Fifty years on we have a chance to regroup, get back to basics, find our tribe. 1973 organiser Graeme Dunstan said, way back then, that ‘Art equals life equals politics equals culture equals the way you live’.
We need to once again seek to be harmonious with our planet and with each other. Learn how to have deep conversations and practise deep listening. For ’73 Aquarians, the threat of an apocalypse was ever-present, and so to avoid it, it had become necessary to construct Utopia – away from cities – to try out ideas to become more self-sufficient in all ways. From food to medicine, clothing, and even our own ceremonies.
The construction of Utopia is still underway. Many paths have been walked and experimented upon. Many lessons learnt from what worked and what did not. With this year marking the 50th anniversary of Aquarius we will revisit many of the things that were birthed from the early days, for example: there are 70 intentional communities in the Northern Rivers that grew from shared ideals to live more in-tune with the land and with our own tribes; the alternative energy Rainbow Power Company; organic farming and agriculture; homebirth and midwifery care; self-knowledge and the idea of being a healer to oneself. All these innovations took place within a steady mix of activism in many areas, including saving forests while working with our Indigenous brothers and sisters, anti-nuclear protests, banning CSG, drug law reform and many other causes worthy of concerted action.
Over ten days in May the event will explore the many ways that things come to pass – each day has a theme, plus there are bands such as Cigany Weaver and Tenzin Choegyal & Cye Wood. See the website for a full program of events.
Friday 12
First Nations Day, welcoming of Elders and Aquarians.
Saturday 13: Spirit. Let there be light.
Sunday 14: Holistic health, healing and homebirth.
Monday 15: lternative energy, building and agriculture.
Tuesday 16: Politics, activism and the environment.
Wednesday 17: Art and artists – life is art.
Thursday 18: Community – let’s live together.
Friday 19: Honouring elders, and remembrance, death and dying.
Saturday 20: Youth day – for the young and young-at-heart.
Sunday 21: Renewal and peace day.
‘Valiant and untamed were we/ When we planted the Aquarian tree’. Graeme Dunstan, original organiser of the ‘73 festival rephrasing the poem The White Magnolia Tree by Helen Deutsch.
Aquarius 50th Celebration runs May 12 to 21.
FB: Nimbin Aquarius 50th | Insta: Nimbin Aquarius
Radio: NimFM Fridays 5–7pm, listen live or stream online. www.aquarius50.com.au
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