Since 1982, Orion has been an urgent and eloquent voice for the planet. Through the pages of our award-winning magazine, our online stories and anthologies, our workshops and internships, we have uplifted others who care about the natural world and its future. We now reach almost a million readers annually across our print and digital platforms, as well as through our programs.
Together, we’ve fostered storytelling, poetry and art at the intersection of nature, science, climate, and culture. This growing community of readers, writers, artists, and advocates for the planet—this chorus of voices we work to amplify—is what makes Orion more than a magazine.
When the magazine was first published in 1982, founding editor George Russell boldly declared: “It is Orion’s fundamental conviction that humans are morally responsible for the world in which we live.” Four decades later, George’s words ring more true than ever. Our stories don’t shy away from complexity—they lean into it. A new generation of contributors and columnists—from Sabrina Imbler to Maria Popova, Ross Gay to Leslie Jamison—continues to bring thoughtful, timely stories to our pages and our website.
Recent issues that highlight these values include our Spring 2025 issue, guest edited by Lulu Miller of Radiolab, which shines a light on queer wonders of the natural world that have always belonged—and thrived—on this planet. Similarly, our upcoming Autumn 2025 issue, “Natural Rhythms,” explores the relationship between hip-hop and the environments that shaped it. Guest-edited by bestselling author Hanif Abdurraqib, the issue is a celebration of Black artistry and culture that expands the definition—and inclusivity—of literary environmental writing. Our Spring 2026 issue is on the theme of Labor—specifically, the ways in which our changing relationship to the land has influenced, and even transformed, our relationship to work. The issue will explore income inequality, unionized labor, economic precarity, and our interdependence with the natural world.
