Winter 2024-2025:
GRIEF & GRATITUDE

We have all grieved. My own initiation into overwhelming grief came with the death of my father. The shock unmoored me and I understood that grief is a land onto itself, desolate and nearly midnight dark. But not quite pitch, for over time flashes of light appeared that revealed gratitude for my father having lived and having loved me.”

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Bill Kooistra, 2023. billkooistra.net

There is a lovely beach in Gaza,
a poem by Roger Lipsey


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Four times a year for nearly 50 years Parabola has gathered the wisdom of the world’s spiritual traditions to illuminate the central questions of life.

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10/23/2024

We at Parabola mourn the passing of our friend and colleague Patty de Llosa, who died this past Friday.

Patty was a mainstay at Parabola for many years, both as a contributor and as a
consulting editor. She was also the author of several memorable books, including The Practice of Presence and, most recently, Awakening Body Consciousness. Patty also
was one of the last living persons to remember G.I. Gurdjieff, whom she met and learned from as a child.

Here is Patty’s most recent contribution to Parabola. It appeared in our Spring 2024 “Freedom” issue—an appropriate theme for this farewell from someone who understood the value and the price of freedom.

The Shattering of Dependency, by Patty de Llosa



Parabola’s Editorial Director, Tracy Cochran, has a new book!

‘In 20 short, gem-like chapters, meditation teacher Tracy Cochran invites us to explore living fully in the present moment as a revolutionary practice.’

‘Presence: The Art of Being at Home in Yourself’ is now available to order at Shambhala Publications.

Listen to Tracy Cochran on the Art of Presence, Mistakes as Practice, & the Grief of Awakening | Contemplify Podcast


Upcoming Issues

Spring 2025: THE MYSTERY OF TIME (submission deadline: December 01, 2024)

Summer 2025: COSMIC LAWS (submission deadline: March 01, 2025)

Please note that these deadlines apply to editorial submissions; our schedule for advertisers may be found here.


The Golden Rule Pledge

All life strives to incorporate the principle of the Golden Rule. Directing our attention toward understanding this most basic principle gives us a reasonable, common sense, and compassionate direction in anything we do. Remembering to use the Golden Rule in our own lives transforms our relationship with ourselves, with others, and with planet Earth.

AN INVITATION TO ALL:

1stStrive and Incorporate: I will strive to understand the meaning of the Golden Rule for myself and how I wish to incorporate it in my life, recognizing that this effort is sometimes hard and yet always helpful. This is my pledge.

2ndInvite and Request: I will invite others to do the same: live by the Golden Rule. We can change the world for the better when we apply the Golden Rule in all organizations: environmental, civic, legal, economic, educational, political, or social entities, including religious and faith traditions. This is my petition.

3rdStand in Unity: I will join with those on this planet who wish to take real responsibility toward compassion and fairness; and to build an understanding with others about what is to be done based upon the principle of the Golden Rule. Simply stated,

Treat others and the Earth the way you want to be treated

Respect for All Life is the foundation.
The Great Law of Peace, Native American

The Golden Rule Project will continuously make the results of this pledge/petition/proclamation available for all to see and utilize. The more of us who agree and sign, the more power we share as we petition our representatives to live by and apply the Golden Rule in real life situations. This is our Proclamation.