Dear Readers,
I am beyond thrilled to present to you the second issue of The Lunar Journal: Celestial. Over these past few months, I have had the honor of delving into the lives of hundreds of brilliant aspiring authors, planting myself in their footprints and experiencing the vastness of the human condition in a multitude of ways. Celestial is perhaps our most heart-rending and emotionally driven issue yet, and as I was compiling these works, I was continuously reminded of this as I read.
This issue is divided into three subsections: "star-stranded", "heritage", and "renewal". It begins with the surreal, weaving together pieces that embody the night sky and stars. From Rosalind Kong's use of the triolet form in crafting a lyrical tale of lovers and ghosts to Alexandra Hechimi's powerful whitespace in demonstrating that loss and yearning can coexist despite all odds, "star-stranded" remains unapologetically genuine in its reminder that oftentimes the distinctions between emotions can blur and come together.
As we move into the second section, Celestial intimately examines the blend of pride and sorrow that can accompany our personal relationships, as well as who we choose to care for. "Heritage" is not solely defined by our immediate families — it can exist within the bustling city, the remnants of memory stashed between shelves of nail varnish, and all the spaces that lie in between.
Finally, we come to "Renewal", which closes off this issue on a rather bittersweet note. The cyclical nature of our world is reflected through nature in Tara Ventura's depiction of a beetle and Shreya Senthilkumar's rendition of the wistfulness that comes with seasonal change.
Through these three sections, Celestial can best be described as an amalgamation of disparate parts — merging conflicting qualities of one's identity, seeking comfort in the unconventional. It is through these unfamiliar and even frightening juxtapositions that we can discover new truths within ourselves.
As always, thank you to our incredibly talented staff members, everyone who submitted to this issue, and of course our beloved readers. You all are the rays of starlight that truly make this issue — and The Lunar Journal itself — shine bright.
Take care,
Grace Zhang
Founder & Editor-in-Chief
The Lunar Journal
I am beyond thrilled to present to you the second issue of The Lunar Journal: Celestial. Over these past few months, I have had the honor of delving into the lives of hundreds of brilliant aspiring authors, planting myself in their footprints and experiencing the vastness of the human condition in a multitude of ways. Celestial is perhaps our most heart-rending and emotionally driven issue yet, and as I was compiling these works, I was continuously reminded of this as I read.
This issue is divided into three subsections: "star-stranded", "heritage", and "renewal". It begins with the surreal, weaving together pieces that embody the night sky and stars. From Rosalind Kong's use of the triolet form in crafting a lyrical tale of lovers and ghosts to Alexandra Hechimi's powerful whitespace in demonstrating that loss and yearning can coexist despite all odds, "star-stranded" remains unapologetically genuine in its reminder that oftentimes the distinctions between emotions can blur and come together.
As we move into the second section, Celestial intimately examines the blend of pride and sorrow that can accompany our personal relationships, as well as who we choose to care for. "Heritage" is not solely defined by our immediate families — it can exist within the bustling city, the remnants of memory stashed between shelves of nail varnish, and all the spaces that lie in between.
Finally, we come to "Renewal", which closes off this issue on a rather bittersweet note. The cyclical nature of our world is reflected through nature in Tara Ventura's depiction of a beetle and Shreya Senthilkumar's rendition of the wistfulness that comes with seasonal change.
Through these three sections, Celestial can best be described as an amalgamation of disparate parts — merging conflicting qualities of one's identity, seeking comfort in the unconventional. It is through these unfamiliar and even frightening juxtapositions that we can discover new truths within ourselves.
As always, thank you to our incredibly talented staff members, everyone who submitted to this issue, and of course our beloved readers. You all are the rays of starlight that truly make this issue — and The Lunar Journal itself — shine bright.
Take care,
Grace Zhang
Founder & Editor-in-Chief
The Lunar Journal