What IS Reality?

The Vernal Equinox. For those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, it marks the beginning of Spring. In New Mexico, (where editor Barbara lives), this time has meant green sprouts, blooming crocus, and a haze in the breeze from the annual, enthusiastic pollination of the numerous juniper trees. In Wisconsin, (where editor Joan lives), it has meant a long, last blast of winter that followed (as always!) a tantalizing glimpse of spring. In each place, the time of the equinox brings a very different experience. Which one could we say is the "real" experience?

Of course, the answer is both. How we experience the world, how we experience reality, is unique for each place and for each person. You will find this truth threaded throughout this issue of Cezanne's Carrot. Some pieces celebrate the world of the five senses, while leaving a door of possibilities open to what lies beyond: for example, Bill Leskee's photographs "Asian Garden" and "Monarch Butterfly"; Stephen Allen's haibun "Cold Salt Water"; Laura Stamps' story "The Messenger." Many other works introduce us to realities, to worlds, to experiences beyond the five senses, such as Noah Renn's memoir "Crisco & Ketchup," Anita Saran's story "The Enlightened Robot," and Scott Underwood's fiction "A Brief History of Man," as well as the wonderful images captured or created by Beebe Barksdale-Bruner, Jeff Crouch, and David Skora.

Brought together and looked at as a single volume of work, we can only be astounded at the creativity of the writers and the freedom with which they share their visions and experiences--the realities experienced first hand or brought to life inside the heart and mind.

We have also realized a new reality here at Cezanne's Carrot. We finally received official classification as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. As a result, we now hope to expand beyond the limitations of a self-funded journal. Our goal has always been to pay each writer and artist a stipend for their work—but since neither of us has won the lottery or received a generous inheritance from a previously unknown, but wealthy relative, this has remained an unmet goal.

So we are opening it up to you, our readers. If you have enjoyed the work on these pages, help us help the writers and artists whose vision and talent has made it all possible. Even a small donation will help get us closer to our goal of making this a paying market for every contributor—and your donations are tax-deductible here in the US. (Of course there may be exceptions; we claim no expertise on your individual tax situation!) If you are able to help, please visit our donations page and help us build our new, abundant reality!

In any case, we invite you to plunge into the visionary, mind-stretching, and provocative realities created by this issue's writers and artists!

In blessing and gratitude,

Barbara Jacksha & Joan Kremer