Jigsaw puzzle by Nina Torr
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Joanna Piechura

is a translator from English to Polish and from Polish to English.
The Prickly Sinner
World + People
The Other School

The Prickly Sinner

In many parts of Europe, the image of a hedgehog with an apple on his back is a common one—but in fact, the pleasant picture belies a long history of negative associations with the little animal.  
Łukasz Modelski
Brilliant Errors in the System
Art + Stories
Experiences

Brilliant Errors in the System

The Oulipians would be delighted if they knew how easily they could be mistaken for Olympians. Controlled mistakes were one of the many elements that allowed them to experience creative freedom. In literature, errors are usually associated with spelling mistakes or misprints. From my own experience as an editor, I will never forget a poem […]
Maria Karpińska
The Heart of the Flame
Art + Stories
Experiences

The Heart of the Flame

In Persia, turquoise symbolized water and victory, in Mesoamerica, creative power. The Egyptians called it the word "mefkat," which meant joy and delight. That's an apt expression - its luminous color evokes exactly such feelings.
Tomasz Wichrowski
The Spirit of the Gift
Soul + Body
Wellbeing

The Spirit of the Gift

Gifts release social energy. They are the opposite of commodities, which are bought or sold and do not help create communities. Rather, the gift strengthens bonds, builds trust, builds community.
Maciej Świetlik
Centuries of Milk
Soul + Body
Good Food

Centuries of Milk

From cosmogonic myths to medieval cooking books, butter, cheese, and milk have played an important role in the everyday lives of humans across the globe.
Łukasz Modelski
Beware of Antiquity
Art + Stories
Experiences

Beware of Antiquity

The capital of North Macedonia was reconstructed as an ancient city in the 21st century—an expensive project that was backwards looking and ignored its inhabitants’ needs.
Stach Szabłowski
Shed Your Skin
Art + Stories
Opinions

Shed Your Skin

In his latest book “The Last White Man,” novelist Mohsin Hamid crafts a meditation on how external transformation can lead to an internal metamorphosis.
Paulina Wilk
The Hero in the Labyrinth
Art + Stories
Experiences

The Hero in the Labyrinth

The American mythologist spent his life examining the cultural role of stories and synthesizing their common motifs into a universal tale of the human experience.
Tomasz Wiśniewski
Those Who Dispel the Darkness
Soul + Body
Breathe In

Those Who Dispel the Darkness

The Hindu spiritual teachers of the subcontinent play an important role in everyday life, acting as exemplary guides. Yet they are not without their controversies.
Maciej Wesołowski
The Eternal Beginner
Art + Stories
Experiences

The Eternal Beginner

The American composer was a true pioneer, combining Zen Buddhism and indeterminacy in his avant-garde approach to music.
Julia Fiedorczuk
The Tales of a Belarusian Scheherazade
Art + Stories
Experiences

The Tales of a Belarusian Scheherazade

The 19th-century collection of fantastical tales “Nobleman Zavalnya” helped popularize Belarusian literature and folk culture—150 years after it was published.
Mikołaj Gliński
The Origins of Immortality
Soul + Body
Good Mood

The Origins of Immortality

The archaeology of prehistoric burial sites suggests a number of interesting aspects to the belief in life after death.
Tomasz Wiśniewski