.aol.com>, prec...@aol.com (PrecipK9) wrote:

> Was that a hipstory?
> raindog

Indeed a right fine hipstory and another nice comment to follow. Please don’t listen and don’t read as I’m trying to slip a little more self rehabilitation and expression right in here between you all. From me to you, a neutral imaginary party who will listen. You know all the story of the squirt guns does to me is automatically bring out of the forefront of my memory the time at the age of 12 when I was caught in a full scale university chem lab riot. There was this guy toting a heavy gage plastic squirt gun from which he was spraying all the juvenile accomplishes with a non-diluted dose of hydrochloric and sulfuric acids. I remmber distinctly the smell of burning flesh coming from yes, my own back. He did wind up getting his judge jury and punishment right there though, don’t worry about that. As your reward for being a good listenner I won’t tell you about that. Oh, I feel a little human again-to be known by somebody!

Marty wrote in message:

> My idea is the following: volunteers arrange to arrive early and set up a schedule for driving through the local towns looking for early arrivals. When one is spotted the volunteer offers a ride to the gathering, a meal, necessities like clothing, sleeping bag, backpack, etc.

{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{Marty}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

I copied your entire post because I wanted to read it three times!! I don’t think I could have said any better and I am saving your ideas. OUTSTANDING!!!!!!!!!!! And thank you for the time you spent to not only answer, but come up w/ ‘do-able’ resolution. Bastante bien!! love/light, avesi

top of page

My goal in Wyoming for Shanti Sena was to do basic workshops/circles every day at Dinner Circle. Due to my involvement with the Front Gate and a lot of Cop Walks, I didn’t achieve a nightly Shanti Sena workshop as I didn’t make it to Dinner Circle that often, but the Shanti Sena workshop did happen a few times. In each case, I announced the workshop/circle while people were eating and we circled in the meadow and talked about each person’s experience with Shanti Sena and how different techniques may help a situation.

For those of you who missed the workshops, here is a short version of what we covered.

Q. How high is too high?

A. We need to look out for our family who may be high and wandering about alone. The Wyoming Gathering was cold at night and it was easy to get lost in the woods. A high lost person can get hypothermia easily and die. So when you see someone who seems to be too high and unable to make good decisions about their safety, either hang with them or get them to a kitchen where the person can hang around a campfire until they are a bit more focused. Sometimes people need to be restrained lovingly so they don’t dance in the fire, jump off boulders and crash through people’s tarps, or harm themselves in some way. NEVER DUCT TAPE ANYONE. Hold people down with strong and loving arms in the least restrictive manner possible.

Q. Neighborhood disputes

A. When you’re camped in your camp and you notice some of your neighbors not getting along, take the time to talk to first one and then the other separately, find out what the issues are and see if you can come up with a solution that meets the needs of everyone. Don’t wait until the screaming and yelling starts. However, once that happens, trying Oming. Oming is a general purpose calmer for a variety of situations. I have been in many situations where Oming made the yellers realize how silly they were being. When in doubt, Om. The more people who Om the better. Sitting down and Oming is less confrontational.

Q. Radios

A. Having a radio doesn’t mean a person has a clue. Don’t put all your trust in people with radios just because they have a radio. Some people with radios are experienced in Shanti Sena, some are not. If in doubt, go to INFO or CALM with a major problem.

Q. Cop Watch

A. See the long post I wrote a few months back on Cop Watch. READ IT! That being said, here’s the short hand version. NEVER CIRCLE THE COPS. Give them a way out of every situation. A scared cop shoots. Get people to sit down and OM. Oming de-escalates the situation. Keep your back to the cops and back our family up (some of us aren’t as good at the peace vibe as others). DON’T YELL! Keep the video cameras rolling. Be the peace we want to see in this world. Don’t interfere with their arrests. One or two people taken to jail can be dealt with by lawyers. Keeping the peace will minimize the arrests.

Q. Lost Kids

A. If your kid is lost, get to a person with a radio and get a description out ASAP. If you find a lost kid, take her/him to Kid Village.

Q. Keeping the Peace

A. Walking. Walk the gathering every day and observe what is where, stop at all the camps and kitchens and talk to people. Get to know what areas may be a bit sketchy before a problem erupts. Prevention is the best medicine. Walk the gathering at night looking for family who may need some gentle nudging to get them to a kitchen with a campfire and some good music. Come to Shanti Sena Councils/Circles/Workshops so you can meet other people. When a situation erupts, it’s awesome to know who you’re working with.

“Karin Zirk” <z...@earthlink.net> wrote in messagenews:b-2dnYNxUo6dIeHVnZ2dnUVZ_u2dnZ2d@earthlink.com...

> NEVER DUCT TAPE ANYONE. Hold people down with > strong and loving arms in the least restrictive manner possible.

DUCT TAPE WORKS BEST IMHO. Arms behind the back fully duct the hands, then the feet, and knees, pull shirt over the head, put them on their belly and some weight on their back. Hopefully close to the fire so they saty warm and safe. Then scream at them they are loser, they will never make it in life, that they are evil, everyone hates them, is pointing fingers at them, and they will be put in jail for life, and the drugs he took were bad, and he is a paranoid moron, and dosen’t exist.

> Oming is a general purpose calmer for a variety of situations. I have been in many situations where Oming made the yellers realize how silly they were being. When in doubt, Om. The more people who Om the better. Sitting down and Oming is less confrontational.

How you gonna “Om” when they are taking a shit in your tent? A stick works better.

> NEVER CIRCLE THE COPS. Give them a way out of every situation.

Throw rocks and sticks at the Cops, by all means. They respect that. They respect your right to be totally brainless on drugs too.

> A scared cop shoots. Get people to sit down and OM. Oming de-escalates the situation. Keep your back to the cops and back our family up (some of us aren’t as good at the peace vibe as others). DON’T YELL!

Yelling is the best thing to do at someone that invades your camp with guns, besides duct tape. Quit being a pussy.

> Keep the video cameras rolling. Be the peace we want to see in this world.Don’t interfere with their arrests. One or two people taken to jail can bedealt with by lawyers. Keeping the peace will minimize the arrests.

fs has declaired war.

> A. Walking. Walk the gathering every day and observe what is where, stop at all the camps and kitchens and talk to people. Get to know what areas may be a bit sketchy before a problem erupts.

Remember, anybody can be undercover cop and watching you.

billy, billy, billy...

are you constipated again? is that it?

On Jul 15, 9:02 am, “Karin Zirk” <kz...@earthlink.net> wrote:

> For those of you who missed the workshops, here is a short version of what we covered.

You might consider printing up some of these things to hand out at front gate next year, maybe then people could avoid LEO confrontations, instead of first reaction type of thing....it’s nice on a list like thos but there are only a few hundred people subscribed and then only about a dozen or 2 posters, doesn’t do the Phamily much good if only 24 people know what to do...

On Jul 15, 8:02 am, “Karin Zirk” <kz...@earthlink.net> wrote:

> NEVER DUCT TAPE ANYONE. Hold people down with > strong and loving arms in the least restrictive manner possible.

NEVER DUCT TAPE ANYONE ??????????

i disagree

logan

On Jul 15, 8:18 pm, logan <logan...@gmail.com> wrote:

> NEVER DUCT TAPE ANYONE ??????????
> i disagree

Me too. I saw a guy who was duct taped in Oregon, near CALM and being watched by J. Greenfeather; he’d been threatening people with a machette and was a danger to himself and others. No option IMO. The next morning he checked himself into the local psych ward, and “we” know he was crazy if he signed his name there...

Sanity

On Jul 16, 4:59 am, Sanity <sanity-cla...@sbcglobal.net> wrote:

> Me too. I saw a guy who was duct taped in Oregon, near CALM and being watched by J. Greenfeather; he’d been threatening people with a machette and was a danger to himself and others.

Duct tape is better than some alternatives...

On Jul 16, 10:51 am, Neo McKennedy <SMcQuig...@gmail.com> wrote:

> Duct tape is better than some alternatives...

And much worse than many others. A little prior-planning can go a long way.

The danger is that so many dingle-berries with alcohol (and other forms of) pumped-up I.Q.’s, are SO prone to the “I’m a Rainbow Cop” syndrome and then proceed to “restrain” “mere irritants” for minor Faux Paxs (sp.)

On Jul 16, 10:12 am, azwhist...@gmail.com wrote:

> The danger is that so many dingle-berries with alcohol (and other forms of) pumped-up I.Q.’s, are SO prone to the “I’m a Rainbow Cop” syndrome and then proceed to “restrain” “mere irritants” for minor Faux Paxs

You’ve seen this? I have not. That one guy in OR was the only person I’ve ever seen duct-taped, and he really was a danger to himself and others. Granted, I have seen the “I’m a Rainbow Cop” syndrome in action, sadly.

Sanity

On Jul 16, 9:17 am, Sanity <sanity-cla...@sbcglobal.net> wrote:

> You’ve seen this? I have not. That one guy in OR was the only person I’ve ever seen duct-taped, and he really was a danger to himself and others.

I think Karen lacks depth.

OMing is cool if someone wants to do it. But I don’t think it will fix the world

logan

On Jul 16, 6:37 pm, logan <ogan...@gmail.com> wrote:

> I think Karen lacks depth.

Karin is good people, and even she knows she’s “not that deep.”

Sanity

On Jul 16, 9:17 am, Sanity <sanity-cla...@sbcglobal.net> wrote:

> Karin is good people, and even she knows she’s “not that deep.”

I dont know bruce ...I think shes “deeper” then you ....plus shes real ...compassionate..caring....sensible...and most importantly accually goes to gatherings and tries to make a positive diffrrence at the gathering as well as in her own comunity.....nah bruce shes much “deeper” then you will ever be regardless of how important or meaningfull or “ deep you THINK you are .....in fact I find you quite shallow...and self agrandising

On Jul 16, 8:48 pm, rainbowcrystalkitc...@yahoo.com wrote:

> I dont know bruce ...I think shes “deeper” then you ....plus shes real ...compassionate..caring....sensible...and most importantly accually goes to gatherings and tries to make a positive diffrrence at the gathering as well as in her own comunity

my name’s blue and I approve of this post...

On Jul 16, 10:48 pm, rainbowcrystalkitc...@yahoo.com wrote:

> I dont know bruce ...I think shes “deeper” then you ....

Opinions vary Gary.

top of page

A couple of important points when we have a Shant Sena situation.

First off, naming names in public is not helpful. There are many people in this world with the same names. We don't want to get a hot headed person all worked up and beat the $#!t out of anyone, let alone an innocent person with the same name.

When threats are made, it's good to investigate and see if we can identify the person. Hopefully, a face to face discussion can be had. If everyone who was a dump ass on the internet was a dump ass in person, our murder rate would quadruple. That being said, we don't want to ignore threats either.

Once we can positively identify the person, should he or she show up at a gathering, we can make sure that the person in question has 2-3 kind calm family following them around 24/7 (keeping 20 - 30 feet back so as not to be an immediate threat). Generally an escort of this sort results in people re-evaluating their presence at the gathering. And while the person being followed is at the gathering she or he will be well aware of being watched and that ususally is enough to prevent any inappropriate actions.

Violence begets violence. Peace and love multiples into more peace and love
(and babies).

Love,
Karin

"Karin Zirk" <kz...@earthlink.ne> wrote in message news:68KdnVoB3fM-mW_WnZ2dnUVZ_vudnZ2d@earthlink.com...

> Once we can positively identify the person, should he or she show up at a gathering, we can make sure that the person in question has 2-3 kind calm family following them around 24/7 (keeping 20 - 30 feet back so as not to be an immediate threat)

If some people were following you 20 to 30 foot back all day, what would you do ?

What would you do if you were on acid ?
What would you do if you were on meth ?
What would you do if you could borrow a gun ?

I don't think anybody knows what shanti sena means anymore. I was at the Colorado gathering a few years ago and Sweet om was set up kinda behind Bread of Life. Across from us was a group of gutter punks with giant bottles of whiskey. They were getting drunk, yelling at hippies walking by, and fighting constantly. The one time a sister yelled Shanti sena me and another brother ran over there and all the other people within earshot acted Luke they never even heard it. We squashed the situation but I was shocked at how few people responded to a cry for help.

-=] RiverMan [=-

On May 18, 8:15 am, RiverMan <scarumcr...@gmail.com> wrote:

> I don't think anybody knows what shanti sena means anymore.

Any term can be abused and mis-construed until it no longer has meaning.

On May 18, 5:15 am, RiverMan <scarumcr...@gmail.com> wrote:

> The one time a sister yelled Shanti sena me and another brother ran over there and all the other people within earshot acted Luke they never even heard it. We squashed the situation but I was shocked at how few people responded to a cry for help.

Keep in mind not everyone is competent enough to take on the role of Shanti Sena and when that’s the case you’re often better off if they don’t get involved. Looking back I’ve come to realize that some of my own methods for dealing with calamity (for lack of a better word) could use some improvement and I’ve always been attentive to those who have a better grasp of peace keeping. It really is an art form.

Chuck

On May 18, 9:46 am, Chuck <livingli...@mail.com> wrote:

> Looking back I’ve come to realize that some of my own methods for dealing with calamity (for lack of a better word) could use some improvement and I’ve always been attentive to those who have a better grasp of peace keeping. It really is an art form.

It is often pure out of nowhere spiritual (I don't know how that could have happened type) magic. I'm glad RiverMan's situation was resolved, and maybe only those people who were needed to resolve it came because that was the way it needed to work that time... I remember someone yelling Shanti Sena!" in Arizona and 100 or so people ran over, and it looked more like a mob scene than a Peace scene. It's ALL good. :^)

Sanity

On May 18, 11:46 am, Chuck wrote:

"It really is an art form." Mapplethorpe comes to mind.

http://picasaweb.google.com/richard.james0/Pictures?authkey=Gv1sRgCNqku4ztyMj0WQ&feat=directlink

On May 18, 5:37 pm, Rick <mulemanr...@dishmail.net> wrote:

> http://picasaweb.google.com/richard.james0/Pictures?authkey=Gv1sRgCNq...

AF'Laaaaack; Quack, Quack, Quack, Quack, Quack, .......

On May 18, 5:15 am, RiverMan wrote:

> I don't think anybody knows what shanti sena means anymore.

yes, it still works. we had a biter-fighter last year in new mex and he was taken care of through a classic shanti sena.

it's been a while, i'm too old, poor and crippled to involve myself in rainbow gatherings nowadays, so this qualifies as something like armchair quarterbacking... but i was once all gung ho, a regular local folkielizer and all about dealing with the some major instances of weirded out shit that sometimes came up at the getherings i was part of...especially around kid village... so here's some shanti sena lessons i learned in the trenches first of all, it means, translated literally, something like peaceful scene. at a gathering, if everything's mellow, if everyone is feeling alright and nothing much is going on, that is shanti sena. there is a marked absence of drama. no one has to do anything in particular about anyone except mingle and enjoy.

shanti sena also became a term for a clique of people who, at gatherings, styled themselves a kind of affiliated crew of plain- clothes, radio toting, duct tape weiding rainbow hippie police force. some of these guys and gals do a great job, others, well.... these people may have sincerely thought of themselves as peacekeepers, but some of their attitudes, imho were pretty obnoxious, kind of a weird mix of biker/hobo/ dope dealer/ ex marine/cop-brotherhood and some of em drank heavily and lived in hotels off campus somewhere... whatevah...they had dramas of their own, but at times they did deal with flarings of violence inside or dangerous situations with the LEO at the gates effectively enough...

then there's the people at gatherings who put their energy into constantly teaching & lovingly demonstrating basic rainbow, at councils, at dinner circles, in workshops and ongoing conversations with the newbies. if no one around seems to know what shanti sena is, or how to shit in the woods, or build a proper campfire, or help in a kitchen or where to put the "garbage".. to paraphrase mother jones, who said, "don't mourn, organize!"...don't bitch; teach teach teach teach teach! *that* is true shanti sena, in my book, or what i like to call pre-traumatic stress prevention. the more you get these teaching memes out and get conversations going among gatherers about how to deal with a crisis if it arises, the more peaceful and calm the response will be whenever somebody yells shanti sena!

shanti sena is like that kipling poem, "if" If you can keep your head while all around you others are losing theirs... *that* is shanti sena. it involves remembering to breathe, and slow your heart rate down. it involves knowing how to get, and stay, clear headed in a crisis. and knowing how not to do *anything* until and unless you have effectively calmed and centered your own damn self, until you know as much about the situation you're addressing as it is possible to quickly assess,& until you're sure that you're coming from a place of alert, calm strength and compassion, and a fair degree of certainty that you can handle whatever's happening when something out of hand and really threatening is potentially unfolding. if you can't calm down, if you feel at all overwhelmed by the swiftness with which a violent situation is escalating... then it is quintessential shanti sena to get your overwhelmed ass out of the way... but if you're cool, and you decide to stay.... it helps if there's more than one of you, best if there are enough strong people to contain a really violent individual without hurting him (or her). once contained, you need enough gentle people to keep the vibe around such an action as calm as possible. not too many people, at that point! . people who can stay cool and focused are key. then you have some decisions to make. is this someone who can be reasoned with, talked down, who may, once their grievance is understood and addressed, be willing to calm down and stay peaceful of his own volition? if that's the case, peer counseling can do wonders to diffuse a tense, angry, but essentially rational human being who actually *wants* to find a solution to whatever set him off.

or are you dealing with a crazy? i'm sorry to be so blunt, but often shanti sena situations arise when someone at the gathering is, for one reason or another, experiencing a psychotic break, is operating on aggravated sleep dep, rampant ptsd and/or spasms of pure inexplicable violent impulse...& i've seen sad, bad things happen under these conditions... people trying to trail a raging psychotic & discretely babysit him without impinging on that person's freedoms get to watch a terrified, often violent and frighteningly delusional poor soul battle his demons for days on end, becoming weirder and more at risk as the days tick by of hurting himself or others... i know this seems like a cop out, but in my experience, i feel to this day we might have spared many a poor psycho and all those who got caught up in the babysitting movies a lot of anguish if we had just quickly secured & duct taped em, got to phone quick and got a parent or sibling or someone to come get their sick puppy & take him home or some other mellower place than a gathering for a real crack up...

that said i know a few gifted healers who really do know how to help a body navigate the terrifying inner landscape of psychosis. there are shanti sena shamans, soul retrievers, spirit world energy workers, who understand intuitively what it's going to take to get a freaked out freak through the worst of it, how to help him break down the old disfunctional precepts of his consciousness, how tto guide lost souls til they break on through to the healing side of their nervous breakdowns. if you can do that, boy... that's great... more power to you. you know who you are, and you are a boon and a blessing to any gathering. then again.. if you're one of those sorts who merely wishes you were an aikido master or a cop or a magical healer, please take your woo woo bullshit as far from the crisis as possible and go chant and shake your fake honky indian yaya sticks over there... please! shanti sena! keep the scene peaceful! over that-a-way!

On May 18, 5:15 pm, medicine socks <medicineso...@gmail.com> wrote:

> so here's some shanti sena lessons i learned in the trenches first of all, it means, translated literally, something like peaceful scene. at a gathering, if everything's mellow, if everyone is feeling alright and nothing much is going on, that is shanti sena.

LOL! That was beautiful, insightful, and obviously took a lot of time and love to write. THANK YOU!

Sanity

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