Still moving beyond the drug culture

[djjeffe]

Greetings all...

Some of you reading this may remember reading a message I posted in the Summer of 2001. It was entitled Moving Beyond the Drug Culture. It expressed my feelings about the drug culture within the rave scene and how I viewed the rave culture as a vehicle for heightened awareness and vibration within our collective families. I expressed how the drug culture had affected me and how certain drugs had helped to open windows within my realty, but eventually after repeated use I found that my windows of perception were becoming distorted and cloudy. I still believe to this day that the dance culture is a vehicle for enlightenment but that the drugs in the scene are not helping it. In my eyes they are holding it back.

I realized that my motivations for posting the message last Summer were based in feeling somewhat alone. Most of the people I associated with in the dance culture at that time were fully immersed in the drug culture, and to this day still are. Thanks to everyone who responded in such a positive way. It gave my hope that there are more of us out there. Since then I have moved to Oregon and have met a wonderful family of people here that are sharing in that perspective. I dont feel alone anymore and I feel all there is to do now is continue to reach out and find others who feel the same...

Recently I took part in assisting in the production of an outdoor camping event called DREAM YOUR OWN DREAM in Oregon. It was the sequal to last year's Dance Your Own Dance. Both of these events were amazing and were put together with the purest of intentions. However this year there seemed to be alot of dark energy present at the event. There was a footbridge connecting the fields of music and it seemed to become the hangout for all the shady people trying to off their goods. We felt they were completely disrespecting the intentions of the gathering which were clearly stated on the flyer. A feeling of frustration came over many of us involved in the production. Our good intentions and positive prayers alone could not detour them from coming to the event and basically preying off other people's energy. I know this scenario is not uncommon and has probably frustrated many promoters out there with the purest of intentions. I for one am just plain fed up with these people and am tired of them bringing such a negative element to our gatherings. Im tired of witnessing the repeated irresponsible drug use and overdoses. I've seen enough of it to the point that my pateince is running out. The dilema we face here though is a tough one, one that we have not found a working solution for just yet. Many collectives have become exclusive to deal with this very problem, smaller groups of friends having small gatherings not open to the public. This may actually work very well but at the same time we are exluding people which may seem contradictory to why we have raves. Isnt the purpose to come together, and experience a sense of unity and oneness with oneanother without judgement? Well, what do we do about this? I am open to any and all ideas. Should we hire big thugs to go around and take away their goods? Should we have a zero tolerance for disrespectful flagrant drug dealers and users? Or should all these collectives that are feeling the same way we are network with eachother and organize some kind of conference? This was an idea I had last Summer and I believe perhaps its time has come... It would be nice to see an event like DYOD next year be comprised of many different families and collectives from all over the west Coast and have the tickets distributed exclusively through those families...

So just to add to the post, I want to communicate that I do not pass judgement on anyone who uses the chemicals. I recognize that everyone is where they are and deserves nothing but our compassion. I am just expressing my persoanl feelings of frustration over something I know I cannot control, for the drugs will always be a part of the dance culture. However I do have a vision that I know is being shared by many that the culture itself ready for another evolutionary leap. I believe it must start with the vision carriers to link up and meet eachother and start dialouges. Our vision is a sacred one and I consider our family here in the Northwest as sacred as well. Our gatherings are like our church. Could you imagine if you were running a buddhist temple, and decided to host a community gathering and a bunch of drug dealers showed up? Well, that may not be the best metaphor but I think it illustrates the point I am trying to make...

To all who are reading this, if you really feel what I am doing here please contact me. I am only interested in hearing from people who truly resonate with this message. I know I may get flamed by some who are still immersed in the drug culture, but I am interested in hearing your perspectives too. Many would probably say that it is unrealistic to move beyond the drug culture within the dance community. But I know that there are many of you out there that resonate with this message, and those are the ones I am interested in connecting with. Those that have a genuine interest in the raising of our collective vibrations, and healing the planet through tribal dance.

I look forward to hearing from you....& if you know anyone who may want to read this please forward....

Much Love and Hope!

Jeffe

djjeffe@msn.com

[blueferret]

It is sad, and I have nothing against people deciding to chemicaly augment them selves, but it just may be time for promoters to have designated people walking threw the venue kicking dealers out. I was at DYOD this year and was there last year. This year was far worse and it saddened me the whole time I was wondering why the dealers on the bridge werent being kicked out of the gathering. There will always be a drug scene in our culture. It cant be helped. Just like there is a drug Scene at all music events, however maybe it is time that we like concerts and other music festivals, start having some personel to kick dealers out of our events. Just by talking about the problem we will never fix it my 2 cents.

[Layla]

Right on! I couldn't have said it better....

This was seriously the one of the only flaws I noted at DYOD this year and it was in no way the fault of the promoters. Of course, they could have taken the action to have these individuals removed, but I think their intention was to hope people would take individual responsibility and make a decision not to bring that element to this gathering.

One thing that occured to me afterwards was a possible simple deterring method: if someone is brainless enough to advertise the sale of drugs to total strangers in a public place, then they shouldn't mind having their picutre posted in a public place as well... on the internet! Next time a complete stranger advertises the sale of drugs to me, I'm gonna snap a picture of them and start a photo gallery that would be easily accessable to everyone INCLUDING law enforcement.

Sound like a plan?

L

[djjeffe]

That is such a brilliant idea! My goodness! You go girl!

[Seuqinhcet]

I certainly hope the first dealer whose picture you take breaks your camera.

[Kosmicdog]

Dont just walk by and do nothing. Sraight peddling to strangers is wrong. Not to mention realy dangerous for both themselves and the customer.

I think if a punk ass with a sack of pills is annoying you, annoy them back. Point at their head and loudly shout "bunk!! BunK!!". Take up their time. Ask how much 500 pills would be. They never know :D

[Kosmicdog]

Originally posted by Velo


Sound like a plan?

L

No. it sounds like the beginnings of abuse of power. taking pictures of people supposedly selling drugs with no proof would be wrong. I know you, Layla, have seen pills being passed to friends. Is this "dealing"? At what point aren't you a dealer anymore? If you pick up five pills for somebody for 80$ are you just picking something up, like a six pack? Or do you turn into a "dealer" when you decide running across town is worth 20$, and charge tham 100$?

It's a very thin line to run across. We already know who the obnoxious dealer(s) are anyway.

[Kosmicdog]

I think everyone is trying to justify our lifestyle.... Yes there are drugs present in almost all highschools, yes a rolling stones concert wil be full of aging yuppies smoking weed, and theres a good chance someone will offer you SOMETHING on the way to the bus.

But you know what?

You are completely fucking fooling yourselves if you don't beleive rave culture is synonmous with drug culture.

big ups to the 12% of us that dance sober.

[Layla]

Originally posted by Kosmicdog


No. it sounds like the beginnings of abuse of power. taking pictures of people supposedly selling drugs with no proof would be wrong. I know you, Layla, have seen pills being passed to friends. Is this "dealing"? At what point aren't you a dealer anymore? If you pick up five pills for somebody for 80$ are you just picking something up, like a six pack? Or do you turn into a "dealer" when you decide running across town is worth 20$, and charge tham 100$?

It's a very thin line to run across. We already know who the obnoxious dealer(s) are anyway.

I know.... this was acutally a kind of fantasy scheme that I concocted after comming home from DYOD. It really has too many flaws, including the burden of proof or false accusations that it would generate, and I know that it would bring more anger than do any good... I put it out there to see a what the response would be, and its pretty much what I thought, both positive and negative.

The senarios you listed aren't what I was imagining targeting. I was pretty much thinking of exclusively the "anonymous" dealers who sell to strangers... the so called "obnixous" ones. People are going to use chemicals. Period. There's no sense in making it more dangerous than it already is, and the anonymous dealers are contributing to the problem in multiple ways:

1) They get away with selling adulterated or bunk shit. For example, I heard one complete moron bragging loudly at DYOD how she sold someone catnip as bunk weed. This is clearly a pretty harmless example, but we know there are much worse and even fatal examples of adulterants.

2) They cause our scene to have the "crack house" bad rap that it gets. News of undercovers busting large numbers of these people at events only reenforces to lawmakers and society at large their perceptions of our culture as drug based rather than music based. They are the number one contributors to the downfall of our scene.

3) They attract a crowd that comes to parties for drug hook ups and not music. True, lots come for the combination of the two and many stay and become (mostly) sober fans of the music, so this is kind of a double edged sword... but my concern previously is mostly about safety, and having groups such as Dancesafe can protect people like this, if they choose to use these services AND if dancesafe is allowed to operate and test pills.


But you know what?

You are completely fucking fooling yourselves if you don't beleive rave culture is synonmous with drug culture.

big ups to the 12% of us that dance sober.


Yes, this is true Sondr and I don't think Jeffe or myself really deny that, but we see a problem with this "advertisement" style of dealing at parties to complete strangers. I do like your idea though! Harassment can be much more effective than false accusation.....

[.-=PSYLON=-.]

...It seems to me that a lot of dance music culture Kind of goes hand in hand with perception altering substances (Big beats, lazer shows, glowstix, etc.) maybe you could try adding elements to a show that arent necessarilly Drug related. I notice E-tards / stoners seem content to just sit around. maybe try and organise a "Bring your own Nerf gun" night, or something to that effect. something physical that would encourage them to "jump up" also, maybe you could print it on your flyers that your trying to promote a clean atmosphere, so those of you planning on bringing your beer bongs and/or crack pipes can stay home. I hope that helps !!!!

Its almost a shame I dont live in P-town. it sounds like you guys have a cool thing goin on !!!
:D

[djowns]

Your 100% right, those kids at DYOD peddling shit at the bridges were cause for sketch. It's also quite dangerous for the scene. Even the most ammatuer undercover police officer would have made more arrests in one day than all of eugene police forces arrests for the year probably.

... but on another note whats wrong with drugs? It's only naturual to search for an enlightened state of being. Looking at little kids spinning around in circles until they fall over all dizzy? An in-nate search for chemical bliss?

I think this scene and the entire country as a whole would benefit from legalized drugs, because nothing is stopping them and the un-realistic goals of the goverment aren't making it any easier... they are just making criminals out of the innocent

$.02 for your head

[djjeffe]

We know that it is unrealistic to have a large event like DYOD and expect therer to be no drug dealers present, or expect some degree of negativity to be present. We just didnt anticipate that there would be so much of it and many of us could definitely feel the vibe of the party being bogged down by it. It dissapointed us because we had invested so much of our love and prayers to attract a good crowd. This was a big learning experience for us and a frustrating one as well as we had hoped the overall vibration of the event would be better than it was, but it was what it was and we have to just put our minds together and come up with a working solution. This is why I am reaching out to gather in as many suggestions as we can. We would like to see a positive change in the future......

Jeffe

[NeighborGirl]

I agree that there are a lot of people that go to raves for the drug hook ups and it's really sad. Everytime I tell someone that I'm a raver or party kid they automatically assume that I do drugs. About the only way I can think of to half way solve problems like this is Canines ;) but like that's even reasonable... If a party is posted as no drugs or alcohol, then it should be kept that way and it's rules invorced. I was so annoyed that I couldn't walk out of my tent 5 feet without being offered drugs at this years DYOD. I'm glad that I didn't bring my little cousins... I've started calling that party Do your own drugs..... that's how bad it was. But there's some in every crowd, and if they want to bring in that kind of vibe to a party then they should just be kicked out. Don't get me wrong some people who do dance while under the influence are pretty good. But still it gives a lot of us bad raps. and they should be a little bit more responsible abou tthere actions and think of the impact that it may have on others.

=NG=

[tekkno30]

last time i checked drug dealing was an occupation just not a legal one
but i think it would fall under the job catagory....pharmaceutical industry
lol

[Gaenisa]

I hate to be the voice of opposition..

But hey kids this is always going to happen..

No matter what you do or how you try there is always going to be someone selling drugs and someone there to buy them. This is their choice and not yours, I do agree that perhaps it can make things look bad for everyone else, but this is just part of the "scene" and you are going to have to ignore it, for tis not going away. We can all stand on our soap boxes and preach about it but it will not make one bit of difference. Simply know in your mind the choices that you make and leave the other people to deal with the tiny voices in their minds that tell them this is bad.

Gaenisa

[djjeffe]

This is a message that was posted on a Vancouver BC site by Luna. I think this is a good description of where I am coming from, and perhaps adds a deeper perspective to my post. Please realize the intial post was written out of a sense of frustration and is not complete. I think Luna did a great job of helping me fill in the gaps of my own argument...

Much Love

Jeffe


Having just met Jeffe (from Oregon) I am getting the sense from his vision
that although he has found a lot of value from entheogens, that something
within his being has been asking him to trancend the shadow aspects of drug
culture into something that is sustainable and evolving.

I myself have also found much benefit, inspiration, and education from my
"trips"....but I feel very aligned with Jeffe in the sense that something is
also calling me to step beyond the dependency of these medicines for my
evolution....and this is where the even harder learning has come.

Getting to higher states with out the use of ethneogens or psychedelics
takes a whole lifestyle and perspective change...not just dropping a pill.
It calls me to experience these states on an ongoing basis...this is hard
when you are tired, burnt out, frustrated, depressed, etc. But still I am
called to release these things and mantain the states of awareness I am
aiming for. It takes practice, focus and awareness.

If we are to take our visions and make them permanent parts of the reality
we are creating...I do not see it being very sustainable to be taking drugs
every weekend. I challenge my friends and family to step out of the
illusions and maintain these states we all love "naturally".

But although I know I am not alone in this calling...maybe this is not the
vision in this community...I do not judge any of you but only offer love,
compassion and friendship.....

I do not think that Jeffe is trying to push away the darkness...he is only
trying to connect with folks that are on his similiar wavelength. I went to
the event in Oregon and can say that almost more than our community did they
open the doors to ALL!!! There were folks of all ages, styles, and
shapes....and the shadow side of the "RAVE" community was very well
represented even though the organizers were amazing beings of lighte with
only the purest and highest intentions. I was actually very inspired by the
openess I found at the event..and at the diversity of folks that were
there. In our community here we are actually quite sheltered and often
don't try to inspire "candy ravers" to attend our events...so who is open???

I think that Jeffe is reaching out for community folks like us who are into
evolving and intentionalizing our experiences and visions. I feel it
important to bubble underground our beauty and lighte, get it to the highest
vibration possible, then to let it erupt to bless all around. There is
strength in numbers.

love and ecstasy to all

Luna

[Kosmicdog]

Originally posted by NeighborGirl
I agree that there are a lot of people that go to raves for the drug hook ups and it's really sad.

Anyone who goes to a rave just for drug hookups is retarded. You are going to either get totally ripped off or pay twice as much as you would normally. Same goes for people who go to a party strictly to sell drugs. You WILL get undercovers watching you, following you to your car and writing down your license plate #'s. You will also get people following you who will stick a gun to your head and take all your $ and remaining drugs at the end of the night.

[Seuqinhcet]

I've never understood why so many people on this board are such goodie-goodies when it comes to drugs. Boo-hoo...some people like doing drugs at raves...if you don't like it don't do it.

(that and I swear if someone shot some kinda nerf weapon at me for rolling at a rave I'd stuff that foam toy so far up their ass....)

[Brooklynn]

this last post makes me mad. I think that in my case and the case of a lot of the other goodie goodies, we have already been there done that and look where it has gotten us.
I can appreciate the need to come together as a community and not have the shady drug factor even though two years ago I would have never gone to a party sober. The goodie goodies have a different frame of mind. I know I sure do.

[la.chica.de.verano]

**bump** because i think everyone can learn from what a beautiful soul like Jeffe has to say.

yes, it is someone'schoice if they want to use drugs..but, when it is the intention of the promoter to have a drug free, more spiritually focused event it is blatant disrespect for that kind of behavior to occur.

love
jennifer

[sothis]

ugh i just realized you double posted this as well!!!!!

>_<