Advertise on podcast: The Movement We Need ~ with Starhawk

Read the full article and connect at starhawk.substack.com

On The Movement We Need Podcast, I am sharing a special series on Transforming the Strong Man. In the last episode, I talked about the judge. That inner voice that says what is right and what is wrong, and that judges your sense of value. That says you do not have inherent value and need to live up to someone else’s standards in order to be valuable. Today, I am talking about what I like to call “The Conqueror.” I like Ruth Ben-Ghiat’s term, the strongman, because in today’s world, we’re not so much dealing with kings per se or absolute monarchs. What we’re dealing with are would-be kings, wannabe kings, and dictators. So the strongman kind of covers all of that, and the strongman is especially apropos for the figure of the conqueror, because the conqueror is our defender against enemies, the head of the army, and the one who will protect you because they are someone who’s so strong that they can’t be defeated. I’m also going to walk us through the process of holding the truth of multiple perspectives to undo the spell of “The Conqueror.” Once again, it might be worth grabbing a notebook or even bringing this episode to your groups. Share with me in the comments section what is helpful, and what you would like to know more about. I read all of your comments, and it helps me as I plan what will most serve you through The Movement We Need.

What would a world look like where there is space for mistakes and repair? In this episode of The Movement We Need Podcast, I explore how internalized authority shows up as self-judgment, moral purity tests, and punitive group dynamics. Together, we will consider the ancient patterns of warfare and patriarchy to modern politics, then weigh up alternatives rooted in restorative justice, constructive critique, and solidarity. It might be worth grabbing a notebook or even bringing this episode to your groups. Specifically, I discuss:> traditional roles of the king or strongman: judge, conqueror, defender, censor, master of servants, and orderer of the universe.> how comparison, grading, and social media performance can intensify shame and insecurity, especially for young people.> how the judge turns practical questions about harm and care into tests of moral purity.> solidarity-based safety, nonviolent communication, and clear, behavior-based feedback as alternatives to shame and threats. 📚 Truth or Dare: Encounters with Power, Authority, and Mystery

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.