Fall 2024:
THE WAY OF MAGIC
“Magic is all around us. A recent global survey found that more than 40% of adults believe that magic, especially witchcraft, works. As children, magic pervades our growing minds (Harry Potter; Sabrina, the Teenage Witch; Disney’s Magic Kingdom), and peaks each year on Halloween. As adults, we curse, carry charms, engage in wishful thinking, pursue rite and ritual, heed superstitions, and so on. …”
Current Issue
- The Forms of Magic
An introduction to Western magic - Saint Buddha
How the Awakened One became a Christian saint - Penetrating Magic
Diving into the well of creativity - To Worship the Life Force
The essence of African religion - Magic and the Third Force
A professional magician ponders a universal law - City of Gods
Possessed: A Santeria ceremony
Online Exclusives
PARABOLA needs your help!
We urgently need your help to carry on. Parabola is a nonprofit, independent, reader-supported publication. In order to publish each issue, we depend directly upon the generosity of readers like you. Without your support, there would be no Parabola.
Find out how you can help save Parabola!
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.
Sign up for Parabola‘s newsletter and receive a free PDF of Vol. 44:2 THE WILD
Lillian Firestone (1932-2024) has passed away. She was a cherished member of the Parabola community, a pillar of our governing board who supported the magazine spiritually, financially, and through her writing. We at Parabola mourn her passing.
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
Winter 2024-2025: GRIEF & GRATITUDE (submission deadline: September 01, 2024)
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:
1st—Strive 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.
2nd—Invite 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.
3rd—Stand 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.