By Starhawk Webs of Power (Autographed) [Paperback]

by Starhawk

Webs of Power (02) by Starhawk [Paperback (2002)]

Genres: Nonfiction, Activism, Feminism, Spirituality, Philosophy, Paganism, Politics

Paperback

First published August 1, 2002

About the author

Starhawk is an author, activist, permaculture designer and teacher, and a prominent voice in modern Goddess religion and earth-based spirituality. She is the author or coauthor of thirteen books, including the classics The Spiral Dance and The Fifth Sacred Thing. Her latest is the newly published fiction novel City of Refuge, the long-awaited sequel to The Fifth Sacred Thing.

Starhawk directs Earth Activist Training, (www.earthactivisttraining.org), teaching permaculture design grounded in spirit and with a focus on organizing and activism. “Social permaculture”—the conscious design of regenerative human systems, is a particular focus of hers.

She lives on Golden Rabbit Ranch in Western Sonoma County, CA, where she is developing a model of carbon-sequestering land use incorporating food forests and savannahs, planned grazing, and regenerative forestry.

She travels internationally, lecturing and teaching on earth-based spirituality, permaculture, and the skills of activism. Her web site is www.starhawk.org.

Reviews

[Orpheus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Deux choses à savoir avant de lire ce livre: tout d'abord, je recommande vraiment de sauter l'introduction, et ensuite (si vous êtes comme moi) de ne pas laisser vos a priori sur le néo-paganisme et les "sorcières" vous priver de cette lecture.

Petite note sur l'introduction: j'ai faillit arrêter le livre à cause de cette intro, une espèce de charabia intellectuel qui aurait pu faire sens si l'on n'avait pas donné autant de poids à l'idée que "inaccessible" = "intelligent". On a l’impression de déchiffrer le menu d’un restaurant gastronomique, ou de chercher des indices pour sortir d’un escape room. Bref, je ne l'ai pas terminé- si le courage me vient, peut-être que je lui donnerais une deuxième chance maintenant que j'ai finit le livre.

Le reste de l'œuvre, c'est à dire les essais de Starhawk, sont parmi les meilleurs que j'ai lu sur le sujet dans ce début d'aventure. Activisme, non-violences, appropriations culturelles, modèles de structures anarchique... Ce ne sont q'une partie des sujets discutés par Starhawk. Les réflexions qu'on y retrouve sont d'un actuel non négligeable, et chaque remarque que je me faisais au sujet de ce que je lisais était aussitôt discutée dans les pages qui suivaient.

Bref, c'est une lecture que je compte recommander à de nombreuxses amiexs, et je me réjouis de découvrir d'autres écrits par Starhawk.

[Ryan Mishap · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Notes From the Global Uprising”, this 2002 books recounts Starhawk’s internet posts from protests in Seattle, Quebec, D.C., Genoa, and from nonviolence trainings Brazil and elsewhere, as well as new text, a look at globalization, nonviolence vs. violence (and moving beyond this dichotomy), building the movement, and visions for the future. While I have a few quibbles with her stuff here—equating anarchism with direct democracy for instance—, mostly I think this is great. The reports from the protests put you right in it and are filled with inspiration, often echoing Crimethinc. style communiques! I never knew that Starhawk identified as an anarchist, albeit a Pagan, Witch anarchist. I would recommend this book for many reasons, so check it out. This is the first time I’ve seen a nonviolence advocate actually respect the black bloc anarchists, the punks, and our assorted comrades. She argues against the moralism and judgment of many pacifists and argues for more understanding and flexibility—while still being against armed revolution. While many people reading this zine may have problems with some of her positions, I think Starhawk is an important ally, thinker, and activist, who may very well help bridge the gap between feminists and anarchists. Let’s keep this kind of dialogue going and not shut it down with negativity.

[Eliseholl · Rating 4 out of 5]

La préface est tellement inaccessible que j’ai failli laisser tombé. Mais si on arrive à aller au delà des ces 50 premières pages, ce livre c’est un petit trésor! Le rapport à la nature que Starhawk nous invite a expérimenter est brillant de créativité. Un texte inspirant donc!

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had heard really good things about this book, but was a little bit skeptical about it given that the author calls herself a Witch. And, indeed, she talks about casting spells and such throughout the book, but not at any great depth, and also in a way that came off as less ridiculous than I expected. (Think of it as 'casting good vibes' rather than casting spells.)
But whatever your take on Paganism, it remains that Starhawk writes eloquently about the needs for the global justice movement and the challenges it faces. The book is a collection of short essays, the first half centered around various events - the WTO protest in Seattle, the A16 protest in DC, and other protests and gatherings in Quebec, Genoa, and Prague - while the last half is general considerations on the tactics and goals for global justice. The juxtaposition is interesting, as you read her vivid accounts of police brutality in all of the cities just mentioned (and by police brutality, think non-violent, elderly women protesters being raided in the middle of the night while they sleep, beaten, then arrested while they're at the hospital, and then jailed and tortured; this was exactly what happened in Genoa, where the police, coincidently, were trained by American police who had been at the WTO Seattle protest) and then read her insights into the use of non-violence, its appropriateness but also its challenges (non-violent movements have traditionally been organized hierarchically around father-figures such as Gandhi or King, and women participants often marginalized). Her deep commitment to non-violent resistance, given the amount of abuse she has witnessed, is something I respect tremendously. Like her, however, I also question the ways in which the non-violence movement has become mostly focused on standing for certain principles, without being concerned with how effective certain non-violent direct actions actually are. But Starhawk manages to address these issues of methodology while simultaneously remaining focused on the need for action, and on inspiring others to become involved in future action for global justice. I think this - along with the engaging first-person perspective on some of the major events in the anti-corporate globalization movement - make her book definitely worth the read.

[Jen Lighty · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good introduction to the truth about how corporations are controlling our reality and the movement to create something new based on justice for all beings.

[MotherMagic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Collection of Starhawk's essays, many of which were formerly housed on her website. What's wrong with WTO, World Bank, globalization, etc? Here are some pretty good explanations.

[Kate Mura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing. I go back to it whenever I need to reconnect to magick and politics and regain perspective on the whole greater than what swirls around directly effecting me.

[Sandy Lou · Rating 2 out of 5]

Déjà lu est un grand mot. J'étais curieuse de découvrir l'autrice citée dans un livre précédent et c'est ce livre d'elle qui était disponible à le bibliothèque. Je l'ai donc surtout feuilleté; mes moments forts étant la préface et le chapitre sur sa présence a la manifestation à Québec pour le Sommet des Amériques en 2001. N'étant pas particulièrement une grande fan de la politique altermondialiste ni des manifestations contre elle, pour moi c'était intéressant, sans plus!

[Sarah Letailleur · Rating 4 out of 5]

j’aurais plutôt mis 4,5
Prologue hyper compliqué et pas super accessible
Livre très intéressant dans son développement et dans les axes abordés néanmoins sentiment d’inachevé sur certains points, ou certains points me semblent trop centrés sur un seul exemple qui ne couvre pas forcément les limites

[Marjorie Jensen]

Starhawk's Spiral Dance was one of the things that set me on the path to becoming a Witch many years ago. The connections between magic and politics are the best parts of Webs of Power. I am very interested in how earth-based spirituality is linked to conservation efforts. The use of ritual and even Tarot in Starhawk's political actions was fascinating.

[Sharon]

I've had this on my shelf for a couple of years...just haven't gotten around to it yet.

[Apple Van vliet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cherish this book. Such a good reminder for Social Justice oriented folks regarding organizing tactics, reflections on power,etc. I hope to re-read this book soon to really let it sink in.

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un recueil plein d'espoir et de conseils, plein de bienveillance et avec une très bonne réflexion sur les mouvements violents et non-violents dans les luttes.

[Thev Loulou · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lire Starhawk est toujours un plaisir. Ecriture fluide, sujets passionnant. C’est de la lecture active et les thèmes sont toujours si contemporains.