Do you care about the future of the planet and all life?
Do you actively simplify your life to reduce your impact and aim to be zero-waste?
Do you grow (some of) your own food and/or support sustainable local food producers and fair trade suppliers?
Are you into permaculture, urban farming and community food systems?
Do you connect with your community and neighbours and do projects together for community and environmental benefit?
Do you wear simple clothing, possibly home-made, second-hand, or made ethically using natural fibres?
Could your wardrobe of clothes easily fit into a backpack - shoes included?
Do you like going barefoot and connecting with nature?
Do you use natural personal care products and possibly even avoid wearing makeup?
Did you build your own eco-home, or live simply surrounded by natural materials?
Do you create your own flexible work based around your passions and interests with an eco-social focus?
Do you find ways to not let money be the key driver in your choices and decisions?
Do you love independent and world music, and attend music festivals?
Do you homeschool/unschool/worldschool, and/or immerse your kids in nature and community?
Do your life goals include wanting to make a positive contribution to society and to leave the world in a better state than how you found it?
If you relate to more than half of the above, you possibly could have already been labelled a 'hippie'. I reckon though, the real hippie days are long gone.
It could be said that a lot of the actions and values I've described above have been influenced by the radical hippie movement of the 60s and 70s - living and working for social change, peace, freedom and the environment - but there have also been many other philosophies, discoveries and ideas that have contributed to this way of thinking and living over the past 40 years too.
Am I a hippie?
I relate to all of the above points, but I don't identify as a hippie (I'm too young). I particularly try to avoid the hippie tag because of the negative connotations that typically come with it - I don't smoke or drink or have never been into drugs. I try to avoid other tags too - it becomes to easy to be parcelled up and dismissed. Tags and labels seem to close people's minds to new possibilities and interesting ideas that are worth exploring.
I know I hold a bit of fear of being labelled a hippie. Considering where I live and what I do, I am an easy target. A recent article about my way of life had the title "Earth Mother, Eco-teacher". I admit I shuddered when I first read the words 'Earth Mother' describing me. It felt like a hippie label, but when I read the article, I realised the title had been given with much respect not condescension. I think in that moment, I let go of some of my fear and I felt encouraged that this way of life is seen as a positive aspiration.
I love my work, particularly the Nature Kids and permaculture programs I run for kids and the community.
I am not trying to drop out of society. I have my whole life been dropping into living a positive, healthy, community-connected, earth-connected way of life. This feels purposeful to me and brings me a deep sense of joy and meaning. I live in an ecovillage, grow food, teach permaculture, live simply, dress simply, homeschool my kids... Does that make me a hippie? No. I perhaps embrace a number of hippie culture qualities - love, peace, care for the earth, care for people, living simply and ethically - but I'm just me - me in relation to my community and environment.
Relaxed and happy - barefoot in the garden spreading compost, mulching and planting.
Labels are a great way to be boxed, dismissed and/or marketed to - best if possible to be avoided! Be free, be open, live well, love life, connect and make a positive contribution.