I USUALLY DON'T GET TOO FAR INTO CONVERSATION with a member of our Next Generation without dealing with their phobia about being “labeled,” or classified as part of a certain sect or group. In fact, the more awake they are, the less Star Kids like being described as anything but their personal self.

New Kids who are just awakening might grab hold of a term, such as “Indigo” or “Star Child,” to gain strength so they can stand and breathe on their own. For a time, the label gives them a kind of dignity, and it supports the fact that they are not crazy because of the changes they are going through. But soon, they tend to cast off descriptive terms.

“It's normal for younger people to resist anything that sounds stereotypically “New Age,” one 26 year old recently told me.

“The New Age is getting to be part of the establishment now. There's big money out there, and lots of special interests and agendas, too. When my friends and I get together, we typically like to do random and spontaneous things. We label what we do according to the whim of the moment. Sometimes the label sticks, sometimes it doesn't. But if we choose to accept it, and keep it going, the label has to seem real and personal to us.”

She went on to describe her own “clan,” a group of about twenty young people (some married, some not), who gather regularly and share in each other's lives. I asked her about some of the things they enjoy doing.

THE UNIFYING MAGIC OF “GOA” AND PSY-TRANCE
One of the “clan's” most popular gathering points is found in attendance at “Goa Dances.” This experience is a synthesis of spiritual traditions of the East, as well as musical forms of the West. Goa, or Psy-Trance originated in Goa, India, around the mid-1960s. At that time, it served the recreational needs of traveling hippies very well. It still meets many needs in our culture of today.

Columnist Jimi Smith describes this dance form as “an incarnation of trance music with a more complex texture of psychedelic sounds--woven into a kaleidoscopic tapestry. Goa tracks tend to be finished, complete pieces of music, and are therefore less conducive to beat mixing. The beat is a steady 4/4 kick but is often buried in layers of analog sounds. The drug of choice for Goa or Trance fans is LSD and “Shrooms” (psychedelic mushrooms)”

What we are seeing here is a bit of indigenous “tribal culture” that is inserted into modern urban surroundings. Many people of tradition use hallucinogenic drugs to induce states of ecstasy, which help connect them to Gods, spirits, or transcendent states of being. Our young people are strongly feeling the need to explore those traditions today. Rather than living in “communes,” or withdrawing from city life (as many baby boomers did in the 60s) our young people remain in the cities, using Goa Dances as a way of getting a quick “fix” of exhilarating primal energy.

Another popular way young people achieve their “high” is through drumming circles. All over the country, there are communities that absolutely live for the time when they can gather together, on a beach or in a park, and dance to the beat of the drums. Some of the larger circles will attract 100 drummers or more, with plenty of dancers and celebrants to cheer them on. One young Star Child I know cannot keep her clothes on when the drums start to sound. She has no inhibitions about being seen naked, and it gives her a sense of peace and unity that she rarely finds elsewhere. People of all ages can be seen at a drumming circle. I am quite certain it scares the daylights out of some passers-by. But mostly, it serves to connect humanity back to our own indigenous root selves.

I asked one Star Kid about the connections that are formed in people who share an experience of Goa, Psy-Trance, or Drumming. She said: “It's very strong because the connection is non-verbal. You can tell what's going on just by looking at people. You can glance over at them while they dance--and you just know what they're feeling. You're hearing the same thing, you're in the same atmosphere--and you're not self-conscious, or looking around and judging. People may or may not be on drugs, and it doesn't matter, because everyone's having a good time and everyone's completely hot and exhausted.”

ABOUT THE DRUGS
I asked one of my more involved New Kids (who actually resonates to the term “Rainbow Children”) to tell me some of her views about the drug scene. I'll call her “Tabitha,” for the purpose of this article. I wanted to know what the newer generation feels about the dangers (as well as the benefits) of using drugs, so I could compare them with my own time of growing up.

She said: “The younger kids (14-18) prefer “Raves” to Goa Dances or Psy-Trance. From her description, I gathered that a “Rave” was more focused at emotional release than a trance-inducing movement experience. “The younger kids also prefer “E” (Ecstasy), which is a drug that induces a euphoric high.

At the Raves, kids have their various forms of “candy” which they freely pass out to those they encounter. This takes the form of bracelets or necklaces that people give to each other, as a token of friendship. They also give each other massages, because they're on “E,” and it feels good to be touched. Or, they might carry perfumes and essential oils, which they offer to each other as a sensory treat. You hear a lot about kids getting in trouble, because they don't know how to do their drugs, and that's just what the “Rave” scene can be.”

But Raves (or similar venues) can also be a place where a lot of personal exploration takes place. Young people cannot find out who they really are, unless they are placed in an environment where they have choices. This includes the choice to take drugs, or not, as they will. I know that this runs counter to a lot of what the government-sponsored ads are saying on TV. Indeed, law enforcement would like nothing better than to deputize parents into being extensions of their ability to keep the peace. It makes for cheaper government, but it can also alienate the kids, keeping them from being truly open with their parents, or with themselves.

I'll never forget the first day that my younger son spoke to me about his experience of taking drugs. We were eating breakfast at a local restaurant, and I was recounting to him that I had been a “drug virgin” all my life, and I sometimes wondered what the other side was like. I was just being honest in the moment, and it turned out to be a good inducement for him to play “elder brother” to me. Star Kids love that, when it is natural and unfeigned.

I leaned forward with interest as he spoke to me, in matter of fact tones, about the various kinds of recreational drugs he had tried. He told about fun experiences, and he spoke to me about a few of the “bummers” as well. He said that he enjoyed the experiences, but he didn't feel that drugs were for him. They cost too much money, and they didn't seem to get him anywhere.

My son's discontinuance of drugs was a decision that he made, all on his own--just as my decision to stay drug-free was mine. At some level of myself, I knew that I was highly intuitive. One friend told me: “Daniel, you don't need drugs. You're weird enough as it is!” I heartily agreed. I can reach some considerable “highs” through my channeling and meditation. It makes me feel great that I do not have to depend on drugs to get me there. But that's a personal choice, and it implies no judgment on those who choose to use.

Tabitha continues her narrative: “Some people come into Goa from the Rave Scene, and they move from drugs to the dance and the trance, itself. It's like a shamanic conversion experience. The people are older (between 18 and 30ish), and there's more of the idea that 'I've been there, done that,' so the mind is free to move to other things. They can take drugs or they can leave them.”

There is a whole other discussion that Tabitha and I had that day about the “other things” that have come into her life after drugs. We'll have to leave that for another day. As usual, I do appreciate the input that comes in as a result of these articles. Your continued interest in the Star Children is both sunshine and water to help our tender young plants to grow tall and strong. Keep on shining!

© Daniel Jacob, 2004

On to Part Four

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Daniel Jacob is a conscious channel, writer, and a Bio-Energetic Body Worker who lives in the Greater Seattle area. He owns and operates Myo-Rehab Therapy Associates, in Kirkland, Washington - a multi-therapist clinic, which specializes in muscular rehabilitation, stress management, and personal transition work. He has been in practice for 19 years. On 11/11/91, he began working with a group of energies that called themselves "The Reconnections." Daniel has developed a complete archive of information that has come through from them on a number of relevant topics. Daniel and his Associates have been doing research with people around the world, collating data and comparing notes on the topics of Physical Transmutation and Earth Changes. He has produced a 2-Part CD, on which he explains the story of "The Star Children" in depth. He calls it a "tonal infusion for the New Age." You can get more information about Daniel and his work by visiting the Web Site at www.reconnections.net, or by e-mailing him directly at: daniel@reconnections.net.