With Samhain season approaching, I’m compiling a small “thinning-veil” themed poetry anthology titled PSYCHOPOMP for physical and digital release this October.

🧭 About the collection#

The title comes from the greek word psychopompós, meaning "guide of souls" (psyche meaning soul, and pompos meaning conductor or guide).

Psychopomps are creatures, spirits, deities, or shamans whose responsibility is to escort newly deceased souls from Earth to the afterlife. In Jungian psychology, the psychopomp is a mediator between the unconscious and conscious realms—much like the role of a good artist or poet.

With PSCYHOPOMP, we seek to honor the spirits of the ancestors of yore and yonder.

☠️ Submission information#

You are called to submit poetry that..

• Honors or acknowledges a deceased ancestor, relative, friend, or lover.
• Explores death, mortality, or the afterlife as a central idea or concept.
• Otherwise focuses Samhain & "thinning-veil" themes in its content.

This anthology is for "poetry" but is somewhat loose with the definition of this label. Letters, short stories, and other writings with a poetic nature are welcomed, too. Please submit anything that feels aligned to the collection's theme!

A digital PDF will be made available for download, and a small batch of physical copies will be printed for limited distribution in late October. All patron/donor proceeds raised during the run of PSYCHOPOMP will be split evenly between selected contributors, with 20% kept to cover production costs.

PSYCHOPOMP will be the debut release from Talaria A.C. (talaria.art), an emergent publishing label that gives wings to great works and greater artists, established in 2026.

‼️ Submissions due Monday, October 5th.#

Submit to [ diariesofhermes@proton.me ] with:

• Your piece (any format flies!)
• The title of your piece (required)
• To whom the piece is dedicated (optional)
• Your publishing name (optional, remain anonymous if you prefer)

Please submit no more than three individual pieces. Only one will be selected per poet.

Note: to maintain the artistic standard of quality for this collection, not every poet's work may be selected. However, I intend to include as many submissions as possible. Please submit if you feel called to!

I can't wait to read & share your words!

Blessed be and godspeed,

-Hermes#