Events
- Reclaiming's Dandelion 4 Gathering
- 8 Sep 2010, Salem, Missouri
- "Frontline Spirituality for Earth, Community and Ourselves"
- 16 Sep 2010, Warsaw, Poland
- "Spirituality in Action: Our Mission in Times of Chaos and Change"
- 17 Sep 2010, Luczyce, Poland
- "Spirit, Power and Mystery"
- 20 Sep 2010, London, UK
- "Holding the Vision: Transition Towns"
- 22 Sep 2010, Bristol, UK
- Iberian Goddess Conference
- 25 Sep 2010, Madrid, Spain
- "Permaculture for a Green Future"
- 28 Sep 2010, Madrid, Spain
- "Demetra and Kore: A Journey of Regeneration"'
- 1 Oct 2010, near Palermo, Sicily
- "Women Take Action: Using the Insights of Feminism to Change the World"
- 18 Oct 2010, Napa, California
- Spiral Dance Samhain ritual
- 30 Oct 2010, San Francisco
- Green Festival
- 6 Nov 2010, San Francisco
- Yule Ritual
- 19 Dec 2010, Sebastopol
- Earth Activist Training
- 8 Jan 2011, Cazadero, California
- Reclaiming's Dandelion 4 Gathering
See Also
Categories
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276 Comments
I think that you are perhaps misled over the idea of “teams of gardeners”. My father was head gardener at Barrington. He had a staff of just five to look after the gardens and all of the orchards and parkland. When I think how much effort I have to put into my garden of just one acre I cannot imagine how they kept it up to such a high standard.
We lived in the cottages at the end of the drive and had our own vegetable garden out the back including chickens. Seems like such a long time ago…
And Barrington Court is a place of many stories. From the mysterious iron shaped depression in the table in the buttery, to the missing Satyr’s tail in the white garden, the mysteries of the Roman camp to the tales of the bold Duke of Monmouth on his way to Sedgemoor and defeat by the King. It is much more than just a garden. As a teenager I often worked as a guide in the Elizabethan house. Often times on my own waiting for visitors… it was a very atmospheric place. A lot of the old atmosphere has gone since the current furniture company started using it for a showroom, but much still remains. Visit on a slow, wet, Wednesday. Just stand still. Listen
Robin, how fascinating! I’ve been to Barrington before and always loved it–especially that beautiful kitchen garden with the stone walls. And to think that your father was head gardener! With only five staff–well, I’m sure they knew how to work fast and efficiently, and worked long and hard! I’ll have to visit again when I’m in that part of England–I’d love to hear the stories. Thanks so much for writing.
>I’ve been teaching kids in Bayview Hunters Point how to garden.
Blessed be!
(Since I haven’t ever been paid for my writing yet, the free writing I do online is a blessing that may help get me to a book.)
I’ve only just subscribed to your blog, so I’m happy to see a post. I can’t wait to see what book you come out with. I’ve only started reading your books (although I’ve seen you in documentaries, like “The Burning Times”) and you’ve sparked inspiration and motivation in my faith. You’ve had such a great effect on many people and it will be interesting to see what impact this next book will have. Having worked as a book editor, I get the tedious part of answering emails, etc. How time consuming!!
Best wishes in all your creative and inspirational endeavours!
The white iris in my garden are just beginning to bloom. Like gardening, blogging can, at times, be “one more thing” about which we can feel guilty. Some days, it’s melange. Some days, bitter spice.
I love your books! I am so glad that you are writing again (and on this blog, too.) I can’t wait to see more entries. You ( and Z.) sparked something in me to blaze my own type of Feminist Witchcraft and I just wanted to say thank you for all of your hard work.
Blessed Be!
Hi Starhawk, thought you doing a great project, but still miss you in the bloggerworld. Hope a new book is on it’ s way. Love Karin
Hi Starhawk!
Somewhere in the blogosphere I read that one doesn´t apologize for not blogging and with my own blog I kept to that, since people are happy to read something anyway. Personally I also think that teaching kids is more important that writing to the hungry eyeballs looking for inspiration on the internet (even if I´m also one of those eyeballs
Good luck and success with your projects!
Kind regards, Gwen
I think that this is the third time that I have blogged. The last two times were on this website. I love Starhawk’s work and wish that I had gone further in my own study of the Goddess but I think often of the writings that inspired me long ago and wish her well as I plan my own summer travels and wedding. I still believe in love and the Goddess!
Starhawk, thank you so much for sharing your friends who are part of this Gaza Freedom Flotilla. Speaking their names, giving us details of their lives, makes this all the more real to those of us who are here… I’m offering my prayers for those who were murdered, as well as for the safety of those who are still part of this mission.
Thank you Starhawk.
Here is a link with an interview with Huwaida Arraf:
http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/06/01/gaza.raid.eyewitnesses/index.html?iref=allsearch
Thanks for this heartfelt post, Starhawk, always appreciate your perspective and insight.
Here’s another link for a petition that calls to ‘investigate the raid and end the blockade’:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/gaza_flotilla_3/?cl=590251628&v=6404
Sweet Heart, thank you so much for this post. I am still shaking with anger, with disbelief. My heart is sore. Yet I do hear a loving song of transformative possibility emerging, spreading unstoppably through the winds of the worlds. I am offering up prayer/spells for your friends specifically, but also for all of those brave souls who dared to sail into the maelstrom.
May we all dare to dwell in beauty, balance and delight.
Beautiful post, Starhawk. I’ll be spreading the link far and wide.
Dear Mrs. Starhawk,
couple years ago your work on female spirituality and works of another authors (Carol Christ, Judith Plaskow…many others depending on Czech libraries´acquisitions and my friends´gifts) were a sweet water in the desert for my soul and mind. I found myself in a deep live crisis and reading these books – and looking for my own female power – saved me. Finally, I wrote a thesis comparing traditional patriarchal Hebrew commentaries and contemporary feminist commentaries on the Bible women characters (now available as book in Czech language “Women in the Bible, Women Today”). So I appreciate feminist work in this field very much. But what I cannot agree with is (not only) your (leftist) activism, especially against state Israel. Shortly, it is very American. It means, completely out of reality. Well, it is an old reality and a new matrix is in process of creation, but it still exists. You have no experience of totalitarism like we have, no experience of totalitarian disorder we Czech/East European people came through when Russian army occupied us. And this totalitarism and disorder, no human rights for people, works in Gaza under Hamas and partially in West Bank under Fatah. I lived in Israel (even though I am not Jewish) and what I saw was a big effort to live in peace, to give a hand… without reliable reaction from the other side. Exactly like discussion with Russians: ordinary people are usually nice, but brainwashed and feared, used and disused by the establishment, too weak to strike it or create functioning civil society. Well, you pray with your body rooted in the earth, so let your mind be rooted in the earth too. Support moderate Palestinian people – yes, criticize all the time every step of Israeli state trying to survive and protect its people – no. You have place to live in peace – USA, Israelis do not have it. They do their best, but it is hard to find a partner. Where was your effort for human rights when Hamas closed NGO organizations last week, stole the files, computers etc.? Where was your effort when nine Saudi women were fired for not wearing headscarf from Al Jazeera? Etc.etc. As I said, very American – naive, idealistic and selective. Do you know that your “nine killed activists” were members of Turkish radical islamist organization? That they cried “Go back to Auschwitz!” face to face to IDF soldiers? You should build a new vision from the existing reality, otherwise it smells with revolution – and we from postcommunist countries can tell you very colourfully what does it mean… Wishing you all the best, yours sincerelly, Terezie Dubinova,PhD., Czech Republic
Dear Terezie–thanks for writing, I’m glad to see your comments even if i don’t agree with all of them. I am delighted to hear about your book and hope that someday it will be translated into English. Some years ago I spent a week in Prague and I hope someday to have the time to return to your beautiful country and see more of the magical countryside.
I have also spent time in both Israel and Palestine. Unless you cross over the border into the Occupied Territories, it’s hard to imagine the totalitarian quality of daily life for Palestinians. The checkpoints, the incursions, the confiscation of Palestinian land without compensation, the shooting of people and the constant curfews and restrictions affect every single aspect of life–and that’s in the West Bank, where conditions are relatively good. Democracy can’t simply be for one religion or one people while oppressing another. And that suppression of human rights does not further Israel’s peace or security–it simply breeds resentment and hatred. It undermines Israel’s claims to moral high ground, and becomes an insidious poison that affects the integrity and mental health of the very soldiers who administer the policies. As you well know from your own experience, totalitarian control is not a path toward peace–for either side.
I don’t support Hamas, Fatah or any of the Palestinian parties, I support those who wage nonviolent resistance against the illegal occupation, and that includes both Palestinians, Israelis and internationals.
I must correct you on a couple of points–after the attack on the flotilla, the Israeli propaganda machine went into full swing while the protestors themselves were being held incommunicado. Now the ‘go back to Auschwitz’ story has been completely discredited. There is no evidence whatsoever that the Turks who were killed were radical Islamists–the Israelis have certainly not produced it. If the Israeli account is true, why have they confiscated all the film, video and recording equipment of the protestors? The few tapes that have gotten out show a very different story. And why do they refuse to allow an independent investigation of the incident? You might want to read Uri Avnery, the great Israeli journalist, on the subject.
http://zope.gush-shalom.org/home/en/channels/avnery/1276348453/
We both have dear friends in Israel that we care deeply about. The best way to assure their safety is to push Israel to reject its policies of brutality and control and assure justice and full human rights for Palestinians. Peace can only be built on a foundation of Justice.
Thanks so much for writing, Starhawk
Would that all disagreements were argued with such respect. Goddess smile on both your examples.
Wishing beautiful day to everybody,
thanks a lot for both Starhawk´s answer and Thriceraven´s comment. I do not want to discuss more as our positions seem different, but still I have to repeat the main point which I feel to be problematic in western feminists´ and peace activists´ efforts: It is quite selective. In the communist period I remember me and my parents visiting movie Mahatma Gandhi with Ben Kingsley – a real event as there were no such good movies to see – and we were so surprised by correctitude of British officers and soldiers. Living Gandhi in Russia or East Europe, he wouldn´t survive long time… What I want to say: It is not hard to fight with democratic state, with democratic institutions. If you want to do this issue, you can join civil society organizations, foundations, charities, think tanks. The real issue is to confront the totalitarian, military, etc.regimes. There are so many such regimes in the world, commiting crimes without western protest, or even with its support (business with China) so I cannot understand why so many peace activists with – hopefully – good intentions make mess and problems to the only ME democratic state – Israel. Best regards, Tereza Dubinova
thanks, Terezie, I hope we get to meet some day!
I’ll just say this–I personally have focused on Israel and Palestine because as someone raised an American Jew I have a personal stake in the country. There are trees planted there with pennies I saved as a tiny child. Israel was woven into my faith and my mythology, and it has been a painful personal journey to confront the reality of what Israel is doing, as opposed to the beautiful ideals I was taught. America supports Israel’s policies with my tax money, and the political support of the American Jewish community is key in keeping that political support. So, I am involved in the issue, whether I want to be or not.
But I have to take issue with your calling Israel the only Middle Eastern democratic state. No state is a democracy unless all people have equal rights. Israeli Palestinians have more rights than those under occupation, but they do not have equal rights with Jewish Israelis. And the millions of Palestinians held under occupation have no rights at all. They can be imprisoned for months or years with no charges being filed and no trial. They are tortured in Israel’s jails. Their peaceful demonstrations are regularly met with with tear gas, rubber bullets, and more and more, live ammunition. The Israeli army controls their freedom of movement. I could go on and on–but my point is this, Israel may not yet be as totalitarian as the Soviet Union at its worst, but it is moving in that direction, a direct result of continuing to be an occupying power that holds millions of people in subjugation. The occupation is eroding Israeli society as well. Yet another reason why it is long past time to end it, and build a society there founded on justice.
Last word:-)
Wallerstein: We want a world that’s relatively democratic and relatively equal. I say ‘relatively’ because nothing is ever perfect.
I’m sorry–but repression of one people by another is not relatively democratic–it’s the antithesis of democracy.
wow. i love seeing detroit described by someone who is visiting. your insights are keen and enlightened. i hope you have a nice time here. i admit to loving this city in all its decay, yet pining for it to be different for the 42 years i have called it home. and i live just north. on the border. detroit is mine too and i am. inclined to be a part of its rebirth.
Well, there are some great people here, and lots of creativity and commitment. And lots of beautiful places. I can see why you love it. I hope the Forum can bring some good energy to the forces of resilience.
I grew up in Michigan, now I live in the Pacific Northwest. As a young adult looking back on life in the Midwest made me angry. All those passive aggressive people (of course it was them, not me!:) Only just now at 35 am I beginning to understand/appreciate the gifts I got there. Thanks for this post!
I’m sorry, as Brit I’m rather awkward with seeming to correct someone I admire, but did you mean
“London had more signs of life after the BLITZ”?
Imogen
Welcome to Detroit!
One of the interesting ironies is that the force that made our city so interesting demographically is also the force that left us open to economic collapse: The American auto industry. People moved here for manufacturing jobs, and the money generated by the auto companies (who once numbered more than three! But who today remembers Packard, or any of the other companies that brought wealth and people to this region?) built the culture and the infrastructure of the city. Check out the Diego Rivera murals in the Detroit Art Institute if you get a chance, if you want a visceral representation of how integral manufacturing is to the city. When the auto industry faltered, the city of Detroit was injured deep to it’s core. Now, we have to think about what life looks like for us in a city that can no longer rely on a single, massive source of revenue from an industry that can be temperamental at best and unsustainable at worst. (Not to overly simplify–there are many other factors in Detroit’s rise and fall, of course. But the Big Three have been in the news so much lately, I tend to think it’s important to remember their role, good and bad.)
But those of us who live here remember our city motto: “We hope for better things; it will rise from the ashes.” I think that’s a good place to start any social movement. And so mote it be.
Dear Starhawk,
Thank you for beginning to share your stories of your time/loving/living/experiencing at the US Social Forum! I had considered coming and although it did not work out… I am so grateful to checkin here to listen. And… I feel excited about my people/friends who are there and the stories they will bring back!
I am going to send your blog along to friends tonight.
Great respect and wild blessings,
Gigi
I was wondering where you were these days. Detroit has so many future possibilities. Existing waterways are a definite strength if industrial society collapses. This is something that The Gulf Of Mexico does not have right now…Water is crucial to survival of everything and everyone. Thank you for helping Detroit.
Thanks for posting, Star! It’s wonderful to read…
I’m impressed that Detroit is now able to do this. When I was a kid growing up in Plymouth (about 30 miles west of Det) there were race riots in Detroit. Detroit has gone downhill ever since. I do hope it is on an upturn swing now.
Lindy
Party on, Garth!!!
As a MI native currently living in a rural area of the Sonoran Desert I am pleased and amazed to hear these stories about Detroit. When I was living in SE MI as a child and young adult Detroit was the place NOT to be. I am happy to hear all that is beginning to change.
Thank you for these reports,
Lindy
And you have evidence of this????
Hey Star, Give us an update on the process for getting The Fifth Sacred Thing from book to movie screen. As you are well aware … the time is now. Sara
I hope to have some news about that this Fall. But if you’ve become a personal friend of James Cameron or someone like him, let me know!
this is from wikkipedia. you sure you want him?
Perceptions by colleagues
Cameron has been labeled by one collaborator, author Orson Scott Card, as selfish and cruel. When asked about working with Cameron on the novelization of The Abyss, Card said the experience was
hell on wheels. He was very nice to me, because I could afford to walk away. But he made everyone around him miserable, and his unkindness did nothing to improve the film in any way. Nor did it motivate people to work faster or better. And unless he changes his way of working with people, I hope he never directs anything of mine.[67]
After working with Cameron on the set of Titanic, Kate Winslet decided she would not work with Cameron again unless she earned “a lot of money.” She admitted Cameron was a nice man, but felt he had too much of a temper.[68] In an editorial, the British newspaper The Independent said that Cameron “is a nightmare to work with. Studios have come to fear his habit of straying way over schedule and over budget. He is notorious on set for his uncompromising and dictatorial manner, as well as his flaming temper.”[68]
Sam Worthington, the latest lead actor to work with Cameron, stated on the Jay Leno Show that Cameron had very high expectations from everyone, and would often use a nail gun to nail the film crew’s cell phones to a wall above an exit door in retaliation to unwanted ringing during production.[69] During the promotion for Avatar, Cameron stated on Jimmy Kimmel Live! that although he doubts anyone would describe him as a mellow person, he is at least mellower than he was before.[70]
Other actors, such as Bill Paxton and Sigourney Weaver, have praised Cameron’s perfectionist work ethic. Weaver said of Cameron: “He really does want us to risk our lives and limbs for the shot, but he doesn’t mind risking his own.”[71]
As an Israeli Pagan, I have never fully understood the need of the Reclaiming community to support a population who by and large would have them beheaded, if only they could accomplish such a feat.
Every value upheld by Liberals worldwide is being denied daily in the Palestinian territories, not by Israel – but by the Palestinians themselves.
It was the Palestinians who elected Hamas, an organization which seeks to establish a Muslim Palestinians state instead of the Israeli state.
The Hamas stands firmly against freedom and equality by executing homosexuals, secular activists and women who refuse to submit themselves to religious discrimination.
After years of foreign aid to the Palestinians, nothing has changed.
The Palestinians uphold death as a higher value than life, still prefer Sharia law over democratic values and elect murderers as leaders.
Yet, the Liberal world stands by their side.
What is this nightmare?
Thomas, I suggest you read through some of my archives on my main website, Starhawk.org. I’m always saddened to hear Pagans express prejudice toward any people–and racism occurs whenever you start lumping all of one people together and stop seeing them as individuals with real differences. That kind of thinking might arise from fear–but in fact it makes you less safe, less able to make alliances with those in the Palestinian community who might also want peace, and is behind Israel’s pursuit of policies that are unjust, inhumane, destructive, and ultimately self-destructive.
Hi, I just found your blog via google. Your viewpoint is truly relevant to my life currently, and I’m really happy I discovered your website.
worship
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