Hello writers, artists, photographers, and readers,

We at Sage of Consciousness would like to thank you for your patronage and continued support. We would especially like to thank all of the authors, photographers, and artists who have submitted their work to Death and the Super Natural: The Afterlife.

This issue explores death and loss from international perspectives, even delving into the notion of spirituality and what may or may not happen after death.

We have wonderful selection of poetry, photography, art, short story, and Non-fiction pieces. In this issue, we have added some new features: translation and audio visual content.

We would like to dedicate this issue to those who are dear to us and have gone on to the afterlife:

Nadine Shirley McCollister
Alvin Lee
Calvin Fletcher
Katherine Dyckman
L. Jewel Williams
Kathleen Myler Ferguson
Remmeldina Lucretia Knoppert Gibson
Evelyn and Si Merson
Debra Allen Vazquez

A special thank you to Wade at betterfiction.com, the folks at Places for Writers, Downtown Writers Network, Publisher Database, Arabesques Literary and Cultural Review, and Anthologies Online for sending submitters to our magazine.

Sincerely,

The Staff of Sage of Consciousness E-Zine

ISSN 1555-192x

A little about us:

"I align myself…with the flow of blood…
If I should linger in a spot, the blood pools…
The letters come alive like tiny antelopes and run in packs and patterns
(I am a mixed metaphor…)" Shelley Jackson, Patchwork Girl

Michelle Williams: Michelle is currently seeking her BA in both English and Sociology from the University of Florida. She is married to Paul and writes poetry, short stories, paints, sketches, and takes photographs. She has been published in several literary magazines both online and in print. Recently, a review she wrote was published in Better Fiction: 2005 Year in Review. Her design work and editing work in the 2004 Imprints Literary Magazine won top honors in the Florida Community College Press Association publication competition. She is the Editor in Chief at Sage of Consciousness.

Paul Douglas: Paul is the coeditor at Sage of Consciousness and an Information Technology Specialist here in Ocala, Florida. He is also married to Michelle, and lovingly puts up with her ever changing eccentricities. He adores history, and graduated from the University of Florida with a BA in history. A good cigar and The History Channel are the second best companions.

Laura Ferguson:Laura is the Design Editor for Sage of Consciousness and a native New Yorker which has been a huge part of her appreciation for the arts in all venues. She has been writing since she was in her teens which was greatly influenced by her English teachers in high school. Laura is also an artist, considering herself creative in many areas. She has been exposed to various cultures and for that she is very grateful. If she were to say what drives her, it would be the search for truth. Laura's passions are music, Native American History, spirituality, and animals. She considers herself a very open minded person. She is very excited to be on the staff and loves being a part of an E-Zine that is an open forum for all artists and writers.

Jason Cline: Jason is the Thematic editor for Sage of Consciousness, and is also in the Information Technology Department with Paul. Jason is the quintessential gamer and a wonderful print magazine designer and editor for Focus Magazine.

Maryann G. Murray was born, raised, still resides, and will most likely die in Westchester County, NY. She is an employed mother of three, loves music, the Internet, and Astrology. Currently pursuing the publication of her first children's book, Maryann has always enjoyed Creative Writing. A refiner from birth, she is delighted to join the staff as an Assistant Editor, as this allows her to nitpick without (too much) social scorn.

Marie Poulos: Marie is the Copy Desk Editor for Sage of Consciousness. She majored in English and loves to read and write. She also served on the 2004 Imprints staff at Central Florida Community College which won 2nd place in general excellence and editing in the state competitions.

Lauren Taylor was born in a small mountain town in northwest New Jersey. She is an avid reader and writer. She hopes to spend long years opening young, old, and in-betweeners, eyes to the wondrous world as portrayed through art, invention, literature, religion and so on. You will one day find her at your local museum with a wild look like Indiana Jones sparkling in her eye. Lauren is the Editorial Assistant at Sage of Consciousness E-Zine and won awards for her participation in the 2004 Imprints edition.

Lottie Williams: Lottie is a Florida Native and loves being near the beach. She has a B.A. degree in Anthropology and a Master's Degree in Business Administration. She is currently a store manager for a supplement store and has been in the supplement industry for the past 10 years. She has a deep love of history and culture and one day would like to obtain a Master's Degree in Anthropology. In her free time she likes to travel and lately her favorite destination has been St. Lucia in the West Indies. She is the Non-Fiction Editor for Sage of Consciousness E-Zine.

Please note that all works are protected by their respective copyrights. None of the works contained within this e-zine can be copied, reproduced, or used without the express written consent of the copyright owners (in this case, the authors, writers, poets, photographers, and digital media designers). If you wish to contact a writer or artist to inquire about using and/or purchasing their work, feel free to email the contact information provided in the artist's/writer's biography.