Permaculture and the Sacred: A Conversation with Starhawk

Starhawk, contemporary witch, activist, and permaculturist, spoke at HDS on March 7, 2013, about how earth-based spirituality can inform and empower efforts to build sustainable communities and societies.
Starhawk is a founder of Reclaiming, a contemporary Pagan tradition that blends Goddess spirituality and social activism, and of Earth Activist Trainings, which equips people to combine permaculture design with political organizing and spiritual practice. A leading interpreter of feminist Wicca, she is the author of "The Spiral Dance," "The Fifth Sacred Thing," "The Empowerment Manual," and many other books.

[@terrabus1]

She is an amazing force in this world. She has spread love and hope through the lives of many.

[@pambennett8967]

She affected me directly and one of my close friends also She is amazing

[@raineericson1759]

Absolutely inspiring. Thank you Starhawk, we need this more and more every day

[@whiteowlwitchcraft]

A wonderful talk on how we can improve the world for all of us.

[@donaburns7912]

I read the Spiral Dance back in the 60s and fell in love. Thanks for your ideas and words.

[@pambennett8967]

I stumbled into one of her Spiral Dance rituals accidentally and was amazed and healed by the experience It was around 2008 in San Francisco... hundreds of people took part

[@KimberlyKelley_LnDDirector]

I am giving a talk on the Reclaiming Tradition tomorrow. I feel like after watching this I can truly be aligned to Starhawk and her vision for our Earth. Thank you for posting this! I am ever so grateful.

[@HeyBeeps]

I have just started reading one of her books and I'm in love! Her words make SO much sense! Best author I've found yet c:

[@wrenhaffner5545]

Starhawk is one of our many emerging clear-thinkers/seers of our time. I'm thankful for her vision and life experience. I hope this to be shared with many people and shared in schools.

[@dereklong1154]

Thankyou for posting this and inviting Starhawk to come and speak. I thoroughly enjoyed her talk, all of her talks I learn something and am entertained and engaged. Thankyou :)

[@AmyElizabethFrith]

My dream has always been to spread permaculture worldwide . I am very optimistic .

[@vodkaboy]

It's a pseudoscience. It also doesn't work. Growing your own vegetables is a great idea still, gardening is very good for your mental health.

[@jenniedutton9083]

I found this video very informative. Starhawk is a very interesting woman and an excellent author. Thank you.

[@casapangea783]

i am so thanked to your world view! i am really grated to live these times!

[@aduralkain]

Wonderful and inspiring talk! Pity the camera-work was so bad, I'd have liked to see the photos and video she was showing!

[@virginiatrott9888]

I’ve been a fan if Starhawk for several decades..i have most of her books..it’s nice to see so much coming out about the Goddess..much thanks

[@selfinvolved21]

Magical.. I'm so glad to have found this! Thank you

[@susancerezo401]

I must admit that I was put off my her name. But sat and listened to her talk and felt 'this is exactly how I have been feeling..for over 50 years. Unfortunately I don't have her tremendous clarity of talking. Wonderful ! Thank you so much ! I add that Emilia Hazelip, who was a real trail blazer of Permaculture in Europe was a dear friend. She sadly died far too young. I wonder if they met . 🍃☘🍃🌲🌴🌵🌎🙏💚💙💚☘🍃🌱☘🌵🍀🍃

[@suterfire]

Excellent lecture

[@socratesraramuri5040]

i will remember this talk whenever i think of the expression: "Culture is not just what we are able to build but also what we refuse to destroy". Starhawk puts this idea of refusing-to-destroy into words so eloquently. AgriCULTURE, too, should look to this principle, as a principle. That is permaculture.

[@juliatitze]

I was just constantly nodding my head and being like "Yeah...yeah...totally!" while watching this video.

[@SharonJackson13]

Brilliant, thank you Starhawk!

[@zeph6439]

Plant species of plants and trees which are native to your area. These plants are hardy and planting even one every month will help to restore the natural balance. Even the bees may recover, that is, if people stopped using insecticides as well.

[@glennpowell1838]

It's too bad we can't see the slide show at all. Can it be found somewhere else ?

[@uziao]

thank you from Brasil ~.~

[@ErikRothFfM]

Thank you very much 🙏

[@dancingcedar]

love it!!!!!

[@pambennett8967]

I wonder if she knows how much good she has done in the world

[@rastafariducoeurbelgique6358]

the farmer sister big up from belgium tank for gaïa

[@francescam3862]

AMAZIIIING

[@TLoZzip]

I just came here to say that Starhawk is an awesome name. And not exactly what I was looking for.

[@auroraarien970]

Interesting...

[@wanda263]

What is the adstringent tea Lily and Madrone on page 171 in the "Fifth sacred thing"? The effects were phrased like this: "her tongue feeling stripped and dry, but the colors of the day seemed brighter, more clear." I would be very thankful if anyone could find that out. I do perception work with plants and like to find an effective but more harmonous alternative to coffee.

[@ruthtaylor3496]

i have been looking for articles on the wto permaculture protest Sharhawk mentioned , but nothing coming up, any ideas?

[@strattgatt]

Feminism and the occult continuing on together with the supposed wise men (and women) of the day. How biblical.

[@michelecraig9658]

I just wish that the slides and video was part of the recording.

[@helenbee5442]

truthspeaker.

[@dereksmith9417]

what about that place,between the in breath and the out breath?

[@KesleyCage]

Lazy camera-work but loving the lecture.

[@pambennett8967]

Nature is not more sacred than human ... humans are part of nature and are therefore sacred too

[@ladyslipperland]

Waking Up the Masses

[@aryanalfa2444]

im up to whatkins list

[@uziao]

17:35

[@gauradas108]

She said " Drugs sex and rock and roll is a spiritual practice " . Not

[@Adornbeautify]

YES IT IS! THOSE CHEMICALS PUT YOU IN A MINDSTATE! JUST LIKE MUSIC AND SEX.

[@billdewey5144]

Don't knock what you haven't tried - lots of us actually tried conventional religion and found it empty

[@gibouroad59]

Please keep your hate to yourself! If you can't post anything positive, then you shouldn't post anything at all!

[@vodkaboy]

lmao "this is a christian server u guys"

[@billdewey5144]

@@vodkaboy Well, even Christians gotta "serve somebody," Bob Dylan said!

[@KaliMaaaaa]

I had issues with many of her beliefs/writings years ago, and it's clear she has continued down the same non-radical path. She is advocating a male/human centric system (ie green consumerism, which is still consumerism) and actually uses the phrase "gardners porn" as a "joke", I'm also guessing she is not a vegan (which speaks to a massive disconnect and everything that is the anti- goddess culture). The writing was on the wall years ago when she "revised" her book and each time got more PC and neo-liberal. I would imagine she is a Queer Theory and Tranz supporter at this point. The works of Mary Daly, actual eco feminists and even a male like Derrick Jensen are far more profound. Very disappointing.

[@sarahallenhumboldt2638]

Please share how you have been changing the world with us.

[@AchillesofAchilles]

The reason our beliefs were that way was because that's how we survived. Without those systems we wouldn't have survived. But over time that turned into something else. Men started to abuse that right. I do agree there. But we need to learn to be equal. That's why I'm for the merge with AI. Our world has gone in circles in circles forever. This crap is nonsense. I'm tired of hearing this feminist crap. Can we all just grow up and stop fighting for power. This is another reason I hate our society.

[@itsmeagain7246]

and that's how you ridicule permaculture. we actually should get farmers over, this will not help...

[@johnlafontaine4003]

Call yourself "Feminist" and you have license to spew unspotted absurdities, even at Harvard.

[@amazziestarr]

John La Fontaine be born a man and have license to denigrate and put down women for standing up and talking about women's issues. go the patriarchy.

[@johnlafontaine4003]

amazziestarr Dismissing my criticism based on my genitalia is sexist. "Standing up"? More absurdity. In academia criticism of feminism is not tolerated. In no way did I put down or denigrate women with my comment. You sound like Stalinist or Maoist, you only know how to spew your party line.

[@rogerstorrs8679]

+John La Fontaine erm, you DID kindof imply FEMINISM=ABSURDITY, which doenst really lend itself to Civil Debate - what part of the quite sensible practice of Composting to recycle biomatter did you disapprove of?

[@billdewey5144]

Well, you get to spew on youtube - why not her at Harvard?