Welcoming la Luz

Summer sets our attention on warmth, the sun, and joy. In this issue, we feature the themes of the summer: brightness, awareness, all forms of light—including the sun and moon—and the energy of the South direction. Through works like Natalie Solis’s essay on “Guadalupe the Sex Goddess,” we celebrate the boldness of embodiment; in articles like Cuauhtli Cihuatl’s “La Luz of Your Inner Child,” we learn specific ways to nurture ourselves with the help of the sun and water. Through Erika Buenaflor’s teaching, we learn ways to connect with the energy of the sun at high noon. And our featured interview with José González shines a light on his leadership at the juncture of education, ecology, and diversity.

I encourage you to listen to the authors read their works as well. (Look for the headphones icon.) There is something especially powerful about words when expressed through their authors’ original voices.

As you read through the issue, you’ll notice that many of the pieces shine a light on motherhood. This wasn’t an editorial plan for this issue, but as the submissions came in, I started to notice the synchronicity. My interpretation is that mother energy must be strong right now—perhaps because of Mother’s Day in the U.S., or perhaps because we’re being called to dwell upon this energy in our relationship to each other and to the Earth. So we celebrate those of you who are mothers and grandmothers, and we also invite you to express your gratitude to Madre Tierra and Madre Mar during this season of joy.

May the warmth and brightness of the luminaries in the sky energize you.

Marcy Carbajal, Editor in Chief