Crazy B!tch Magazine ISSUE 8

Bryan Sleigher James

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Cover Model: Zakkarrii Edison Daniels

ISSUE 8 CREW: Pages 14-19 Nicole Sixx Interview Pages 20-29 Photo Feature Owner/ Founder/ Photographer: Josh Edstedt Editor in Chief: Rachel Boese Model: Bailey Delony Pages 30-39 Coven of Ashes Interview Managing Editor: Pages 43-63 Belladonna's Cupboard Hannah Rudow Malleus Maleficarum Pallet Launch Contributing Editor: Photographer: Anabel DFlux Logan Boese Models: Coralyn Martin, Victoria Lane, Kimmie Yan, Jane C. SinClair, Music Editor: Beth Amphetamine Krystin Jett, Lasha Lane Pages 64-67 Communication During Sex Contributing Writer: Written By: Mx Kinky Mx Kinky

Tell us about your new book!

"Well, it came out in February and is the second book in my “Some Fucked Up Shit” series, “Some Fucked Up Shit: GHOSTS”. I’m very excited about it and everyone seems to really be enjoying it so that makes me super happy. In fact I discovered I no longer need a day job and am just working from home. I guess you could say this is the book I graduated to being a real author on, which still hasn’t fully sunk in.

As noted by the title, it’s all about Ghosts! Boo! Haha.”

How did you come up with these stories?

“The interesting thing about ghost stories is we all have one, don’t we?

We all saw something weird once we can’t explain. I do draw on my knowledge of the strange and unusual, but mostly my inspiration is the monsters living within the human soul. I see things that disturb me and put monsters in them so everyone else will understand my fears, and about our need to battle the demons inside ourselves for the greater good. It helps me handle the way humans treat each other and hopefully inspires them to be better.”

Who or what is your biggest source of inspiration?

“Life. My experiences. I have authors I love, like Stephen King of course, and shows I watch, and music. Always there is a song or two on repeat for everything I write, but at the end of the day I go out and I live, then I take what I see in society and filter it through nightmares onto my notebooks.”

Author

Who would you want to work with that you haven't?

“I would give anything to work with Stephen King. I can’t even imagine what I would say if I had that opportunity except to turn bright red and mumble “yes, thank you”. Hahaha. Ah, I hope someday he reads my work. That would be enough, I don’t even need more than to know he read it, honestly.”

How did you get to where you are today?

“When I was 21 for the second time in my life I wanted to kill myself. I had just received my first book rejection and Snookie had gotten a NYT Best Selling novel. I became very aware literature was dying. Then I learned about Slush Piles. Aka, a place your manuscript sits for 2 years or so and maybe if you are lucky someone reads it. Maybe.

Unlikely. All I ever wanted was to just be a writer. So I laid in bed in the darkest depression of my life and suddenly a little voice said “but you’re smarter than Snookie”. So I reasoned, if the only way to get published was to be famous, I’d make myself famous. By 2010, I had broken out enough online to get my foot in the door, and I just kept building. Never let anyone tell you your dreams are foolish. Hard?

Abso-fucking-lutely. Impossible? Never. You just need talent and discipline. Two things our society has really forgotten about but I never will.”

Do people ever call you crazy?

“Only the stupid ones, haha. Ah, that’s mean, but it’s true. I saw this meme once that said “some people call me crazy, some people call me for advice” and I loved it. Anyone in this world with depth and intellect will be misunderstood and feared. Especially women. In a lot of ways I believe crazy is the only thing people have left to smear a woman with.

It’s blanket and convenient. However, in Hollywood crazy is actually pretty accepted. We’re a town full of artists and entrepreneurs, we always look crazy to the small minded. Being broke and nasty however, is not accepted in our world. Broke, nasty, people fail out of town and make a ton of enemies on the way out. Be kind, be smart, and work your ass off. Let them call you crazy, people who can’t do and they talk shit in the hopes no one notices how useless they are.”

What are you looking forward to this year?

“Being my own boss. Feels fucking incredible. My dreams have come true! Now I just got to keeping working at it and get Some Fucked Up Shit: WITCHES out! Haha.”

What do you want to do to that you haven't gotten to do yet?

“I wanna build a way to connect to my readers and horror friends worldwide every month. I love building communities and definitely want to explore deeper ways of connecting to my kind of people. There are a lot of us dark nerds out there, and I want to know them.”

Is there anything else you're currently working on?

“Right now my sole focus is on the Some Fucked Up Shit series. If anyone is interested in a signed copy please connect with me on instagram. I will follow you back!”

Instagram.com/thatnicolesixx

PHOTO FEATURE Photographer: Josh E dstedt Model: Bailey Delony

Photographer: Josh Edstedt Model: Bailey Delony

Photographer: Josh Edstedt Model: Bailey Delony

Photographer: Josh Edstedt Model: Bailey Delony

Photographer: Josh Edstedt Model: Bailey Delony

Photographer: Josh Edstedt Model: Bailey Delony

Photographer: Josh Edstedt Model: Bailey Delony

What is “Coven of Ashes”?

Coven of Ashes, in its simplest terms, is an all female collaborative ritual performance project. We utilize anything in our respective tool belt such as a myriad of ritual knowledge, performance arts, (theatrical, dance, moving meditations) altered states of consciousness, play piercing and suspension knowledge, creative writing, costuming and headdress fabrication, and any other ideas we may want to throw into the cauldron. Our rituals can vary from honoring or invoking blood goddesses, embodying their archetypes, honoring ourselves and our bodily autonomy, ridding ourselves of negativity, honoring and exploring our shadow/ primal/feral selves and allowing persecuted women of the past to possess us. We heavily connect with our blood (both veinal and vaginal), our pain and our need to express and transcend.

Do you have any advice for anyone out there who's looking to get into suspension or body modification?

“Research, join groups, ask questions! There are a host of documentaries, books, forums to look at and dive into.

Suspension.org has a wonderful world map of teams in your area. Attend a meet, take initiative, get hands on! Do your research, be safe and have an amazing time.”

What led you to starting an all female troupe?

“I was asked to participate in the Black Castle’s annual Ceremony of Dark Art. That year they were focusing on female energy, so I wrote and directed an all female show with CoRE called The Red Tent. There was no opening act, and the gallery owner asked if I knew of any other groups that we could pull last minute. I had this idea to get a group of powerful women together who were interested in vulnerable ritual performance and ask them to do a Butoh piece as the opener. This was the first Coven of Ashes performance. We utilized the original intent of Butoh, which was to re inhabit the bodies of those who had died in Hiroshima and bring them back to life. Instead, we put our own twist on this: letting women who had been persecuted and murdered for witchcraft possess and inhabit our bodies.

Rising from ash, we screamed in agony as our bodies ‘burned’ and then we were put on trial where we admitted our sins and guilt with pride. Thus the name, Coven of Ashes. The space and energy we held that night felt incredibly powerful and even though it was created initially as a single performance piece, my intuition told me there was more in store for Coven.

More work to do, more magick to make.”

How did you get into suspension?

“In 2008 I joined a theatrical suspension troupe in Oakland, CA called CoRE (Constructs of Ritual Evolution). I thought that they presented suspension, something that can be considered extreme and possibly gory, in a beautiful and elegant way. I joined the makeup and art department and also started performing with them. About a year and a half after I joined, I did my first suspension. I was extremely nervous because I had not seen anyone with a larger body type doing suspension, but I spoke with the piercing team and they assured me that it was absolutely possible.”

Can you tell me more about your background?

“When I started out belly dancing in my early 20’s I really did not consider myself a performer. I was way more drawn to tribal fusion and the then-blossoming dark fusion dance stylings. I enjoyed movement arts and dark theatricality. I danced for a few years and discovered Butoh which is more of a performance art than it is a dance. I began trying to merge the tribal fusion belly dancing and Butoh. My ideas got more elaborate and I started working on more shows and taking on more responsibility with CoRE and incorporating both styles of dance and performance.

And then there was a calling to create Coven of Ashes! The rest is, as they say, history.

You recently had some scarification done, can you tell me about that experience?

“It was a wonderful experience. The design was something I had in my mind for a while. I explained my idea to my friend and modification artist, Alex Barros. He drew up an amazing rendition and created a beautiful scar. There are two crescent moons and a trident. Representative of many things like intuition, feminine and masculine energies, Kali (a fierce goddess whom I work with often) is often depicted holding Shiva’s trident. It also represents the number 3, Sattva, Rajas and Tamas, becoming, being, passing away, triple sin, and it has become a symbol of Lucifer to demonize old religions.”

Is there anyone you've gotten to work with that you admire greatly?

“I’ve worked with so many amazing teams and individuals it’s hard to narrow down that list. Every creative show collaboration is a gift of active magick I am so grateful to be a part of.”

Who is your biggest source of inspiration?

“Oh wow, David Bowie is a big one for me. His creative process and ability to chameleonize himself is very influential to me. His death was devastating but his belief in impermanence inspired me to take motivation from the magick he created and keep moving forward.

Another huge source of inspiration for me was an event that is no longer called Orbis Nex. It was an event in Oakland run by a dear friend and amazing artist, Patricia Cram. This event she held every few weeks opened me up to art in a way that changed me forever. I discovered it at a time in my life when I wanted more from the nightlife experience. This event was so special. Rooms filled with sweet and woody incense, only lit by the flickering lights of candles. Handmade custom elixirs and amazing performance art, ritual and music from all corners of the world. The elegance and attention to detail took my breath away. It changed the way I saw, interacted with, and created art. I miss it, look back on it fondly, and let its memory inspire me still.”

What else are you working on?

“My other passion project is the Dark Ambient Sound Bath. I collaborate with electronic dark ambient and noize musicians to create soundscapes while I guide meditation and breath-work to help participants access their shadow self.

It’s not your traditional sound bath which tends to have a focus on love and light. I feel that when we can access, face and dive into our shadow selves we can deal with deeper issues as a means of healing. Themes range from Exorcism, Lucid Dreaming and Entropy, and even more are being written.

When I created this event with Adam Thompson, I truly did not imagine that we would be where we are almost 2 years later. The event is a success, selling out every venue. In these times people really need a place to gain some clarity of the mind and roam the depths! We are bringing together a wide variety of people from yogis, to punks, all ages, all levels of experience need balance. There is such a saturation of sound bath and meditation events with a lighter focus, and we aim to bring balance and a broader awareness of self.”

Who would you want to work with that you haven't?

“One artist I think I would absolutely love to work with is Margaret Chardiet of the noise music project Pharmakon. When I heard her work I had the most amazing visions and intense energetic vibrations coming from me. I consistently listen to her music while I am suspended because it changes my headspace and allows me to be feral, vulnerable, and completely give in to my primal shadow. I would also love to work with Marina Abramovic.

Her entire body of work is inspiring and challenging. I feel I could learn so much just being in her presence and spending a week in nature utilizing her lengthy practices of connecting with the mind and body and strengthening the connections with vulnerability, pain and transcendence, and pushing one's own mental and physical limits. I adore her ability to connect with and trust her audience.”

How did you get to where you are today?

“I was a performer when I was little. I would gather the neighborhood kids and direct and perform skits or dances for our parents, so I guess that’s always been there as a foundation. I have always been creative and thrived on artistic expression. I took art and drama and creative writing and performance courses in my youth. There was a period of time where I stopped performing because I firmly believed that no one would appreciate anything that didn’t have some sexual or attractive merit. After a heinous breakup, I started belly dancing to reclaim my sexuality, the pride and beauty in my body and its movements... and then I started to play. I wanted to create belly dancing performances that weren’t glitz and glam, that had connotations of the occult and connections with dark goddesses who were powerful and didn’t rely on beauty. I wanted to frighten and command the audience. Then I discovered and began practicing Butoh.

The incredible force of mind-body experiences and experiments possible in that movement is so vast, haunting, and transformative. Couple these discoveries with the introduction to the suspension world, pain ritual, and altered states of consciousness, and the vision became very clear to me.

The merging of all these worlds was something powerful. It asked its performers for vulnerability and strength, knowledge and courage. I’m so proud of what we have created and what we continue to put out into the world.”

What are you looking forward to this year for Coven of Ashes?

“I’m very excited to release merch for Coven of Ashes. I can assure you, It won’t be your standard fare. I’m hoping our offerings will allow the audience to take the experience of our powerful rituals home with them.

I’m also really excited for another collaborative performance with Missy Munster of MM Fabrications. What we have in store for that performance will completely take you out of this realm. Please stay tuned to our FB Page and IG for announcements on those release dates!”

MALLEUS MALEFICARUM Palette

SHIPPING AUGUST 2018

30 luscious vegan eyeshadow colors that apply smooth as butter and blend like a dream.

The Malleus Maleficarum (1486) is the best known of the witch-hunt manuals.

This palette has been created with the idea in mind, that women can find empowerment not only in spite of but through persecution by taking back concepts, words, ideas and actions that have historically been used to preserve patriarchal systems. The early modern witch trials claimed the lives of nine million Europeans, 80-90% of whom were women.

Belladonna's Cupboard stands for #selfexpressionrevolution, the idea that everyone should be respected and allowed to express themselves regardless of their race, age, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity, disability or style choices. This includes tattoo and piercing acceptance and inclusivity in the workplace. We are tired of being told how we “should� look, of having the beauty industry dissect their body parts, sizes and features. It is time to embrace and encourage the message that all people are beautiful.

WWW.BELLADONNASCUPBOARD.COM

PHOTOGRAPHER: Anabel DFlux MODEL: Lasha Lane

PHOTOGRAPHER: Anabel DFlux MODEL: Lasha Lane

PHOTOGRAPHER: Anabel DFlux MODEL: Kristine Jett

PHOTOGRAPHER: Anabel DFlux MODEL: Kristine Jett

PHOTOGRAPHER: Anabel DFlux MODEL: Coralyn Martin

PHOTOGRAPHER: Anabel DFlux MODEL: Coralyn Martin

PHOTOGRAPHER: Anabel DFlux MODEL: Kimmie Yan

PHOTOGRAPHER: Anabel DFlux MODEL: Kimmie Yan

PHOTOGRAPHER: Anabel DFlux MODEL: Jane C. SinClair

PHOTOGRAPHER: Anabel DFlux MODEL: Jane C. SinClair

PHOTOGRAPHER: Anabel DFlux MODEL: Victoria Lane

PHOTOGRAPHER: Anabel DFlux MODEL: Victoria Lane

PHOTOGRAPHER: Anabel DFlux MODELS: Coralyn Martin, Victoria Lane, Kimmie Yan, Jane C. SinClair, Krystine Jett, Lasha Lane

PHOTOGRAPHER: Anabel DFlux MODELS: Coralyn Martin, Victoria Lane, Kimmie Yan, Jane C. SinClair, Krystine Jett, Lasha Lane

PHOTOGRAPHER: Anabel DFlux MODELS: Coralyn Martin, Victoria Lane, Kimmie Yan, Jane C. SinClair, Krystine Jett, Lasha Lane

PHOTOGRAPHER: Anabel DFlux MODELS: Coralyn Martin, Victoria Lane, Kimmie Yan, Jane C. SinClair, Krystine Jett, Lasha Lane

Communication During Sex: How it can entice, intrigue, and enhance!

By: Mx Kinky

Now, most people enjoy sex. Many of us love it.

There are even those who put it with it for their partner. We all have one thing in common though.

We each have our own little ticks and quirks for what rocks our socks. For some, that little divot where shaft meets crown. Others, full on penetration. Roleplay, toys, vanilla, or kink. We all have our preferences. Many of us are willing to explore and expand those preferences. But here’s the thing, your partner doesn’t inherently know that about you, or you them.

From 25+ years in a relationship to that one night stand with your friend’s friend’s relative, no one can read minds. Before and during the act, be up front. “Hey, I like this.” “Hey let’s try this.” “I don’t enjoy that, let’s try this instead.” “Are you interested in this?” By asking, communicating, and taking time to explore, you’d be surprised at how improved a sexual interaction can be.

I, Mx Kinky, have a partner who I’m still learning, and every interaction is both a minefield and an adventure. Each thing learned though is a trick to enhance the play down the road.

Obviously, the more “urgent” the interaction, the less talking makes sense, but if you have the time try it. With a new partner, or a quick fling thing, you don’t want to go wild and crazy without heavy negotiation and discussion prior to having at it. Start small. Ask to be touched in certain places or certain ways. Ask if they enjoy being touched here or there or like this or that. Just because you’re communicating doesn’t mean they are able to voice their wants clearly, or are comfortable doing so. Sometimes you have to be up front and ask till they start to warm up.

It took me a few years before I was able to start asking or describing what I enjoyed, once I was able to though I learned more about myself.

On top of that, my intimate activities got livelier.

As I learned to ask my partner, I learned things about other people's’ bodies I myself never realized. Things I took and used with future partners. Those who enjoyed it, I kept doing.

Those who didn’t, I stopped. Those who weren’t sure, I’d try it every now and then till they made a decision.

If you communicate, experiment in a consensual manner, and live in the moment, I can nearly guarantee you’ll get a lot more satisfaction out of your activities too.

Go, be bold and never be afraid to ask.

- Mx Kinky

BirdBrain FX