Radical – July/August - 2018 Support Radical by becoming a patron at Patreon.com/LOviedo Submit your art and writing to ImpowerYou.org
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Self-Care Is...Setting Boundaries The Faint Pulse by Iris Orpi A Phoenix's Prayer by Jasmine Farrell Post-Centennial by Jacq Le Courage by Amanda Kazemi What Would You Do Wonder Woman by Gia M. Hamilton Love Activist by Inisa Fajra Your Journey by Leah Oviedo D.I.Y. Therapy: Creating Connections & Finding Your Tribe Free Book: Cultivating Radical Self-Love List of Healing Resources
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Self-Care Is...Setting Boundaries by Leah Oviedo Self-care is a practice we easily forget in our life, but especially when we choose or are tasked with supporting others. Self-care in activism is vital to staying involved long term. The burnout rate is high for attempting to change the world. Who can carry the world on their shoulders 24/7 without breaking? When I first got involved with activism, I said yes to everything, even if it meant giving up social plans and days of rest. It was exhausting, but my thought was that I needed to do as much as possible. Eventually I realized what I was doing; being co-dependent, ignoring my needs, and spreading myself too thin. So, I stepped back. It was hard at first saying no because everybody has a good fight, a necessary fight. But I had been through enough therapy to know that I couldn't do it all. I listened to and agree with famous activists who encourage choosing one issue, one passion, and focusing on it. Now, I focus my time more directly with one action or campaign at a time. I occasionally fill up my space to help others, but only when I am able to give 100 percent. My self-care practice is ever evolving. I am setting better boundaries, reminding myself that I need a certain amount of sleep, and time to be alone in my own space. These boundaries allow me to be present and at peace. Setting boundaries is necessary for all of us. Hopefully the following writings and art will inspire you to start practicing, or remind you to continue practicing, self-care while you are saving the world, one tiny change at a time. I'm excited to have a few new voices in this issue. Promoting diversity in art and culture is important to me. A lack of diversity leads to homogeneity which is prone to fear mongers and xenophobia. A lack of diversity is why we have a president in the oval office who openly assaults women and encourages white supremacist ideology. Our world is rich with diverse voices, let's hear them, hold them up, amplify them, and love them.
“I am not free while any woman is unfree, even when her shackles are very different from my own. And I am not free as long as one person of Color remains chained. Nor is any one of you.�- Audre Lorde. From: Blackpast.org/1981-audre-lorde-uses-anger-women-responding-racism
The Faint Pulse by Iris Orpi I unbuckle myself from life sometimes, if this is what “life” has come to, counting hours spent within glorified cells equipped to identify you biometrically and compute what you’re worth for the month with steel-cold precision, correct to the last unforgiving centavo and pruning away the uniqueness of your character, setting your path the way they leave no alternative to the lab rats in a maze so that you can fit the packaging, so that you can match the branding, after all it cost them a pretty penny to pay the industrial designer from Stanford to tell them what their identity is supposed to be in order to sell. What good is passion if you can’t monetize it, they ask me, shouldn’t creativity come for free if it’s not worth a stab at Forbes and four hundred thousand downloads on open source? And somewhere, my inner terrified child gets dizzy from the thought that the distance between the things that I want and the things I can afford is just one dirty compromise that sometimes I don’t recognize my own self, as if the mirror has eaten me alive and is crunching through my bones
so I unbuckle myself from it sometimes, just to see that I still can and all its convoluted trappings I unstrap from the limbs of my routine, and let the blood flow and I wiggle my toes and my thinking against the fingers curled around my dreams *** Gibran said you should wake me 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. Follow Iris at Sheisiris.wordpress.com
Iris Orpi's third book of compiled poems dwells on the dark, beautiful places, whether physical or mental, where people find love, answers, and themselves. She employs the vivid, irreverent imagery and mesmerizing rhythm that her work is known for. Rampant and Golden is bolder, braver, and darker than past collections, facing head-on such topics as racism, abuse, apostasy, cynicism, corruption, and greed. heck out Purchase books by Iris Orpi on Amazon.com.
A Phoenix's Prayer by Jasmine Farrell Sun, kiss my tears when I have allowed silence to blanket the internal noise. Remind me that it's okay to heal during spontaneous mornings where I thought my wake-up smile meant everything was okay Jasmine Farrell is an author, poet and blogger. With the passion and drive to inspire others, Jasmine has utilized her words to uplift and inspire others from the age of 9. She had a way of painting pictures with her unique style of poetry which led her to connect her audience through her performances and written work by encouraging and reminding people that they aren’t alone. In 2014, she released her first book, ‘My Quintessence,’ then later added, ‘Phoenixes Groomed as Genesis Dove,’ which was inspired by her major life experiences that triggered her consciousness and allowed her to blossom into her true self. The book embodies her current style and shows her commitment to encourage others on similar paths by allowing herself to open her heart and share her personal experiences with the world. In addition to graduating Nyack College with a Bachelors in Communications in 2014, she has performed and shared her works with many. Website: JasmineFarrell.com Twitter: Twitter.com/justbreathejas
Facebook: Facebook.com/justbreathejasmine Instagram: Instagram.com/JustBreatheJasmine
Phoenixes Groomed as Genesis Doves speaks to the very real experience of the poet. Her words are polished, raw and painfully honest. The best kind of poetry collection, Ms. Farrell alternates diction and rhythm in a way that forces the reader to listen to every word, every pause and every period and comma. Bright and insightful, the work is uplifting and heartbreaking. In the way of the best collections, Phoenixes Groomed as Genesis Doves demands the heart and participation of the reader. Purchase her book on Amazon.com
Post-Centennial by Jacq Le Carefully curated collection Commercialized craft for the public’s affection Sneakers, ironic tees, and ghetto fab steez Take me back to indigo, hemp, and agave please If fashion is a passion Then let it shine. I let it shone Sported Whiting & Davis on bare neck bones Alexander Wang on my skin like it ain’t no thang lucky Chanel loafers grandma’s rabbit/mink furs Bad Brains stitched on my St. John’s knit. I’ll admit I like fashion expression But can’t deny its ethical depression. Sweat-wick track suits and leather boots Season’s trend and wardrobe must-haves celebrity denim — accentuate those calves I should know better — I’ve seen Third World conditions Unbearable sights & suffering lodged into my cognition Deep discount prices and bargain basement deals Someone’s gotta pay for those Gaultier heels Young girls that look just like me, what more can I say? They left the farm lands for city life to sew all day Doe-eyed and optimistic to send money back home Forced into slavery — a worker unknown. Young girls if given the chance, could they reach college admission? Young girls if given the chance, could they be mathematicians? Young girls if given the chance, could they be electricians? Young girls if given the chance, could they be physicians? Held hostage by the complexities of our collective industrialized sins Needle, thread, hemlines, pockets, and pleats Stitched by the hands whose tears are discreet. Can’t imagine a life determined by fashions Endorsed by dimwits like the Hiltons & Kardashians. One day soon, young girls I’ll set you free Incognito and fearless that’s the way to be. Cross my heart, and hope to die blood-soaked promise, I wouldn’t lie. Jacq Le is a woman with many interests. Some that are fleeting, and some that are developing into lifelong passions. She is interested in diving deeper into the complexities of human existence through media arts, observation, and writing.
Courage by Amanda Kazemi
>> Title: Courage, Medium: Graphite on Moleskine, Size: 5x9" << â&#x20AC;&#x153;Self-care, to me, has always been about finding an appropriate outlet to facilitate the opening of a space conducive to healing. Creating art has long been such an outlet for recalibrating my mental state and generating a place of healing.â&#x20AC;? Amanda Kazemi Amanda Kazemi is a visual artist and educator living in San Diego, CA. Her work explores the complex relationships existing between the inherited animal experience and the far-reaching capabilities of the modern state. Website: Amandakazemi.com Instagram: Instagram.com/AmandaKazemiArt
What Would You Do Wonder Woman by Gia M. Hamilton She places her oxygen mask on first and then fearlessly supports others She loves openly, using discernment and wisdom She speaks acts and believes in purpose, joy, pleasure and care She forgives herself the way she forgives others She shares resources while living an abundant life She is self-aware, faces her challenges, ego issues head on and commits to do and be better She gracefully holds others to a higher standard She treats her body as a sacred She indulgences her body She knows acts of pleasure are healing She understands that purpose work is more important than societal climbing She knows that she shines from the inside out She knows she is energy She knows that above all things she mus be radically honest with herself She speaks softly when life calls for it She is bold and great when life calls for it She knows that beauty has a purpose and can connect and inspire a great many things She uses her power and influence to innovate, progress and evolve outmoded ways of living She sleeps She eats the rainbow She cries often to cleanse her soul She wakes with a smile thankful for breath She pays attention to nature- plants, trees, bugs, birds, babies- they tell is the truth She dies and is reborn She reinvents herself She lives a multidimensional life in the multiplex She astral travels She exists through time and space and is and is and is and is. Gia M. Hamilton is known for her visionary ability to identify and cultivate support systems. A cultural steward, design thinker, and applied anthropologist, Hamilton has spent the last two decades straddling the nonprofit world & corporate America, leveraging her expertise in resource-based economic strategy to move forward new models in capacity building and fundraising. As a model builder, Hamilton co-founded an independent African centered school, Little Maroons in 2006; later, she opened an intersectional incubator space- Gris Gris Lab in 2009 and currently leads the Joan Mitchell Center artist residency program. As the Center Director, Hamilton designed the program as a place based,
community centered laboratory for visual artists, curators and the creative community with the belief that imagination and creativity are paramount to creating a more equitable and socially just society. She is on the board of Tulane University Newcomb Museum, Alliance for Artist Communities and New Orleans Video Access Center. Gia currently lives in New Orleans with her four sons and wrote the book Modern Matriarch, an ethnographic memoir. Website: Giahamiltonstudio.com Instagram: Instagram.com/grisgrismama
Twitter: Twitter.com/GiaHamilton2 Facebook: Facebook.com/grisgrismama
Love Activist by Inisa Fajra Your eyes have seen the truths that others would pretend don’t matter When you speak you’re speaking change and not a time-constricted chatter Some days you feel too much you care too much And it still is not enough to heal others Though the only way to be the change is to be the children of the new world and not their mothers There’s no teaching, no passing down of what it was There’s only seeing, feeling and elevating the because You grow the love – your power with kind words, smiles and care you give yourself daily before you grow that love big enough to box it in as takeaways and give it freely. Inisa Fajra is a fire woman, a believer in the transformative powers of fire and everlasting change. She has traveled and worked in countries across the world, igniting her passion for the new and unknown. Recently abandoning her biggest passion and dreams of a career, Inisa decided to pursue a life, where careers are of no importance, but spiritual exploration, uplifting and love give life a meaning. We often seem to have it the other way around. She currently resides in Vietnam. As her priority in life, Inisa puts believing & dreaming (both carrying the same meaning) into making yourself and your world into whatever you’d like it to be and being part of the energies that shift, move &amp; travel through time. She writes by ‘translating poetry in people talk’, silencing external distractions with real food for the soul through her poems and short stories. Follow Inisa at Instagram.com/inisa.fajra.poetry
Your Journey by Leah Oviedo Unleash your magic Now is the time to know that deep in your core is a wild one that cannot be tamed Start a fire Pour in the waters of truth Let yourself boil over, cry, scream, vent, speak up, yell, raise your voice Be outraged Feel your fear, anger, sadness, pain, hate, confusion, apathy and frustration When you are hoarse and worn out, whisper sweetly into your own ears and let love take over Sleep until you can wake feeling only joy, hope, love and peace Be curious, kind, compassionate, weird, non conforming, Be aware, don't live in fear Of rocking boats and casting votes Make your bed, your own shape, your own choices Create a ritual and cast a spell Burn your sage, clear your mind of doubt and rage Remember to breathe deeply, profoundly, as if you can breathe in the hate, digest it, and breathe out peace After you march through the streets, wash your feet in lavender and rosemary Refresh your heart with siestas and fiestas Dance naked around the moon with your tribe Root into our mother and press your soles into the soil Feel her nourishing love flow through your veins Love yourself as ferociously as you love others This is your life, your journey The keyword is your You are valid, valuable, vibrant You belong to no man or woman, no parent, no child This Is Your Journey Leah Oviedo can be found talking to strangers, digging in the dirt, playing with paint, writing with her eyes closed, and marching through the streets for intersectional equality. Website: ImpowerYou.org Twitter: Twitter.com/mpwru
Instagram: Instagram.com/impoweryou Patreon: Patreon.com/loviedo
D.I.Y. Therapy: Creating Connections and Finding your Tribe We are social animals. Because of this, feeling disconnected is an opening for depression to seep inside. In the book “Loneliness: Human Nature and the Need for Social Connection” Jon Cacioppo wrote that “Physical pain protects the individual from physical dangers. Social pain, also known as loneliness, evolved for a similar reason: because it protected individuals from the danger of remaining isolated. Our forbearers depended on social bonds for safety and the successful replication of their genes in the form of offspring who themselves survived long enough to reproduce.” If you’re familiar with the scientific research showing that most of our knowledge is ingrained in our DNA than this makes sense. Loneliness is a natural reaction to life that has been passed down throughout the centuries. Looking back, I can see that connection has always been something I felt was missing. Perhaps because my family moved so much I have always craved connection with others so that I could plant my roots and grow. A constant feeling of being out of touch with my peers (and intense bullying) contributed to feeling like an outcast. Now I understand that connection is not about being in one place or liked by all, but finding those who share similar thoughts hopes, dreams and aspirations for not just ourselves, but the world. It seems to be a matter of planting your roots in those ideas. Compounding the need for connection is the amount of violence that is ever-present in our lives and our entertainment. There's the school bully, deep seated prejudice, racist governments, police brutality, war, genocide, etc. How does anyone heal from that? They seem to do it out of a deep knowledge that WE have so much potential. That WE can heal together and that each of us is in control of our response to the world. Have you ever... ...joined a support group? ...volunteered? ...talked to a therapist? ...joined a team to solve a problem? ...attended a rally or marched for justice? If so how did you feel? Did you feel connected, make friends and become more involved? Despite violence and fear that over shadowed my youth, I've learned to heal, to release the pain. Why? Deep inside I feel like all is good because there is an abundance of energy that is ours for the absorbing. Isn't this what wise women (and men and children) have been teaching us throughout the ages, to surrender to the idea that we always have access to this abundance if we CHOOSE to access it? I feel inner balance when I believe there is an abundance of peace and love that I can always access, if I choose. Most of the time it is a concentrated effort, but it's slowly becoming an automatic habit. There are still times of doubt, fear, grief and pain, but I know healing is possible. Throughout my years of depression, I did socialize, but not often with those whom I felt a deep connection. I tended to need acceptance so much I would force it on whoever was closest and eventually that faux relationship would crumble. I volunteered which gave me
more opportunities. Still even that wasn't enough to make me feel connected. Unknowingly I had to find my "tribe" of people who were on similar journey. Eventually I did. I found them through being myself and pursing what is most significant to me. I attended activism rallies, volunteered, offered support to people I genuinely liked, moved to a new area of the city and said YES more often to invitations. I started offering my self-defense classes free. I accept gifts of support and ask for help. At one point, I even attended a party where I didn't know anyone except through social media. By trusting in a new idea that if I simply tuned into my true self I would enjoy it, I did. I felt relaxed enough to create genuine connections. This new tribe is not all in one place and not all are close friends, but just being surrounded by people who accept me, as is, gives me energy. It's just like finding solace at home. Family has always been my solace because it feels safe and loving. All the years of faux friendships hindered my growth because I was not being true to myself. I was simply trying not to be alone, not to be an outcast. I wasn't putting in an effort to find my tribe, or exploring or moving past my comfort zone. I'm so amazingly grateful for these new friends and neighbors who have created a safe space for me to thrive. I know if more of us can learn to feel connected we can stop the apathy and fear that plagues our communities. It's a knowledge deep in my bones. Here are two actions you can take for healing on your journey: Action One: Commit to one or more of the following actions when you feel disconnected. 1. ONLY say yes to new opportunities IF they resonate with you. Don't waste your time in groups or places that go against your grain. 2. Focus your energy on what's significant, on your passion, on finding inner balance. 3. Start exploring. Talk to people, ask questions, read books and learn about the world. Don't just absorb the bad stuff on the news. 4. Turn off that TV, put down your phone, and get away from the negative media images. The mass media is built around advertising. It's not about creativity or connection. It's about profit. 5. Learn to love yourself and that will help to attract people who love themselves and in turn love you. 6. Say farewell to relationships and work that pull you away from your true self. 7. Practice feeling comfortable in your own skin. Be yourself around loved ones and when you're strong enough continue to be your true self everywhere you go. Action Two: Write the following affirmation in your journal and pin it up as a note somewhere you can often look at it: â&#x20AC;&#x153;I will not be a people pleaser! I will say No or Yes based on MY truths.â&#x20AC;? This isn't random advice. These are all actions I took toward creating a healthier life. It was challenging at first. When I started setting boundaries I feared judgment and being cast away, but it made me stronger.
What is Radical zine? Radical is a creative arts zine supporting the idea that we should live our journeys on our own terms. It is moving beyond expectations and limits to see what we are made of. It is forging our own paths and creating an accepting, compassionate community along our way. I created this monthly e-zine to spread a message of sustainable self-care and to promote independent artists, writers, and healers, especially those who face oppression and exclusion. I was depressed for seventeen years and now am thriving! Healing my depression and trauma has been an epic journey. I’m still learning, still healing the little things. Choosing to love myself unconditionally and heal my depression is the reason I am still alive. Peace and hugs, Leah
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“Cultivating Radical Self-Love: A Collaboration of Healers, Artists and Writers” What is radical self-love? It’s a letting go of the idea that your worth is tied to your future accomplishments. It’s being accountable for your actions. It’s choosing your own path. Selflove manifests itself in different ways for different people. 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 imperfections is one of the bravest things you can do. This book features 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, spiritual beliefs. What they all share is knowing that self-love is an important aspect of everyone’s journey. Choose your complimentary e-book format or PDF on Patreon.com/Loviedo. Want to share your art or writing? It's free to submit: ImpowerYou.org Like this zine? Become a patron: Patreon.com/Loviedo PLEASE REMEMBER THAT YOUR VOICE CAN MOVE MOUTAINS
Healing Resources Nationwide Suicide Prevention crisis line: 1-800-273-8255 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 Don’t want to call? Use a text help line. Text 741741 anywhere in the USA for a live trained counselor. 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 Shakti Rising provides the support and tools for women to tap into their own wisdom, power and resiliency. Shaktirising.org