Remembering Susan Sontag and the work of Donella Meadows

Click on the pictures to read their texts:

 

New online blog
"Starhawk is now a panelist for a new website devoted to religion, run by Newsweek and the Washington Post. She will respond to questions posed and participate in interfaith dialogue. Let mainstream media know that there’s interest in the Goddess!" Go to:
newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/starhawk/

Starhawk has long been active for peace in the Middle East. Her writings can be found on Starhawk's Israel/Palestine page.

2009: Starhawk's Summer Schedule at a Glance
see also: http://www.starhawk.org/starhawk/schedule.html

June 9 & 10, Portland, Oregon
        Village Building Convergence: talk & workshop, including: "Power, Process and Conflict in Co-creative Groups"
June 13 & 14, Santa Rosa, California
        Harmony Festival: five events, including "Magical Tools for Times of Hope and Chaos"
June 18, Athens, Ohio
       Wisteria Summer Solstice Gathering: three events, including "Practical Earth Magic"
June 20, Bangor, Maine
        talk with spiral dance: "Magical Activism and Earth Healing"
June 21-July 5, Unity, Maine
       Earth Activist Training (with Charles Williams)
July 8 & 9, Glastonbury, England
       Transition Town workshop: "Crossing Stony Ground"
July 11-26, Devon, England
       Earth Activist Training (with Andy Goldring and Tomas Remiarz, Rooh Star and Maren Freeland)
July 27 & 30, Glastonbury, England
        Goddess Conference: three events, including "Walking the Edge: Deepening our Magic"
August 3-7, Tamera, Portugal
       International Summer University
August 22-23, San Francisco, California
        CIIS college class: "Nature As Sacred Text"

and some Fall highlights ...
September 14 - October 25, online course: "Unveiling Creativity: Writing for Ritual and Spirituality"
October 4-9, Hollyhock, BC, Canada, workshop: "Vision and Action"
November 9 - December 20, online course: "The Inner Compass"

And make plans now for the next Northern California
Earth Activist Training
January 9-23, 2010; co-taught with Erik Ohlsen
Information: visit www.EarthActivistTraining.org, or call 800.381.7940 (within USA)

Once Again, with Details:
New events are added all the time, go to www.starhawk.org/schedule for updates.


Tuesday & Wednesday, June 9-10
Portland, Oregon
evening talk plus afternoon workshop
Starhawk will speak and present at the 9th annual Village Building Convergence, sponsored by City Repair.
    June 9, talk: "Joining Mother Earth's Transition Team." Also on this evening's bill: speaker Paul Cienfuegos and musical group Alpaca. Community dinner will be served. Look for a booksigning also.
Time: Starhawk speaks at 7:45-8:45 p.m.
Cost: $15, covers food, speakers and music
    June 10, workshop: "Power, Process and Conflict in Co-creative Groups"
In permaculture, in natural building, in social change work and visionary activism, the easy part is dealing with the vegetables or the cob. The hard part is often dealing with the people. Co-creative groups, collaborative groups without traditional hierarchies of power, can be empowering and inspiring places to work and be, but they face unique challenges. Insights from both permaculture and magic will help us learn to be more effective and joyful as we work together to regenerate our world.
    Look for a booksigning also.
Time: 1-4:00 p.m.
Cost: $15-20 sliding scale
Location for both events: New Day School Annex, Jagrti, 1847 SE Clinton St.
For more information: cityrepair.org/events/vbc/
Saturday & Sunday, June 13-14
Santa Rosa, California
talks, panels, workshop
Starhawk will take part in the 31 annual Harmony Festival. Also look for Earth Activist Training's booth at the Harmony Eco-Village.
    Saturday: Panel Discussion, 5:45 - 6:45 p.m.: "Visionary Culture: Creating Our Future"
How can our larger community move even further into living the new dream with real action steps that help us co-create successfully? Speakers include Caroline Casey, Starhawk, Daniel Pinchbeck, David Wolfe, and Laura Fox. Location: Earth Temple Dome in the Eco-Village
    Sunday: Mainstage talk, time TBD: "Mother Earth's Transition Team"
We live at an awesome moment in history. The dire reality of climate change challenges us to remake our society and to do it quickly. If we fail, we'll suffer destruction on a global scale. But this threat is also a great opportunity-to create a new world of true abundance, rooted in community and ecological balance. How do we join Mother Earth's Transition Team? What shifts in consciousness do we need to make and what actions do we need to take? How do we nurture resilient communities locally and create justice globally to heal our world?
Look for booksigning at Copperfield's Books booth immediately after mainstage talk.
    Sunday: Short workshop, 1:15 p.m. to 2:15 p.m: "Magical Tools for Times of Hope and Chaos"
Starhawk explores some of the tools of magic, "the art of changing consciousness at will," that can help us stay grounded and centered in moments of crisis. We'll open up our inner vision and find our inner compass to help guide us in making decisions. And we'll raise and focus group energy to celebrate our commitment and empower us each to make the changes we're called to make.
   Sunday: Panel Discussion, 5:45 to 6:30 p.m.: "Transition to Sustainable Culture"
Learn about the Transition Town movement. Speakers includes Starhawk, Richard Heinberg, Jennifer Gray, Andy Langford, Liora Adler, Penny Livingston-Stark, Daniel Pinchbeck, and Joanna Macy. Location: Earth Temple Dome in the Eco-Village
    Sunday: Goddess Stage Closing Ritual, 7:45 p.m.: with singer Evelie Delfino Såles
Festival location: Sonoma County Fairgrounds, Hwy 12
Cost: numerous admissions packages, check web site. One day pass: $30 advance, $40 at the gate.  Starhawk's events included with festival admission.
For more information: www.harmonyfestival.com
Thursday, June 18
Athens, Ohio
talk, workshop, ritual
Starhawk will spend a day at the Wisteria Summer Solstice Gathering 2009.
    Morning keynote talk: "Rooting Spirit in Nature," followed by booksigning
In a world of global warming, natural disasters, and rapid environmental collapse, we desperately need to reconceive our relationship to the natural world if we are to survive. Earth-based spirituality teaches that Nature is sacred, and by working with her, we can connect with enormous powers of regeneration and healing. But to do so requires a shift in our way of thinking, acting, and living. We stand at a crossroads, perhaps the most crucial in human history.
    Afternoon workshop: "Practical Earth Magic"
The earth is sacred-and to live in sacred balance is both a spiritual and very practical challenge. The principles and techniques of regenerative design can give us tools for healing toxic soil, cleaning water, preventing erosion, and seeding true abundance. When we use those tools mindfully, infusing them with intention and vision, then reality becomes magical and magic gets real.
    Evening Summer Solstice ritual:
An evening of healing and empowerment for the Earth and all those who work to protect her and bring about justice for her peoples. Ritual culminates with a spiral dance.
Location: Wisteria Community: 18 miles south of Athens, Ohio.
Cost: $170 after June 1 (seven days, includes camping-discounts for teens and children).
For more information: www.wisteria.org/wisteria-summer-solstice.htm or leave message at (740) 742-4302.

Saturday, June 20
Bangor, Maine
talk with spiral dance
"Magical Activism and Earth Healing"
A special opportunity to hear Starhawk speak in Maine. After her talk she will lead a spiral dance in honor of the Earth and the Summer Solstice.
Time: 7-9:00 p.m.
Location: Unitarian Universalist Church of Bangor, 120 Park Street
Cost: $10-20 sliding scale, no one turned away for lack of funds
For more information, contact: Anu Dudley, Northeast EAT Coordinator, 207-382-6717, <anu(at)umit.maine.edu>, or Simon, 207-843-6916, <simonbeckford(at)riseup.net>

June 21 - July 5
Unity, Maine
2-week course
Earth Activist Training taught by Starhawk and Charles Williams.
    Two weeks that can change your life and help you change the world!
A permaculture design certificate course with a grounding in earth-based
spirituality, and a focus on organizing, activism, and social permaculture
as well as urban and rural land-based systems. Learn how to heal soil and
cleanse water, how to design human systems that mimic natural systems, using
a minimum of energy and resources and creating real abundance and social
justice. Explore the strategies and organizing tools we need to make our
visions real, and the daily practice, magic and rituals that can sustain our
spirits. Participatory, hands-on teaching with lots of ritual, games,
projects, songs, and laughs along with an intensive curriculum in ecological
design.
    Summer EAT session co-taught with Charles Williams, permaculture designer, wilderness instructor, farmer, builder, activist and teacher of magic and ritual.
Cost:  $1400-$1800 sliding scale, includes all food and dorm accommodations or camping. $250 surcharge for semi-private room.  Work trade and scholarships available, apply early!
For more information: visit www.EarthActivistTraining.org
call 800.381.7940 (within USA)
or email: info(at)earthactivisttraining.org

Wednesday & Thursday, July 8-9
Glastonbury, England
two-day workshop plus evening ritual
Starhawk will present a training geared to the Transition Town movement, open to public. Admission cost covers both.
    July 8 - 9 workshop: "Crossing Stony Ground: Renewing & Sustaining the Journey"
The work of personal, communal, and global transformation has been likened to a journey. Many of us embark with joy and enthusiasm, but what do we do when the first rush of energy wears off and the way begins to seem long and hard? The truest gifts are often found on the other side of barren plateaus, dark chasms, and hard climbs. Miriam-an ancient Hebrew Goddess long before she became a biblical figure-was said to have a well that followed her wherever she went. We, too, can find deep sources of strength and regeneration that can accompany us on our journeys.
     In this workshop, Starhawk will guide us across the stony ground using the tools of ritual: meditation, trance, energy work, drumming, song, movement, storytelling, group work, guided journeys, and altar building. We will create sacred spaces where we can face our conflicts, loss, grief, and despair and move through them to fresh springs of renewed energy and inspiration.
Time: Wednesday 2:00 - 5:30 p.m.; Thursday 10:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Location: Georges Room, Glastonbury Experience, 2-4 High Street
    July 8 evening ritual: "Earth as Teacher, Earth as Healer"
The Earth herself is our greatest teacher and healer, whether we want to heal and transform our personal hurts, or heal the huge wounds our society inflicts on the Earth and other human beings. The ancient Goddess traditions had no sacred texts or dogmas, instead their mystics learned to read the book of nature. Understanding how the Earth's cycles work, how change occurs in nature, and how Mother Earth designs co-evolving, interdependent systems can help us be better designers of the changes we want to see in our own lives and the world. Our connection to Earth is our deepest source of hope, renewal, and strength.
Time: 7:00 - 9:30 p.m.
Location: Chalice Well Gardens
Presented by Transition Glastonbury.
Cost for both events: £70 (some concessions available)
To register: deposit of £25, chq made out to 'Sweet-track Counselling' to: Glastonbury Natural Health Centre, 1 Hanover Square, Silver St, Glastonbury, Silver St, BA6 8BT
For more information: www.glastonburynaturalhealth.co.uk/Starhawk.html
or ring: 01458 833382
July 11-26
Devon, England
2-week course
Earth Activist Training, taught by Starhawk, Andy Goldring, and Tomas Remiarz, Rooh Star and Maren Freeland
A permaculture design course and more for activists! Learn the skills to transform a piece of land, a community, and our political and economic systems.
   (UPDATE: registration for this EAT is now closed, with long waiting list. January 2010 EAT registration is open, see below.)
For further enquiries about EAT UK, email: earthactivisttraining(at)riseup.net
Monday, July 27 & Thursday, July 30
Glastonbury, England
Starhawk will take part in the Glastonbury Goddess Conference and pre-festival Fringe.
    July 27: one-day workshop: "Walking the Edge: Deepening our Magic"
In nature, edges, where one ecosystem meets another, are the places of greatest dynamism, energy and creativity. In this workshop, we explore our own edges. How do we walk between worlds? How do we push our own creative edges, taking more risks, pushing our work, our rituals, and expression further into excellence? The tools of ritual--sacred space, meditation, trance, ecstatic drumming and dancing, help us deepen our practice and expand the borders of who we can be.
    July 30: morning talk and spiral dance: "Times of Hope and Chaos"
We live at a pivotal moment in history, when the tides of hope are rising, but the systems that sustain us, environmental, social and financial, are crumbling all around. How do we navigate through the storm, and bring ourselves and our world to a place of harmony, balance and beauty? We need both the tools of spirit-grounding, deep connection and celebration-and the skills of organizing and mobilizing-vision, passion, courage and commitment.
    July 30: 3-hour afternoon workshop: "Times of Hope and Chaos: the Inner Compass"
A workshop further exploring the themes of Starhawk's morning talk.
For exact locations, times, more information, and to enroll in the workshops, please visit: www.goddessconference.com
Saturday-Sunday, August 22-23
San Francisco, California
weekend college class
Starhawk will offer a class at the California Institute of Integral Studies, Women's Spirituality Program. This will be a 15-hour class for 1 unit of academic credit.  Open to the public.
    "Nature As Sacred Text"
   Whether we are looking to heal and transform our personal hurts or the huge wounds our society inflicts on the earth and other human beings, the earth herself is our greatest teacher and healer. The ancient Goddess traditions had no sacred texts or dogmas; instead, their mystics learned to read the book of nature. Understanding how the earth's cycles work, how change occurs in nature, and how mother earth designs co-evolving, interdependent systems can help us be better designers of the changes we want to see in our own life and the world. Our connection to earth is our deepest source of hope, renewal, and strength.
    Enrolled CIIS students have registration priority; however interested individuals may audit the class for fee of $255.
Time: Saturday 10:00 a.m.- 6:00 p.m., Sunday 10:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.
Location: California Institute of Integral Studies, 1453 Mission Street
For more information: www.ciis.edu, 415-575-6198

September 14 - October 25
online course
"Unveiling Creativity: Writing for Ritual and Spirituality"
This online course explores writing both as a spiritual practice and as a key to freeing our creative voice. In a supportive atmosphere, we'll write chants, liturgy, poems, songs, and short essays or journal posts, using the process as a way to affirm our power of self expression, defang our critical inner voices and transform them into helpful editors. We'll learn how to give and receive constructive critique, and hone our work to a higher standard of excellence. Starhawk will offer her special tips for chant-writing for the musically impaired. And we'll create wonderful new material to enrich our spiritual communities.
Enroll online at www.growingedgeinstitute.com
Cost $150. Some partial scholarships may be available, please contact administration at GEI.

Sunday - Friday, October 4-9
Cortes Island, British Columbia, Canada
6-day course
"Vision and Action"
In these times of environmental and economic uncertainty, we need a clear vision for a future of peace, justice, abundance and balance. Explore new tools to help you in the coming transformation and discover how to thrive in an era of change. Anchor to the wisdom of your inner core through experiences with spirit, nature, imagination and magic. Use trance, deep meditation and sacred space to access the insight of earth-healing spirit allies. Presented by the Hollyhock Retreat Centre.
For more information: www.hollyhock.ca
call (800) 933-6339 or (250) 935-6576 (outside North America)
email: <registration(at)hollyhock.ca>

November 9 - December 20
online course
"The Inner Compass: Finding and Holding the Vision"
Witches, shamans, and Pagans draw on the balance of life for knowledge, renewal and healing. But right now, at this crucial moment in time, that balance is threatened by global warming, social and environmental breakdown. Our society is faced with a huge challenge-the necessity for fundamental changes in our way of life.  Each of us alive today is here for a purpose. We each have a unique role to play in bringing about that transformation-our own gifts, our own vision. And the earth needs us each to be our most creative, compassionate and powerful self.
    But how do we find that vision, our purpose for being here, our true work? How do we step up to the challenge, and how can we hold a vision through times of adversity, and find the courage to overcome fears, blocks and challenges?
Enroll online at www.growingedgeinstitute.com
Cost $150. Some partial scholarships may be available, please contact administration at GEI.