That Which We Do Not Understand is a limited edition art book celebrating 10 years of cult classic Amelia’s Magazine. Ruby Warrington chats to the creator about her mystical vision…
IMAGE: Fiona Watson
Amelia’s Magazine was always one of my favorites. First launched in 2004, it featured the most amazing illustrations and was always a total visual treat. Published bi-annually in print, and more recently online only, I also liked the fact that founder Amelia Gregory always said she’d only keep making the magazine as long as she found it artistically satisfying. In a hyper-branded world, there’s so much external pressure on creatives to think BIG and think commercially, it felt like Amelia’s Magazine was always about art for art’s sake.
To celebrate 10 years of pure creative vision, now Amelia is publishing a limited edition art book, That Which We Do Not Understand, featuring original pieces of creative writing alongside illustrations – some of which will be available as fine art prints. “The brief was inspired by my personal experience of two late miscarriages, and will explore the many ways in which humans seek to understand the things that they don’t understand,” she explains in the blurb for the supporting Kickstarter campaign.
“Think Mysticism, Spirituality, Alchemy, Paganism, Witchcraft, Herbalism, Shamanism, Magick, Voodoo, Folklore, Occult, Esotericism, Tarot, Astrology, Animal Spirits, Paranormal activities, the Moon and much more.” So she’s talking all things Numinous right there. To say I’m excited to see the finished product is something of an understatement. Here’s a sneak peak at some of the contributions she’s received so far, as well as her thoughts on the theme…
IMAGE: Karin Soderquist
The theme of the book obviously resonates with us at the Numinous! How did you come up with the title?
Thank you very much, I think I’ve discovered a match made in heaven! It took me a fair bit of time to come up with the name – for awhile I toyed with simpler titles that involved the idea of thresholds, seeing beyond the veil and the liminal, but in the end I dismissed them as being too particular in their meaning. I wanted the title to encompass many different thoughts and ideas, and for it to be quite loose in the way that it could be interpreted, so I hit upon That Which We Do Not Understand and it stuck. I have been so delighted with the response, but it has been tough to decide what to include out of over 250 submissions.
IMAGE: Gemma Cotterell
It’s often a traumatic experience that leads people to seek out “numinous” experiences – why do you think this is?
I think the modern world provides so many opportunities to distract and deflect that most people do not consider the well being of their heart, mind and spirit during the course of everyday life. It’s only when something dreadful happens that many people have cause to really wonder about the things that we don’t understand. And it can come as a bit of a shock to realise that despite our increasing knowledge of so many subjects we are still very much at sea when it comes to the bigger picture. I think we would all be much healthier and more contented if we did not neglect our deeper well being.
IMAGE: Linsday Lombard
Which mystical practises have helped you gain a better understanding of yourself? And of our place in the Universe?
I like to be close to the earth in meaningful community when I want to reconnect. We tend to live such insular lives, despite our proximity to so many other humans (especially in London) and we don’t fully live the weather or the seasons. Being inside all the time is not natural to humans and I start to feel toxic if I do not take time out to recharge. Luckily I am able to do this reasonably often – listening to birds in a woodland, walking a windswept moor or gazing into the embers of a fire are all incredibly healing.
IMAGE: Katie Ponder
I also attended an ecotherapy wilderness retreat in Knoydart, Scotland, some years ago, and have taken part in the Work that Reconnects with Joanna Macy, and Earth Activist Training with Starhawk – both incredibly powerful, nurturing and inspiring women, who use earth based ritual in such clever, revealing ways. I practice yoga regularly and aspire to a daily Sit Spot, but as a web editor and mother to an energetic toddler with the most minimum of childcare I unfortunately do not make enough time to devote to mystical practice. I would definitely like more ritual in my life!
IMAGE: Eugenia Tsimiklis
What’s your sign, and how do think this influences your work and how you see the world?
I am a Pisces, and I think this manifests most in my creativity and desire to follow my own path, regardless of the challenges. I am always amazed by the number of creatives who share my star sign!
IMAGE: Sarah Tanat jones
What Universal message would you like to put out there through the publication of this anthology?
That it’s okay not to understand everything and good to have an awareness of our limits. I think so many humans tend to think they know it all, and we don’t, and that’s alright. There are so many ways to explore our universe, we should all keep an open mind and keep learning, sharing and loving. I hope that people will treasure my 10th anniversary book as a source of wonder and inspiration…
The Moon Option (by Elisabeth Sennitt Clough)
Sky-gazing, I make other
faces, rub the sallow skin
of the moon over my nose,
cheeks and brows, draw the
glow from her otherworldly
smile until I am happy enough
to let her crack open
the plates of my skull
and extract all the hush-hush
words, until she leaves
my eyes expressionless,
my head unmapped.
Discover Amelia Gregory’s world at Ameliasmagazine.com and read all about the Kickstarter campaign for the special 10th anniversary project here.
You can also follow Amelia on Instagram and Twitter @AmeliasMagazine
