Speaking the Unspoken (Out Loud)

Friend,

Friend?

Known or unknown, perhaps, potentially, friend…

We are, I hope, inside the rippling and indeterminate circle of this journal, with its porous, open-ended, and yet not-insignificant membrane, among friends.

Among friends, you can say what is on your mind and in your heart, without being killed for it—without your metaphorical head being chopped off, without being cancelled, deplatformed, de-friended, socially ostracized or whatever you fear, and yet being held in compassion, with love, and in response (if required; and if not, not) being told the truth, as only a friend can tell it, which is to say, in a way that you can actually hear it.

It is vitally important to our souls, to our humanity (I don’t know about post- or more-than humanities), to our whole being, and even, many would argue (and I along with them) for the health and integrity of our society and communities, that we are able to say what we genuinely think and feel, and that we have the political freedom to do so.

But alongside, prior to, and arguably more essentially, we need the emotional freedom to notice what we notice, and to utter it—to be able to see it more clearly, to name it, to know it, to perhaps integrate it, if such is possible and desirable. This is for our own sake, and also for the benefit of the people around us, the field of consciousness we share, our common awareness.

Something like this is what Layman Pascal is naming and elucidating, in his inimitable style, in the essay, What’s in a Name (And What’s Out)?: Completing the Peripheral in Multiple Ways—which I invite you to read, enjoy, reflect upon, and then see what comes up for you, which you can share, if you so desire, in our forum topic for this piece. What do you feel called to name into the field?

Next, a perfect example of someone stating simply what is true for her… yet more than likely, not only for her, a point so obvious as to be commonly, hilariously overlooked, especially among those who, in all sincerity, are looking for something deeper (yet perhaps not deep enough). I’m talking about the inimitably inimitable Stephanie Wellen Levine and her essay, Buddhism: Oy Vey (Except For That One Time), where she makes the rather (oddly) unpopular point that she likes having a self, likes being herself, likes being in the world (to some extent), and that she doesn’t want it to end, even while remaining unapologetically curious about what comes next.

What an honor, pleasure, privilege (yes, it’s a fucking privilege!), and joy it is to publish such engaging, intelligent, creative, courageous, and good writers. I don’t mean morally good, cuz who knows?, but you know what I mean, dear reader, dear friend…

And so, I humbly invite you to read them, enjoy what it means to connect and commune with another human mind, while you still can…

Metapsychosis is above all a community—a creative community. We may not have a strict set of rules, a doctrine or a guru, but there is some common thread here being woven each week, which you are always being invited to pick up on, so that you, too, can enter into the weave, with your own colorful threads, enriching the invisible fabric for all of us.

One creative member of our community, who came in as a poet and supporting member less than a year ago, and is now participating as an associate editor and invaluable collaborator in the development of our co-op, is Lauren Rhiannon Lockhart. Her recent call for submissions on Creature Consciousness has brought in some amazing work so far, and the call remains open until the end of next month (August 31)—so if you feel called, respond to the call! I know she’d love (and we’d all love) to see your best work.

If you’d like to learn more about Cosmos Co-op, the cooperative organization behind Metapsychosis, Untimely Books, and many other projects and possibilities (beyond even what we are currently imagining), you might like to join us for a one of our upcoming community meetings (welcome to newcomers and old-timers alike), of which two opportunities are scheduled in August.

Cosmos Local Meet-Up (Colorado) – Monday, August 5 at 7 pm MDT

Cosmos Community Meet-Up – Thursday, August 8 at 12 pm MDT

I am also delighted to announce an upcoming show, that Cosmos Co-op (with a stellar crew from Longmont Public Media) will be hosting at the end of this month, featuring a couple good friends.

Sheela Bringi & Bill McCrossen Live-In-Studio Show

Monday, July 29, 7 pm
Longmont Public Media (457 4th Ave, Longmont, CO)

Sheela Bringi, a multifaceted musician, effortlessly weaves her Indian roots with modern harmonies and deep rhythms from around the world. During her live performances, her refined skill on the harp, harmonium, and Indian bamboo flute, combined with her ethereal, Hindustani-inflected vocals, creates a captivating and transcendent experience for listeners with open ears and hearts.

Sheela will be joined by Bill McCrossen, one of Colorado’s finest bass players, playing acoustic bass and ngoni (African stringed instruments).

This show is a live-in-studio performance and will be multi-track recorded and video recorded with multiple cameras. Please keep that in mind if bringing young ones.

This is a FREE show, but please register to save your spot.

And for those of you who can’t make it in person: stay tuned, as we might be live-streaming the event. If so, we’ll share the link when we have it.

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One final announcement. Next week begin the individual meetings and our first group session in preparation for the Psychedelic Incubator retreat happening August 9–11 in Colorado.

Do you want to explore (in a safe, supportive, and ceremonial space) the potential that psychedelic substances (specifically, psilocybin mushrooms) may open up or awaken in your creative process or even for a specific creative idea? IF so, and IF this is the right time for you, and you’re willing to travel (as required) and make the investment: now is the time to register, so you can participate in the full program.

This is the first time Paulina Alanis and I are offering this type of retreat together–and we might do it again, but we might not, just depending on, well, the universe. I’m not trying to create a false sense of urgency or scarcity, just being honest. Not everybody lives in Colorado, where some psychedelic plant medicines, such as the one we will be working with, are legal. And while anybody, with an underground connection, can buy some drugs and have a wild experience—it is another thing altogether to partake of ancient sacrament, within an intentional environment, in a community of care and mindfulness, with a set and setting completely focused on developing your creative work on a soul level.

We have one space left that we’d really love to fill—so if you’re curious and have questions, please reach out. You can even simply reply to this email. But do so soon, since our first group meeting is coming up this Thursday (7/25), and you’ll need to be registered before then if you want to participate.

What else? As ever, we sure would love to have you as a patron of our literary arts journal and participant in our community forum. For patrons, we offer reading and writing groups, private discussions, and spontaneous happenings which I haven’t even touched on in this newsletter. You do not need a degree, a letter of recommendation, or any special credentials to get in.

But we need your support because it costs money to run all this, and our writers and artists need to make a living just like everybody else. There is nothing mysterious about this part of things. If you appreciate what we’re up to, please support us at whatever level makes sense for you.

A big THANK YOU to all our existing supporters, contributors, and participants (some few dozen of you, whom I trust know who you are)—you make it all worthwhile.

And a THANK YOU, too, to you, my known or unknown reader, my met or unmet friend.

Let’s be in touch,

Marco V Morelli

Editor-in-Chief, Metapsychosis journal
Co-Creator, Cosmos Co-op
@madrush: on Mastodon | on Infinite Conversations

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