Editors' Note ~
Journeys Inward & Outward
For those of us at Cezanne’s Carrot, and probably many of you, the Fall Equinox is a time of settling in, slowing down, and reflecting on all the many journeys we’ve traveled in the summer months—journeys of the physical or journeys of the spirit or mind. Once again, we notice that the journeys we thought we were taking took us to unexpected places or left us with unexpected new revelations.
We see the theme of journeys throughout the insightful works that grace this issue. Sometimes journeys are intentional, the seeking out of something, such as in Kyle Hemmings’ “Water Woman,” Elaine Chiew’s “Terminus,” or James Papoutsis’ “Echoes.”
But often journeys arise, as well, out of the ordinary. And these journeys are the ones that can lead to the most amazing places or understandings. Look at how the practice of yoga can lead two different journeys in the nonfiction pieces by Carol Caruolo (“Searching”) and Ginny Mahar (“Back to the Cradle”). Read some of the other fiction pieces and you’ll see how seemingly ordinary actions like Halloween trick-or-treating (Russell Bittner’s “Fright Night”), an evening bath (Vrinda Baliga’s “The Hidden Motif”), or even Internet dating (Maggie Shearon’s “Harvest”) can lead to unexpected journeys of growth and understanding.
Other times the journey is within, to insights that go beyond our physical world and yet affect it deeply—such as in fiction by Janice Soderling (“A House of Many Rooms”) and Nick Padron (“The Numbers Vendor”), and the creative nonfiction of Tay Berryhill (“Caged Spirit”).
What’s also striking in this issue is how our journeys deal with unusual, powerful relationships that affect our present-day lives, no matter what realm the other dwells in. Check out this theme in these stories of the unexpected: “Michael in the Sky” by Margaret Frey, “Forgotten” by Mitzi McMahon, and “The Visits” by Christopher Woods.
Not surprisingly, our lineup of art visually illustrates these themes of journeys to insight and expansiveness. Be sure to spend time gazing at the visionary artwork of Tay Berryhill, Jeff Crouch, and Eliza Schmid.
As you journey through this issue, we hope some of the works will trigger memories of your own journeys, and allow you to reflect on them with new amazement of where and who you have been!
Coming Up: We’re excited to see what our “Return of Light” contest produces for our next issue—the Winter Solstice, when in the physical world, sunlight begins returning to the Northern Hemisphere. Prizes of $100 each will be awarded to the winners of three categories—Fiction, Flash Fiction, and Creative Nonfiction. For details, check out our contest guidelines page. Then send us your best, “freshest” writing on whatever “Return of Light” means to you! And be sure to return to view the Winter Solstice issue, in which we'll publish both the winners and honorable mentions of our “Return of Light” contest.
Copyright 2007 by Cezanne’s Carrot
