PaganSquare


PaganSquare is a community blog space where Pagans can discuss topics relevant to the life and spiritual practice of all Pagans.

  • Home
    Home This is where you can find all the blog posts throughout the site.
  • Tags
    Tags Displays a list of tags that have been used in the blog.
  • Bloggers
    Bloggers Search for your favorite blogger from this site.
  • Login
    Login Login form
Subscribe to this list via RSS Blog posts tagged in Kingship

Posted by on in Culture Blogs

The Madness of King Donald – Foreign Policy

As the Game of Thrones franchise keeps reminding us, the problem with hereditary monarchy generally comes down to succession.

Once Trump (may squirrels eat his face) manages to pull off his second and (this time) successful coup—with full so-called Republican support, of course—and declares himself Autocrat of the Americas and US King-for-Life, we're still left with the usual problem: who inherits?

Diehard supporters of both the Simple Primogeniture and the Male Primogeniture theories of monarchy will, of course, back Don Junior.

There are other models of succession, though. Among the ancient Germanic-speaking peoples of Europe, the new king (the ancient Germanic-speaking peoples mostly didn't have ruling queens) was the one chosen by the Council of Elders from among the Royal Kindred. In theory, the elders elect the most capable among the eligible candidates, and so you get a good king. Downside: we're back to Game of Thrones. This system pretty much guarantees wars of succession.

Proponents of this theory of inheritance will, of course, back Ivanka, arguably the most capable of King Donald's offspring.

(Image: a Jewish Prince Consort. Only in America.)

Realistically, though, we can also look for “Republican” backing of the younger, and presumably more readily manipulable, members of the family. Expect Mitch McConnell to support (and plan to rule through) either Eric or (my own bet) Barron—with, of course, full support from Queen Dowager Melania.

Trump Dynasty: coming soon to a country near you.

Last modified on
Recent comment in this post - Show all comments
  • Jamie
    Jamie says #
    Mr. Posch, It's like I've said before: Trump is the archetypal tyrant who overthrows democracy, from Book 9 of Plato's Republic.

Posted by on in Culture Blogs
Alas, Ill Rule in America

 “I was not the High King, that my doing should bring evil on the land.”

(Artos the Bear, in Rosemary Sutcliff's Sword at Sunset)

 

Pagan leadership is sacrificial leadership, and I'm not just talking about the kind of petty sniping and backbiting that dogs pretty much anyone with the audacity to step into a position of leadership in pretty much any pagan community.

All those stories about the King Must Die aren't really talking about cutting out hearts on altars; not literally, anyway. What they're really talking about is the price of leadership.

If you're not willing to lay yourself down on the altar, you have no right to lead.

Only those willing to sacrifice themselves are worthy.

That's why—rightly or wrongly—the Old Ways saw a direct connection between the actions of the leader and the well-being of the land and the people.

So look at the current situation in America.

Last modified on

Posted by on in SageWoman Blogs
The Golden Thread

“Open the door”, said the wise woman
“Come in and sit down.

For it is she of great worth
Who wears the King’s crown”.

I looked at the wizened face
For answers that long I had sought
Deep pools of star-filled eyes returned my gaze
And told of mysteries carefully taught.

Her countenance was hypnotic
And fingers deftly moved to and fro
Her body moving in rhythm
As the web from the spinning did grow.

Last modified on

Additional information