What is a Hippie?

If you’ve made your way to this website, then I’m guessing you have an idea of what a hippie is, at least superficially.  My reason for defining a hippie here is to clarify what this site is all about and what you can find on it.  So let’s start from the beginning as we skim over the history and make our way to today’s hippie.

We start with the beat generation that sprang up in the 1940’s as a literary response to the times.  They were counter to what they viewed as a repressive, materialistic, and conformist society.  In the 1950’s the beat generation evolved into more of a cultural movement.  Those involved were called beatniks in 1958 by a newspaper columnist and the name stuck.  Beatniks were known for their artistic expression and rejection of conventional society.  If you’re interested in learning more, here is a great overview by Matthew Wills.   https://daily.jstor.org/how-the-beat-generation-became-beatniks/

Beatniks of course entered the 1960’s and morphed into what we stereotypically call “hippies.”   The word hippies usually conjures up visions of long-haired, pot-smoking, communal-living youth, but deeper than that they believed in nonviolence, minimalism, and freedom and often ate vegetarian, unprocessed food, practiced holistic medicine, and withdrew from society.  Britannica has a lot more information here:  https://www.britannica.com/topic/hippie .

The hippies of the 1960’s have become the boomers of today, but what happened to the hippie movement and lifestyle?  If you search the internet, you’ll find plenty of articles on “neo-hippies” – some arguing that neo-hippies are the modern day version of the 60’s hippies and others bemoaning neo-hippies’ wannabe cluelessness.  Beyond labels though, what you find is people actually living the hippie life without the need for labels.  You’ll find tons on “off-grid” living, lots of van and bus remodels for the nomad life,  some minimalism, political activism, mindful meditation, love for the earth, and the fight for fairness and freedom.  I say these are all worthy of the hippie label. 

While I would love to go all out and live in a van by the river or go off grid in the forest, quit my job and march on Washington or empty my home of worldly possessions and meditate all day, none of those things are realistic for me right now.  What I can do, however, and what I suspect many of you are doing or would like to do, is dabble. 

What can you expect from this website?  I came up with the following categories – sustainable living, alternative energy sources, environmentally friendly products, social justice, minimalism, health & wellness, inner peace, and feel good stories.  They may change as I go along and get more direction with the site.  Topics within those categories might include gardening, lawn-free yards, solar energy, hemp and bamboo uses, etc.  I will chronicle my hippie adventures, research topics, and curate articles and posts others have already written (always giving credit where credit is due and links to sources).

Please join me in my hippie dabbles and feel free to share your own!