Radical Issue Thirteen – July/August, 2019
Directory Monthly Affirmation D.I.Y. Therapy: Cultivating Wild Wisdom Honorable Mention: Storme Webber Clear Waters by Jasmine Farrell A Message to Cisgender Artists by Kat Cassar & Samuel Gratton Choke by Lauren Elizabeth Youth Discrimination 101 by Daisy Salinas Surf Dogs by Artist Esmeralda Summer Loving by Dee NEW: Awesome Articles Grassroots Activism: Punk Ethics Roar by Leah Oviedo Anthem for the Homeless by Steve Pleich List of Healing Resources
A New Affirmation for You!
I am grateful for my creativity. Gratitude flows out of me for all the people who support me. My gratitude reminds me that there are thoughts, actions & things in this world that are positive. I am grateful for myself & accept myself as I am.
What is Radical zine? I created Radical to spread a message of sustainable self-care and to promote independent artists, writers, and healers, especially woc and queer creatives. Choosing to love myself unconditionally and heal is the reason I am still alive. Art, poetry, & choosing to support others gives me a greater purpose than just my own needs. XOXO, Leah
Support Radical Zine for $1/month at Patreon.com/LOviedo Radical Zine is people powered & your support is appreciated!
D.I.Y. Therapy: Cultivating Wild Wisdom One of my favorite books, “Women Who Run With the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype” by Clarissa Pinkola Estes, Ph.D. is one of the most helpful, femme centered books I've read. I spent about 6 weeks reading this because I wanted to soak in the message of each chapter. Her analysis of myths and stories from a female perspective gave me a whole new appreciation for the stories and fairy tales of my childhood. I never read much into the meaning or message behind most fables and fairy tales when I was younger. I consumed them as pretty straightforward adventures. The book is centered around the Wild Woman archetype present in those tales. Connecting my cycles with the natural “wild woman” cycles of our eco-system is a focus of mine that has helped a great deal in my healing journey. Her theory that we all have a wild woman inside of us resonates with me because over the last several years I have been uncovering my own wild self and releasing the suffocating and harmful ideals that our culture has pressed upon me while healing my trauma and pain. The very first page starts with this: “Wildlife and the Wild Woman are both endangered species. Over time, we have seen the feminine instinctive nature looted, driven back, and overbuilt. For long periods it has been mismanaged like the wildlife and wild lands. For several thousand years, as soon and as often as we turn our backs, it is relegated to the poorest land in the psyche. The spiritual lands of Wild Woman have, throughout history, been plundered or burnt, dens bulldozed, and natural cycles forced into unnatural rhythms to please others.” I felt my inner self crying out in exasperation about why hadn't I read this book sooner. I clearly remember my mother telling me about it! On page 13, I read the following description of who is the Wild Woman. “She is the one who thunders after injustice. She is the one who turns like a great wheel. She is the maker of cycles. She is the one we leave home to look for. She is the one we come home to. She is the mucky rot of all women. She is the things that keep us going when we think we're done for. She is the incubator of raw little ideas and deals. She is the mind which thanks us, we are the thoughts that she thinks. Where is she present? Where can you feel her, where can you find her?” That hooked me. The first chapter was singing to my soul.
The wild woman, my wolf side is a part of me I have been cultivating for a few years now. This book for me is powerful and I feel that most women would benefit from the traditions and wisdom she shares. Each chapter focuses on a different theme of lessons to learn or unlearn and stages of life women progress through on their journeys. And each of these felt like my own journey; including learning to love my body after accepting the unhealthy beauty standards of my culture; being aware of the darkest parts of my psyche that was the place my depression took root and flourished for 17 years; resurrecting my self-worth from years of doubt and bullying; learning to hone my intuition and listen to what felt right or wrong; letting my scars heal instead of picking at the scabs; understanding that all of these aspects of myself, my growth, my healing are stages of my journey that are felt by most other women, even when our environment and cultures differ greatly. Overall this book inspired me to ponder the following questions. 1. How can I cultivate more wild woman wisdom in my life? 2. How can I lean into being more focused on my most precious goals? 3. When can I take time during my every day life to howl at the moon? 4. Who in my tribe would be willing and able to understand the wildish parts of myself? I hope this inspires you to pick up this book, or find the audio version. Many libraries offer e-books you can check out as well. Check out the Healing Journey podcast on Breaker.com.
Honorable Mention - Storme Webber If you've been paying attention I'm a HUGE fan of Native artists. Growing up in the southwest most of the “Native” art I saw was by Euro-Americans, mostly gringos who profited off od the culture and art of local tribes. That bothered me to no end. So, I forced myself to find other great artists like the etchings by Helen Hardin and more recent artists like J. Nicole Hatfield who creates the most beautiful paintings. Only recently did I learn about Storme Webber! Since it is/has been PRIDE month, I wanted to make sure and choose a radical LGBTQIA/Two-Spirit honorable mention. In 2007 Storme founded Voices Rising a QPOC art collective, incubator and community program in Seattle. Her book Blues Divine is on Amazon.com. “Born into a crossing over place
where Indigenous met African met Texan met Alaskan Native, sat down in a pre-Stonewall gay bar and discussed shadows and recovery… Inside is a journey of many intersections and switchbacks, fast running rivers and swamplands, as well as those sacred places where sun splits the sky wide open.” She has a fantastic voice and if you can't see her in person, you can listen to her “Grace” recording on her website. Listening to her soothing voice reminds me of the late, great Maya Angelou. “Storme Webber is a Two Spirit, Alutiiq/Black/Choctaw, internationally-nurtured poet, playwright, educator, and interdisciplinary artist. She creates bluesinfluenced, socially-engaged texts and images exploring identity, art activism, and the intersections of race, class, gender, sexuality, memory and spirit.” (from their website) Learn more about Storme: Stormewebber.com FOLLOW on Facebook.com/storme.webber
“Clear Waters” by Jasmine Farrell One day, after inhaling silence, exhaling clusters of pent up regrets, a heavy hush of nothingness rolled down my chest, tickled my belly like raindrops to window panes. I surrendered my eyelids to kiss and grip a darkness I’ve only embraced during slumber. Dove down into murky waters of vintage aches I was sure would heal in Davey Jones locker. I was always scared to drown within myself. To swim deep, down to the ocean floor of me, clean up the mess, wipe off the muck from oysters, embrace the pearls. And, tell foreign fish, “You will not reside here anymore.” I used to be so scared. To face the whys to my nows, to cry from my soul and let acceptance dry me off gently, moisture the flesh of my core with love
and leave the stagnancy behind. Who wants to acknowledge their brokenness anyway? But, that day, I went within. I went deep. Left the snorkel and fear driven ego on the sand. Did what I was scared to dowithout gasping for air. The water is clear now.
Jasmine Farrell is an author, poet and a literary editor for InLove Magazine. With a passionate drive to inspire others, Jasmine has used her words to uplift and inspire others from the age of 9. She has a way of painting pictures with her unique style of poetry which helps her connect with her audience. She recently released her third poetry collection, Long Live Phoenixes, which is divided up into 9 “Laws/Mantras” that urges her readers to always soar high and embrace who they are. In 2014, she released her first poetry collection, ‘My Quintessence,’ that includes poems from her teenage years and her past life as a Christian. After de-converting and re-discovering herself, she wrote her second poetry collection, ‘Phoenixes Groomed as Genesis Doves,’ (PGAGD). Major life experiences that triggered her consciousness and allowed her to face her true self inspired PGAGD. The book reveals the beginning steps on her journey of selfdiscovery. Her commitment to encourage others on similar paths, spills on the pages as Jasmine opens her heart and shares her personal experiences with the world In addition to graduating Nyack College with a Bachelors in Communications in 2014, she has eaten the snacks of various loved ones. Cookies, Trail Mix and etc. Find Jasmine at: JasmineFarrell.com & Facebook.com/justbreathejasmine & Twitter.com/justbreathejas & Instagram.com/JustBreatheJasmine
“A Message to Cisgender Artists� by Kat Cassar & Samuel Gratton
(mural at OCAD University) Kat Cassar is currently working towards their Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography from OCAD University. Their work incorporates archival and documentation techniques through film photography, installation and text. This allows for them to reflect on their experiences through a conceptual approach to documentary photography, often focusing on themes of identity, memory, and grief. Samuel Gratton is a queer transgender male artist who works primarily in lens-based mediums. His work explores gender,sexuality, identity, memory, and the materiality of photography. Samuel is currently working towards his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography from OCAD University. Find Kat at: katcassar.format.com & instagram.com/kat.cassar Find Sam at: samuelgratton.format.com & instagram.com/samuelgratton
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Video Highlight:
Bye Rachel: Being a Biracial Woman in America by Summer Durant
“I often feel as if I am letting one half down in acknowledging the other.” “We must not underestimate the power of listening and of being listened to.” Youtube.com/watch?v=6DtXr5dEWPg&app=desktop
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“Choke” by Lauren Elizabeth
Lauren Elizabeth is a 32 year old artist who still finds it odd to call herself an artist and even stranger to write about herself but really enjoys trying new things so let’s party on. She grew up in Las Vegas, NV and moved to San Diego, CA just shy of graduating Basic High School. No really, that’s the name of the school. Look it up. She secured a job in corporate retail and after 10 years, landed work at the San Diego Museum of Art as security. Lurking in galleries surrounded by artists such as Goya, Dali, Warhol, and Kahlo really sparked a creative flame under her cute cheap leggings, and she started drawing on scratch paper with whatever she found lying around. She was eventually promoted to part time event planner for the same museum and upgraded the cheap leggings to cheap dresses. Today, she lives with her black cat in a tiny studio apartment in Normal Heights, holds down 2 jobs (3 in October) and produces as much art as she can in her spare time, primarily working with gouache, acrylic, marker and ink. She hopes to raise enough funds from her crafts to eventually make prints and sell them in shops around the neighborhood for money to maybe go back to college. She thinks a higher degree will make these bios more interesting. The focus of her works comes from heartache, financial struggle, and being half blind. She wrote this description under the California Tower in beautiful Balboa Park while pretending to work at her 2nd job. Follow her on Instagram.com/oneeyedlauren
“Youth Discrimination 101” by Daisy Salinas Cycles of abuse, domination, and oppression are all rooted in the dehumanization of children. Ageism (discrimination based on age) is a systemic form of oppression that we are all born into. Children and youth are not seen as autonomous individuals and instead are viewed as property by parents, the education system, the juvenile justice system, and the state. Through coercion, control, and violence, adults harm children and youth every day with 700,000 children abused annually in the U.S. alone. Due to the ongoing effects of systemic racism, youth of color face even more challenges such as criminalization, the school-to-prison pipeline, gentrification, housing segregation, and lack of basic resources such as access to healthy food, clean air & water, and mental health support. LGBTQ youth of color face higher risk for family rejection, homelessness, mental illness, and abuse than their youth of color or white LGBTQ youth counterparts. Rather than contributing to the harm and exploitation of our youth, we need to fight for a society that practices inter-generational exchanges, mutual-aid, and solidarity. Being accomplices in youth liberation starts with passing the mic and listening to our youth & the unique challenges they face. In an effort to uplift the voices of youth of color, Muchacha Fanzine’s upcoming youth-based issue “Liberation Youth” is now accepting submissions. Learn more at patreon.com/muchachafanzine and subscribe to support the work of youth of color leading the way!
Daisy Salinas is a Xicana feminist punk zinester (Muchacha Fanzine), musician (Frijolera Riot), activist, curator., and poet (Wake-Up!). She started the quarterly decolonial feminist punk fest "Xingonas in the Pit” with the purpose of promoting punk as an act of resistance and self-sufficiency for people of color. Her goal for the third Xingonas in the Pit: "Black and Brown Punk Fest TX" is to build a safe space for punks of color to reclaim their identities, their art, and their collective liberation.
“SURF DOGS� by Artist Esmeralda In 2014, Westfield Horton Plaza had a Mural Contest that was featured on NBC 7 NEWS. Out of everyone that applied, 10 San Diego Artists were chosen to paint a mural on "Why I love San Diego". The murals were displayed on Broadway St. Downtown SD for 1 year. Imperial Beach Local Artist Esmeralda Robles was chosen and painted the "SURF DOGS" mural. Through her art, she gave the dogs a voice and said "Not only do the people of San Diego love SD, but the dogs who live in San Diego love living here because they have their own Dog Beach in Ocean Beach, San Diego and they are very happy to go there." The judges said this was their favorite. When turning in the mural, Esmeralda enclosed a picture of her dog in the middle. She didn't want them to think she forgot to paint the eye. Esmeralda adopted 10 yr old one-eyed Pomeranian "Puff" at the animal shelter. Left is "Sunshine" and right is "Gia". Since the murals are no longer displayed, Esmeralda wishes her mural can somehow be displayed at a public place near Dog Beach in Ocean Beach, CA. The 12ft x 6ft "Surf Dogs" Mural is painted on a rolled canvas, so it can easily be transported. Since the painting depicts her 3 dogs surfing in O.B., she feels the mural belongs in Ocean Beach near Dog Beach. This is the LINK to the news video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ao_nVhClx4&t=41s This is the LINK to the news article: https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Murals-at-Horton-Plaza-CelebrateSan-Diego--270415161.html
(Temporary mural at Horton Paza during construction)
Cristina Esmeralda Robles born in 1978, is a Symbolist-Surrealist and raised in San Diego, CA. She currently lives in Imperial Beach, CA and is known as a San Diego local artist for her participation in many art shows. She draws and paints mostly out of self expression. Some types of art she likes to create are; murals, portraits, landscapes, animals, desert art, beach-surf art, abstracts, psychedelic, and self-expression. She is currently working on her 5 th sketchbook. She enjoys taking pictures and takes her camera and sketchbook everywhere she goes. Her hobbies are collecting books, magazines, little junk, pictures, cards, and postcards. She uses them for ideas and references to what she might create in the future. Sdart619.com Facebook.com/ArtistEsmeralda/ Instagram.com/artist_esmeralda Twitter.com/artistesmeralda
“Summer Loving” by Dee Spring gives way to summer Like my heart gives way to you-naturally, effortlessly. The most seamless transition into this season where, if we’re not careful, we will let the coming heat burn up all the beautiful flowers we planted and hoped would grow. Hot, sun-kissed skin brushes against hot, sun-kissed skin for fleeting moments of passion leading to scorched hearts-I hope the beaming rays don’t burn me alive. Dee is a Maryland-based writer, lover of the law, and baker of lemon bars. She only recently began submitting written work, but was published in the inaugural issue of Felize Zine in Fall 2018 (San Antonio) and looks forward to continuing to put her thoughts into words in the future. Follow her on Twitter @deewriteswords.
Más Awesomeness! “The American Medical Association is taking a public stand to stem what it calls "the epidemic of violence against the transgender community, especially the amplified physical dangers faced by transgender people of color," as well as discrimination faced by the entire LGBTQ community..” by Dawn Ennis Read more on Forbes.com or learn more about Dawn at Lifeafterdawn.com.
“I prefer to put my energy into multi-issue organizing.In the 1970s and 1980s, I co-founded the Combahee River Collective, a black feminist group, and Kitchen Table: Women of Color Press to give women of color, lesbians of color and even gay men of color a voice.” by Barbara Smith Read more at NYTimes.com or learn about Barbara at Barbarasmithaintgonna.com.
“...these 12 nonbinary people and queer women are revolutionizing the wellness field with their inclusive and accessible approaches to self-care — which is, well, what self-care should be.” By Kyli Rodriguez-Cayro Read more at Bustle.com or learn about Kyli at Kylirc.com
Blog Post: “Self: Love and Compassion” by Jasmine Farrell Jasminefarrell.com/blog/2019/2/24/selflove
“Seasonal Ambrosia” By Iris Orpi The soul of summer, like young love, doesn’t know how to keep its distance. It hovers over the page with its words all kinds of splendid and its wings tipped in fire daring the ink to go in places before unknown and the heart to have faith in whatever is on the other side of the writing-covered wall. Passion ensnares us within twists of the overgrown ivy that has claimed that brick wall, turning boundaries into invitations with nature’s calligraphy rendered in rosewater and light. We become wrapped and enraptured with visions resembling the touch of satin on bare skin, our temperatures rising in response to the salacious coaxing of the naked blue-white sky. Like a metaphysical duet of energies and the flesh, we match its romantic professions
verse for verse, harmonies for melodies, trading our defenses for bossa nova and al fresco kissing, the ardent awareness of being alive surrounding us like a heady cocktail of butterflies and barefoot dancing, like nights synonymous to symptoms of fever translating aches into longings. This hypnosis, this surrender feels like a previously withheld privilege, our inner strings vibrating with that sentient magic, all rhyme and no reason, neither knowing nor caring where our feasting senses end and the yearned-for breeze begins.
Iris Orpi is a Filipina writer living in Chicago, IL. She is the author of the novel The Espresso Effect and two books of collected poetry, Cognac for the Soul and Beautiful Fever. She was an Honorable Mention for the annual Contemporary American Poetry Prize in 2014. Her work has appeared in over two dozen online and print publications around Asia, North America, Europe, and Africa. twitter.com/irisorpi
facebook.com/irisorpi
No SweatShops for Punks “A new campaign against the use of sweatshop T-shirts by punk bands is backed by some of the biggest names in the scene. Punk legend, Jello Biafra, heads up an all-star cast of angry punks calling on fellow punk bands to stop unwittingly exploiting the sweatshop workers that make their T-shirts. The former lead singer of the Dead Kennedys has joined a global roll-call of legendary punk figures that includes the likes of Crass veterans Penny Rimbaud and Steve Ignorant, Canadian hardcore icons Propagandhi, and Burmese punk-activists The Rebel Riot, in a video released by London based collective, Punk Ethics, and the anti-sweatshop campaign No Sweat that holds a simple message: practice what you preach. T-shirts have long become essential paraphernalia in the punk scene, allowing bands to promote their message and style – but there is plenty of evidence that relying on such a commercial product often comes with a heavy price...” Watch the trailer for the film: https://youtu.be/8hcW_Cc0ZPY
Punk Ethics is a collective dedicated to promoting the progressive side of the punk attitude. Through campaigns, events and solidarity actions, Punk Ethics works to make punk as an art form into a social movement. Find out more at: www.punkethics.com No Sweat is a grassroots campaign to end the use of sweatshop labour across the world, that has created a line of blank ethical T-shirts made by workers co-ops run by former sweatshop workers to help fund their campaign work. Find out more at:
www.nosweat.org.uk
“ROAR” by Leah Oviedo
(Image text: “Bare your teeth and growl. If they don't stop ROAR until they listen. Stretch your claws long and sharp to cut the ties that bind. Release your wildness fully naked of anything but the truth. Dress yourself in bravery an d creativity. Reclaim your power unapologetically.”)
Leah Oviedo was raised roving around various regions.in a mashup of cultures between her mothers Midwestern German/Miscellaneous roots and her fathers Californian MexicanAmerican immigration. This pushed her to have an intersectional interest in art, writing, and activism. After suffering from depression for 17 years, she was inspired to heal her trauma with art therapy and then with other methods. Her current focus is connecting with nature, smashing the patriarchy, and eradicating self-hate through self-care and radical ideas with the help of a diverse group of creators sharing their stories and their magic. Instagram: Instagram.com/impoweryou or ImpowerYou.org
Anthem for the Homeless by Steve Pleich It’s a full-time job being homeless. It’s a full-time job being poor. That’s what those people who say the homeless should just go out and get jobs fail to understand. You already have a job, and that job is surviving one day at a time. Because every day you have to get in line early for food and even earlier each night for a place to sleep. You carry everything you own on your back and when your clothes get wet or wear out, you spend all your time searching for replacements. You only have so much energy to expend because you have only so much food to fuel your body. Most of the time, you’re tired and you’re sore and your clothes are damp. And you are lonely because people are afraid to look you in the eye for fear of what they might see there. For fear that, for the grace of god or just good fortune, it could be any one of them looking back. But sometimes at night, you recall who you once were. You were a kid and played with other kids. You had a mother and a father. You wanted to be an engineer or a firefighter or an astronaut. You were loved and loved in return. You were a family. And in your darkest imaginings, you could never have seen yourself come to this place. You are homeless. You are poor.
Steve Pleich is a 20 year resident of Santa Cruz and a lifelong fighter for civil liberties, social justice and racial equality. Steve continues this work through board membership with the ACLU of Santa Cruz County, Project Pollinate, Santa Cruz County Community Coalition to Overcome Racism (SCCCCOR), the United Nations Association of Santa Cruz County and Project Homeless Connect. He has had over 20 feature articles published in Street Spirit Magazine, is a regular contributor to Santa Cruz Indy Media and has had several guest commentaries and numerous letters published in the Santa Cruz Sentinel. Steve can be seen on Community Television of Santa Cruz County as host and producer of Voices from the Village and as host of Non Profit Spotlight. Steve’s primary focus is presently on creating positive outcomes for people experiencing homelessness in Santa Cruz and Santa Cruz County and serves as Coordinator for the Faith Community Shelter, a program which provides nightly shelter and transitional services to homeless community members. He passionately believes that “People aren’t living on the streets, they are dying on the streets. How can we, in good conscience, stand by and do nothing?” facebook.com/steve.pleich Instagram @whowouldbernievotefor
Twitter @Pleich4SantaCRZ Community TV spleich@communitytv.org
How about picking up a helping handful of pollution the next time you walk in your barrio, at the park or the beach? You could even start a once a month cleanup with your family or friends!
Healing Resources Nationwide Suicide Prevention crisis line: 1-800-273-8255. Don’t want to call? Use a text help line. Text 741741 anywhere in the USA for a live trained counselor. The Trevor Project – Suicide prevention for LGBTQ youth, 1-866-488-7386 or TheTrevorHelpline.org There are apps that support mental health. The My3App connects someone who is feeling suicidal with their three main support contacts. My3app.org Mental Health America offers free mental health first aid training, Mentalhealthamerica.net NAMI – Alliance of mental illness has a program called Peer to Peer, similar to Big Brother/Big Sister, which is a way to socialize and give support for those who are feeling isolated. Nami.org DBSA– Depression, Bipolar, Anxiety. Dbsalliance.org Survivors of Suicide Loss. SOSLSD.org The Love Warrior Community focuses on helping people work on self-love and body acceptance. Lovewarriorcommunity.com
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If you like Self-Care, check out this FREE E-BOOK! By cultivating radical self-love, you are choosing to believe in the radical idea that you are whole and valuable as you are. Loving your self is one of the bravest things you can do. Featuring work by Michelle Minero, Kiyoshi Shelton, Jaz Gray, Corry Lang, Natalie Small, Rae Lawrence, Jason Freeman, Jasmine Farrell, Anaid Garcia, Donovan Cheney, Vidya, Katrina Mendoza and Leah Oviedo. These amazing people are different genders, skin tones, sexual orientations, & abilities, and hold various beliefs. Yet they all share the belief that self-love is an important aspect of life. Choose your complimentary e-book format or PDF on Patreon.com/Loviedo.
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