Denial is a powerful psychological mechanism. The likelihood of it arising or intensifying tends to increase with the intensity of some perceived threat. I suspect that’s part of the reason so many deny the existence of climate change is that it is such an existential threat.

When I bought this magazine in 2017, I did not imagine that I was going to be as vulnerable as I have been in these letters. When I reflect on the fact that I’ve been quite open about my shortcomings, I know the reason is twofold. First, I write about my concerns and struggles because, to a decent degree, directly and indirectly, they get translated into articles for the benefit of all. Also, I often approach this column, Letters from the Publisher (LFP), as my personal Walking Each Other Home (WEOH) column. WEOH, which is published in most issues, provides stories from our own community of personal “ah-ha moments,” shifts in consciousness, or epiphanies that alter the course of the author’s life.

I’m not sure there’s an ah-ha moment here, but I feel this LFP is the hardest to write because I’m planning to share so much. For far too long, I have lived in denial about my current capacity to make this magazine acceptably profitable. Therefore, I’m asking for your help, dear reader, to support our efforts to deliver high-quality content on holistic health and personal evolution. This ask is painful, since it touches upon a sense of failure, shame and humiliation. Essentially, my upbringing and our common culture tell me that I should have been able to support myself without anyone’s help.

I feel this way despite the fact that everything in reality shouts something quite to the contrary: Nobody really ever walks alone.

The times are a-changin’. For years, publications around the world have been asking readers for support to help them keep their publication free. The Guardian, a British daily newspaper, started its reader support program 11 years ago. The Times-Picayune started immediately after COVID appeared. And ProPublica has been donor-funded since its inception in 2008.

Plus, Atlanta’s Aquarius magazine stopped publication many years ago, Creative Loafing moved from weekly to monthly in 2017 and then stopped publishing altogether in 2022, and Oracle 20/20 stopped publication within the last couple of years.

This franchise has been around since the early 2000s; I believe it was originally founded in 2000, but even Corporate doesn’t know the exact year. For a quarter century, we’ve been the only Atlanta publication focused on holistic health, and, since 2017, on personal evolution. We believe we are a singular asset to the community.

In addition to publishing everything that Corporate provides, our franchise excels at local editorial. We’ve published many in-depth explorations, from energy healing to Enneagram; from healing the trauma of slavery to caring for melanated skin; from life coaching to health coaching; from Ayurveda to pranayama. Moreover, we have much more valuable content we want to publish, including deep dives into herbal medicine, meditation, hacking the subconscious and holistic psychotherapy.

Our commitment is to remain free—free in magazine racks across Atlanta, free online and free to the next reader who stumbles on a copy at their yoga studio and discovers something that shifts their health or life perspective. But every page we print, every article we edit, every mile we drive to deliver magazines costs more today than it ever has. Printing, our single largest line item, has gone up 50 percent.

Our Invitation

If Natural Awakenings Atlanta has informed, inspired or encouraged you in any way, please consider becoming a monthly supporter. Your contribution directly funds writing, editing, printing, distribution and all the efforts that keep this magazine going. There are no shareholders and no outside investors. There are only people like you who believe that independent reporting on holistic health and personal evolution matters. There are only people like you who value this platform for our health, wellness, and awakening community to share, promote and serve. We’re not asking you to pay for access; we’re asking you to ensure access for everyone.

Please scan the QR code on this page or go to Ko-Fi.com/naAtlanta to support us on a monthly basis. Or, make a one-time donation if you prefer. Whatever you do, you have our deep, heart-felt gratitude.

Together, we can keep Natural Awakenings Atlanta free, independent and thriving so that many more can access its informative and empowering content, connect with others in the community and/or receive a spark of inspiration that changes their lives. ❧

Publisher of Natural Awakenings Atlanta since 2017, Paul Chen’s professional background includes strategic planning, marketing management and qualitative research. He practices Mahayana Buddhism and kriya yoga. Contact him at [email protected].