{"product_id":"2940044330337","title":"Lunatic With a Soapbox: The Collected 2012 Hearthstone Articles","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe third collection of articles written by Morgan Drake Eckstein for the Hearthstone Community Church monthly newsletter. 2012 was a busy year for the Denver Wiccan community. Besides it being an electional year, several important local Wiccans passed over. Plus Hearthstone was busy looking for a new board member. As always, Morgan Eckstein proves that he is a lunatic with a soapbox as he comments about what is going on.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eContains the following articles:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAre you registered to vote?\u003cbr\u003eWiccan maintenance\u003cbr\u003eTo share or to hoard\u003cbr\u003eOur future elders\u003cbr\u003eCalling upon strange and forgotten gods\u003cbr\u003eWho promised you a safe Wicca?\u003cbr\u003eBut we can promise you reasonable safety precautions\u003cbr\u003eA threefold interpretation of the cakes and ale\u003cbr\u003eWhat are the responsibilities of a leader?\u003cbr\u003eResponsibilities that we all have\u003cbr\u003eCompetition and the modern pagan\u003cbr\u003eMemory and Drawing Down the Moon\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eExcerpt from “What are the responsibilities of a leader?” (September 2012 newsletter article):\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSo what are the responsibilities of a leader in my universe?\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOne, they have chosen to put the interests of a group ahead of their own personal interests. A leader serves the needs of a group. It is an unpleasant job. Occasionally, this involves “herding cats” and moving the group in a direction that the individual members do not want to go. A true leader knows that one sometimes has to make unpopular decisions. One cannot please everyone when they are a leader. A leader also has to place the interests of their group ahead of other groups—if all opinions and interests were the same, we would not need leaders in the first place.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA leader leads by example and\/or suggestion. They do not need to be officially in a position of power. Their ability to lead does not spring from the position that they hold in a group, rather it springs from their innermost being. Sometimes, a true leader seems more like a force of nature than a human being.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAnd most importantly, a leader needs to know the following two sentences: “I do not know,” and “I made a mistake.” A leader has to be able to admit when they do not know something, and they have to be willing to admit to occasionally (or often) making mistakes. A leader does not need to be right all the time, but they do have to be willing to admit mistakes and ignorance, and be willing to change directions when necessary.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLeaders are not leaders because they are popular or agree with everyone. They are leaders because they are willing to make unpleasant decisions, and are willing to put the best interests of others ahead of their own personal interests. A true leader will not change their behavior just because someone says that they are wrong. Being a leader is unpleasant on most days—which is why I am glad that I am just a lunatic with a soapbox.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Morgan Drake Eckstein","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47081544712432,"sku":"2940044330337","price":0.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/2940044330337_p0.jpg?v=1763661903","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940044330337","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}