Wayfinding in a World on Fire
A Letter from the Editor by Connor Wolfe
Featured in Wayfarer Magazine Issue 42 »
At Wayfarer Magazine, “charting the way for change” has always been at the heart of what we do—an invitation to align with truth, wisdom, healing, and beauty as we navigate a world in flux. Yet, in the face of today’s profound challenges—the erasure of marginalized voices, the ongoing climate crisis, and the alarming specter of violence and genocide—this phrase takes on new urgency. To chart the way for change now means more than introspection; it calls for boldness and collective action. It asks us to question the stories we’ve inherited, to amplify voices often silenced, and to seek paths that are not just compassionate but also transformative. As wayfarers, our journey is not one of passive observation, but one of deliberate, courageous steps toward a more just, sustainable, and inclusive world.
As a Queer/Trans-owned business, it is impossible for us to remain detached from the political climate. During these perilous times, I feel compelled to make our stance clear: Wayfarer Books and its imprints are firmly rooted in our vision of a compassionate, inclusive, and educated society, which we strive to promote through our publications. We are committed to progressive values, including support for LGBTQIA+ rights, trans rights, decolonization, women’s rights, reproductive rights, non-violence, climate change science, freedom of speech, and the affirmation that Black Lives Matter.
At Wayfarer Magazine, we believe poetry is the language of the earth, a force that, like rivers through wild places, can change the shape of the world. We publish poets, writers, and renegades who stand outside of mainstream culture—voices fierce and unyielding, whose work might withstand the scrutiny of crows and coyotes, the crepuscular and the queer-at-heart.
Today, we face a world where fundamental rights and freedoms are under attack, and our mission has evolved to meet this urgent reality. With defiance and clarity, we stand against forces of oppression, using words as instruments of resistance. Through initiatives like Voices of Defiance: A Series of Protest Poetry, we seek to amplify voices that challenge bigotry, fascism, racism, and the suppression of marginalized communities.
Our books and publications are not just art, but acts of resilience and resistance—a map and compass for all who navigate wild terrain in the fight for justice. Wayfarer is more than a publisher; it is a community of storytellers, activists, and poets, united in the belief that words can illuminate darkness, provoke change, and demand accountability from systems of power.
We welcome all who are willing to speak out, to challenge, and to celebrate humanity in all its diversity. Together, through the power of poetry and prose, we create a resilient voice that refuses to be silenced.
With Deep Gratitude
Connor Wolfe
— Abiquiu, NM / December 2024
(They/Them) Founder and Editor-in-chief, Wayfarer Magazine
Connor Wolfe (they/them) is the Founder of Wayfarer Books & Wayfarer Magazine. Wolfe’s innovative approach to independent publishing led to two terms on the Board of Directors for the Independent Book Publishers Association, a TEDx talk at Yale University, and studies at Harvard University through grant programs.
After delivering a TEDx talk in 2018 about their experiences with successive trauma, Wolfe was invited to participate in broader mental health discussions at state and national levels. They hold a degree in Abnormal Psychology from Harvard University, with a focus on the intersection of mental illness and creativity. Driven by their passion for art, Wolfe pursued a minor in Photojournalism at Harvard, studying under Samantha Appleton, former Official White House Photographer for President Obama and the First Family.
In early 2024, Wolfe worked as volunteer staff in the Collections Department of the Museum of Anthropology at Ghost Ranch, assisting a team preparing sacred objects for repatriation under the newly updated Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act. They are wintering along the Rio Puerco in the foothills of Cerro Pedernal in Abiquiu New Mexico.
Follow their Substack for the latest: thewildwolfe.substack.com
