Dear Readers,
Spiritual writing and art does not exist in a historical vacuum. In the months leading up to the submission period for this issue, the world witnessed the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a series of climate catastrophes, and humanitarian crises in Ukraine, Iran, Pakistan, Haiti, Turkey, and beyond. Here in the
United States, the national reckoning fraught with questions of racial justice, poverty, immigration, and democracy continues unabated. As we designed our call for submissions, an image came to us: “inside/outside,” an image that invites us to consider the experience of those living inside oppressive structures and those inhabiting liminal spaces at the margins. In response, we invited contributions for a special section within the issue called “Inside/Outside,” which features work that engages questions of homelessness, forced migration, and mass incarceration. We have always aimed to highlight these experiences, but there is still much work to be done in wider society and in our own Pensive community.
As we read and publish the work of socially engaged contributors – who speak from contexts of struggle and strive to stand with the marginalized and give voice to the voiceless – we recognize that we as editors have our own work to do. We cannot idly watch the world from a distance, Rather, the realities of homelessness, the global refugee crisis, the retributive brutality of the carceral system require artistic and intentional engagement.
We believe that spiritual writing and art should bear witness. The word witness means not only seeing, experiencing, or bringing to light the death-dealing realities of our world, but also “witnessing” to a truth – embodied in all world faiths and traditions of conscience – that another world is possible. As editors, we envision a more just, peaceful, and sustainable world – here in measure and still not yet – partially, glimpsed in moments of beauty, justice, and liberation – and still awaiting fulfillment.
We hope you will enjoy this issue of Pensive and share it with others. As always, we are grateful to all those who make Pensive a space of solidarity, creativity, and liberation.
– The Pensive Editorial Board