“Orison” [awr-uh-zuhn] is an archaic word that means “prayer.” We at Orison Books believe that the best spiritual art and literature call us to meditate and contemplate, rather than asking us to adopt any ideology or set of propositions. As Simone Weil wrote, “The mysteries of faith are degraded if they are made into an object of affirmation and negation, when in reality they should be an object of contemplation” (Gravity and Grace). This type of art evokes the human experience of transcendence and explores the mysteries of being, and in so doing opens our minds and hearts to the divine and the possibility of becoming the fullest humans we can be. In our view, spiritual writing has little to do with subject matter. Rather, the kind of work we seek to publish has a transcendent aesthetic effect on the reader, and reading it can itself be a spiritual experience. Such work is not merely about spiritual contemplation, but itself leads the reader into profound contemplation. It is not merely about the sublime, but itself has a sublime effect on the reader. It is not merely about the mystery of being, but itself heightens the reader’s sense of the mystery underlying the fabric of our daily lives. We seek to be broad, inclusive, and open to perspectives spanning the spectrum of spiritual and religious thought, ethnicity, gender identity, and sexual orientation. Orison Books serves as a home for writers and readers of all backgrounds, religious and non-religious. In addition to publishing spiritually-engaged poetry, fiction, and non-fiction books of exceptional literary merit, each year we will publish The Orison Anthology—a collection of the best spiritual writing in all genres published in periodicals the preceding year. Our titles are released in beautifully-designed print formats, and many are also released as e-books. Additionally, Orison Books aims to contribute to the cultural conversations around spirituality and literature by hosting classes, readings, symposia, and other public events. We cannot succeed without the contributions of those who support our mission of publishing exceptional literature that engages the life of the spirit, and of fostering cultural conversation around spirituality and literature. Please consider making a tax-deductible contribution today by visiting our Indiegogo campaign page.
