Curated Stories By Liauw Pauw Phing from ILLUMINATION Publications in August 2026

An editor’s monthly gathering of stories to read, share, and remember – Episode #4

Curator’s Note: Liauw Pauw Phing, a writer and editor, introduces the July 2026 edition of the Monthly Collection on ILLUMINATION Integrated publications. This platform highlights resonant stories across various genres, focusing on authenticity, human connection, and intellectual depth. The curated pieces, drawn from a range of publications, aim to engage readers and honor writers without declaring winners or rankings. The community supports over 43,000 writers and encourages new voices while maintaining high editorial standards. The post also expresses gratitude to key contributors, outlines submission guidelines for new writers, and introduces the purpose of the ILLUMINATION Philosophy and Metaphysics publication.

To Potential Contributors of ILLUMINATION Publications: Please note that new writer applications to our publications are via our registration portal. Please review our quality checklists and the onboarding pack before submitting your stories to our publications. You are welcome to join the ILLUMINATION Community on Medium and Substack. Accepted writers for this round will be towards the end of this story.

Hello, dear writers and attentive readers,

This is Liauw Pauw Phing, a writer, book author, editor, and curator of ILLUMINATION Integrated publications on Medium, Substack, Patreon, and Digitalmehmet platforms. I hope this post finds you well.

Welcome to my August 2026 edition of Monthly Collection.

For new members who don’t know me, I am part of the editorial team for the seven ILLUMINATION publications listed below. As I begin this curatorial journey, I would like this collection to serve as a space for highlighting selected pieces from across those publications, pieces that have continued to resonate with me as a reader and editor.

These selections are not meant to declare winners, compare writers, or grant official recognition. They are simply my way of giving attention to writing that deserves care, appreciation, and gratitude.

Through this monthly collection, I hope to introduce readers to stories that moved me, challenged me, or quietly remained in my mind. I am especially drawn to pieces shaped by honesty, substance, and a generous sense of human connection.

Some may engage with philosophy. Others may move through literature, reflection, science, spirituality, culture, psychology, or personal experience. What matters most to me is writing that feels alive on the page, whatever field or form it belongs to.

I also share these collections on Medium.com. If you are a writer or reader, please feel free to use this version and engage there:

Selected Stories Across These Publications

Now, let us turn to the stories.

Read stories from ILLUMINATION on Medium

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Read stories from ILLUMINATION Philosophy and Metaphysics on Medium.

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Nazli Aydin (Misselbereth)

https://medium.com/illumination-philosophy-and-metaphysics/the-shires-moot-point-ranci%C3%A8re-the-fellowship-and-the-audible-politics-of-middle-earth-f23e58b36eb1

https://medium.com/illumination-philosophy-and-metaphysics/the-cave-and-the-mirror-why-harrys-reflection-is-plato-s-worst-nightmare-and-dumbledore-s-best-f4f07fdc5aec

Parvathi J

https://medium.com/illumination-philosophy-and-metaphysics/awakening-and-anatomy-the-third-eye-from-prehistoric-forerunners-to-modern-metaphysics-2af374a4b8c6

Dr. Bekim Belica

https://medium.com/illumination-philosophy-and-metaphysics/the-office-within-980b2f03a36c

https://medium.com/illumination-philosophy-and-metaphysics/the-republic-within-163c96082a14

https://medium.com/illumination-philosophy-and-metaphysics/the-city-inside-the-citizen-484bee5701a1

Javier Alejandro Romero Castillo

https://medium.com/illumination-philosophy-and-metaphysics/the-tao-the-water-and-the-triad-why-being-and-non-being-are-not-opposites-e34bf458f6e2

https://medium.com/illumination-philosophy-and-metaphysics/the-grimoire-of-letters-on-the-difference-between-reading-and-writing-62fbc3db3106

FMOO Project

https://medium.com/illumination-philosophy-and-metaphysics/when-the-self-is-no-longer-a-question-119f7e0921e6

https://medium.com/illumination-philosophy-and-metaphysics/from-concept-to-conception-2f1f02f1fe51

Mona H

https://medium.com/illumination-philosophy-and-metaphysics/the-quiet-power-why-silence-is-your-ultimate-superpower-in-a-noisy-world-c243e6db5e9e

Read stories from ILLUMINATION Scholar on Medium.

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Nazli Aydin (Misselbereth)

https://medium.com/illumination-scholar/the-palantir-paradox-line-of-sight-radiowaves-and-the-very-real-problem-of-long-distance-7288760c76d9

Read stories from Curated Newsletters on Medium.

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Dr Mehmet Yildiz

https://medium.com/illumination-curated/chapter-of-generosity-offering-a-free-book-chapter-can-be-a-game-changer-for-authors-and-readers-d90f132a21c1

https://medium.com/illumination-curated/the-predictive-brain-and-the-power-of-expectation-for-manifesting-our-desires-cd56816621bc

https://medium.com/illumination-curated/why-do-i-know-what-to-do-but-still-do-not-do-it-c90956b0112d

https://medium.com/illumination-curated/preface-neuropeptides-for-cognition-healthspan-and-graceful-aging-c68779f5cbb2

Gary L. Fretwell

https://medium.com/illumination-curated/the-liking-gap-the-one-bias-thats-quietly-sabotaging-every-relationship-you-have-7b8ad3f9bc6a

Dr Bronce Rice

https://medium.com/illumination-curated/protecting-the-basics-0c65d0cdece5

Liz Porter

https://medium.com/illumination-curated/my-life-fell-apart-again-so-i-stopped-trying-to-fix-it-0e3d21f283b3

Mary Fiore

https://medium.com/illumination-curated/the-geography-of-what-isnt-there-e51f55635c85

Derek Hughes

https://medium.com/illumination-curated/writers-pulling-ahead-of-you-arent-better-at-sentences-they-re-better-at-one-other-thing-730e9170a357

Dr Dee

https://medium.com/illumination-curated/you-absolutely-should-not-have-to-change-your-style-1933315b6378

Prasanna Swaroopa

https://medium.com/illumination-curated/the-guru-tradition-sustaining-the-river-of-spiritual-wisdom-4f697d8eb075

Read stories from SYNERGY on Medium.

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Dr Mehmet Yildiz

https://medium.com/technical-excellence/insightful-conversations-with-a-k-girisam-9cdca3d54333

https://medium.com/technical-excellence/insightful-conversations-with-carrie-cuthbert-5a140c210b5a

Aeon Flex, Elriel Assoc. 2133 [NEON MAXIMA]

https://medium.com/technical-excellence/the-art-of-ghost-money-broke-private-and-unbothered-2b0063a7936c

Geri Spieler

https://medium.com/technical-excellence/how-to-create-the-right-questions-for-your-search-eaf116577127

Anna Burgess Yang

https://medium.com/technical-excellence/how-to-find-your-niche-as-a-freelancer-b2d2084c5204

Read stories from ILLUMINATION Local News and Documentary on Medium.

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Barb Besteni

https://medium.com/illumination-local-news-and-documentary/a-life-larger-than-a-r%C3%A9sum%C3%A9-8e57b66aa234

Geetanjaliverma

https://medium.com/illumination-local-news-and-documentary/same-monsoon-two-indias-5abcc6790c10

Read stories from ILLUMINATION Book Chapters on Medium.

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Dr Albert Jones

https://medium.com/illumination-book-chapters/editorial-review-of-cognitive-computing-reimagined-d37ed0c380d0

More Curated Collections by Fellow Editors

You may also enjoy reading the latest collections curated by other editors in the ILLUMINATION community.

Read stories on the list “Insightful & Illuminating Stories I Enjoyed Reading“ by Dr Mehmet Yildiz on Medium. Dr Yildiz has a massive list of 13462 stories, which keeps growing. Here is the link to it.

https://dr-mehmet-yildiz.medium.com/list/insightful-illuminating-stories-i-enjoyed-reading-4753654b0c2b

Read “Mike’s Favorite Stories” by Dr Michael Broadly, DHSc on Medium:

https://medium.com/@healthierlifestyle/list/reading-list

Read “Look What Aiden Found Today: Episode #351“ by Aiden (Owner of Illumination Gaming) on Medium:

https://medium.com/illumination/look-what-aiden-found-today-episode-351-b616478707f1

Read “Mental Health Curations: Personal Collection #01” by Amy Gunter, Ed.D., MSW (Editor)

https://medium.com/illumination/mental-health-curations-personal-collection-01-eb8d1d8a7b67

Read “Gary’s Curated List for August: Episode #2” by Gary L. Fretwell

https://medium.com/illumination/a-curated-list-of-essays-i-kept-thinking-about-b64b8bd61de8

Brooklyn Grace (editor)

https://medium.com/illumination/editors-picks-8-brooklyn-muse-978627fdc965

For Potential Contributors

ILLUMINATION now supports more than 43,000 writers with only 30 volunteer editors. Medium’s current editor limit prevents us from formally adding more editors, despite our wider group of 210 volunteers. ILLUMINATION is followed by more than 324,000 readers, and we continue to support writers who write with honesty, care, and clarity.

New writers may apply to ILLUMINATION Integrated Publications through our writer registration portal by submitting Medium ID.

Writers interested in ILLUMINATION Scholar may use the dedicated Scholar registration portal.

Before submitting your stories, please review our quality checklists and Master Copy for 2026: Onboarding Information for New Writers of ILLUMINATION Integrated Publications by Dr Mehmet Yildiz. You are also welcome to join the ILLUMINATION Community on Medium and Substack.

You may also discover new writers joining our publications through the ILLUMINATION account. The latest onboarding pack, prepared by Aiden (Owner of Illumination Gaming), offers clear guidance for writers who have recently joined our community.

Onboarding New Writers Joining ILLUMINATION Publications Today: #217

Publications in the ILLUMINATION Ecosystem

Writers are welcome to choose the publication that best fits their topic and intended audience.

ILLUMINATION, Curated Newsletters, ILLUMINATION’S MIRROR, ILLUMINATION Book Chapters, The Lampshade of ILLUMINATION, Technology Hits, SYNERGY, Readers Hope, ILLUMINATION on YouTube, ILLUMINATION Gaming, ILLUMINATION Health & Science, Integrated Healthcare, Magnetic Newsletter Pro, Substack Mastery Boost, From Zero to Substack Hero, ILLUMINATION’s Blog, EUPHORIA by Dr Mehmet Yildiz, ILLUMINATION Scholar, ILLUMINATION Local News and Documentary, ILLUMINATION Philosophy and Metaphysics, ILLUMINATION Retirement, Aging, and Legacy, ILLUMINATION Beyond Identity, ILLUMINATION for India, and ILLUMINATION Travel, Food, Culture.

Updated Submission Guidelines for Major Publications

Please review the relevant guidelines before submitting your drafts. They contain information about scope, quality expectations, editorial standards, and publication fit.

ILLUMINATION, Curated Newsletters, ILLUMINATION”S MIRROR, ILLUMINATION Book Chapters, The Lampshade of ILLUMINATION, Technology Hits, SYNERGY ILLUMINATION Health & Science, Readers Hope, ILLUMINATION Gaming, ILLUMINATION on YouTube, Magnetic Newsletter Pro, Substack Mastery Boost, ILLUMINATION Scholar, ILLUMINATION Local News and Documentary, ILLUMINATION Philosophy and Metaphysics, ILLUMINATION Retirement, Ageing, and Legacy, ILLUMINATION Beyond Identity, ILLUMINATION for India, and ILLUMINATION Travel, Food, Culture.

A Note to New Writers

Much of my editorial work has focused on helping new writers get published. Many of them do not yet have a large following, and I understand how difficult that can be. Lately, I have seen quite a few new writers whose work is strong and still awaits publication.

Usually, writers who are already well known and have a larger following tend to be published more quickly. At the same time, I do not want to publish carelessly, especially when a topic lies outside my area of understanding.

For this reason, I try to read each piece on its own terms, with care for both the writer and the reader. A good publication does justice to emerging voices and to readers’ trust, in equal measure. Editorial care means placing each story where it can meet the right reader, not simply accepting it.

I hope this collection brings thoughtful writers and attentive readers into the same conversation.

A Brief Note on My Publication

ILLUMINATION Philosophy and Metaphysics is devoted to philosophy, metaphysics, spirituality, mindfulness, psychology, ethics, consciousness, and the enduring questions of human life.

I introduced the purpose of this publication in ILLUMINATION Philosophy and Metaphysics: An Introduction by the Owner, where I described it as a house for unfinished questions.

I see this publication as a space for rigorous, humane inquiry. It welcomes writing that respects both clarity and mystery, evidence and inwardness, disciplined thought and the subtle textures of lived experience.

For writers who wish to contribute, please read the initial submission guidance prepared by Dr Michael Broadly, DHSc: ILLUMINATION Philosophy and Metaphysics: Initial Submission Guidelines.

I am grateful to Dr Michael Broadly, DHSc for preparing this helpful guide with precision and editorial care.

Gratitude

I wish to express my gratitude to Dr Mehmet Yildiz, the founder of ILLUMINATION Integrated Publications, for establishing ILLUMINATION in 2020 and guiding this writing and reading community with steady leadership.

My thanks also go to Aiden (Owner of Illumination Gaming), whose work as an editor, curator, media coordinator, and community supporter strengthens the ILLUMINATION ecosystem across Medium and Substack.

I am also grateful to Dr Michael Broadly, DHSc, who prepared the initial guidelines for ILLUMINATION Philosophy and Metaphysics and supported this new branch of our community.

I was glad to have my editorial background presented more fully in Editorial Bio of Liauw Pauw Phing: A Cross Disciplinary Synthesis, and I am also grateful for the thoughtful conversation with Dr Mehmet Yildiz in Insightful Conversations with Liauw Pauw Phing. These two pieces offer further context about my background, writing, editorial work, and intellectual development.

About Me

I am Liauw Pauw Phing , an Indonesian writer, poet, philosopher, editor, and astacologist. My work moves across poetry, philosophy, metaphysics, spirituality, science, consciousness, language, and the inner architecture of human experience.

As a writer, I am drawn to the threshold between silence and thought, and between inward life and disciplined inquiry. I believe literature and philosophy can help us become more attentive to existence, responsibility, suffering, beauty, and the fragile meanings that shape human life.

As the owner and editor of ILLUMINATION Philosophy and Metaphysics, I hope to support writers whose work carries depth, sincerity, intellectual care, and genuine concern for readers.

Thank you for reading this collection. I hope these stories offer you something worth returning to.

About the book

With deep gratitude, I wish to thank Dr Mehmet Yildiz for his generous editorial guidance, his discerning eye, and the intellectual care he has given this work.

Here is the editorial review of the book by Dr Yildiz:

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is 1*lMwE2wwM08DWy4Tf4E-4zQ.jpeg — Book cover for The Cartography of Unbecoming — **ISBN:** 9798233715303

The Cartography of Unbecoming
Why I Edited a Philosophical, Metaphysical, and Spiritual Book medium.com

I am equally indebted to Dr Michael Broadly, DHSc, for the generosity with which he wrote the foreword. I linked his foreword too:

Foreword to “The Cartography of Unbecoming” by Liauw Pauw Phing
Why a Retired Scientist Has an Interest in a Philosophical and Metaphysical Bookmedium.com

Their trust, encouragement, and contributions have shaped this book far beyond anything I could have achieved alone.

I am pleased that the book has been published and is available in several book stores. Here is the official page.

This book is now available for preorders and will be released on 30 April 2026. The early access digital and audio formats are available via Google Books and Google Play. Here is the landing page, which will include digital, paperback, hardcover, and audio links.

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ILLUMINATION Philosophy and Metaphysics

ILLUMINATION Philosophy and Metaphysics
A publication devoted to philosophy, metaphysics, ethics, consciousness, cognition, psychology, mindfulness…medium.com

Introduction

ILLUMINATION Philosophy and Metaphysics: An Introduction by the Owner
This publication is devoted to philosophy, metaphysics, spirituality, mindfulness, psychology, ethics, consciousness…medium.com

Submission Guidelines by Dr Michael Broadly, DHSc

ILLUMINATION Philosophy and Metaphysics: Initial Submission Guidelines
Welcome to a new publication within the ILLUMINATION Integrated Publications ecosystemmedium.com

Here is some information about my background and editorial profile.

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