Chris Hedges has written one of the most sensitive and insightful analyses of what is currently happening in New York, and across the country.  I urge everyone to read it and follow it up with Paul Krugman’s piece as well.  That said, many of us Pagans will recognize as very familiar much of Hedges’ description of the decision-making dynamics currently taking place among the protestors, from “twinkling” to a way of encouraging consensus without stagnation that is also practiced in Covenent of the Goddess. Of course we have no monopoly in these matters but it is lovely to read about.

Two other things of note in this process.  First, while people have decided to demonstrate for many reasons, what is now happening is a massive education and consciousness raising event for the participants all over the country.  Non-coercive organization and decision-making, increased insight into the cess-pool that is modern America at the top, personal connections of trust for years to come, and a sense of efficacy and power that will not go away.  This kind of thing will have legs for the long run.

At a more theoretical level, as someone whose social science work has focused on emergent processes and spontaneous order, Hedges’ description is a marvelous example of these processes at work in a new context, one which I hope will grow and flower for years to come.