RECKONINGS: An introduction

Blueberries and granite, photo by John R. Boettiger

Reckonings is a journal focused on human and cultural change and development, human rights, and justice in its full range of dimension - social, political, economic, environmental. Attention to such themes is typically expository and analytic; but true reckonings include imagery and story, drama, poetry and song, without which exploration of lives and their quality risks desiccation.

Justice, hope and history: so, inevitably, issues of

• meaning and value,
• good and evil,
• sacred and profane,
• body, mind, heart and spirit as one integrated, systemic whole,
• the evolution of human consciousness through a lifetime and from one generation to another, indeed to the seventh generation,
• the character and health--and again the development--of our relationships with each other, our roots in family, community and place,
  
• our membership in the natural world of which we are an interactive part, and for which we bear unique responsibility.

The word reckoning is rich in implication, suggesting the most careful regard, seeking true direction, and (as in "day of reckoning") the consequences of our lives and the mysteries of forgiveness. Our tools and the ways of our work are those common to writer and artist: attention, contemplation, patience, persistence, imagination, conversation, crafting one's learning with as much clarity, truth and grace as may be found or given.

The subtitle and theme of Reckonings are drawn from Seamus Heaney's The Cure at Troy, a version of Sophocles' play, Philoctetes. It has become an obscure play, but Heaney's version, while little performed, has rescued it for continued reflection, and I've written about it here. (See the post "Wounding and Cure.")

The pages of Reckonings will change frequently, but more in keeping with kairos than chronos. Subjects will appear, metamorphose, fade, reappear in response to discovery, learning and revision; and in response to that which most needs attention -- the love and wisdom, the neglect and cruelty of those who bear responsibility for the lives of others -- ways the first can be nourished, the second transformed and redeemed.

Comments and conversation: I welcome communication with those who feel a kinship with the themes of Reckonings. Offer comments on individual posts, or write me directly, john@reckonings.net. Just click on "Comments" at the end of any post.

Comments

[Jim]

Hi John!
I read quickly thru your initial web site and thought to myself this person is someone to reckon with so shutup and listen to this guy!
So the first thing that came to mind was WHO is this person?
OK Let´s check out " About "
Wow! or if you like Holly Molly! The first word I had to look up in my Oxford dict. was " irascible ". No way I thought this man could never be " hottempered ! "
He talks so quietly and slowly perhaps measuring each word he says but never-the-less a voice you just had to listen and learn from.
The rest of the " About " was amazing! ( I wish I could use another descriptive word for it! ). I really liked the way you mentioned Leigh...not something everyone would do.
I must get started on diner now but I will get back to you when I have read your web.site a few times...