Issue 18: Being Brave

Radical Issue Eighteen (October 2020)

A New Affirmation for You! I am powerful.

I have power over my life.

I am in control of my choices.

I have the power I need to create the life I desire.

Living in my personal power allows me to make my dreams come true.

What is Radical zine?

I created Radical to spread a message of sustainable self-care and to promote independent artists, writers, and healers with a focus on 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

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR! Jasmine Farrel sponsored this issue of Radical Zine to ensure that every contributor receives compensation for submitting their creative work. You can help us show gratitude to Jasmine on her social media platforms: Facebook.com/justbreathejasmine & Twitter.com/justbreathejas & Instagram.com/JustBreatheJasmine or by buying her books!

Jasmine Farrell, from Brooklyn, NY is a freelance writer and poet. Her most recent poetry collection, Long Live Phoenixes is available exclusively on Amazon. She wants people to reclaim who they are, so they can live life authentically and with purpose. JasmineFarrell.com

D.I.Y. Therapy: Your Personal Power Personal power is knowing that we are strong, capable, and in control of our life.

When we step into personal power we are energized, rejuvenated and inspired.

We can do anything when we use the power from the core of our being. When we feel like a victim however, we lose those opportunities - allowing other people or society to dictate our life.

Like so many before me, I gave up my power regularly since childhood. It didn't help that I had been severely bullied at school when I was younger and in middle school was attacked on my way home by a group of older students. A year after that I lost a friend to death by suicide. These two events were major traumas, yet I didn't go through any healing or therapy to move on. I allowed this trauma to stay with me until my 30's because I didn't understand that I had personal power. I allowed people to use and abuse me. I kept quiet to keep the peace and gave away my decisions to those who I thought knew more than me.

When I was depressed it was worse because I felt no energy and spent a lot of time alone, causing me to feel like even more of a victim.

After years of living in victim mode, I slowly reached a tipping point where I realized that I couldn't live a life that would truly be worthwhile or even be happy if I continued giving away my power. So, I learned how to be my own hero, save myself and learn to live in my power. I'm still leaning. It's not a one shot thing.

Learning to use personal power requires bravery and resilience. I believe in your ability to move out of victim mode and into power mode. You deserve it!

Some signs you are operating as a victim are; staying stuck in victim mode long after you are in danger, getting mad at people for not doing what you want, assuming people don't like you for no particular reason, feeling like the world is out to get you, getting upset with people when they set boundaries with you, feeling like you deserve special treatment 24/7. These are just some signs.

I once befriended someoe who exhibited all the signs listed above. At first I thought she was being victimized by people, but then noticed that she was making up lies in her head about people who hadn't done or said anything to her. She would constantly complain to anyone who would listen and post on social media about how she was a victim of a cruel world that was always out to get her. She became increasingly hateful towards everyone around her, creating drama out of her paranoia. Soon I could see this was a pattern of hers and that she had no sense of her personal power. It was sad to see, but since

she was unwilling to accept that she was playing the victim, I knew that I couldn't help her.

Here are some questions to guide you into your personal power.

• What are my strengths? ◦ How can I use these more often?

• What are my weaknesses? ◦ How can I grow out of these?

• Do I act as if I am responsible for my actions and reactions or do I blame others for making my life harder?

• How can I step into my personal power?

• What tools can I use to remind myself of my personal power?

• What ways do I give up my power at home, work or in public?

Actions you can take to start living in your power: • Speak up when you feel inspired to say something.

• Notice when you are giving away your power and stop yourself.

• Try new things that stretch your boundaries. Find ways to be brave.

• Tell people when you feel like they are not respecting you or when you disagree with them. Do this kindly, but firmly. Take baby steps!

• Learn resilience and accept that you can handle anything that comes your way.

• Learn to solve problems either through classes, online learning, books or support groups, • Make a conscious decision to be in control of your own life.

• Start today!

I hope you find this helpful. You deserve to have a healthy life that YOU create.

More healing resources on ImpowerYou.org.

Molting Season

by Jasmine Farrell

It’s molting season and I’m fighting for reasons to keep the dead feathers on my thighs, wings and feet.

Rubbing, Used-To-Be butter on my skin, hoping the voice within would smooth out, moisturize shut, cease talkinglet me stay in my what-was, rut.

It’s molting season and I’m demeaning my own quintessence for the sake of dead feathers and stubborn scratching of an itch that doesn’t have to be there.

I asked for better.

I’ve prayed to be a soaring phoenix.

To soar high, pretty, boldly awkward and bodaciously me.

Hence, it’s now burning season, to watch the flames and melting connections of who I was and who I am to become.

Jasmine Farrell, from Brooklyn, NY is a freelance writer and poet. Her most recent poetry collection, Long Live Phoenixes is available exclusively on Amazon. She wants people to reclaim who they are, so they can live life authentically and with purpose.

JasmineFarrell.com & Facebook.com/justbreathejasmine & Twitter.com/justbreathejas & Instagram.com/JustBreatheJasmine

“In May of 2016, at the age of 8 years old, Mari wrote a letter to President Barack Obama challenging him to visit Flint, Michigan to see the crisis first hand. The letter was published in the Los Angeles Times and confronted the entire country with the reality faced by victims of state negligence.� https://www.maricopeny.com/about

(Artwork by Nia)

Nia is a queer, black, self-taught visual artist living in Baltimore City. For over 25 years Nia has created both large and small-scale projects, from murals and sign making to creating greeting cards and painting pet portraits. Their artwork focuses on the different living beings that make up this planet, including flora and fauna. As a co-owner of Red Emma’s Bookstore and Coffee House and with the work they do with BRED, they hope to break the cycle of silenced emotions and create moments where feelings are present, raw, transformative and valid. Follow Nia on www.instagram.com/little.tree.art

“For Sicangu Lakota water protector Cheryl Angel, Standing Rock helped her define what she stands against: an economy rooted in extraction of resources and exploitation of people and planet. It wasn’t until she’d had some distance that the vision of what she stands for came into focus.” https://civileats.com/2019/08/30/thewomen-of-standing-rock-are-building-sovereign-food-economies/

No Bolder Statement Than “I Survived”

by Iris Orpi

It takes a certain kind of past a certain kind of encounters with storms to look up at the sky and see that the clouds are lined with hand-me-down prayers waiting to come true for the other guy.

To feel respect for the faithful, embattled but unyielding.

You are, in part, what life has handed to you.

The rest is a matter of creativity, a portrait in blood tones and gold dust.

You are a unique kind of madness.

It takes a certain kind of purposeful mess to handpick from past regrets for ones that are worth keeping, tattooed on your back with dates of the days you dodged the bullets.

They’d say that’s unhealthy but you are not here to tick boxes on a checklist but to live, if sometimes at the mercy of your

own inner darkness.

It takes a certain set of harbored guilts, of conquered addictions and brazen brushes with the forbidden, a specific race of slain dragons to rise all proud and full-hearted in your dignified skewedness, fire and rain and mastered poisons and confessions doused in sweet, flammable honesty flowing rampant between your bronze skin and the mother-of-pearl of your soul.

To be in a constant state of intoxication from the beating of your own heart.

To know how to transcribe silence into verses that pacify the flesh.

It’ll be your own voice and testimony to look at the truth and see days of spring come too soon and moments of bliss as justified acts of rebellion, a seizing and the deepest of deep breathing

and a bequest of the past that is all yours and fought with her life so you can be happy.

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 2015. her work has appeared in over two dozen online and print publications around Asia, North America, Europe, and Africa.

Twittter.com/irisorpi & Facebook.com/irisorpi

Kristina Wong was featured in the New York Times’ Off Color series “highlighting artists of color who use humor to make smart social statements about the sometimes subtle, sometimes obvious ways that race plays out in America today.” She is a performance artist, comedian, writer and elected representative who has been presented internationally across North America, the UK, Hong Kong and Africa. http://kristinawong.com/about/

To be in

by Inisa Fajra

The power of the world outside that takes a fee of time for everything you take from it The power of the world inside that gives the gift of timelessness whenever you connect to it The outside wakes me up and wants me here, now but acting, moving, needing its approval The inside gives me peace and rest, a home with lands in cosmic space - complete removal A give and take and engagement that is known as living I live so that I am taken from but doing so consciously, connected, and through giving The power of this world is a power most useful when we give in The power that I possess is a presence that I create and the willingness to be in.

Inisa Fajra is a creative writer and poet and wellness & empowerment leader (WEL-being) who works on empowering others by helping to understand and navigate our emotions better.

Her words serve to make people feel and to invite them to dig deep into their own well of emotions in order to heal, inspire, awaken and empower. Her book "New Skin" has now been published through Amazon. Follow Inisa at Instagram.com/inisa.fajra

Mia Mingus is a writer, educator and organizer for disability justice and transformative justice. She is a queer physically disabled korean transracial and transnational adoptee raised in the Caribbean. She works for community, interdependence and home for all of us, not just some of us, and longs for a world where disabled children can live free of violence, with dignity and love. https://leavingevidence.wordpress.com/about-2/

Ordo Ab Chao

by Natalie Allgyer

(text from this artist continued on next page)

The real problem here in, our world, is inherent trauma. Some is built right into our DNA. It was put there by our ancestors and has perpetuated thru time. The rage, the insecurities, the panic, ignorance, the self righteousness. It’s all embedded into us. So we just continue the pattern because we don’t know any other way. Adding to the problem every day with our unconscious actions.

But there is a way!

While the inherent crap (mostly) isn’t our fault. It IS our responsibility to fix it. To break the cycle. To stop perpetuating the hate and fear. So many of us feel out of control these days. Let’s ground down and try to control what we can control which is ourselves. Bring all the love, and peace into your own heart. See the world from a more compassionate place. Just like you have reasons for your triggers, so does everyone else. Most of the time it isn’t even personal! Our hate and fear towards someone else comes from a wound inside of ourselves. It’s rarely got anything to do with the other person. So I invite you to ask yourself where your own triggers come from. Really dig deep. If possible, find a therapist who can help you. Once you know the reason why you will be well on your way to healing your own trauma. Thus making the world a better place.

I truly think that this whole mess of a world we are in today is a gift, and a sacred call to action. All of the proverbial shit has been brought up to the surface. Let’s sweep it away! We can do it. I believe in humankind. Order comes from chaos.

It’s an absolute! Let’s rise like the Phoenix, and take nourishment from the ashes of the past to begin a new. Whose with me!?

Natalie’s whimsical yet dark style incorporates pieces of her own images that she makes with her dslr camera. It can take an upward of 20 images to create one of her works. She enjoys using elements of nature and the world around her in her art. Her carefully curated color choices in combination with painstakingly thoughtful lighting, contrast, and texture lends itself to her empathic vibe and painterly feel. Website- www.natalieallgyer.com.

Letter to the nightmare year

by Jessica Nathalia Callender

Dear 2020 You began with a blaze For all the agony in our veins No doubt we will remember your name Not as our worst year But our most vital Essential for our future and survival Every month You confront us To face our vices In different crises To remind us that earth is our only home And we've mistreated her for far too long Forest fires to show our trees are dying To show us how many creatures are crying A global pandemic so we'd stop and pause To see we've mistreated each other for far too long What, with a threat of world war three Riots in the street Lied to by the media Abused by our trusted police The skies in California ablaze in flames Who among us will fight for our future in this cruel game Most of all We've seen that we're so close yet so far We fight with and for each other in this war

2020 will be remembered as the revolution A time for change We'll never be the same Maybe we'll learn to love each other again

Hey, I'm Jessica Nathalia Callender and I am a poet. I write as a way for me to express myself and to let people see things from a different perspective. I like to believe that everyone experiences the world differently, and my poetry is a lens for someone to view the ordinary world the way I see it, as as a beautiful and amazing place.

Ruby Corado and a group of friends started Casa Ruby in Washington D.C. by organizing and building a community in parks, churches, and businesses, often facing discrimination and rejection. Despite severe adversity, Ruby and friends persevered, and their efforts led to the creation of Casa Ruby Inc. https://casaruby.org/about-us-2/

Powerful Thoughts

by Leah Oviedo

I am most likely Leah Oviedo - raised exploring various states in a family mixed with miscellaneous roots which explains my intersectional interest in art, writing, and activism.

After suffering from depression for 17 years, I was inspired to heal my trauma (violence/depression) with art therapy and deep self-care. My focus is connecting with nature, smashing the patriarchy, and eradicating self-hate through radical self-love with a diverse group of creators sharing their stories and their magic. Find my stuff at ImpowerYou.org.

BOOK ALERT Witches, Witch-Hunting, and Women by Silvia Federici does a great job of explaining how capitalism was the driving force behind the witch hunts of 16 th and 17th century Europe and the continued witch hunts of today in places like India and Africa. I've long understood that capitalism devalues people's labor, especially women I regards to motherhood and family, but Silvia's thorough research and theories help explain it even further. If you want to learn more about how our culture takes away women's power, check out this book. Available as print or e-book at PMPress.

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Social/Environmental Justice Resources The official #BlackLivesMatter Global Network builds power to bring justice, healing, and freedom to Black people across the globe. https://blacklivesmatter.com/ This launch of A Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Orientation to a Regenerative Economy: Protect, Repair, Invest and Transform guides us collectively into a sustainable future, wherein Indigenous sovereignty and values are front and center. https://www.ienearth.org/regenerativeeconomy/ Mama Black uplifts the voices of Black women across the African Diaspora, continuing the powerful legacy of Black feminist traditions, womanist inclinations, and radical leanings. This platform offers cutting-edge perspectives and radical thought on Black women's issues, centering the lives of Black women survivors of rape and sexual violence across the spectrum of assault. https://www.mamablack.org/ Grassroots Law Project bridges the gap between grassroots organizing and legal expertise in criminal justice reform by bringing millions of us together to address the most pressing and egregious failures of the system, hold powerful actors accountable, and advocate for deep structural change. https://www.grassrootslaw.org/ March for Our Lives mission: To harness the power of young people across the country to fight for sensible gun violence prevention policies that save lives. https://marchforourlives.com/

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 Affordable healthcare is available through various local clinics and through Planned Parenthood.

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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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