The White Lady Comes After Dark
Soul + Body, Art + Stories

The White Lady Comes After Dark

Death in Latin America
In Latin America, the unique concept of death is a combination of Indigenous beliefs and those imported by the Spanish colonizers.
Maciej Wesołowski
Sorrowbalm
Art + Stories
Experiences

Sorrowbalm

Krystyna Dąbrowska
Do you know the plant sorrowbalm?
When fire stifles every trace
of the word you (for you, with you, because of you),
smoke spurs the germination of its seeds.
Its blossoms hang heavy as a black peony’s,
yet its drooping petals are light.
Its roots penetrate the beginnings
of a story that’s come to an end.
Its thorns sear. But a tea or compress
from its leaves can heal.
Its fruit can be habit-forming,
cause nausea. Forgotten in a pocket,
it becomes a rattle beating
a frantic rhythm with every step.
Sorrowsorrowbalmsorrowbalmbalm.
For the I, barely breathing, its scent galls.
Wait, here comes a sneeze.
To clear the head at last.



Author’s comments:
In London’s Kew Gardens I saw flowers from southern Africa, a region often devastated by wildfires. The plants attempting to survive there have become so savvy that the fire is not able to destroy them entirely; some of them form root systems that allow them to grow back even after having been burned. For other species, the smoke spurs the germination of seeds and hastens their growth. Reading about this, I knew that the information had the force of metaphor, but I didn’t foresee the events that would give rise to this poem.
This translation originally appeared in the journal Nimrod .
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Find the Inner Teacher
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Wellbeing

Find the Inner Teacher

How yoga championships are more about respecting your limitations than overcoming them, how to choose a teacher and style that suits you, and the benefits of teaching yoga to children. Agnieszka Rostkowska talks with Kirti Gahlawat, a winner of multiple world championship medals in yoga.
Agnieszka Rostkowska
March in History
World + People
Science

March in History

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Francesca Woodman: Intimacy
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Experiences

Francesca Woodman: Intimacy

The American photographer known for her blurry black-and-white pictures was active for just several years, and her poetic and provocative work is only now receiving the recognition it deserves.
Julia Fiedorczuk
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Art

Maria Prymachenko: An Artist for Our Times

She is the most famous Ukrainian artist. She painted, drew, decorated ceramics, and embroidered. Her designs appeared on postage stamps and coins. Maria Prymaczenko continues to inspire artists around the world to this day.
Kacha Szaniawska
How to pronounce Przekrój?
World + People
Dreams and Visions

How to pronounce Przekrój?

Have you ever wondered what the title of our magazine sounds like in its original form? Here’s a short demonstration.
Salt Baths, Saline Solutions
Soul + Body
Wellbeing

Salt Baths, Saline Solutions

They are present in seawater, seaweed, magnesium sulfate; they restore, preserve and make potent.
Anna Drzewiecki
Our lives do not depend on success, yet we must have gained the impression that they do.
– Alexander Lowen
Attentive
Soul + Body
Breathe In

Attentive

People suffered, but doctors were unable to help them. They sought new methods of alleviating pain, but in fact, such methods already existed. Everyone carries these methods inside themselves, says Jon Kabat-Zinn, a molecular biologist who officially introduced meditation techniques to Western medicine and psychology nearly half a century ago.  
Sylwia Niemczyk
Program Yourself to Be Happy
Art + Stories
Experiences

Program Yourself to Be Happy

Optimists live longer, are more self-confident, and deal with stress more effectively. Pessimists can also learn to be optimistic, but they have to know how to do it.
Jowita Kiwnik Pargana
Staying in the Black
Art + Stories
Art

Staying in the Black

For the impressionists, the color black was the black sheep of the art world, but looking at the entire history of painting, it should really be considered the dark horse.
Karol Sienkiewicz
The 12 Doctors of Przekrój
Soul + Body
Wellbeing

The 12 Doctors of Przekrój

How can we live better, fuller, and more peacefully? Recommendations from the world’s top specialists can guide us.
Przekrój
Brain on the Move
Soul + Body
Wellbeing

Brain on the Move

Giving your gray matter a workout is a great idea, but the brain can also benefit hugely from mere physical activity. Dr. Joanna Podgórska explains how physical exercise impacts our memory and thinking.
Sylwia Niemczyk
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PRZEKRÓJ Foundation wants to provide thrills that result in sparks of conscious growth. In addition to funding the magazine, we engage in art projects, performances, films, festivals, workshops, and exhibitions, where we regularly meet our Readers. We want to help others foster a fuller, more conscious relationship with themselves and the world.

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