The Summer of Love…All the Time 365/24/7 by Rev. Rhoni Tretsven
As we try to “beat the heat” I thought a way to “cool down” would be to celebrate the “Summer of Love,” June through August, stepping back into the 1960s with music of that era being my talk titles and the music sung during our Sunday experience. So, I encourage everyone to wear your best tie dye, bell bottoms, peace signs and grooooovy sunglasses as we are turning back time. The year is 1967, San Francisco…. From a spiritual perspective, the Summer of Love wasn’t just a cultural phenomenon; it was a profound yearning for transcendence and a collective awakening to new forms of consciousness. Against a backdrop of war and societal unrest, the youth of the 1960s sought spiritual liberation, turning to Eastern philosophies, psychedelic exploration, and communal living as avenues for personal and collective transformation. This period saw a widespread rejection of materialism and traditional institutions in favor of inner peace, universal love, and a deeper connection to the divine. The spirit of the Summer of Love was, at its core, a call for humanity to shed its illusions, embrace its interconnectedness, and discover a more authentic, joyful, and spiritually attuned way of being.
Beyond the external manifestations of flower power and free love, the Summer of Love embodied a spiritual quest for inner peace and collective consciousness. It was a time when many sought to transcend the confines of conventional thought and embrace a more holistic understanding of existence. The influx of Eastern philosophies, particularly Zen Buddhism and Hinduism, coupled with the exploration of psychedelic substances, aimed to unlock deeper levels of perception and foster a sense of unity with all beings. This pursuit was not merely an escape, but a deliberate effort to create a world built on principles of compassion, interconnectedness, and a radical faith in the inherent goodness of humanity – a vision of a global spiritual family rather than a collection of competing nations.
The spiritual dimension of the Summer of Love went far beyond mere cultural trends; it represented a profound rejection of the perceived spiritual emptiness of post-war consumerism and materialism. Many of those who flocked to San Francisco were seeking authentic meaning and a deeper connection to something beyond the mundane.
This search manifested in various ways
• Exploration of Eastern Philosophies: There was a significant turn towards practices like yoga, meditation, and the study of Zen Buddhism, Hinduism, and Taoism. Figures like Alan Watts popularized these concepts for a Western audience, offering alternative paths to understanding the self and the universe. The idea of “cosmic oneness” often associated with psychedelic experiences resonated strongly with these Eastern mystical traditions.
• Psychedelic as Sacramental: For many, LSD and other psychedelics were not just recreational drugs but seen as tools for spiritual awakening and expanded consciousness. The belief was that these substances could break down ego barriers, induce mystical experiences, and reveal the interconnectedness of all things, thereby facilitating a direct encounter with the divine or a higher reality. Timothy Leary’s famous mantra, “Turn on, tune in, drop out,” while often misunderstood, had a spiritual undertone, advocating for an inner transformation that would lead to a re-evaluation of societal norms.
• Communal Living and Shared Ideals: The formation of communes and intentional communities was an attempt to live out spiritual principles in practice. These groups often emphasized cooperation, simplicity, and a rejection of competitive individualism. They sought to create micro-societies based on love, peace, and mutual support, reflecting an ideal of a more harmonious and spiritually aligned human existence.
• Reclaiming the “Sacred”: There was a conscious effort to find the sacred in everyday life and to integrate spirituality into all aspects of being. This involved a rejection of rigid religious dogma in favor of a more personal and experiential spirituality. Music, art, and dance became vehicles for spiritual expression, fostering a sense of collective ecstasy and communion. Events like the Human Be-In were intended as “gatherings of the tribes” to celebrate this new spiritual awakening and to demonstrate the power of collective consciousness.
• Antinomianism and the Pursuit of Authentic Self: The Summer of Love fostered an antinomian spirit, a rejection of established rules and norms, in the belief that true spiritual liberation lay in shedding societal conditioning and embracing one’s authentic nature. This often extended to expressions of sexual freedom, viewed not just as rebellion but as a natural part of a liberated and holistic self.
While the Summer of Love was ultimately fleeting and faced challenges with commercialization and practical difficulties, its spiritual undercurrent left an indelible mark on Western culture. It laid groundwork for the New Thought movement and continues to influence contemporary spiritual practices and a broader openness to diverse forms of consciousness and self-discovery.
“You can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you just might find you get what you need.” – Mick Jagger (from The Rolling Stones song, 1969)
–Namaste – Rev. Rhoni