On Powers, Great and Small

Summary

It’s tempting to dismiss Josh Schrei’s work as ‘woo-woo’, but doing so would miss the sharp insight and wisdom that his meticulously researched and curated episodes carry – and his own robust aversion to ‘woo-woo’. In a moment where ‘power’ is being sought, deconstructed, and exerted at all levels, this reflection offers a welcome and encouraging pause. It’s vitally important to understand the larger framework of cosmic powers, ecological powers, and the cycles and patterns in which these powers express. This isn’t as simple as saying power sucks, or there’s no such thing as power, or that power is all human dynamics, so we’ll just flatten everything, and that’s our way of dealing with Power. Rather, we find that the world is shaped and transformed continually by small, invisible, relational powers. Trusting these small powers may help us resist the fragile obvious powers that preoccupy our ruling classes. Features contributions from Nyoongar writer, storyteller and researcher Jack Mitchell, Hawaiian cultural practitioner Kanani Aton, and Living Sanskrit’s Shivani Hawkins. A great accompaniment to a walk in the woods.

Rationale

We argue dispositions hold sway because they go largely unseen. Schrei finds the hopeful side of that: small, unseen, relational powers that may help resist the fragile, obvious ones.