#plurkiss

[ravetips-blog]

How to Trade Kandi

How to trade kandi.

She also brings up a good point. Different people do it differently so use these examples as a base and be flexible! :)

[ravetips-blog]

THE SIGNIFGANCE OF KANDI AND PLUR

Peace Love Unity Respect. Oh and most likely drugs. This is the universal rave motto. Most likely you have heard this if you have been to a rave. The message is simple. Whether you except it or not is totally up to you. I have in-countered many fellow ravers who choose not to indulged in this aspect. However it is a corner stone of the culture, therefore important to understand. The best example I can use to form a better image, is the exchange of kandi. Kandi being beaded bracelets made of pony beads. The iconic mark of a raver. Those who wear them (Especially to a high degree) are more specifically called a Kandi kidds. Similar to calling a hippy a flower child. Kandi will tell you a lot about an individual particularly their style, and it provides a glimpse at someone’s personality. A sort of expectable way to judge a stranger. Now the example I was talking about combines both kandi and PLUR. During my early entry of the rave scene I would simply take a bracelet off and hand it to a pretty girl. It wasn’t until later I discovered there is a special ritual for this exchange. A simple process based on PLUR.

To properly give and recive kandi both you and the recipient must mimic one another’s hand gestures. Starting with the first letter of PLUR. 1)Peace. Represented as a peace sign, you will both touch the tips of your fingers together. Now while never breaking contact with their finger tips move to the next letter. 2) Love. As you could imagine, the next shape you will make together is a heart. Each person providing half the heart with their hand. 3)Unity. Interlock your hands together. Each finger fitting in the space between your partners fingers. From here there are to two options I’ve observed. An exchange of bracelets could represent 4) Respect. (What I like to do) At which you are finished. 4.5) Or the second option is to continue by moving your hands to hold in a clasp, to represent Respect. Then an exchange may take place. In some cases it may take place as a one way trade. In this situation I would suggest continuing with to step 4.5 to establish the idea that there is mutual respect.

The idea of PLUR is beautiful. The trading of kandi, is a significant exchange that provides a feeling and idea that you are friends with this significant other. If for no other reason guys, its a good way to break the ice. Especially if you’re shy.  So go ahead and ask them to dance while you’re at it :) Same goes for all the girls out there.

Please note that I have no objection to homosexuality, and it is a more commonly excepted idea in our rave scene.