Advertise on podcast: The Movement We Need ~ with Starhawk

In this episode, I read a few exerpts from my 1994 novel, The Fifth Sacred Thing. I share them to encourage more ouf our collective envisioning for the future (and present) that we want to see. Not just focussing on what we don’t want. I hope you enjoy this episode and that it offers something for you to work with. Your support of my work here, on Substack through likes, shares, and becoming a paid subscriber, or by purchasing my books, really does help ensure I can continue teaching and writing. Thankyou!!!

Important links vote411.org — it takes about 5 minutes to check if you are registered to vote! Connie Chan 👾 Upcoming Courses & Rituals - Transforming the War Cult: a 5-week online course. Tuesdays, 5:30-7:30 pm Pacific Time, starts Sept. 29 (recordings available) - Empowering Collaborative Groups: a 6-week course Thursdays, 6-8 pm Pacific Time, starts October 1 (recordings available)

Transforming the War Cult, a by-donation online course, begins this Tuesday, September 29. Learn more here.

Ritual is an important tool in meeting the core human needs discussed throughout my Substack essays and podcast. One of the core human needs I talk about a lot is the need for belonging, which is something that’s very basic to us as human beings. Read more and watch the meditation video on my Substack.

I want to talk about transforming the war cult. For many years, I’ve been thinking and writing about how the transition from cultures that were what I like to call matrifocal, not exactly the same as matriarchal, meaning “woman ruled,” but matrifocal, being “woman-focused,” and “female-focused,” focused on life, on bringing life into the world, on nurturing life rather than on war and conquest and accumulation. The changeover happened at different times in different parts of the world. Read the full article on my Substack here.

In this episode, I speak with my friend and lifelong activist, organizer, and author, Shea Howell. And it’s a goodie!Shea’s life’s work has been centered in grassroots democracy, racial, economic, and environmental justice, nonviolence, and creating community-led ways of responding to the challenges people face. It is a real opportunity to have Shea here on the podcast, and I hope you look further into her work as we move toward greater collective action. So grab a note book if you can, or bring this conversation to your groups!

I recently did a podcast on some of the visions I created for my book, The Fifth Sacred Thing (watch or listen here). And in this episode, I want to follow up by sharing some of the visions from its sequel, City of Refuge. The Fifth Sacred Thing came out in 1993, so its vision of the future is more, well, present-day today. But City of Refuge, I actually wrote about twenty years after the fact. Which, as I share a look into the glamorous world of a writer, is not a career move I would recommend! Read the full outline on starhawk.substack.com

starhawk.substack.com

Visit starhawk.substack.com

As we move through the festival of Lamas (also known as Loaf Mass Day or Lughnasadh), I have recorded a meditation for hope, growth, and community. Aligning the seasons and our inner resources, I’ll share a little about the significance of Lamas (Lunasad) in Celtic tradition and its timing at the summer midpoint. I also touch on the significance of planting seeds and the role of ritual and ceremony in strengthening our activism. I may even admit my bread-baking skills in the name of hope!

This interview is with my dear friend, fierce activist, Lisa Fithian. The interview happened at the beginning of the year, and we almost lost the audio. But we prevailed! Much of the interview was recovered, and I encourage you to join us and even grab a notebook to glean some of Lisa’s brilliant guidance. Learn more: Stories from a Fierce, Loving Resistance SHUT IT DOWN

In this episode, I talk to my friend Lynn Stone. We have a really good conversation about the core principles of movement building, power dynamics, facilitation, and community organizing. Lynn offers a few practical frameworks, like the five-finger decision-making system and the importance of compassionate boundaries to foster resilient, inclusive movements.

In this episode, I speak with two activists, Ruby Pinto and Rae Breaux from the Center for Story-Based Strategy. Storytelling shapes activism, influences perception, and can transform movements for justice and societal change. We experienced significant connectivity issues and lost some of the recording, so bear with us, as it is a wonderful and helpful conversation! I encourage you to visit the Center for Story-Based Strategy website, where they have information on upcoming in-person trainings, as well as a number of free, online trainings.

Imagine a future world with aligned human values. In this July 4th meditation, I explore the ideals behind America’s founding, the current political landscape, and how we can envision and work toward a future rooted in justice, liberty, and community. I hope you find this to be a supportive and meditative guide to understanding our role in shaping a better world. 🌀 If you find this helpful, please consider becoming a paid subscriber or make a one-off donation by buying me a coffee!

As you will hear in this episode, my guest and co-conspirator, Charles Williams and I have gotten into all sorts of good trouble together. And, we have collaborated as teachers for many years through Earth Actvist Training, working toward real solutions to challenges we face within our communities and from climate change. I’m really glad to have my dear friend on this episode to talk about how permaculture principles can help address the climate crisis, a vitally important reality that has taken somewhat of a back seat recently. We’ll take a look at strategies that combine ecological design with social justice, soil health, ecosystem regeneration, and community resilience. Register for Starhawk's Birthday Fundraiser