It’s unusual when a two-and-a-half-day weekend changes your life. Whenever thousands of positively energized people gather together, it’s unpredictable what might happen. My trip to the World Domination Summit (WDS) in Portland, Oregon certainly gave the word “celebrate” a rich new meaning. It was an incredible happiness sprinkling of love, peace and community. It was hectic and overwhelming at times, and joyful and inspiring at others, bringing back memories of another place, in an earlier time.
Since releasing my book, Confessions of a Middle-Aged Hippie, I’ve been sharing with people that we are all hippies at heart. It makes perfect sense to me, yet people often turn up their nose and say emphatically, “I’m not a hippie.” I smile. My hippie is less about a lifestyle of sex, drugs, and rock & roll, and more about hippie as the core values of peace, love, and community. It became obvious to me, that the people who are attracted to WDS, truly represent the hippies of this generation.
Standing for Community and Service
Living the credo of “community, adventure, and service” this generation of free spirits is carrying forward the values the original hippies birthed back in the 60s. Hippies were considered counterculture, revolutionaries who stood for peace, love, and changing the world for the better. Radical for the time. This group stands for living remarkable lives in a conventional life and being of service, as they lovingly plot their world-changing. Hippies were known to live alternative lifestyles and that’s what struck me most while in Portland…thousands of people living and thriving in alternative lifestyles. Changing the definition of what is possible in our constantly evolving world.
Hippies stood for the very values that are currently part of our most popular cultural conversations. Do you live from a place of gratitude; include music and art in your life? Do you value being in community and being of service, fulfilling why we all are here? You are a hippie. Do you meditate, do yoga and continue to do inner transformational work? You are a hippie. Are you a seeker, exploring spirituality and contributing to being a co-creator for a conscious planet? You are a hippie. Or maybe you value organic living and sustainability and are compassionate, showing reverence for all living creatures and the environment. You are a hippie. At the core of who we are as human beings, the truth is—we are all hippies.
Return to the Summer of Love
Reflecting a little bit more, I began to see that this incredible weekend was a mini return to the “Summer of Love.” The 1967 convergence of 100,000+ people on the Haight-Ashbury district in San Francisco, is credited for having initiated a major cultural and political shift in the world. It was a revolutionary time, with the energy and excitement of the era translated to the world in many ways, most memorably, through the music of the times.
This weekend was alive with a smorgasbord of music and collective group energy, as we took over the zoo for our love-in opening part. Seriously. We took over a zoo! 2,800 of us sitting in the open amphitheater Woodstock-style, spread out on the grass, dancing, talking, and connecting, as we were entertained by MarchFourth, a colorful marching band whose outfits are a throwback to the Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band attire. Talk about a joyful celebration!
Music and Art in a Changing Consciousness
Back in the 60s, we lived sharing music and art when coming together in community. Today, we have the power to spread both our individual and group messages to millions of people worldwide in a matter of seconds via technology. And we do.
For me, the interesting parallels between the 60s and now, is actually written in the heavens. Back in the mid-60s, Uranus (planet of revolution, rebellion and sudden change) was conjunct Pluto (planet of transformation, rebirth and breaking with tradition), igniting an inescapable time-release charge of radical transformation in culture and individuals. Before this time, the human potential for enlightenment of “all people” had been reserved for an occasional saint or guru. Back then, this taste of expanded consciousness germinated a cultural seed, giving birth to a new kind of individual. Suddenly it became an expansive possibility for everyone, and hippies were the first to get that. Right on.
People often wonder where have all the hippies gone? They became lawyers who sued for protecting air and water quality and for damages from chemical pollution. They began changing the world by starting companies that produced products that were Earth-friendly, ecologically sound, technologically advanced and socially conscious. Portland is a progressive hub of this energy, alive and flourishing. And it is spreading out into the world through gatherings of people like I experienced at the World Domination Summit.
Inspiring Example of Putting People First
An ageless example of what the hippie generation stood for was now 86-year-old Bob Moore, founder of Bob’s Red Mill, as his deep understanding of the value of working in community was reflected in his “Put people before profit. Share with those who helped you build it.” This consciousness allowed this visionary Aquarian to give the company he had started in his 60’s to his employees, handing it over to them on his 81st birthday. Cool.
For those of us who actually lived in the 60s and were part of this shift in consciousness, it’s incredible to see what was known to a relative few worldwide back then, is still alive and part of the big earth shifts happening now. Consciousness and spirituality are embraced as part of who we are. Yoga is practiced by millions of men and women everywhere daily, and meditation is encouraged for inner peace, the only place world peace can begin.
Summer Celebration
Creativity is the new keyword in education, business, and life. Connection and person-to-person sharing are still alive and vibrant, even in a technological world that is often credited with creating isolation. Many of today’s thought leaders believe that creatives will rule the future. These are all a part of what the Summer of Love celebration birthed.
What a memorable way to celebrate the summer, coming together in powerful like-minded communities. This is the real reason people come to Portland each July, to meet face-to-face with amazing people they can’t wait to connect with. It’s a strong and growing community. It’s truly a summer of love for people of all ages, all ethnicities and all walks of life. It’s a love-in, a peace-in, and a groovy way to spend a few days in absolutely, awesomely inspiring company. May the spirit of the Summer of Love infuse your summer celebrations everywhere. Power to the people. Peace-out!
Images of MarchFourth courtesy of Armosa Studios.
Photo credit: Eli DeFaria
Sounds like a fantastic weekend of growth and learning. So many wonderful lessons to be taken from this and your post is full of good reminders to me at this point in my life where I have been experiencing a lot of changes.
Glad there were some positive points in this piece for you Lisa. The people in this growing community certainly understand that living life through adventure, community and service is what makes life interesting. I also love being in a situation where growth and learning and sharing are the purpose. Appreciate your comment and good luck with all your life changes too.
Hi Beverley!
You know, I often wonder how great it would have been to grow up in the sixties. My parents certainly have fond memories of those times when community was so important to spread the word and work together on great causes, making the world more beautiful. Each day was an opportunity to express yourself, creatively, politically, magically. Now, it seems that everything has become standardized and stale, devoid of life and meaning. But we can still teach our children how to reveal their true selves. I like the idea that education “systems” are becoming more of a hub for creative minds to grow openly, wonderfully.
How lovely a world our imagination can create!
Thank you for your great leadership as one of the nicest, and proudest, hippies, I know! Best 🙂
Thanks so much for your very lovely and supportive words, Renee. I believe many of the principles and philosophies that we “hippies” birthed still live in the world today. They are just maturing and expanding and are available to everyone to live in their lives. Sounds like you had a wonderful set of parents who shared the best of the times we grew up in. Yes, there was magic and creativity and a lot of joy in the communities that were expanding into the world. Our imaginations are truly limitless and we can now choose what we want to create. We can all be part of the transformative times we are living in. I very much appreciate your voice in all these conversations!
It sounds like an incredible event! I love the idea of “living remarkable lives in a conventional world and being of service, as they lovingly plot their world changing.” What a great outlook!
That’s why this event and communities of people like this, are so inspiring, Beth. The energy is contagious and it is inclusive for all. A great way to celebrate life for sure. Being around like minded people who regardless of their age or background have something they want to do. To positively change the world! It’s a great outlook indeed.
Love reading your description of then and now and knowing it all comes together. Somehow the word ‘hippie’ got a bad rap & you were considered immature if you continued looking and acting as if. And worse if you were parenting. It seemed counter culture to not conform. My x and I never quite fit in with the suburban families and took our children to festivals, kept art, music, culture alive in our home and made friends very selectively. My x recently came to NY for a visit and he spent 2 days racing from 1 museum to another, taking it in. I found my community 20 years ago thru transformational work and took on leadership. I’ve always moved in interesting circles and will most likely continue to do so.
In rereading my comment, I ask myself why I respond to your pieces with personal reflections. I know why? it is your intent to stimulate thoughts, feelings, words within us, waiting to be expressed.
As always, Roslyn, thanks for your own reflections on the writings I share. My goal is always to stimulate ideas and to start new conversations, even if only with yourself. The “hippie” era continues to live on very strongly in most of the cultural conversations I hear in the world today. The values are very alive and although back then, they were counter culture, today are part of the culture. Your journey does sound very interesting and I hear how you’ve had a variety of incarnations along the way. Having an ex who you’ve mentioned was part of the hippie culture and then moving to a tribe that led you to the leadership realm shows our openness to change. They all flow with each other and all are a part of who you have become. It’s so wonderful to hear your children were exposed to the art, music and culture of the times while growing up and I can only imagine how that expresses in them as well as adults. I really appreciate that you find my writing a conversation with yourself. It means a lot to me to actually have you express what thoughts, feelings and words come up for you when reading.
Beverley,
Sounds like a really awesome event. Great statement: “Hippies stood for the very values that are currently part of our most popular cultural conversations.” Love how you have broken down how there’s a little in all of us. Thanks for letting us see this event through your eyes. It really does seem like a good time was had by all.
Glad you enjoyed this read Janell, and I do believe we all embody at least some of the hippie values. These are core human values and I see how the hippie era brought them into the conversation, as counter culture as that was. This is one example of a fabulous community of people who are all joined in some common intentions. To experience a life of adventure, community and service. Something I sense we all want in our own lives. Thanks again for reading and your comment!
Wonderful article Beverley. I was young in the 60’s but very much effected by the way of “hippie thinking” if you will. Both my parents we liberal democrats and the importance of equality and kindness very much stressed in our home. As an adult and entrepreneur of 25 years now, I can completely agree with giving back to the community through our business both by embracing our employees and joyfully servicing our clients. My children, who are now in their 20’s have also reaped the benefits of growing up in a loving, giving family as all my 7 seven brothers and sisters are still a big part of our lives. I’ve got a lot to be grateful for.
Glad you enjoyed reading this article Lisa. I think the energy and the values of the 60’s truly does live in us all and kudos to your parents for embodying them and passing them on to you an your siblings. Seems the large family you grew up in is in and of itself like a tribe or community who all share similar ways of being in the world. And now you are passing this on to your own children, so all the values you grew up with in your younger years are being passed forward. It’s also lovely to hear you are giving back to the community through your own employees and your clients. Seems like you were nurtured well and are truly embodying the “hippie” values of community and service in everything you do. Thanks so much for sharing this with us all too! Love the amazing example you are in the world.
I love your writing style Beverley! When reading your lines I feel like being part of that event. I also had the same thought as Renee, wondering how would it have been to grow up in the sixties, even if sixties were different in Hungary where I grew up from the US. Thanks for the great post.
Thanks so much Erika! My goal always is to include the reader in the conversation, so hearing this means a lot to me. Yes, the 60’s were an interesting time indeed, and yet I see so many echoes of it still alive and well in our world today. It would be very interesting to hear how life was in Hungary in the 60’s and how the “hippie values” showed up…even if in small ways. Appreciate your support and for sharing with us all.
I have hazy memories of 1967 (too young, I guess), but the ideas of love and caring are timeless. Thanks for reminding me that I’m (still) a hippie.
Yes, Carol, whether your memories are hazy or not, the values especially of love and being of service are indeed timeless. And I’m happy this article was a reminder that you’re (still) a hippie. Once a hippie, always a hippie and in fact…we are all hippies!
I was born in the late 60’s, so I did not see any of the hippie movement first hand. I think things were a little different in Australia at that time as our population is much smaller and our political views are somewhat different from the US. It is interesting to see how this movement has evolved over time to become a active force in trying to help our planet. It’s all very groovy! 🙂
Thanks for sharing with us, Ian. It’s interesting to hear how growing up in a different part of the world during the 60’s was quite different than here in North America. The movement is definitely alive and continuing to evolve and the values are what is contributing to the big change I believe we are seeing everywhere now on the planet. It is very groovy, indeed! 🙂
WDS is on my list of events to attend – you may have moved it closer to the top with this post!! Yes, hippies are everywhere – transforming the world, holding us accountable, and having a hell of a time!!
So happy you’ve heard of WDS and that this post moved it closer to the top of your “do experience” list! Having been twice, I can only say it is a fabulous choice of community oriented people all with similar intentions in the world. Yes, hippies are still here, maybe even stronger than ever. We are the ones at the root of the changes that are happening on the planet now and definitely having a good time doing it! Can’t wait to hear about your experience when you do go to WDS, Deb!
I truly enjoyed your account of such an awesome weekend! Thanks for giving insight on the core values of a hippie. This was an incredibly inspiring read! Thanks for the mini escape.
Glad this one struck a chord with you Cierra. And as you probably can see, we all have a little bit of hippie at the core of our being. Love that it offered you a mini escape too! And I appreciate that you found it an inspiring read!
For some reason, this post made me think about the Boom summit in Chicago this coming Sept and how many of us, around the world have been “working together” and engaging and never met, will actually get the chance to meet in person. It reminds me that when a group of people band together for the good of something, here being to help each other out while improving our own business is a great thing, that I am glad to be apart of.
What a great example Kristen to see how WDS with its intentions and goals, shares similarities to the Boom summit in Chicago this coming September. You’re right in that any time you bring together a like-hearted community who all support each other to grow, you are living the spirit of hippie values. And it is truly awesome to be a part of this tribe of people. It’s always wonderful to connect and meet each other face to face. That to me is the height of being together in community!
I love how you describe things. This sounds like it was an amazing event. This is the first time ive heard somebody else liken today’s focus on community and creativity to the mindset of hippies of yesteryear. I’m all for massive social change through creative consciousness.
Love how you really got the essence of the message of my piece, Niquenya. Yes, what the hippie birthed in the world back in the 60’s is now showing up as massive social change using creative consciousness. Fabulous way to summarizing it and so happy you found the correlation in this piece!
An interesting and nice blog post. As I was not born in the 60s, I have only read a lot about the period, being an ex historian, and of course know the music from the era. However, I believe it to be cool and good that the concept as such of putting community and people first is coming back on the agenda today here.
Thanks for sharing your own “hippieness” with us all Katarina. Yes, community and putting people first is a very large part of the transformation that is happening in all sectors of the world…from education to business and all places in-between. My sense is you don’t have to have grown up in the 60’s to embody the spirit of what the generation birthed to the world. Appreciate you sharing!
Hi Beverley,
Really enjoyed your post this week 🙂 Every time I read a post from you it always makes me “think”, and that is a good thing lol Thank you for always sharing such thought-provoking posts my friend!!
Love that “summer of love” it really is that way isn’t it? People come together and celebrate, especially on the 4th of July……its about community and being a part of something that is much bigger than any of us 🙂
Hope you have a wonderful and safe 4th of July !!! Look forward to your next post 🙂
Hugs,
Joan
This post certainly is apropos for the July 4th weekend and the term “summer of love” can apply to any celebration in any year regardless of where it is taking place. So happy that you find my writing thought provoking, as that is what I always hope will happen when I write them and people read them. Here’s to a wonderful summer of celebration and of the spirit of community permeating the air! Have a great 4th, Joan!
Funny how people associate hippies with sex and drugs. A lot of it was about love and peace. The word “hippie” brings such a negative thought to some people.
I still find it strange that the word “hippie” to some people, has a negative connotation, Michael. If we really look at the value system, based in peace and love, community and service, than the whole meaning shifts significantly to one that all human beings can relate to. Thanks for sharing your thoughts as well.
Well-explained facts on the different issues ranging from Standing for Community and Service to Return to the Summer of Love to Music and Art in a Changing Consciousness to Inspiring Example of “Putting People First,” to Summer Celebration. Some of the important information that you have enthusiastically thought of aim to let the readers know that a significant number of positively and energized people gather together for a cause,among others. This post also explains on the instances on how to become a hippie which to many has ignored or not aware of the uniqueness of being one. Recollections of the 60s are also tackled with the end view of comparing the events against the current trends. This article also aims to make other people’s lives to experience lifetime fulfillment.
Glad you found so many points that resonate for you in this piece, Lorii. All of the values that hippies birthed to the world are indeed at the core of who we are as human beings. You’ve really embodied the essence of the message of my article and it’s great to see how many of the points truly speak volumes to you and those who read it! Many thanks…
You know, it’s all semantics, and I have always found it rather fascinating how people can be vocal advocates of certain things, yet when you present them with the idea that those particular ideas fall into a specific category of beliefs…They are SO quick to say “Nuh uh! That’s not me!!” as if somehow you’ve offended them for simply re-stating what they’ve already stated, and used a different word!
Overall, does it really matter though? If a person is pro-positivity, pro-love, pro-peace…Hey, I’ll take that 😉
I jokingly refer to myself as “sorta hippie dippie” especially when presenting some of my ideas about food, meditation, health, etc. because here in the deep south SO many people are against a lot of my ideas unless I preface it with a little bit of a joke. However, if I make things a little more lighthearted (rather than militantly against certain foods, for example), then people tend to be more interested in what I’m doing, and they even end up adopting some of the same ideas themselves!
Words and the way we use them…So interesting!
I love this post because it’s really made me think about some new ideas…hm… and that’s always a good thing! 🙂
You’ve mentioned a lot of interesting points when it comes to human nature, Natalie. People can be very “stuck” in their ways and how they view things and often no matter what we do, they are just not willing to change. Until they are ready…if ever. When it comes to the word “hippie”, I believe it has been given a bad rap and many people still aren’t able to see the positivity in what was birthed back in the mid to late 60’s. Yet, people today believe in peace and in love and are pro community, music and art and so on, yet still don’t see those as coming from the hippie era.
Making a joke or treating a subject in a light hearted manor, often does help to loosen people up and allows them to hopefully be more open to new ideas. The real trailblazers often had to go it alone until at least one or two other people started down a similar path to the. When it comes to community, people do like to stay with their “own kind” and for me, that’s where I see possible intolerance and inability to include everyone. The study of words is very interesting, I agree.
I am so happy when people tell me that my posts get them thinking in new ways. That is exactly what I always set out to do, so thanks for the confirmation. My goal is to stimulate ideas and inspire conversations. From what you shared here, I do believe we both have had an interesting conversation about some new ideas. Many thanks for that!
Beverley, Another great post. What I took away from this is to Celebrate! Celebrate Creativity and always look for the good in everything. There is good, even when we don’t agree or we don’t immediately see it. I love how you bring us back to the 60’s (I was born at the end of them though), and how the views of positivity and how every day was or should be a celebration. Little steps, big steps and everything in between deserves to be celebrated on our paths. Community and Service are big keywords for me to; which is why I believe in giving back so much to SCORE and to LifeResults (personal growth seminars). I celebrate you – and thank you for making me think and reminding me that every day is a celebration. Best, Tamara
Thanks so much for sharing yourself so generously here in your comments and also in the work you do in the world, Tamara. Community and service are so very key to so many of us, and this to me is a direct result of the spirit of the hippie movement that started in the mid to late 60’s. And life is about celebrating indeed. Like you say, the big things and the little things all contribute to the whole. We are living in times where creativity is the new way of creating change and it makes me happy to hear how many of us are on this path. Thanks for getting how life is a celebration and once we see this and live this, we can share it with others. I am always please to hear there is a takeaway for people in something I write, so thanks for the affirmation. I celebrate you and all you do as well!
I think one of the many reasons I always struggled in corporate America was because despite understanding I needed to be able to support myself, I didn’t fit into the rigid norms. I always bucked the system but in a very peaceful way. No “disruption”, no hate, just a lot of questioning and if something didn’t feel good I knew it was time to move on. I once gave up a job because I knew I would never be anything more than a cog in the wheel and took another one for half the amount of money. Within in year I was earning even more than the previous job and doing something that made me want to get out of bed every morning. That’s what being a “hippie” was, is and always will be.
You sound very similar to me, Beth. Although I worked in a few “corporate” environments, the politics and the game playing didn’t really work for me. In one environment in the entertainment industry and before smoking in buildings was banned, I had two crazy department heads who smoked cigars indoors! And they wondered why I challenged them to stop and take it outside. I have also been a life long questioner of almost everything and once I found my voice and was okay to speak up, it often got me in some challenging situations. Love your story about standing for yourself, taking a leap and finding how successful it actually turned out for you. I agree that “hippies” stood for something, actually many things and that is truly the heart and soul of what being a hippie still is. Thanks for sharing your own memories with us!
World Domination Summit? I’m loving that! I also love your comment about where all the former hippies are today. You’re exactly right. This former hippy is doing everything she can to help women grow, personally and professionally, to become the kind of people they want to be.
You’d LOVE the event Jackie! It is fun and very community oriented world changers. Glad you enjoyed the part about where we former hippies are and how we are impacting the world today. Kudos to you miss former hippie, for contributing to women to support them to grow and flourish in their professional life! Thanks for sharing with us all. Peace-out!
Ok, Beverley, have I ever told you how much I love your stories? I’m so jealous that you went to this Summit, and I want to go with you next time! I find it somewhat humorous that so many people still think “hippie” has a negative connotative meaning. My husband did, until he met me. 🙂 He’s not going to do yoga with me, but he is starting to see how creativity and cooperation (read: not doing things allllll alone) are two good traits to have. Whoop! He’s turning into a cupcake hippie! ;-). Have a great week!
Love that you husband is a cupcake hippie! The best kind to be. 🙂 WDS is fabulous and it would be a blast to go with you. You’d love the people and the energy of the event. Not sure either why “hippie” has a negative connotation, as the values they birthed are really part of who we are as human beings. And yes, creativity and co-operation are the keywords for the future. This is where all real change will happen. Thanks for your energy Liz and bald you like my stories too. Yay! Here’s to hippies everywhere.
Putting people first really strikes home for me today. It is a movement that should be embraced and I wish more people did.
Yes, Ginny. Putting people first really resonates for me as well. The rose-coloured glass optimist in me, also hopes that we are moving more towards this as the norm and not the unusual. Thanks for sharing that here as well.
I enjoyed reading this blog! We can learn from anything if we pay attention. Beverley, you always share great blogs. Thank you so much and I’m looking for your next one:)
Thanks so much Kaz. Happy to hear you enjoy my posts and that you’re looking forward to the next one. We can always learn something new when we pay attention. It is all about taking an interest in others and seeing how you can be of service to them, I believe.
I find that Summer Love forces my family and I out of the house. We have to enjoy the outdoors and each other. Summer time is a great time to connect with others and give back to your community.
Summer is definitely a time to be out in the world and to spend time with family enjoying the outdoors and each other. I really love summer as it invites us to be among people and to share and give back too as you said. Glad to hear you enjoy summer as well!
Summer love forces me to slow down and appreciate the simple things around me. My son is a social butterfly and now that school is out, he is the one who asks me to attend a town event, buy the balloons, have a picnic. I get nostalgic because when I lived home in Haiti the hippie lifestyle was mostly our everyday life simply because that’s just how it was. We did everything super simple and people always came first. I grateful to have an amazing child to slow me down and remind me to look around and have fun every day.
Your son sounds amazing indeed Webly! It is so wonderful when our children can be our teachers and how we can learn so much from their youthful joy and energy. Our life in North America is certainly has many more distractions 24/7 and what you describe as your life in Haiti, certainly sounds a lot like the values the hippies lived and birthed in the 60’s. Enjoy your summer and may you and your son make fabulous memories together. Life is all about stopping to enjoy the moments and for me as well, summer is the best time to do this! Appreciate you sharing about your son and your summer too.
I am totally a hippie at heart for the same reasons you are – peace, love and community. It sounds like this was an amazing weekend to connect the dots. Thank you.
Love that you are also a hippie at heart, Lori Ann! I think we all have a little bit of hippie in us to be honest. Who doesn’t want to live in a world based on the values of peace, love and community? The weekend and all it represents was amazing and yes it is a great place to connect in so many ways. Thanks for stopping by and reading it too!