Earthscapes, Other Worlds, and Crossing Thresholds

Dear Metapsychonauts,

This week, we are excited to feature the work of two extraordinary visual artists, Sarah Pearce and Marjorie Kaye.

Pearce’s “Earthscape” collection adds another beautiful dimension to our series on Creature Consciousness. As she writes in her introduction:

“Animals feel like family but also completely alien. In our familial mode, we strongly sympathize, even envision our own lives and dilemmas through them. But when we experience animals as more alien, more elusive, we can only cherish fleeting glimpses through trees or under waves, and we go still at the sight and thankfully accept what is given. We see that they are not ours, we are not them, and yet we can be joyful for what we will never understand.”

The 11 images of “Earthscape” present a luminous assemblage of color, shape, texture, and mystery. If you’re in need of a nourishing respite from the troubles of our all-too-human world, take a few moments, clear your mind (as much as possible), and lose yourself in Pearce’s images. Then go outside! I guarantee the whole world—at least the natural part of it—will appear refreshed and renewed, or your money back.

Then there’s Marjorie Kaye’s creative contribution, which includes not only visual art—specifically, two works titled “Lotus Prism” and “Seed”—but also a beautifully weird, poetic, sci-fi story, “Mother – Chapter Two,” which follows her earlier submission to our “Writing from the Future” series.

At this time, we’re also seeding our next call for submissions, which will be posted to our editors’ blog within the next couple of weeks. This time, we’re looking for works (poetry, fiction, essays, music, film, visual art, etc.) that explore the theme of crossing thresholds. This is an opportunity to present work that reflects on any of the various kinds of thresholds (including liminal zones, tipping points, rites of passage, etc.) that are looming in our lives or that we are already traversing—personal, relational, social, political, technological, ecological, spiritual… all of the above and more. Visit our submissions page to submit your work at any time.

Speaking of thresholds, we at Metapsychosis are on the verge of crossing a big one of our own. The cooperative organization we are a part of, Cosmos Co-op, is preparing to launch as an “official” social enterprise, with a formal constitution and leadership structure, and seeking the funding required to sustain itself well into the future.

Join us on November 16th—live and in-person, if you can make it to Longmont, Colorado, or via livestream (link will be shared next week)—for our launch party and benefit, which we are calling “Birth of the Cosmic.”

The event will feature music, poetry, storytelling, and presentations, including performances by Sheela Bringi, Elden Kelley, Chris Rippey, Ben Williams, Heather Fester, Katherine Eid Wild, Miguel Halverson-Ramos, Caroline Savery, and Marco V Morelli (that’s me)—and I’m pretty sure it’s going to be a fantastic night.

Seating is limited, and there are not too many left, so you must RSVP ASAP if you’d like to attend. The event is free with a suggested donation, and will include light food and your choice of Dionysian or Apollonian refreshments. I hope to see some of you there!

As always, we welcome your comments, and invite you to become a patron if you wish to support our creative mission.

Let’s take good care of ourselves and each other this week… I, for one, believe we could be on the verge of better times (or at least, the opportunity to create them)—IF we show up and play our part in the greater work.

Yours truly,

Marco V Morelli
Editor-in-Chief, Metapsychosis journal
@madrush on Mastodon