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How to Be a Hippie from Wikihow.com

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If you want to be a hippie you cant just want to be one because you think they’re “cool”. You have to be down with the hippie philosophy. Hippies are loving, liberal, and peaceful.

Steps

Listen to and learn everything about jam bands such as the String Cheese Incident and Widespread Panic. You will win cool points with other hippies if you know and can spout out set lists from particular shows. Also , listen to music from the 60’s. The Grateful Dead, Donovan and The Strawberry Alarm Clock are good hippie bands. Acid/Folk-rock is the best.
- Listen to songs or artists that was recognized as “hippie” music. Research on Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Carol King, The Beatles, Bob Marley, Bob Dylan, Pink Floyd, Joni Mitchell, and The Who. Read about the original Woodstock to give you an idea of what kinds of music and bands were popular in those days.
Understand fully the many aspects of the 1960s and 1970s that formed the hippie subculture. Know why these people formed together, what their general morals and beliefs are, and where they came from. There is more history in the hippie subculture that can be found on the internet today, or possibly more than any other subculture. You can gain much insight into the Hippie subculture from watching things such as footage from Woodstock.
Understand that being a hippie today is a bit different than being a hippie in the 60’s and 70’s. Hippies have new ideas on different topics that deal with the changing times. The hippie generation forming today is doing so for many of the same ideas that formed then, but they are different nonetheless.
- Ask your parents what it was like while growing up in those days. You may be surprised while learning your parent’s past! Get examples and ideas from their stories.
Many hippies eat organic vegetarian and vegan food. Remember; hippies are against all kinds of violence.
Try to be as non-pollutive as possible. Hippies love mother earth and do all they can to save it. Buy clothing and products that are recyclable and are good for the environment. Recycle.
Wear clothes made of hemp. Hemp is the plant that releases most oxygen and prevents pollution. Colorful ponchos are a great hippie clothing staple too. And remember: The Baja Jacket is a key hippie clothing item.
- Have a creative and unique wardrobe. Be different from everyone by looking into second-hand stores, thrift shops, garage sales, and making your own clothes & jewelry. Hippies are known for their tie-dye attire, Native American jewelry, peasant skirts, and bell bottom pants. Men grew out their hair and facial hair, such as goatees and mustaches. Women usually went places without a bra and no to little makeup. Both genders walked either on their bare feet or used sandals.
Protest against things such as wars, and protest for more liberal drug laws. Most hippies think that drug prohibition hurts more than drug use. Google LEAP (Law Enforcement Against Prohibition).
Grow your hair and go to the hair salon as little as possible. Hippies try to be as natural as possible. Dreadlocks is a popular hippie hair-do too.
It is common, (but stereotypical), for hippies to wear “psychedelic” tye-dye shirts. It would be nice to have a few Paisley shirts too, they are very hippy.
Some hippies are into marijuana smoking, and the use of psychedelic drugs such as mushrooms and LSD. More recently, ecstasy is also making a scene in hippie culture. You DO NOT have to take drugs to be a hippie! Remember, recreational drug use (barring alcohol) is illegal in many countries.
Use a handkerchief. If you really wan’t to be a hippy you can’t use tissues because they cause deforestation and aren’t eco-friendly. Use a hanky or nothing at all
Attempt to become a vegetarian. Hippies were not just known for the peace and love for others and Mother Nature, but for the animals that stood & walked upon the Earth. If you can’t become a vegetarian or love meat too much, you can either cut back or become a lacto-ovo vegetarian (someone who doesn’t eat meat, but consumes eggs and dairy). If even cutting back on meat is too difficult, at least try to eat all organic foods and forget the junk food.

Tips

Be open-minded and liberal
Listen to hippie music
Be organic
Don’t pollute
Wear colorful clothing
Protest against violence, weapons, racism, unfair laws and minority discrimination
Grow your hair and be natural
Learn a martial art such as tai chi, but remember you are doing it because of the eastern philosophy behind it, it is not to be exploited for harming others
Just be yourself! Have any religion and believe in anything you wish. There’s no ground rules or regulations on being a hippie that you must follow.
Becoming a hippie does not restrict you to the steps above. It is a general guide on how hippies were in the past generations. You may stretch and experiment with your own style(s), for example, wearing earrings, lipgloss, and creating your own food diet.
Try to make peace in any arguments. Be the mediator for issues and see if you can help people by listening and giving advice.
Just because past generations of hippies have smoked marijuana doesn’t mean you have to; while it may cause short term memory loss, it is also illegal in most countries and could possibly send you to a state prison.

Warnings

In these dire times, participating in protests can result in being assaulted, and possibly jail time.
People are not fond of hippies. You won’t get much approval when walking down the street, but you shouldn’t change just because people tell you to.
Being a hippie is a decision you have to make based on your beliefs. Nobody can truly tell you how to be a hippie, or whether you truly are one or not. People generally do what they think is right, and if you think the hippies for the most part are right then you may just become one.
Hippies are also known for using psychedelic drugs (drugs that alter the thoughts of the brain, like marijuana and LSD). Be careful when experimenting these drugs because in some states or countries, it is illegal. In addition, moderation and sense must be maintained and these drugs should not be abused. They are also know to have side effects, such as bad trips.

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Sources and Citations

Hippie in Wikipedia

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