SUBMISSION OPPORTUNITY
Journal Seeking Works of Autocosmology
A couple of months ago I found myself in a seminar of Autocosmologists. This was a group of artists, scientists, and philosophers who had come together to discuss an emerging collective understanding of the cosmos that is quite unlike what mainstream thought has been telling us for many years. Autocosmology is a burgeoning academic discipline and media category that recognizes something which, for many indigenous cultures, is literally ancient news: Human beings are not separate from nature, or the larger cosmos, but rather the universe is all one large body, and humans are the limb of that body that has evolved to be able to turn around and look at itself, and then to tell itself its own story.
The goal of the field of Autocosmology is to understand more about ourselves based on what we know about the universe, and to understand more about the universe based on what we know from experience about ourselves. It is clear to us that in order to achieve this we will have to use every gift evolution has granted us, including our incredible and unique ability to translate our knowledge and theories into emotionally significant form. In other words, our ability - and our common inclination - to make art.
To this end, the creators of Starborne: The Journal of Autocosmology, for which I am a contributing editor, are seeking works that add new ideas and perspectives to this endeavor. In their own words, “This journal is a space where art, science, philosophy, cosmology, and lived experience converge to deepen our appreciation for the cosmos and our role within its ongoing evolution. […] Whether you are a researcher with new findings, a philosopher with profound insights, an artist with evocative visions, or a writer with a fresh narrative, your contributions are welcome” (A Letter from the Editors).
The specific guidelines are as follows:
What We Seek:
Prose, poetry, visual art, and other forms of electronic media that reflect the autocosmological perspective: expressions that are both about and of the cosmos.
Works that creatively meld personal narratives with broader cosmological themes, offering insights into the interplay between individual lives and cosmological forces.
Theoretical essays that reflect on the concept of autocosmology or analyze existing works of literature and art through an autocosmological lens.
Submission Guidelines:
We accept fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and other forms of media that have not been previously published.
Written submissions should be sent in PDF or Word format (.doc or .docx). File types for other forms of media will be decided on a case by case basis.
Include a cover letter (500 words or less) that contains a biographical statement (to be included if your work is published), a short statement of your understanding of autocosmology, and a brief description of how your work reflects the idea of autocosmology.
For prose, a maximum of 3,500 words double-spaced; for poetry, up to 5 poems; and for visual art, up to 5 pieces in JPEG format. Limits for other forms of media will be decided on a case by case basis.
I know from personal experience that it can be difficult to fully grasp the scope of the autocosmological field before having the opportunity to talk to someone about it. If you’re interested in being a part of this project, please reach out to me! We can wax philosophical and discuss your ideas. Anyone and everyone should feel “qualified.” The idea here is to use human experience to understand the cosmos, so if you have experience being human then you have something important to bring to this conversation. Also, if you work with me, I can personally send in your submission to the editing team.
I hope you’ll join us on this cosmic adventure.
Yours,
Addam Ledamyen
(email: addam@forelenvia.org)