I recall a guy named Elvis that was the source of some anger as well. In the day I loved rock and roll just the same as hooping. Dancing is fun hooping for good health benefit is not bad. I guess some folks just have zero RITMO.

REally????did you really find these flyers? or is this a joke?

If it's real - I have only heard that word "cult" (in relation to the hooppath) in one instance ...... and it came from a direction where beings laugh and delight in passing judgement and spreading darkness. hmmm???? You know you are doing something right if smiles and peace and joy frighten those who choose hatred over love.

I'm hoping that these flyer makers can recover some piece of the purity from which they were born and find peace.

Oh, and Baxter - you forgot to brainwash me. Me next.

Hope this is a joke.

We really *did* find these flyers today at Weaver Street (even though there was no music and consequently no hooping) and were duly shocked.

However, when we started thinking about it, we realized that animal sacrifice truly IS the logical next step for us.

We could start with a goat, do a chicken just for p0ppy, then move on to PIGS hahahahahahahaaahhhhhhhhhhh!

signed,
Lucifette (Beelzebub's Consort)

By the way, I hooped IN a church today. Just sayin... Right in front of the pulpit.

Let's definitely serve Kool-Aid.

I want the tee shirt! Can we have them by June???

Y'all...Rebecca "ate the goat cheese"! You know what that means...

See you at the cemetery, 2 am.

I mean, what is drinking the "blood of Christ" but imbibing in human sacrifice? Just sayin...

i'm not sure why fundies are afraid of hoops. they should like circles... they're used to talking in them.

y'all might get a kick out of this web site... www.fstdt.com/fundies/top100.aspx

here is one of my personal favorites, "One of the most basic laws in the universe is the Second Law of Thermodynamics. This states that as time goes by, entropy in an environment will increase. Evolution argues differently against a law that is accepted EVERYWHERE BY EVERYONE. Evolution says that we started out simple, and over time became more complex. That just isn't possible: UNLESS there is a giant outside source of energy supplying the Earth with huge amounts of energy. If there were such a source, scientists would certainly know about it. [emphasis added]"

ummm... anyone check out that sunrise this morning?

You're right, the pentacle is a symbol of Mother and Earth...and each point represents the four elements, plus Spirit...

This is offensive to me...I'm a practicing pagan and this is a very positive symbol to me...it just pisses me off that the fundamentalists are using it to spread hate and ignorance...and I wonder what they'd do if someone decided to take their message to heart and start being violent to the HoopPath members...? Are they gonna be liable if someone kills a hooper, in their name???

I know this sounds extreme, but it's not so far fetched...you send that message to the wrong person and it can go horribly wrong!!!

Occult:
Not apprehended, or not apprehensible, by the mind; beyond ordinary understanding or knowledge

(definition from the OED)

My mom thinks we should all dress as angels and just freak 'em right out!

"heretical to an established spiritual tradition"

Um.
Jesus' views were seen as pretty heretical to the established traditions of the day, if I'm not mistaken.



Aside from that, I'll step out of this because I'm not local and mean no disrespect to anyone involved. But if you knew anything about this group of people, you'd think it pretty funny, too, to consider anyone looking in and calling it a cult.

Peace and good humor and joy to you.
~ t

Oh I see. Not a fundie after all...just a standard issue hater. The plot thins.

I know that everyone in our local and extended hoop community is deeply disturbed by the posting of these flyers and by the absurd accusations above. I apologize for any distress that this bizarre occurrence has brought into any of your minds and hearts.

I want to remind everyone that despite this disturbance, this tribe IS our safe space and will remain so. And Carrboro IS our town and we will continue to teach hoop classes and to hoop here with pride. We know who we are and we won't be unsettled or drawn off-track by someone with extreme views and obviously a lot of idle time to spend making infantile jokes at our expense that no rational person would ever take seriously.

Baxter is making a private and respectful request to this anonymous interloper to refrain from making posts that are only intended to disturb a peaceful community. If this request is not respected and trolling continues, the offending profile will be removed from this tribe.

Hi Clint!

Wow, I am inspired to respond and to share some insight. =) In general, there has been a whole lotta hoop drama floating around lately, eh Tribe? What a wonderful wonderful message - let's not shoot the messenger. Instead, let's remain in our heart space and remember why we do what we do best - for the Love of it and nothing less.

Clint, your points are all truly valid, and well articulated. However, all of us have unique roles to play in life and all of it is appreciated because in this life we need balance. Isn't that true? Aside from the thousands upon thousands of sufferings this planet goes through on an hourly basis, the only thing each of us can do is to do what is in alignment with who we are and to offer what we Love most: Hooping. It's not just a fun plastic toy, it's a catalyst for healing on many levels. In doing so we are Creating a revolutionary cult that offers people hope. How? You may ask. By sharing something - unlike food, shelter, weapons, books - that can never ever be taken away from anyone, and that is a tool to create a self-sufficient elevated state of Being. In a world of suffering this is Priceless. And in the process it stimulates economy on a microlevel. How can this affect us on the grand scale of things? Let's imagine, an affordable portion of the money we make goes back into the community for improving the quality of life of those in need. So yes, in essence it is important to share hooping with Everyone.

To borrow a metaphor from a friend, If you had an unlimited stack of $100 bills, wouldn't you want to pass them them out? Hooping can make the most down-on-luck person feel rich.

Hooping empowers people. Hooping inspires us to be creative and in creating beauty we are motivated to maintain peace, and inspired to find ways to connect communities so that we may grow in numbers to help and contribute to the betterment of lives overall on our planet. We can't save the world on our own, but we can save ourselves and that is the most powerful thing anyone can start to do. We all have to start somewhere and we choose to start with Us with the help of the Hoop. =)

Now, I don't live in Carborro so I have no clue what you experience or go thru. Is it similar to the mobs of glow-stick artists at raves? If so, I feel you - but I don't hate. I simply observe, appreciate their good time, and move on with myself to enjoy my space of dancing, people watching, interacting, or whatever moves me. All I know, and this is true for ALL DRAMAS ACROSS THE BOARD / TRIBE, when something triggers a response in us that is not of Love - meaning an uprising of anger, sour attitude, chaotic emotions, misalignment - then there is truly something there for the receiver to take a good deep look at. *wink*

You sound like a funny guy Clint, however to go to the extent to create a poster that is creepy albeit funny, sends the message, or "vibe", that you are truly irked on a level deeper than you willing to look at...why is that? And why hide? We won't throw hoops at you or cover your house with hoops. Share with us who you are...I'm certain the cult leader of HP would embrace you with a good laugh, and who knows, you might find yourself CONVERTED - OH NO! How wonderfully terrible that would be. =}

Allow your humor to carry you thru life as it has carried you through "project Satanic HP propaganda", and invest that humorous energy in something like giving starving children a good laugh to take their MINDS off their pains. How many impoverished children reside in NC? Maybe you can feed them with Love first. Start locally to impact globally. Let's all get out of our heads more often and into our HEARTS - it's there for a reason, let's use it!

All the best & LOVE LOVE LOVE

Dear Bax & Ann,
Please forgive me for responding to Clint this late in the conversation, but he does unknowingly address me and projects that are close to my heart. I would like to take this opportunity to respond to his claims.

Dear "Clint"

Have we met? I am reminded of an evening, almost a year ago, at Carrboro's Speakeasy when I was hooping to live music and someone playfully accused me of being in a cult. I remember accepting a beer and being fairly amused by the conversation that followed. I specifically remember a statement that you were making "yo yo path" t's sporting a yo yo spinning platypus. While I denied being in a cult, I feel pretty certain that my descriptions and explanations of what hoop dance is for me could have confirmed your original claim of cultish behavior even without reference to a leader. When I heard of the recent fliers and cult accusations, I immediately remembered this evening and considered this man/you a "suspect". The yo yo revolution reference in your writing confirmed my theory. Perhaps the person I met is you or another "yo yo pather". If it is you, then I must say, I think the yo yo path t's would have been a little less creepy than the whole pentagram and blood dripping, horror movie approach. I was kinda hoping for the unity of yo yo-ers and hoopers of Carrboro, as we spinners really need to stick together.

I want to address some of your points because they address me. You've done quite a bit of digging in tribe and the internet, but not enough to distinguish hooppath projects from other local hoop projects/groups responsible for hoop events you mention.. While I don't go to
Baxter's classes, I am a long time hooper here in Carrboro, teach classes, and pridefully include bits of "hippie dippy spirituality" that address the symbolism of the circle and spiral, as well as, the healing potential of hooping. I have proudly scattered the WSM lawn with hoops for many years and am the founder of Hoops for Haiti and Hoop Convergence (the conference of which you speak).

If you are interested in having a conversation about cults or hooping, I'm totally happy to because your observations are interesting and poignant. You seem like a witty and creative individual. I have a profound interest in the history of religions and can certainly see the parallels you draw and have already considered some of them myself. In a semester course on "cults and milleniallist movements", I researched a few groups that could be called cults that I had a great deal of respect and compassion for. One definition I stumbled across today states "Cult most commonly means a religious sect organized around a strong leader and requiring beliefs or commitments not typical of other related groups. (Hoop practice?) It can also refer to a following of a particular religious figure or icon (hoop /bird /mandala with lotus?) within an organized religion or a fanatical following of a particular entertainer, athlete, film, television show, or historical figure." I'm sure there are lots of definitions and nuances, but the point is that the term "cult" doesn't have to be considered negative and depending upon one's perspective could be a positive thing.

I teach hooping to individuals of all ages and backgrounds and believe very fully in its healing powers, but I do not consider myself a "charismatic leader" or "disciple" to one. (Well, OK except for the rainbow sparkled hoops I use as they do *lead* me in a variety of ways.) I do think hooping in general or the hooppath could be considered a fringe spiritual movement or cult by some definitions. It is a term that is, from what I understand, rarely adopted by the believers/ participants of a group, but is often labeled from the outside as a political tactic. I hate generalizing all these different communities, but there is often a sentiment of dissatisfaction with the status quo and either an apocalyptic vision of an ending (kinda weird) or a shift into a transformed existence - perhaps a collapsing of heaven and earth or Ascension- in cult philosophy. Is that bad?

I honestly hope the hoop movement does subvert the dominant paradigm a bit ... .revolving people into a higher consciousness. New physical movements can break down barriers and open minds through the creation of new possibilities and new neural pathways. There is a lot of bitterness, cynicism, separation and apathy that dominates the world right now. If hooping (whichever hoop group we belong to) can help us spread a few smiles, increase optimism, hope, joy or wellness, then hell yeh, I am a HOOP disciple. If the circle, a symbol of femininity, inclusion and wholeness can offset the symbols of the pyramid that leave a lot of impoverished folks at the bottom supporting a few powerful folks at the top OR can increase a sense of connectedness with individuals from various backgrounds, cultures or religions rather than division OR can spread joy amidst the pain and negativity felt in this time OR can help remind folks of our relationship with the earth OR cultivate the love of music and movement in a somewhat sedentary society which replaces importance of the arts with standardized test OR can open minds, then I have no problem standing up for a movement that embraces that movement whatever anyone may label that movement - cult, freak, spiritual community, terrorist, religion, circus, revolution. I do believe...

HOOPS for HAITI
I would like to share some of my intentions with various projects as well as clarify that they are not specifically hooppath missions so that Baxter doesn't have to defend them. I can understand that it would be easy to brush off a "Hoops for Haiti" project as, on the surface, it could seem a bit ridiculous to someone who hasn't experienced the magic of hooping on a variety of levels. I have been to Haiti twice. Once to assist with and learn about a re-forestation project and then later to visit an orphanage. Both times I took hoops to share and they allowed me to connect with the kids (and adults) with whom I couldn't speak. On my first trip there, I took extra hoops and witnessed such an amazing response from / connection with the kids. After that trip, I decided to go back and wanted to visit an orphanage and take more. This inspired Hoops For Haiti, the project you mentioned / dissed. While it was not a hooppath mission, it was supported by many individuals who attend hooppath classes. The fund raiser was extremely successful and supported by hoopers and non hoopers throughout our community. The donations and overwhelming support allowed me the opportunity to visit two medical centers; offer construction labor to the orphanage that was extremely run down (50 kids in an incredibly small cinder block home); re-visit the school where I had previously left hoops (the kids were still extremely thankful and offered performances of their skills upon my visit); and funded a craft project that allowed the kids to make their own hoops and share some hoop jams on the roof of their small dwelling on several days. In addition to taking hoop supplies, Hoops for Haiti did raise and donate over $1000 to FEEDING the children at the orphanage. I still receive letters and occasional emails from the kids asking when I will come back and DANCE with them. I hear that they are practicing regularly and getting really good. Perhaps there WAS a shortage of hoops and tools for the cultivation of joy there in Haiti! These kids are isolated in the mountains and while many will send money or stuffed animals or old shoes, few will actually travel to Haiti and spend time to cultivate relationships, play and commune. Having been to Haiti and witnessed the devastation, lack of infrastructure, run down hospitals and nauseating images and smells from the streets of Port au Prince, I would be happy to converse with you more about why I felt / feel strongly about this project and would / will do the same again. Next time, I hope to help with a garden project at the orphanage so they can be more self sufficient in terms of feeding themselves. Next week I am assisting a group by helping them with organizing a hoop donation to an AIDS orphanage in Trinidad that they are visiting. I do believe....

HOOP CONVERGENCE
As far as the Hoop Convergence goes, I founded and coordinated that project to facilitate a network of hoop teachers, performers, healers and *devotees*. One of the intentions in initiating that project was to give value to and space for a variety of insights, skill and experience to be shared in various classes, discussions and jams. There were about 20 teachers there - all of whom were very charismatic and passionate for hoop dance. I think events such as these are important for us to come together and envision possibilities, stimulate our practice and experience community. I do believe...

BIOFUELS?
I'm not sure whether you are addressing biodiesel stickers on various cars driven by hoopers or the fact that Hoop Convergence tried to be as low impact and sustainable as possible and supported Greenway Rides (a fleet of automobiles run from biodiesel). I'd be happy to converse more about the various dimensions of biofuels as social and environmental alternatives or mere propaganda. It seems to me that ethanol may be more responsible for the issues of taking food away from impoverished countries than re-cycled fryer grease, but I'm always willing to learn/hear more. If good land for growing nourishing food is being taken away from developing countries to grow crops to make fryer oil, then I vow to never eat fish & chips again. I know these issues are tricky and there isn't one easy solution. However, if I have the option between recycling french fry grease to run a bus and getting gasoline right now during a war over oil, I'll take the former. I have to believe in something....until there is proof otherwise.

Lastly, the issue of mixing spirituality and commodity is an age old problem. Various spiritual / religious traditions have been critiqued for soliciting or hoarding money. It is a tricky dilemma to pursue what you love and believe in AND sustain yourself in a capitalist society. Merch and products are the way of now. In defense of hoopers who make T's, hoops, stickers or DVDs, no one is saying the t-shirt must be purchased to ascend or achieve salvation. If people come on a "pilgrimage" and want to get the t-shirt, then that support is well appreciated by those who put their labor into organizing the events, creating classes, getting out their in the community to provide a little fun, etc....IBuying the shirt reprezentin' a hoop gathering is, in my humble opinion, better than sporting Nike or PBR shirt? Every financial choice is a support of something and some people want to support Hooppath. He isn't trying to get anyone to bomb a subway or stock pile weapons. He is a charismatic and passionate hoop teacher. People, near and far, love to hoop. I believe Baxter has a following because he is skilled, eloquent and talented at breaking down techniques to help folks cultivate their own relationship with the hoop. I don't speak for Bax or any other hooppather as I am not in their classes, I just speak from the witnessing that commitment and passion at various moments in the past and my own love of the hoop movement.

Thanks for reading and I hope bumping the thread causes no one distress. I invite a personal message if you would like to discuss any of these subjects further. I do hope you can relax into the hooper presence here in town because I feel certain that more and more people will re-visit their nostalgia for hooping in the coming season scattering spiraling joy all over the WSM lawn. I also invite you to bring out your yo yo and "walk that dog" on the lawn at WSM anytime you feel ready.

Peace
Julia
Hoop Devotee

Clint, you are allowed to post here. This is a country that allows everyone to speak freely, even if we don't agree with you. I don't agree with asking you to not post anymore. That goes against everything that this country and Tribe stand for.

That said, I don't agree with you and I don't think you are as informed about things as you believe yourself to be. I would also respectfully suggest that instead of putting your energy toward sewing negativity, instead of criticizing other people's efforts to create community, to connect with themselves and each other, why don't you use your creative energy to create something beautiful instead? Why not sew seeds of love instead of discontent? Why not create the food for Haiti program instead of criticizing someone else's attempt to help and connect? That is where you true power lies. Anyone can criticize others who are trying to make this world a better place but if criticism is all you bring to the table, well, that's just not helpful. Get out and do something. (And try not to get your feelings hurt when someone criticizes how you do it.)

Clint, energetically, we get back what we give out in this world. Your directing ugly thoughts at so many people means you have to simmer in ugly thoughts a lot of the time. Don't do that to yourself! That's the Reality you're creating for yourself right now. You are simmering in your own criticism and angst and judgment. Instead, I encourage you to "bless their hearts" as we say here in the South and gently place your attention back on your own life, on your Self. (And be gentle with your Self also. Bless your own heart. If you are criticizing others, it usually means that inside your head you are criticizing your Self a lot too. That does not help us evolve. It hinders it. Shame and embarrassment and regret are not fertile soil for personal growth. The trick is to learn to observe and learn without beating ourselves -- or each other -- up.)

I also encourage you to look closely at your own motivations and needs and figure out why this bothers you so much. You named off a whole bunch of rationalizations about your actions but none of them feels like the core of your Truth to me.

Is it that you feel unincluded?
Is it that you feel unattractive?
Is it that you feel inferior?
Is it that you feel unloved or unlovable?

Whatever it is, get to the core of that dark place and heal it. That's so much better for you and for the entire planet than spending hours meditating on the perceived darkness in "others" and creating art that channels that instead of light. That is called "projecting" and if you examine it, you can learn a lot about yourself. You can grow from it. You can heal. You can also learn to channel Light and Love, which will not only make you happier but which are good for everyone around you. Nothing heals the world more than healing one's Self.

I wish you well. Walk in peace my friend.

Amen. (Can I say that?)