Rainbows let freedom ring later than planned

LYMAN LAKE, Summit County — "July 4th, Circle for Peace," announces the Rainbow Family's agenda for Friday.

"Join us for a silent circling of people to pray for world peace," it continues on the loose-knit counterculture group's Web site. "The circle for peace starts at sunrise at main circle, and ends around Rainbow noon after a period of OHMing, and the Kiddie Village Parade! It's Independance (sic) Day!"

The yearly peace circle gathers thousands of the alternative campers together in a huge circle, an event that seemed photographically promising. But in true neo-hippie fashion, the circle didn't begin at sunrise. Not even close.

A Deseret Morning News team left Salt Lake City around 4 a.m. in hopes of reaching the sprawling gathering on the north slope of the Uinta Mountains while the circle was still going on. They arrived at 7:30 a.m. after a difficult drive and a fast, strenuous hike — only to find nearly all 8,000 family members were still fast asleep.

At the camp's "Information and Rumor Control!" site, a young man informed reporters that the circle would begin at noon and that photography wasn't permitted at prayer circles because some American Indians believed photos capture people's souls. He said this in whispers and written notes, as the camp was observing a period of "silence for peace."

Peace circle aside, unusual events transpired throughout the grasslands and woods of Wasatch Cache National Forest.

Smoke from smoldering fire rings hung heavily in a huge meadow, around which teepees, tents and temporary wood shelters were pitched. A young man called to a friend, saying he had "the pipe-ee, pipe-ee," arguably a reference to smoking some illegal substance. While most humans slept, dogs played in the meadow's grasses and a finch sang.

A young woman whose black T-shirt carried a message about vegetarianism sat cross-legged inside a large tent labeled "Sanctuary Temple." She held a green bowl cupped in her hands while her eyes were closed in meditation.

The tent's front was covered by a painted Indian mural. A sign offered "amazing spiritual stories from India at dark:30." It also promoted one-on-one meditation, hypnosis to end smoking and a "Bhagavad-Gita Class: Enquire Within."

Sanctuary Temple also posted what it called its wish list, "$100,000 donation to start a spiritual/drug-free farm community of the highest quality."