Harvard Divinity School apparently doesn’t want me to embed this, so you’ll have to click on this link to hear Starhawk’s recent talk there about Permaculture & the Sacred. If you’ve been a Witch as long as I have, it’s a rather amazing thing: Starhawk! invited to give a lecture at Harvard Divinity School. Founded in 1636, the school, which is billed as non-denominational, has always, however, had a link to the Unitarian Church, so perhaps, even back in 1636, members of the faculty and student body wouldn’t have been as enthusiastic about burning a Witch as would some other Xians. But still.
What impressed me most about Starhawk’s lecture is the part, early on, where she talks about what she calls “edges” and what I’d call “liminal spaces.” One point she makes about edges is how rich they are, bringing together, as they do, multiple systems. And that’s precisely one of the characteristics of liminal spaces and times that make them such good fodder for Witchcraft. And it’s why Hecate is the matron Goddess of Witches and magic workers.
The whole thing is well worth a listen.
Picture found here.
Not at all surprised about HDS. One of the interesting things about Christian polity in North America is that the progressive elements and the mavericks in any particular denomination tend to filter into the colleges and universities. A cynic might suggest that the purpose of this is to keep them from confusing the people in the pews.
It’s not just the Unitarians, either. I know if at least one Pontifical Institute in North America that keeps dancing on the edge of being smacked by Rome because of its progressive views on matters of moral theology. Back in the day, my alma mater (never mind which denomination) invited such worthies as Bettina Aptheker and Timothy Leary to speak at weekly chapel. I don’t recall us having had a Witch; but, to be fair, Starhawk would have been In her teens back then.
Thanks for the link. I’ll watch the video when I can put together enough time to do so at a single sitting.
Makarios, good point. Be interested to hear what you think once you watch it.
How wonderfully subversive … thanks for the link … very timely for us here in BC as we fight to stop the Enbridge tarsands pipeline proposal from ever getting off the ground.
Widdershins,
Keep up the good work!