Acid Tests: Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters did the first Acid Tests.  These were events were everyone dropped acid together for an extraordinary group experience.  Tom Wolfe wrote The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test about the experiences of Ken Kesey the Merry Pranksters.

Activist: A person who participates in protest actions.  Anyone involved in a cause, usually political

Babe: Affectionate term for female, now with slightly different meaning.

Baby: Similar to Babe.

Bad Acid: Poorly made LSD, probably cut with speed which causes a bad trip.  Some people at Woodstock downed some bad acid and the crowd was warned about it, making the term instantly popular.

Bad Trip: An LSD trip that goes awry.  Usually indicated by paranoia, or intense, uncontrollable feelings or rarely suicidal urges.  Also used to describe any bad experience.

Baez, Joan: Singer, songwriter, antiwar activist, Joan went to jail for her participation in antiwar rallies.

Bag: What you're into.  Your profession/obsession.  What you enjoy.  "I hear your bag's nude meditation on acid!"

Ball: To have sex. "I hear Mountain's been balling your old girlfriend Harmony."

Ban the Bomb: Slogan calling for the end of nuclear weapons.  The hippies were a generation raised in fear of THE BOMB.  Trained as children to hide under school desks in air raid drills, they grew up to understand there was no hiding from nuclear war.

Ban the Bra: Slogan symbolizing the Feminist Movement, women's rights and the sexual liberation of the 60s.

Beat Generation: See Beatniks

Beatlemania: Used to describe the virtual hysteria that accompanied the Beatles on their tours.  Also refers to the successful marketing of the Beatles, their records and other products.

Beatniks: Derived from the term "beat", beatniks were the precursors of the hippies.  This tribe included authors Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac, William S. Burroughs and others who believed the essence in life is to follow your desires and experience all life has to offer.  The beat music scene included jazz, folk and the emerging rock music.  Beatniks had hangouts like Greenwich Village in New York when they weren't "On the Road".  Beatniks experimented with unusual living arrangements, drugs, and innovative art.  Word attributed to Herb Caen, a San Francisco columnist describing the Beat Generation in 1958.

Beautiful People: Used to describe hippies or cool persons.

Bean bag chair: A big amorphous chair covered with Naugahyde vinyl (or leather or other material)...usually filled with
little styrofoam balls.  You could sit in it and it would shape itself to you.  They were very comfortable and relaxing.

Be-In: One of the first gatherings of hippies, January 14, 1967 at the Polo field in Golden Gate Park. It was called "A Gathering of the Tribes".  In attendence were the Grateful Dead, the Jefferson Airplane, Timothy Leary, Allen Ginsberg, and thousands of stoned hippies with painted faces, beads, bells, robes, etc.  The Diggers were there giving out free food.  There was no big reason to be there, other than to be there, hence a Be-In.  An event where you groove on everyone else.

Bellbottoms: Pants with wide bell-shaped legs worn by hippies. Bought as cheap clothing at Army/Navy surplus stores,
these were NAVY issued denim pants for sailors,once they caught on they were popularized to the point that major manufacturers made them.

Benezedrine:  'Bennies'..'Pep Pills' 'Uppers'.  Used as diet pills, these became abused as mood elevators.

Berkeley: The primary campus of the University of California at Berkeley.  The origin of the Free Speech movement where the students confronted the University's policies regarding the right to be vocal and politically active on campus property.  One of the centers of the protest movement in the 60's.  Sproul Plaza was a gathering place for the protests.

Birkenstocks - These are sandals that were all the rage in the early 70's.  They are shaped to your foot and toes with a fair amount of support. Unfortunately they're not for everyone, as I could never get a pair that felt right for my feet.

Black Muslim Movement:  Black separatist movement advocating racial division and separation from White society. Two of these developed. One was under Elijah Muhammed. Malcolm X was part of this movement and chose to splinter off into a separate movement when he found himself in disagreement with Elijah Muhammed over the approach to separatism, Islam, and religious philosophy.

Black Panthers: Armed, radical black political action group. Panthers were a response to the victimization of Black people by the white majority.  It's leaders were imprisoned on various charges. See Black Power

Black Power: Attributed to Stokely Carmichael who used it to encourage blacks to attain more political clout.  For a time this was a uniting theme among black people in the U.S.  It became a rallying cry for action against the racial injustice of the 50s and 60s.  Black activists were ready to fight the system.  Huey Newton, Bobby Seal, Eldridge Cleaver of the Black Panthers, Stokely Carmichael, Dick Gregory and Angela Davis were leaders in this radical movement.  Some advocated revolution and the overthrow of the U.S. government.  The Black Power movement struck fear into the heart of America's bigots and all the leaders were soon in jail, sometimes on trumped up charges, sometimes on real crimes.  In any case the movement fractured, but the legacy of radical black activism had left its mark on America's psyche.

Black is Beautiful!: Slogan used to instill pride among black Americans.

Blacklight: A special purple light that causes certain colored paint to glow brightly in the dark.  Found in head shops, they are used to add a psychedelic effect to posters and body paints.

Blast: A really great party or time.  English origin?  "We had a blast at the Stones concert!"

Blotter: A type of LSD on assorted colorful paper, cut into small doses.

Blow: Cocaine

Blow Your Mind: Surprise you in a mind expanding way.

Bong: A long cylindrical tube with a bowl, used to smoke marijuana tobacco or other substances.

Body Paint: To paint designs, words or slogans on ones body parts. Ususally in wild patterns and often in paints that would glow under Blacklight. Body painting wasnt invented inthe 60's. Its a very old form of decoration.

Brand, Stewart: Produced the Whole Earth Catalog, The Trips Festival, founded The WELL, the Point Foundation, Global Business Network, the Long Now Foundation, the Co-Evolution Quarterly, on the board of directors of the Electonic Frontier Foundation.

Bread: Money.  "Hey man, gotta any bread for the groceries?"

Bring Down: Something or someone that ruins your day, and makes you lose your high.  "My ol' man's bringin' me down."

Bro: Used to describe any male friend.  Usually someone you can trust.  A brother.

Buds: Not beer, but cannabis flowers.

Bug: To bother someone.  "Quit buggin' me!"

Bummer: A bad thing.

Bum Trip: See Bad Trip.

Burn: To get ripped off.  "I got burned on that dope deal".  Also to get mad.  "I'm all burned up about that dope deal!

Burn Baby Burn!: Slogan used to describe rioting during Black uprisings in U.S. cities during the civil strife of the late 60s. Detroit, Watts, Chicago, Cleveland and other cities experienced days of rioting and arson.  See the Hippyland Calendar for what happened when.

Burroughs, William S. : Beat author wrote autobiographical "Naked Lunch" about his life as a drug addict, murderer and homosexual.

Busted:  To get arrested.  "Did you hear?  Joe got busted for loitering."

Byrds, The: David Crosby, Roger McGuinn, and Barry McGuire took everybody Eight Miles High while Mr. Tamborine Man played a song for us on our record players (remember them?).

Came Down: When the drug wears off you come down.

Cassady, Neal: The inspiration for Dean Moriarty in Jack Kerouac's On The Road and The Dharma Bums, Neal linked the beat generation with the hippies by joining Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters on their Bus trip across the U.S. (as the driver!) in 1964.  He was part of the famous "Acid Tests". Neal sought the freedom of the open road and could rap endlessly in stream of consciousness style about everything.

Castenada, Carlos: An Anthropologist at UCLA, Carlos wrote a series of books about the shamanic tradition of the indigenous people of Mexico.  His apparently first hand accounts of life as a sorcerer's apprentice ignited decades of controversy as to their reality.  His portrayal of himself as a bumbling student of Don Juan, the powerful brujo, are now literary classics.  The journeys he took on the path of the warrior through the world of spirits inspired many to seek out what lies beyond our perceptions.  His books include: A Separate Reality, Tales of Power and The Eagle's Gift.

Cat: A male person who's hip.  Beatnik term adopted by hippies.

Centering: Figuratively, to find one's balance.  To center one's awareness.

Chavez, Caesar:  Charismatic leader and founder of the United Farmworkers Union.  Championed the underpaid, underrepresented migrant farm worker. Organized the five year grape boycott.  Chavez helped to inspire Chicano activism of the 1960s and 1970s, combining the lessons of the civil rights movement and nonviolent protest with Mexican-American traditions and values.

Chicago 1968: Refers to the protests at the Chicago Democratic Convention where thousands of protesters, reporters and bystanders were caught up in a battle with the police.  Mayor Daly took credit for the bloodshed while millions watched on T.V.

Chicago Seven: The group of organizers of the protests at the Chicago Democratic Convention in 1968.  The Chicago Seven included Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, and Tom Hayden. They were charged with conspiracy and defended by William Kunstler.

Chick: A girl.

Civil Rights Movement: Started in the 50's the civil rights movement gathered steam in the early 60's with marches, passive resistance and speeches.  Foremost among the leaders were Martin Luther King Jr., Medgar Evers, Jesse Jackson, and Malcolm X. These protests and the non-violent means used were inspiration for the student anti-war protests that were to follow a few years later.

Commune: Word comes from Communist ideology.  Used to describe a group of people living together, and the place they live.  Communes practice self-sufficiency, often farming the land.

Cool: Groovy, OK, farout.  "That's a real cool tie-dye!"

Cool it: Or Be Cool.  Mellow Out. Calm down or stop what you're doing.  "Hey can you cool it with the music, I'm trying to mellow out."

Cop out:  Escape from responsibility.  "Don't cop out when your bro is in need."

Counterculture: The encompassing word for the hippie movement.  Not just a sub-culture, but an entire spectrum of individuals rejecting the values of the dominant society.  This term was far more acceptable to everyone than the word "hippies".

Crash: To stay in someone else's place.  To come down off Acid or another intense drug.

Crash Pad: A place where hippies could hang out, do drugs, sleep, have sex, etc. without having to pay rent.  They would come and go, with different people staying there every night.

Crawdaddy: First magazine to cover the Rock Music scene.  Published by Paul Williams, author of Das Energi. Crawdaddy is publishing again!

Crosby, Stills, Nash:  They burst on the music scene at Woodstock in 1969, with their fabulous harmonies.  Many of their tunes became anthems during the anti-war movement.  These included Ohio (about the Kent State massacre), and Chicago (about the riots at the Democratic Convention in '68).  They also teamed with Neil Young on several great recordings including Deja Vu and Four Way Street.

Crumb, Robert: Famous cartoonist of the 60's and 70's, Crumb introduced the world to his somewhat depraved, yet humorous visions via Zap Comics, Mr. Natural, and Fritz the Cat.  His inspired and unique style captured the essense of the times.  Always the social critic, Crumb used his art to convey the anti-establishment sentiment that swept the country.

Dashiki: A very colorful long sleeved African shirt.  They pullover your head and have a v-cut below the neck.  The dashiki is never tucked into your pants but worn as loose as possible.  They are cool in summer.  Hippies wore these because they have beautiful and colorful designs with African patterns.  They are still very popular with African musicians.

Dass, Ram: also known as Dr. Richard Alpert. Author of Be Here Now, Grist for the Mill. Worked with Timothy Leary at Harvard on LSD studies. Alpert was so changed by the ingestion of LSD, he left his post and wandered through India. Finding enlightment he returned to write several books and do the lecture circuit.

Davis, Angela: Radical black teacher at UCLA.  She was dismissed from UCLA in 1969 due to her radical politics.  She was a Black Panther and made the FBI's most wanted list in 1970 on false charges.  She became an icon as an intelligent, outspoken radical young black woman.

Dharma: Indian word for one's life purpose and work.

Dig: To understand. "Dig it?"  To like something.  "I really dig the Monkees."

Diggers: Group that gave away food and clothes in Haight-Asbury.  They followed the anti-materialist teachings of the English Diggers who fought against private ownership of land and property.

Discoteques: Places to go hear rock music and see light shows and dance. Converted to Discos in the mid 70's.

Do your own thing!: Be yourself!  Do what you want to do.  "I got a few acres out in the country where I can do my own thing"

Donovan: With his song "Mellow Yellow", Donovan made the music scene in the 60's.  His sensitive voice, spacey lyrics, and unusual arrangements evoke a very hippie feeling.  Other hits include Sunshine Superman, The Hurdy Gurdy Man, 

Don't trust anyone over 30! - Popular saying on buttons in the 60s highlighting the generation gap.

Dope: Drugs. 

The Doors: This band from L.A. with the great Jim Morrison as lead poet, anarchist and debaucher gave the hippie movement a passionate, if somewhat psychotic visionary.  Their music, with its strong beat and Fender Rhodes chords define a certain style that meshed well with the psychedelic flower power generation.

Dose: From the word dosage, a single hit of a drug, especially LSD.  If you do too much you overdose.

Downer: Someone or something that brings you down, makes  you sad. Derogatory.  "It's a downer having Nixon as president!"

Downers: Any drug used as a depressant-includes Seconal, Phenobarbitol, and others

Draft Card: Issued by the draft board, it was usually your ticket to Vietnam. Many antiwar protesters and draft dodgers burned their draft cards in public antiwar protests. This activity sent many of them to jail.

Draft Dodger: Anyone who avoided the Vietnam era compulsory draft either by getting the draft board to declare him undesirable or by fleeing to another country, usually Canada. To be declared undesirable or 4-F, you would have to fail the physical or mental qualifications. Draft dodgers used techniques that ranged from conscientious objector (which rarely worked), to acting gay or pretending to be a junkie.

Drag:  Bummer, something definitely unenjoyable.  "It's a drag that we're outta dope!"

Drop Acid: To take a dose of LSD.

Drum Circle: A fun event where hippies get together to play drums or other percussion instruments and dance.  These are reminiscent of pagan celebrations of special occasions like rites of passage or harvest.  The rhythm of the beat tunes the participant into something larger than himself.  The effect leads to a sense of community and transcendence. In other words it gets you high! Drum circles can be part of a larger event.

Dude: A cat.

Dylan, Bob: Originally from Nashville, Dylan exploded on the music scene in Greenwich Village in the early 60's.  His blend of rock and folk ballads took everyone by storm, and in turn inspired just about every rock musician who was to follow in his footsteps.  His early songs "Blowin' in the Wind" and "The Times They are A-Changin'" took the protest song and gave it an edge. 

Edridge Cleaver: Author of Soul on Ice, written during his nine years in prison.  After his release he joined the Black Panthers and became their Minister of Information.  Involvement in a gun battle forced him into a seven year exile.

Ego Trip: The whole world revolves around people who are "on an ego trip".

Electric Kool-Aid: Another term for LSD.  Used in the title of Tom Wolfe's book about Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters, "The Electric Kool Aid Acid Test"

Far Out!: Expression of glee at something interesting. Also a way of saying thanks.

Fillmore posters - The Filmore East and West were concert venues in the 60's that had introuduced some of the biggest rock acts to American audiences including The Grateful Dead, Jimi Hendrix, Jefferson Airplane, etc.  The posters for those concerts are now collectors items and some are very valuable since the art work was very psychedelic.

Flaky: Someone unreliable, untrustworthy.

Flip Out: To lose it.  To go crazy.  "Mike flipped out after his chick Sunshine left."

Flower Children: The hippies were called Flower Children because they wore flowers in their hair, on their clothes and painted flowers on everything.

Flower Power: Since hippies were fond of wearing and sharing flowers, Flower Power was the hippie equivalent of the Black Power movement.  An extension of the Peace and Love theme, Flower Power assumed that the power of Love would win out over violence and hate.

Fonda, Jane: Actress daughter of Henry Fonda, Jane made a name for herself as a political activist when she married Tom Hayden, one of the Chicago Seven.  Jane was also outspoken and made a controversial trip to Hanoi, North Vietnam during the war. 

Freak: To Freak or to Freak OUT.  Freak could be used as a term for  being 'into' something, as in interested in something..like..'Freaking over cars'. To Freak- usually meant to get upset or be afraid of something... Freak OUT- meant to go wild over something--or have a really wild experience..as in "they all freaked out when he showed up in body paint alone."

Freak Flag: Long Hair

Freaks:  Calling someone a 'freak'---Freaks were people who were cool because it was who they were.  Hippies often were hippies because it was the 'in thing to do'. Freaks did things not because they were hip, but because it was who they were as a person.

Free Love: The idealistic concept embraced by the hippies that Love needn't be bound by convention.  People are free to love whomever they please, whenever they please, wherever they please, without attachment or commitment.  This was practiced by many hippies and helped spawn the Women's and Gay Liberation Movements.

Free Speech Movement: Arose in 1964, on the Berkeley campus of the University of California as a result of the administration prohibiting student political activities on campus.  Students held rallies on the steps of the Administration building (Sproul Hall) and sit-ins inside demanding freedom of speech.  Many students were beaten, arrested, and some are suspended including Mario Savio, the founder of the movement and one of the more outspoken student protesters.  Eventually the Berkeley faculty members came up with a proposal to restore free speech and the University Chancellor was replaced.

Funky: This word was given a new meaning by the hippies. it described clothing that wasn't supposed to go together, but somehow managed to look good. The meaning of the word became more vague, but still meant something with an unusual campy style, like clothes, music, or attitude. Get Funky!

Fuzz:  Another name for the police, pigs, fuzz, cops, and 'the man' were the common terms.

Gandhi, Mahatma: Once a lawyer in South Africa, Gandhi came to India and fought British oppression through the pioneering use of non-violent protest.  His methods were adopted in the 60s by the civil rights and antiwar movements.  The confrontative, yet unaggressive techniques are now the standard for peaceful protest.

Generation Gap: Term highlighting the differences in perspective between hippies and their parents.

Get High: To turn on.  To do a drug.  To alter your consciousness in a pleasant way.  "I got high just listening to Joni sing!"

Get into it!:  Dig it!  Go for it!  Do it with your whole being.

Get it together!: Also: Get your shit together.  Shape up!

Get Laid: Have sex.

Getting Off: When a drug takes effect and you start to get high.  Also means to enjoy something.  "I get off on Jerry's licks."

Gig: A concert or a job.  Something to do.

Ginsberg, Allen: Controversial Beat poet from the 50's who wrote about following your instincts and free love.  "Howl" is one of Ginsberg's most famous poems.

Give Peace a Chance: Saying on banners and John Lennon song sung by protesters.

Go Down: Something happening.  "What went down at the protest yesterday?"  Also a blow job (oral sex).  "She went down on me and I let loose!"

Going through Changes: To have a transforming experience.  A negative experience.  "My parents are putting me through changes"

Go For It!: Do it!

Gone:  Really out of it.  Not aware.  Asleep.

Go Straight: To stop using drugs. To get your "act" together.

Go with the Flow: Taoist philosophy of living in the moment, without struggle, letting things happen as they may.

Graham, Bill: Rock impresario whose Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco, and Fillmore East in New York highlighted the best rock acts of the sixties including the Grateful Dead, Jimi Hendrix, the Jefferson Airplane and more.

Grass: Marijuana

Grateful Dead: The ultimate hippie band, from San Francisco. For thirty years Jerry Garcia and his faithful band brought hallucinatory music to their legions of fans.  Some of those fans followed them on the road year after year.

Grok: A deep understanding of a concept.  From Robert Heinlein's Strangers in a Strange Land.

Groove: A good habit or style.  "I'm getting into the groove of doing gigs every week."

Groovy!: Very pleasing, wonderful.

Guthrie, Arlo: Son of legendary folk singer Woody Guthrie, Arlo made a name for himself with his record Alice's Restaurant. Arlo's folk rock style combines protest and storytelling.

Haight-Ashbury: The famous intersection in San Francisco near Golden Gate Park where the hippies came in the Summer of Love, and never left!  This area was the focus for much of the hippie movement's beginnings and inspiration.

Hair!: Hit Broadway rock musical famous as much for its nudity as for its music.

Hang Up:  A personality quirk resulting from something bothersome that makes your life miserable.  "She ignored me! She must be all hung up about something."

Happening: An event where people get together just to be together, usually involving music.

Happy Trails!: Have a nice TRIP!

Hare Krishnas: Religious group which grew during the 60s by recruiting many hippies.  Characterized by their chanting, colorful robes, shaven heads and pigtails they could be seen parading through city streets around the country.  They worship the Hindu God, Krishna and abstain from meat, hoping to achieve higher consciousness through devotion.

Hashish: Compressed potent form of marijuana, produced in the Middle East, Himalayan region and Africa. Also known as hash.

Hayden, Tom: Political activist, one of the Chicago Seven, ex-husband of Jane Fonda.  Now a congressman from California.

Havens, Richie: Richie Havens' unique style of rhythm guitar combined with his passionate vocals make for an unforgetable experience.  At Woodstock he sang Handsome Johnny and Freedom to open the event.

Head: Some one who does certain drugs like "pot head" or "acid head".

Headbands:  Headbands obviously keep your long hair out of your face.  They also mop up the sweat on warm days.  And since men don't usually wear berrets or other femine hair restraints, the headband does the job.

Head Shops: (Boutiques) Stores that catered to hippies or the young. Clothes, comics, beads, candles, jewelry and drug parapernalia were obtainable at these shops.. they also made good hang outs.

Head Trip: To play games with someone's mind. A person or situation that messes with your mind.

Hendrix, Jimi: Legendary performer who could play guitar beyond comprehension. A great soul who soared so high and fell so fast.

Hell No We Won't Go!:  Popular chant at demonstrations against the war in Vietnam.

High: Stoned.  An altered state.  Pleasantly turned on.

Hip: Aware of what's going on.  Knowledgeable. "I'm hip to what's happening."  Something cool or groovy.  "Those are the hippest love beads I've ever seen!"

Hippie: A person who's hip.  Coined by the media during the Summer of Love to describe the "flower people" who descended upon the Haight-Ashbury district of San Francisco in 1967.  Hippies did not refer to themselves as such.  The term became derogatory but is again fashionable.  The whole anti-materialist, anti-war, pro-peace, pro-mind expansion counterculture has been termed the Hippie Movement.

Hit: A dose of a drug, like a "hit of acid" or a "hit from the joint"

Hoffman, Abbie: Co-founder of the Yippies. Author of "Steal This Book". One of the Chicago 7.  Outspoken advocate of anarchy.

Hoffman, Albert: Sandoz scientist who inadvertently discovered the mind transporting properties of LSD.

Holding: In possession of something, usually dope.  "I'm holding a special lid for you."

Huxley, Aldous: Author of the famous science fiction novel, Brave New World, and the ground breaking Doors of Perception, Huxley explored the inner realms of the mind.  His thirst for the insightful psychedelic experience led him to LSD, which he ingested as he lay on his deathbed.

Hype: To promote something excessively.

If it feels good do it!: Don't be inhibited, explore what life has in store for you.

In:  Whatever's trendy at the moment.  "Beatle boots and granny glasses are really in now!"

Incense:  Incense has been used for millenia to provide a ritual cleansing of a room for religious services.  Temples and churches are fond of it.  Supposedly it drives out the "evil spirits".  Most of the incense we use in the west comes from India.  When the hippies got going they would buy incense to mask the smell of marijuana.  Incense can also assist in meditation by giving your space an exotic feel.  Since incense comes in a wonderful assortment of scents you can just use it to add a nice fragrance to your house.

Kerouac, Jack: Beat author wrote "On the Road" and The Dharma Bums, about the freedom of living each day as it comes.

Killer: Something really great, powerful, or impressive.  "That was sure some killer weed we smoked."

Jackson State:  Two student protesters at Jackson State University (Mississippi) were shot and killed by state police on May 15th, 1970.

Jefferson Airplane: Another San Francisco band that took off on the Summer of Love. Marty Balin, Grace Slick, Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Cassady were band members. After Balin left it became the Jefferson Starship.

Jesus Freaks: A movement of people who just discovered Jesus and Christianity.  They would get together with signs and banners to promote Jesus.  Some hippies went this route.  Often they were 'false' hippies, who used the hip image to prostelytize Christianity.  Hippies who were Christians sincerely were also Jesus Freaks...and were cool.

Joe Cocker sang the theme song of "The Wonder Years" - a cover of the Beatles tune "With a little help from my friends" off the famous Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band record.  He sang a super version of that song at Woodstock.

Joint: A marijuana cigarette.

Joplin, Janis: Blues singer extraordinaire.  Janis could belt out the blues like no one else.  Her perfomances at The Monterey Pop Festival and Woodstock were legendary.  With Big Brother and the Holding Company they blew everyone away with their psychedelic blues.  Cheap Thrills, their debut album featured a classic cover by Robert Crumb and the hits Summertime and Ball and Chain.  Janis' grief stricken life came to an end with a drug overdose in 1970.

Junkie: A heroin addict.

Karma: Indian term for the concept of just desserts. You reap what you sow. We are reincarnated until we free ourselves from our Karmic indebtedness.

Ken Kesey: Famous author, Merry Prankster, Ken wrote: Sometimes a Great Notion and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.

Kent State: University where four students were shot and killed by National Guardsmen during a protest on May 4, 1970.  There is a monument to the students on the Kent State Campus which is still incomplete. Student activists still have an annual memorial gathering on the day of the shootings.

Key: A kilo of marijuana or other drug.

Kicks: Something you do for fun.  Something enjoyable.

King, Martin Luther: Leader of the Civil Rights movement, Dr. King was a firm believer in non-violent protest to achieve the goals of integration and economic, political and social equality for all people.

Laid Back: Someone relaxed, easygoing.  A place that's cool.  "I've been to the commune, it's real laid back."

Later: Goodbye.

Lay: Someone who has sex.  "She was a great lay."

Lay it on me: Give it to me.

Laugh-In: A popular sixties comedy show with Dan Rowan and Dick Martin as the hosts. Stars included Flip Wilson, Goldie Hawn, Judy Carne and Arte Johnson. Famous for its humor, zaniness, social commentary and frenetic pace and editing.  It captured the sixties style and attitude and added it's own set of expressions to the times, like "sock it to me!".

Lava Lamp - The original is a glass lamp lit from the bottom with a sort of liquid inside that rises in colorful amorphous bubbles.  See example. http://hippy.com/lavalamp.gif  These lamps are now enjoying a revival and can be purchased via the net. See http://hippy.com/stuff.htm.

LBJ - Lyndon Baines Johnson - He became President of the United States upon the death of John F. Kennedy.  Was elected in 1964 and served another four years.  Texas democrat was responsible for the buildup of forces in Vietnam and was in office during the bloodiest fighting.  Along with the next president, republican Richard Nixon were considered the epitome of the
government run by the military-industrial complex that prospered during the Vietnam war.  These two presidents highlighted the generation gap as they found it impossible to see the world from a youthful perspective.

Leary, Timothy: The psychedelic guru, acid impresario, prolific author, unchallenged hero of the free mind movement. "Turn-on, tune-in, and drop-out." Those words inspired a generation to experience the mind expanding capabilities of acid.

Led Zepellin: English rock group that was one of the first "heavy metal" bands.  Their biggest hit, Stairway to Heaven is one of the biggest selling tunes ever.  Jimi Page on lead guitar and Robert Plant's vocals make for some heavy blues rock.

Lennon, John: Beatle, poet, artist, activist, singer, musician.  One of the great figures of the 60s.  Controversial, he once said the Beatles were more popular than Jesus (he was right at the time).  He sang about love and peace and his music inspired millions. He was murdered outside his apartment building in 1980.

Licks: Chops.  Groove.  A musicians musicianship.  The music they make.

Lid: A bag of grass, usually about an ounce.

Light Shows: A visual performance accompanying music at clubs and concert venues using strobes, film, video, special effects and more recently lasers.  Andy Warhol put on some famous light shows in NYC.

Love beads:  Love beads came in numerous patterns,and were given as gifts between friends or made by the wearer. They were a common sign of friendship.

Love-In: Like a Be-In it was a reason to get together with other hippies and have fun. Loving everyone and everything was the general theme of the event.

LSD: Lysergic Acid Diethylamide. a rye ergot derivative.  First synthesized and absorbed by Albert Hoffman of Sandoz Labs, Switzerland in 1938.  Extremely hallucinagenic in minute doses, measured in micrograms. Effects can last up to 24 hours depending upon dose.  Used in psychotherapy in the 50s and 60s.  Researched at Harvard by Timothy Leary and Richard Alpert.  Both left Harvard and Leary continued as high priest of the LSD movement. In the 60s acid became the popular way to "trip". An LSD trip is not to be taken lightly.  It is a profound soul shaking experience that expands one's perceptions and broadens one's mind.  Reactions to LSD, which include physiological and behavioral changes, anxiety, and hallucinations, are influenced by the amount of the drug taken and the user's personality and expectations.

 

Lude: A qualude, a depressant drug.

Maintain: To keep one's shit together.  "Every since my babe left me I'm finding it hard to maintain."

 

Make Love Not War!: Slogan that sums up the hippie attitude. Appeared on signs and buttons during protests against Vietnam War.

Mamas and Papas: Popular group in the sixties.  John Phillips, Denny, (Mama) Cass Elliot, and Michelle Phillips sang California Dreaming, Monday, Monday, Creeque Alley. 

 

 
 
 
 
 

Man: A dude.  The Man is the police.  Man! means damn!  My Man! means a friend. 

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi: Famous guru to the Beatles, Beach Boys, and other famous personalities. First everyone went to visit him in India, then he bought his teachings to the U.S.  Emphasizing the power of meditation, he drew a huge following among the hippie generation.

Marley, Bob: Rastaman supreme.  The charismatic Bob Marley and his band the Wailers burst onto the music scene in the early 70's bringing Reggae into the world.  His music about love, Jah (god), freedom and equality touched so many people and inspired many to become rastas.

Max, Peter: Famous hippie artist famous for album covers, movies, paintings, advertising.

McKenna, Terence: Ethnobotanist and author of the book Food of the Gods about organic psychedelics.  Terence is a popular speaker and visionary who likes to focus on discovering our place in the universe, our reason for being here, and the future of mankind.
 

Mellow: Something pleasant and enjoyable.  Often used to describe the marijuana high.

Mellow Yellow: Donovan song that had everyone thinking you could get high smoking banana peels.  One of the greatest put-ons.

Mellow out!: Calm down! Equal to chill out!

Mescaline: A hallucinogen made from the peyote cactus plant, still used for native american ritual purposes. These
cactii are eaten in raw form. Processed mescaline compond was injested as a pill form. Synthetic mescaline made a brief appearance mixed with chocolate powder and was one of the best highs ever - it made you laugh uncontrollably for hours. Anyone know how to make more?

Microdot: A type of LSD in a colorful tiny pill.

Mikes: The number of micrograms as in a dose of LSD.

Military-Industrial Complex: The leading force in the American economy in the 60s. The combination of large American industies with huge defense contracts.  Reaps profits from war. Blamed for lobbying Congress to increase military spending, to step up war in Vietnam. In 1960 President Eisenhower warned that the Military-Industrial complex was getting too big and powerful.

Mind Game: When someone tries to control your mind, often by trying to bullshit you.
 

Monterey Pop Festival:  This event held in 1967 showcased a whole new genre of music.  Produced by Paul Simon, Johnny Rivers and John Phillips (of the Mamas and Papas) it was an event that almost didn't happen.  Disagreement between the producers (who wanted to charge for the concerts) and the musicians (who wanted it to be free) were resolved thanks to impresario Bill Graham.  Acts included memorable performances by Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin.

 

Nehru Jacket:  Very dressy Indian made shirt/jacket with short collar turned up and rounded buttons.  Usually made with very fine material, like silk or linen.  Became popular around the time the Beatles went to India.

No nukes is good nukes!: Popular bumper sticker and banner in the sixties protesting nuclear weapons.

O'd:  See Overdose.

Off the Pigs: Radical slogan used by Black Panthers encouraging confrontation with the police.

OP Art: Optical illusion style of art.  Many artist tried this style in various mediums.  Geometric patterns that fool the eye with an illusion of three dimensions.  This style reached a peak during the hippie era.

Orange Sunshine: A type of LSD in the form of a tiny orange barrel, usually containing other adulterants like speed.  Also called Orange Barrels.

Out of it: Some one who's out there.  Not with it.  Asleep.

Outtasight!: Fantastic!

Overdose: Take too much of a drug.  "Jimi overdosed on life."  Also O'd.

Owsley: Augustus Owsley Stanley III was the man who manufactured LSD in large quantities for the market in San Francisco in the 60's.  Colorful Owsley acid is legendary for its purity.

Paisleys - These fractal like patterns appeared on clothes in the sixties and were a popular psychedelic design.

Patchouli - For some reason this is the fragrance most associated with hippies.  You can still smell it in most head shops.  A very strong earthy, flowery smell, usually found on hippie girls wearing long peasant dresses.  Origin - India.

Peaking: Term for reaching the highest high on an LSD trip or other psychedelic experience.

Peace Symbol: The familiar circle with lines was originally the symbol for nuclear disarmament.  Bertrand Russell is credited with creating the symbol in 1958 from the semaphore flag signals for letters N(uclear) and D(isarmament).  It first appeared in the anti-nuclear protest of the early sixties, and was used extensively during the anti-war movement as a more generic peace symbol.

People's Park: In 1969, hippies setup camp on some vacant land near UC Berkeley and called it the People's Park.  On Memorial 20,000 appeared with flowers at the park. By July the authorites forcibly removed all the squatters and the park was closed.

Pigs: Derogatory name for police.

Plastic: Something or someone artificial, unreal.  "I hate shopping malls, they're so plastic."

Pot: Marijuana.

Power to the People!: Used by Black Panthers and others to describe the need to change the existing power structure.

Psilocybin:  A hallucinogen based on mushrooms. Raw mushrooms could be found in various places. Notably in Mexico or on  particular mountains in California. Could be eaten raw, or with tea. Or could be injested as a pill form if processed, or smoked.

Psychedelic: Hallucinatory experience sometimes brought on by altered state of awareness, via drugs like LSD or some other experience or art work. The word originated in correspondence between Aldous Huxley and Humphrey Osmond in the 50's.  From Greek, it literally means a substance that reveals the nature of the soul.

Put On: A joke on somebody.  "Is that story real or are you just putting me on?"

Question Authority!: Popular button in the sixties encourging people to challenge the powers that be, particularly the government.

Ram Dass:  Formerly Richard Albert, who along with Timothy Leary was involved with the LSD experiments at Harvard.  Albert left the school and traveled to India, where he met his Guru and changed his name.  Author of Be Here Now, and Grist for the Mill, he is an inspired Guru himself.

Rap: To have a friendly discussion.

Right On!: Strong agreement, affirmative, yes! Sometimes accompanied by a clenched fist.

Rip Off: To steal, or have something stolen.  "Someone ripped off my last lid!"

Ripped: Very stoned.  "I got really ripped on that Colombian last night!"

Roach: What remains of joint of marijana when you smoke it way down.  Often saved and smoked later in desperation.  Roach Clips are small devices that hold on to a roach so it can be smoked.

Rolling Stone Magazine: Music magazine with famous covers of just about everyone in the biz.  Stories, reviews, and music calendar made this magazine a must.

Rubin, Jerry:  Co-founder of the Yippies, one of the Chicago 7.

Rush: What you experience as a drug takes effect.  A quick change of consciousness that creates a dizzying sensation.  "I love it when the Dead jam, what a rush!"

Sandoz:  The Swiss drug company that discovered LSD-25 and made it available for psychological therapy.  A term for LSD.

Scene: The locale and the cool people who attend comprise the "scene".  A party with an atmosphere you appreciate.

Score: To finally get something highly desired.  "Dude, I scored a gram of some killer Nepalese finger hash."

Screw: To have sex.  "We screwed all night".  Insult.  "Screw you!".  Screw Magazine - Pioneering Porno Magazine published by Al Goldstein.

SDS: Students for a Democratic Society.  Leftist group that organized many student protests against ROTC on campus, against the draft and the war.  Some of the more radical elements formed the Weathermen, who believed in using violent means to get their message across.  They were responsible for bombing banks and businesses of the establishment.  After an explosion at a Greenwich Village Brownstone killed several Weathermen, the remaining members went underground.

Smashing!: From England, something really cool!

Smothers Brothers: Famous Comedians of the 60s, Tom and Dick Smothers had a top rated TV variety show until it became too controversial and was cancelled by CBS.  Seems they spoke their minds too often, usually protesting the Vietnam War, police brutality and racism.

Simon and Garfunkel: Singing duo of Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel.  Their close harmonies made hits out of The Sounds of Silence, Mrs. Robinson, Bridge over Troubled Waters.

Sock it to me!: A recurring segment on Laugh-In, a popular sixties comedy show.  Richard Nixon appeared on the show turning it into a question, Sock it to me? And we did!

Soul on Ice: Book written by Eldridge Cleaver, minister of information for the Black Panthers, during his imprisonment, baring his soul.

Spaced Out: Not all here, possibly stoned.  Also Spacey.

Split: To leave the scene.  "I gotta split now, or my ol' lady's gonna be pissed."

Spock, Dr. Benjamin:  His baby book was The Bible to mothers of the hippy generation. He was against spanking children, and his non-violent stance carried over when those same children were sent to war.  He spoke and marched at many peace rallies and counselled draft evaders. For this he was sentenced to two years in jail.

Sproul Plaza: Rallying point on the UC Berkeley campus where students gathered to hear music and speeches during the student uprisings of the 60's.  In May 1969, Gov. Ronald Reagan ordered the gassing (by helicopter!) and disbursement of students at the plaza, wounding 60 people and setting off 17 days of street fighting where 130 were shot and wounded.  Police cordoned off the plaza prior to the gassing, trapping all the students, causing panic. "If it's a blood bath, then let it be now." - Ronald Reagan.

Square: Someone who follows all the rules or is part of the establishment.  Something uncool. 

Stash: Your hidden dope supply.  "I'll get my stash and meet you at the Be-In."

Steinhem, Gloria: Feminist author, founder of Ms. Magazine.

Stoned: High, from having ingested a drug.  Common description of getting high on marijuana.

Stop the War!: The Vietnam War.

STP: Very strong hallucinogenic, lasting 72 hours or so. Some people never came back from that trip.

Straight: Some one who doesn't do drugs, or isn't into the "scene".  A square.

Strawberry Alarm Clock: No, not a fruity timepiece, but a band that recorded one big hit, Incense and Peppermints.

Strobe lights: Used at parties and rock concerts. These bright flashing lights added a groovy psychedelic effect like flash bulbs going off in sequence. It would freeze the action for a split second, allowing the camera in your mind to record the moment.

Summer of Love: The summer of 1967 when thousands of young people converged on San Francisco to experience being free.  Highlights of that summer included the Monterey Pop Festival which showcased the talents of Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, the Jefferson Airplane and many more.  The Grateful Dead exploded on the scene and Love-Ins and Be-Ins were excuses for everyone to get high together.

Strung out: Feeling really bad because your out of dope or something else you really want. The mental stress resulting from a craving.

Tab: A hit of Acid

Tapped Out: Out of money. "I'd lend you the dough, but I'm all tapped out."

Tao: "The way". Oriental philosophy adopted by many hippies.

Teeny Boppers: In the 60s, teenagers too young to be hippies, had their own social group. Teeny boppers presented a new market for the media to conquer.  They had their own music like the Partridge Family, The Cowsills, The Jackson 5,  and The Monkees.  Since big business couldn't sell to the hippies, they targeted their commercialism at this new group.  Older hippies used this term to describe this younger generation.

Thing: Catch phrase for your obsession or something you enjoy.  "Liberating the mind through LSD is Leary's thing."

Threads: Clothes.

Tie Dye: Colorful abstract artwork usually done on clothing by dying fabric by tying it together.

Tiny Tim: Famous for his hit record, Tiptoe Throught the Tulips, with his shrill falsetto he became a cultural icon of the hippy movement. Popular but unattractive, the mini-ukelele playing Tim eventually found love, Miss Vicki, and got married.

Together: All right.  O.K.  Once you sort out your problems, you're together.  "Get it together, man!"

Toke: A "hit" of marijuana. To smoke marijuana.

Trails: The visual effect usually seen while on a trip when something moves through your field a vision.  It seems like multiple images of the moving object as it passes by.

Travel Agent: Euphemism for an acid dealer.

Trip: A profound experience.  What you experience on LSD or other hallucinogen.  A dose of LSD.  Can also mean an unusual experience, "That was a trip!" or  when someone tries to blow your mind "He's laying a trip on you."

Trip Out: To get spaced out. To get really stoned. To trip on LSD or other hallucinogen.

Tripping: What you do on acid.  "I'm tripping my brains out"

Trippy: Something unusual or psychedelic.

"Tune In, Turn On, Drop Out" - Timothy Leary's famous quote encouraging young people to discover their true nature through LSD and drop out of society's program.

Turn On: Something that excites you. Also to get high.

Twiggy: 60's model who made being anorexic popular.  Twiggy modeled the latest colorful, psychedelic fashions on her extremely thin boylike frame.  Her slender build, big sad eyes and short haircut set her apart from other models of the day.  Today she is an actress and has filled out a bit.

Underground: Something anti-establishment, working undercover or hidden.  Term applied to newspapers and comic books or other media that was directed towards freaks. These were often small publications that covered the hippy scene including radical politics, sex, drugs and rock and roll.  Berkeley Barb, Zap Comix, East Village Other. 

Uptight: Stressed out, tense.  "Hey don't get so uptight, it's no big deal!"

Vietnam War: The catalyst for the Peace Movement in America.  The compulsory draft took students to the killing fields of Southeast Asia who then returned to the U.S. in body bags by the tens of thousands.  The insensitive administrations refused to listen to protests and refused to provide a satisfactory explanation for the war.  This prolonged the war and eventually the U.S. pulled out leaving their Vietnamese allies to fend for themselves.  Make no mistake, the U.S. lost this war, but the government and people are now much more aware of the implications of foreign military involvement and the reprecussions of sending young men to their death.

Visuals: The hallucinations experienced on a psychedelic trip.

Warhol, Andy: Pop artist supreme, Andy was a scene himself.  He took the icons of popular culture and turned it into art.  Some of his most famous works feature Cambell's Soup Cans and Marilyn Monroe.  Andy filmed several low budget films of questionable quality including: Trash and Frankenstein (in 3D). 

Wasted: Very stoned to the point where you can't even move.  "We got so wasted on those buds we missed the Dead!"

Way Out: Something so far out there, it's almost unbelieveable.

What's Happenin'?: What's going on?  A greeting.  "Hey man, what's happenin'?

Weathermen: Extremely radical group. Responsible for several bombings including banks. Their enemy was the establishment, big business and the government. A bomb destroyed their hideout in Greenwich Village, killing several members. The others ran away and hid for decades.

Weed: Marijuana.

Where it's at!: The place with the happening "scene".  "Hey, babe, you're where it's at!"

Whole Earth Catalog: Huge catalog for hippies founded, edited and published by Stewart Brand.  Contained information, products, business listings, illustrations.  Focused on ecology, living off the land, do-it-yourself, alternative everything.  A lot of ideas and contacts done with spirit.

Window Pane: A potent form of pure LSD in a tiny clear square of gelatin that melts in your mouth!

Wiped Out: Totally wasted on drugs.  Exhausted.

Woodstock Music Festival: A three day outdoor event in Bethel, NY in 1969 that marked the peak of the flower power/hippie movement.  An unprecedented half a million people gathered on Yasgur's Farm to hear the likes of Richie Havens, Ravi Shankar, The Who, Crosby, Still and Nash (in their second public performance), Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix and many more.  The festival was a paean of cooperation, harmony and peace.  There was no violence, but lots of marijuana and LSD.

Wow!: An exclamation of excitement.  "Wow! Did you see what Jimi did with his guitar?"

Yippies: Group founded by Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin and others in 1968, the Youth International Party for pranksters and activists.  They tried to organized the protests at the Democratic Convention in Chicago in 1968 which ended up in a riot.  The Yippies got arrested and it became the trial of the Chicago 7.  The conspiracy charges were dismissed, but some were convicted of lesser offenses.

Young, Neil: Canadian musician got his big break singing with Crosby, Stills & Nash. Neil went on to produce his own great solo recordings including After the Gold Rush and Harvest.  Neil's style ranges from hard rock, blues, folk ballads to country.  His heavy rock is credited with inspiring grunge music.  Some call him the grandfather of grunge.  His slightly off key vocals don't appeal to everyone, but when he's singing with CS&N, he fits right in!

Zappa, Frank: Famous musician from the 60's and 70's.  His group The Mother's of Invention's first album, entitled "Freak Out" was very popular and way out, even for it's time.  Zappa's music was very wild, creative, but a dissonant satire on society.  Zappa coined many expressions and became a icon of the lack of respect for the establishment.  A popular college poster from the 60's showed Zappa with his long, wild and stringy hair sitting naked on a toilet.  The title was Frank Zappa Crappa.  Frank's children Dweezil (son) and Moon Unit (daughter) have dabbled with music too.  Despite Zappa's outward persona, his real personality was far different and at one point he became a vocal opponent against drugs.

Zippies: New term for Hippies with computers.  Not to be confused with Zippy the Pinhead, a popular underground comic.