What Being a Hippie Was Really About

Hippies. The word alone brings up tie-dye, peace signs, and flower crowns, right? But being a hippie was never just about the look. It was a movement, and a way of thinking, living, resisting, and loving that left a deep mark on the world. And the more chaotic the modern world becomes, the more those old hippie values feel not only relevant, but necessary. Let’s take a deeper look at what being a hippie was really about, and why that spirit still matters today.

1. Being A Hippie Was About Peace, But Not Passivity

To be a hippie was to believe in peace. But it wasn’t just about holding hands and singing songs (though that definitely happened too!). It was about actively resisting war, violence, and hatred. Hippies stood on the front lines of protests against the Vietnam War—a fight that echoed across music, marches, and minds, just like the wild spirit captured in The 60s Revolution. Because they believed in non-violence as a powerful force, not a passive one.

When we live in a world where violence is still glorified and war never seems to end. That belief in radical peace feels more revolutionary than ever.

2. Being a Hippie Was About Love, For Real

“Make Love, Not War” wasn’t just a catchy phrase. It was a mindset. Being a hippie meant choosing love in all its forms: romantic, platonic, universal. Love was seen as a powerful, healing, rebellious act—the kind that made even romance feel like resistance. (And if you’re into that vibe, check out why love in the 60s and 70s still hits different.)

So in a time when disconnection, division, and digital overwhelm are the norm. This kind of open-hearted living is exactly what we’re missing.

3. It Was About Questioning Authority (and the System)

Hippies weren’t afraid to ask, “Why are things this way?”

They questioned war, capitalism, racism, sexism, and the rigid expectations of the status quo. So they challenged the idea that success meant following the rules, climbing the corporate ladder, and suppressing your soul. They didn’t just want to change politics, they wanted to shake the whole system awake—just like we explored in Lessons from the Hippie Movement, where rebellion was the heartbeat of the era.

They wanted to change consciousness. And honestly? That’s the kind of energy the world could use a whole lot more of right now.

4. It Was About Living Simply, Freely, and Authentically

Being a hippie meant stepping away from materialism and embracing a slower, more soulful lifestyle—something we could all use a little more of these days. Here are 3 groovy ways to slow down in a busy world if your soul’s craving a breather.

It was about shared meals. Communal living. Barefoot walks. And listening to music under the stars.

Hippies weren’t lazy, they were free. And they understood something we’re only just starting to relearn. That happiness doesn’t come from owning more, it comes from being more.

5. It Was About Connection, To Each Other, and the Earth

Hippies deeply believed in community and in respecting Mother Earth. They gathered, they created, they protested together. They saw nature not as a resource to exploit, but as something sacred. You’ll even find that energy woven into vintage design—groovy decor that brought the outside in and made homes feel like hugs from the Earth. In a world where loneliness and climate change are everywhere, that sense of connection, both human and ecological, is more important than ever.

6. And Yes, They Were Smear-Campaigned, Hard

The truth is, the hippie movement scared people in power. It wasn’t just about free love and festivals, it was about rejecting war, capitalism, racism, and blind obedience.And when a group of people starts questioning everything? That threatens the system.

So the media painted them as lazy, dirty, drugged-out freeloaders. Government agencies like the FBI infiltrated protests, discredited leaders, and tried to crush the movement from within. They wanted people to laugh at hippies, not listen to them. And sadly, that worked, for a while. But the truth is still there, underneath it all. The love. The peace. The truth-seeking. The rebellion. And that’s what we’re here to remember.

What Being a Hippie Was Really About And Why Does It Still Matter Today?

Because the hippie spirit never really died. It just got buried beneath noise, screens, and systems that want us numb and disconnected. But when we slow down, tune in, and question the world around us, we’re tapping into that same rebellious, loving energy. Being a modern-day hippie doesn’t mean dressing a certain way. It means living with intention. With heart. With truth.

And that will always matter.

Peace and Love,

Angie ✌🏽

🌼Image Credits🌼

All photos used in this post are sourced with love from Wikimedia Commons and are believed to be in the public domain or shared under Creative Commons licenses. Peace, love, and gratitude to the photographers, activists, and groovy souls who helped capture the spirit of a revolutionary era. ✌🏽✨