There are some interesting things happening in the American Pagan communities right now. (For those of you in those communities, you know this is not an unusual occurrence.) A man running for office in New York has been about on social media, warning of “Satanists” teaching in public schools. His opinion is that only Christians should be allowed to teach children. I have written that as unemotionally as possible but it is an emotional issue, especially since he stole a photo from a school teacher’s page to illustrate his point. t was a photo of a group of co-religionists in their ceremonial robes. They are not Satanists–not that there’s anything wrong with that, thanks to the First Amendment.
He is a ridiculous little man, someone who is not supported by his own party. But he is the tip of the iceberg, as those of us who have been doing this work since the 1990s can attest. We are keeping our collective eye on the situation and on the national religious scene in general, especially in this fraught election year.
The behind-the-scenes conversations have me thinking about notions of leadership and of leaders. Which also leads me to think about power which reminds me to suggest you read Raine Eisler’s The Chalice and the Blade (or reread it, it it’s been a while).
We often hear that there is a leadership vacuum locally, statewide, regionally, nationally and internationally. How often have you personally shaken your head that our presidential election seems to be coming down to two very old, very white men–is this honestly the best we can do? In these Tower-shaking times of ours, it feels like one more collapsing system. And a system we are hard-pressed to repair.
My thoughts are these–we must, from the ground up and from the inside out–redefine what leadership looks like. In the top-down/hierarchical structures we’ve inherited over these many long years, there is always someone on top of the pyramid and the pyramid is served and supported by all the rest of us. When we have had enough and are ready for a change, we remove (peacefully through elections or otherwise) the person on top, replacing that person with another, and we do it all again.
I don’t think the person on top is particularly the problem. The problem is the system, the structure of the system. It can only be and do so much, not matter who is “in charge.” Our systems are designed to be top-down and power remains in the hands of the top tier. It is time–passed time–to look for different models of leadership and different ways of leading.
Are we ready for this discussion now? Finally? I don’t know but I’d going to continue talking about it and invite you to join me in pondering how it could be effective, efficient and guided by common sense and compassion.
Does that seem like too much to ask? Does that seem impossible? I don’t think so and I welcome your collaboration ,in the thinkfest.