Spoken Generation

October 8, 2023

Hamas and Israel at War:
The Problem with Dark Eris

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In this email, we'll be talking about the recent events in Israel and Gaza. It's worth getting into, but I encourage taking a breath and grounding yourself before diving in.

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Hi Reader,

Mars squares Pluto today. This is an incredibly tense aspect that can indicate power struggles and violence.

This transit coincided with an unprecedented attack on Israel from the militant group Hamas. Hundreds of Israelis and Palestinians have been killed since the attack, and Hamas has reportedly taken dozens of Israeli captives to Gaza, including women, children, and the elderly.

This is a dark time for the region and for anyone paying attention to the global situation. This is a developing story, and I can't speak to every aspect of the situation, as it has been many years since my undergraduate studies on Middle East security issues.

But what I can say is this: Hamas' reaction during this hair-trigger transit is a manifestation of dark Eris, a type of consciousness that acts in retaliation and vengeance and does little more than create the kind of horror and bloodshed we're witnessing.

What is dark Eris?

Eris is traditionally known in Greek mythology as the goddess of strife and discord. She was known to cause quarrels among men and act out as a result of her exclusion, but how that archetype manifests can vary.

Eris at her best responds to injustice by boldly challenging and confronting the status quo—but dark Eris? She's after little more than revenge, and when she acts, she has little consideration for the part she's playing or the violence and additional chaos she's creating.

Her thirst for chaos does not help shake up injustice. Her chaos is the injustice and often begets a chain of further cruelty and harm.

That's what we are seeing this weekend with Hamas, and it has started a war—but in this war, there will be many lives lost, and the timeline to peace will now be drawn out, maybe for decades.

Why am I sharing about dark Eris?

I'm sharing this because if you look at what's really happening in Gaza and Israel this weekend, it is horrific. It is one of those events where you wonder:

"How can people do this?"

"Is there any hope for humanity?"

"Is it always going to be like this?"

I share this because if we can understand the part of the human experience that manifests this type of event, it's no longer a fully unimaginable horror, even as it is inexcusable and inhumane.

If we can understand what is happening, we can develop more agency and do our part, bending the arc of the universe toward love and justice. And if we know that this is a manifestation of dark Eris and that she must be challenged to a higher path of justice and equity, then we can begin to see peace shine through, even if only in little glimmers.

My course on Eris, Woman Warrior, is a response to events such as these. I believe that when we understand the first principles and causes behind these types of events, we can begin to feel more capable of showing up and doing something about our world at last.

Please take a few moments to hold the people of Israel and Palestine in your care. May protection and safety be upon the people of Israel and Palestine, and may they be covered with grace beyond measure.

Peace,
Rayner