The concept of death has inspired diverse ruminations from all walks of life throughout multiple expanses of human history - from casual, everyday conversations, to thousand-page, philosophical treatises. Evoking a sense of awe, confusion, terror, or even excitement, death is and always has been the only certainty amidst a world of unknowns. This issue SAD Mag has taken on the challenge of understanding death in new ways, reframing our preconceived notions by exploring its varied manifestations. From mourning the loss of loved ones, to reconciling the abrupt end of what we used to do pre-COVID, to navigating the ethics of living forever, the articles featured here reveal the complex ways we think about and confront the immanent end, collectively and individually.
We hope that you find as much comfort, joy, tears, celebration, and inspiration within these pages as we have, and that the personal touches from each story resonate with you in some way. By exploring what we may not know about death, we inevitably uncover a newfound appreciation for life, too.
Cover art by Alison Woodward
Back cover by Brother Jopa
