Experiencing What is Beyond Words
Dear Readers,
At Metapsychosis, we believe in the power of the written word. But it’s undeniable that profound experiences tend to engage all our senses, physical and spiritual, in a way that is hard to capture by quickly-skimmed text on a screen. This week, Morgan Dix’s piece “Dancing Bear Men’s Retreat” uses audio to activate at least one extra sense, hearing. The combination of music and spoken word forces the listener to slow down, breath deep, and experience a narrative of the healing power of ritual, nature and myth.
“Ode To Mugwort” grapples with a experience that seems similarly impossible to pin down, and yet poet Jennifer Lothrigel evokes its very fleetingness with her lines, “We flew towards the light we had always wanted, / but were too afraid of, / our small bodies fluttering.” Brief yet vivid, this short poem is one to read and re-read, finding something new in it every time.
If you find any of our pieces on Metapsychosis moving or thought-provoking—and particularly if those are thoughts you want to share!—please leave us a comment to keep the conversation going. And if you want to get even more involved, there are plenty of activities starting this spring at Metapsychosis and in the broader Cosmos community. On June 4, at 1 pm MDT (note the change of date) we’ll be hosting out first live session of listening and discussion in the Acousmatic Music series. Free to Metapsychosis Patrons and Cosmos Co-op Members, this discussion series is for everyone who has been enjoying enjoyed the Acousmatic Music series on Metapsychosis and wants to learn more and connect with practitioners of this unique music genre. Our June meeting will feature special guests Leonie Roessler and Paul Dolden.
Patrons and members can also join the Writers’ Circle hosted by Metapsychosis editor Mary Thaler. We’ve had our inaugural meeting, but there is still one opening left for a writer who is interesting in depending their craft by giving and receiving peer feedback.
There may be things in this world that elude being put into words, but by coming together, we are able to express something beautiful. It’s been a pleasure to be on Metapsychosis with you all this week.
Until next time,
Mary Thaler
Associate Editor, Metapsychosis journal