Digital Volume 8 Issue 2 by SHEI Magazine

Volume 8 | Issue 2

Standford Lipsey Student Publications Building 420 Maynard St, Ann Arbor, MI 48109

ALEX ANDERSEN MACKENZIE FLEMING Editor-in-Chief

Publisher

Creative Director

Marketing Director

Operations Director

JACOB WARD

ALEX CHESSARE

JULIA NAPIEWOCKI

Design Editors

Print Fashion Editors

Print Features Editor

Print Photo Editors

GABI MECHABER TAYLOR SILVER

JOSIE BURCK KARLY MADEY

MELINA SCHAEFER

KORRIN DERING RITA VEGA

Video Editor

Digital Fashion Editor

Digital Features Editor

Print Beauty Editor

SAM RAO

SARAH ORY

LAUREN CHAMPLIN

YOUMNA KHAN

Finance Coordinators

Events Coordinator

Managing Photo Editor

Digital Photo Editor

SOPHIA AFENDOULIS SOPHIA GAJDJIS

CAROLINE MARTINO

GABRIELLE MACK

GABBY CERITANO

Human Resources Coordinator

Social Media Coordinators

Public Relations Coordinators

Street Style Editors

SENA KADDURAH

HANNAH TRIESTER APOORVA GAUTAM

JARRYN SHIN DAPHNE PATTON

SUREET SARAU ED TIAN

Digital Content Editor

ALEX STERCHELE

Design Team Andy Nakamura, Sandy Chang, Kai Hue, Christina Tan, Kimi Lillios, Rino Fujimoto, Kali Francisco, Olivia Ortiz, Camille Andrew, Emma Peterson

Digital Content Team Neha Kotagiri, Allison He, Christina Tan, Helena Grobel, Sonali Pai

Finance Team Fashion Team Sophie Alphonso, Kailana Dejoie, Chloe Erdle, Isabelle Fisher, Tavleen Gill, Amanda Li, Peter Marcus, Courtney Mass, Noor Moughni, Olivia Mouradian, Natalia Nowicka, Madison Patel, Abby Rapoport, Dhruv Verma Anastasia Hernando, Ayanna Bell, Benjamin Michalsky, Emily Hayman, Gigi Kalabat, Janae Dyas, Jordan Wade, Kathryn Dorfman, Kelsea Chen Meredith Randall, Sarah Dettling, Sandy Chang, Sophie McKay, Victoria Vaz

Features Team Peter Hummer, Jayde Emory, Sarah Stolar, Nadia Judge, Katy Pentiuk, Natalia Szura, Christina Cincillia

Photography Team Anna Fuder, Brooke Dodderidge, Chrisitina Merrill, Emma West, Hannah Anderson, Margeaux Fortin, Nolan Lopez, Riley Kisser, Selena Sun, Sophie Hendrich, Tess Crowley, Zahria Jordan

Videography Team Grant Emmenheiser, Madeline Kim, Hannah Mutz, Lisa Ryou, Sara Cooper, Eaman Ali, Rachel Ienna, Samin Hassan, Hannah Hur, Emily Veguilla, Riley Kisser, Coco DelVecchio

Swetha Susarla, Michelle Tao, Emma Lewry, Margaret Clark, Elle Donakowski

Human Resources Team Mary Mack, Lillian Fakih, Jacqueline Choe, Izzy Tuchman

Public Relations Team Megan Eng, Mya Steir, Ava Ben David, Rachel Pordy, Katherine Lambert, Izzy Saunders, Celia Pagnucco, Kali Hightower

Events Team Alex McMullen, Molly Kennedy, Makenzie Kulczycki, Annie Cooper, Liza Miller, Julia Barge, Tiara Blonshine, Anastasia Hernando

Social Media Team Samedha Gorrai, Amanda Sachs, Anastasia Hernando, Makena Torrey, Julia Goldish, Charlotte Foley, Neha Kotagiri, Sandy Chang, Olivia Sun, Carolyn Soltz, Lauren Rosenberg, Megan Eng, Sofie Harb

Street Style Team Sophie Hendrich, Becca Mahon, Calin Firlit, Devon Kelly, Emmalyn Kukura, Emma Moss, Hanna Erhardt, Jenna Frieberg, Leonie Muno, Maggie Innis, Nicola Troschinet, Riley Kisser, Rosalie Comte, Tess Crowley, Victoria Vaz

IN THIS ISSUE 05

Letter from the Editor

Alpha Geminorum

The Dark Facade of Fame

Mercury in Retrograde

Star-Crossed

Reflections and Refractions

Rewired

Silks & Outlines

Forza

Spiritual (Re)Awakening

Empyrean

Dazed Diversion

Past Life

Indulgence

LET TER FROM

THE EDITOR “D

anger. All structures are unstable,” Eckhart Tolle reads on a sign in passing. Reflecting on its unintentionally profound nature, he writes in A New Earth, “Once you realize and accept that all structures are unstable, even the seemingly solid material ones, peace arises within you.” It seems that our lives are planned to the brim; we attempt to control time by scheduling our days, months, years to a tee. We crave tangibility, predictability, and knowledge. We construct illusions of stability, yet in reality, there is barely such a thing. How often has life gone exactly as planned? If, five years ago, you had seen where you are now, would it look just how you would have expected? Despite our imperfect forecasting, we never cease to plan then suffer when there is a dissonance between our expectations and reality. On the other hand, how boring would life be if we knew exactly how it was going to play out? There is peace to be found in this understanding; there is beauty in mystery. CLAIRVOYANT urges us to re-examine our thoughts and realities, our ideas about the future, how we define our truths. It highlights the divinity of the unknown, the light of alignment. When we search for answers, what do we find?

Alex Andersen Editor-In-Chief

Alpha Alpha Geminorum Geminorum DIRECTOR ISABELLE FISHER STYLISTS AYANNA BELL KATIE DORFMAN SOPHIA MCKAY PHOTOGRAPHERS RILEY KISSER SAM MCLEOD CHRISTINA MERRILL GRAPHIC DESIGNER OLIVIA ORTIZ MODELS PHOEBE RAYE HANNAH YOO

aa m m

WRITER LAUREN CHAMLIN

Orange Dress - Sophia Mckay Sunflower Earrings - La Vida Pom Poms Pink Dress - Ayanna Bell Soup Can Skirt - Vintage Pat Argenti Butterfly Earrings - Emma Collins Magenta Dress - I.AM.GIA

the dark faç 23, 2021, the biggest names O nin September fashion arrived at the Metropolitan

Museum of Art for the annual Costume Exhibition’s fundraiser, the Met Gala. Designers, models, celebrities, and politicians strutted the steps of the Met, dressed to the nines and prepared for their images to be plastered all over the internet. When a dark figure entered the venue, covered head to toe in long black fabric, heads turned. The attendees were in awe, marveling at the outfit’s boldness, questioning who could have pulled this off. While this being was completely engulfed in a dark garment, their identity was still immediately recognizable as one of America’s most infamous yet beloved celebrities, Kim Kardashian. As photos of Kardashian’s dress were posted to social media, viewers were quick to judge, expressing their hatred and confusion with her pitch-black get-up. Since the Costume Exhibit’s theme was “America: A Lexicon of Fashion,” many were upset with her seemingly not following the theme of the night. Furthermore, viewers spread theories about what her look may possibly represent within the parameters of this American motif. Some interpreted her look as a metaphor for cancel culture and how the work of many celebrities becomes tarnished when they make a mistake. Others saw her dress as a reference to her soonto-be ex-husband Kanye West’s new album

WRITER AVA SHAPIRO GRAPHIC DESIGNER EMMA PETERSON

Donda, due to the album cover being a plain black square. My personal interpretation of Kardashian’s look was that it represented how her fame has caused the world to overlook her humanity. Although Kardashian has devoted much of her personal time to raising her four children and advocating for prison reform—which includes her taking courses on legal education and helping several women arrested for nonviolent offenses get realeased from prison— her identity as a sex symbol constantly overshadows all other facets of her personality and achievements. This all-black ensemble symbolizes how the human elements of herself are erased because of her fame and sexuality. Further, the garment covering her face represents how iconic the image of her body is to American society. Even without seeing her face, everyone viewing the Met Gala red carpet and social media instantly knew that it was Kim Kardashian. As arguably one of the most famous public figures of the modern era, her influence on pop culture is undeniable. However, this great impact comes with the consequence of widespread condemnation of her every move. Regardless of the dress’s actual symbolism, Kardashian was ruthlessly ridiculed on social media for her look, which is not a new occurrence for her. According to Kim herself, she left her first Met Gala in tears over how

çade of fame much everyone hated her dress. At her core, Kim Kardashian is still human. Albeit a privileged one, but human nonetheless. So, why does the general public feel that it is okay to treat her and other celebrities as if they are past the point of respectability, or undeserving of common human empathy? Clearly, there is a disconnect between what people view as acceptable behavior when it comes to celebrities and the average person. While we may excuse a friend or family member’s flaws, we cannot accept it when celebrities make mistakes. The personal lives of celebrities are open to the public; their identities are commodified. Since the world that we live in values celebrities as products, we are thus encouraged to diminish their human qualities and to treat them as objects, like we would with other items that we can buy. So, when they show their faults, we see this as more of a product defect than a person capable of growth and change. Even though Kim has not publicly stated her own interpretation of the dress, would it even matter? Or is the act of her speaking her mind ultimately futile? Once the image of the celebrity is crafted, it is out of their control and into the hands of the rest of the world. It is strange, however, that once a person gains notoriety, society becomes increasingly more comfortable with critiquing their every move.

Although this could just be another side effect of how dehumanizing celebrity culture can be, the way we treat celebrities may also tell us more about the powerful influence that social media has on society. With so much of our lives being encapsulated on apps that let users create their own posts, it is no wonder that most use them to express their beliefs. In addition to this, social media gives people the ability to curate the events of their lives to only portray the best versions of themselves, presenting the opportunity for people to make their lives look much better than they truly are. While the general population engages in this behavior, no one has mastered the art of romanticising life like celebrities. But even as their posts are carefully crafted to push a certain narrative, their ownership disappears once the posts are out into the world. In a world that allows for anyone’s point-ofview to be heard, the public lives of celebrities become free-for-all of worldwide judgement. No one, not even the most beloved celebrities can escape public disapproval. For many existing in the public spotlight, their lives, their images, their fates are out of their control and in the hands of our keenly critical world. And in Kim’s case, her black veil couldn’t protect her possession of her image from these clutches either.

Green Skirt — American Apparel Corsette — Local Vendor at Renaissance Fair Golden Shirt — NICOLA

DIRECTOR KAILANA DEJOIE STYLISTS KALIANA DEJOIE VICTORIA VAZ MADELINE PATEL PHOTOGRAPHERS SELENA SUN OLIVER ZINES NOLAN LOPEZ GRAPHIC DESIGNER KALI FRANCISCO MODEL DAPHNE WILSON

STAR-CROSSED

DIRECTORS EMILY HAYMAN ZAHRIA JORDAN STYLISTS EMILY HAYMAN PHOTOGRAPHER ZAHRIA JORDAN MAKEUP GUSTAVO NAVARRO GRAPHIC DESIGNER KAI HUIE MODELS ABBY MIARS GUSTAVO NAVARRO

Dress - Save the Queen White Sweater - JCrew Blue Trousers - JCrew

Reflections and R I

tend to be very forward thinking. At my lowest moments, it can sometimes feel like I live for the future. However, that’s not to say I am not well acquainted with the present. Sometimes she bores me, other times depresses me. We’re far too familiar with each other. She knows the best and worst parts of me, and in turn I know hers. Thus, I look to what lies ahead. More often than not, daydreams of the future serve as my closest companions. We interlock fingers, arms swinging by our sides. I’m pulled towards my desires by wide tooth grins and strong shoulders. My spine has straightened out; the removal of my own limiting emotions allows me to stand taller. The me of the future is better. They’re secure. No longer am I weighed down by anxieties or plagued with sadness. After chasing the soundness possessed by others for so long, it’s as though the pieces of the puzzle have finally come together. It’s about time. Compared to the well-crafted compositions of those around me, the me of the present is coming apart at the seams. Haphazard globs of glue struggle to hold me together. It comes so easily to others. Letting things come and go. The day to day. Why not me? The answer escapes me on my best days.

e fractio n s

WRITER BROOKLYN BLEVINS GRAPHIC DESIGNER ANDREW NAKAMURA

In my attempt to reckon with my shortcomings, the version of myself housed in my daydreams provides a temporary solution. When facing each other, the future doesn’t seem so far away; all that separates us is a sheet of glass, nothing more than a simple mirror. With my reflection at an arm’s reach, I feel almost certain that I can have it. Their presence represents the passing of my turmoils and the rebirth of an improved me. We look each other in the eyes. I enjoy their company… Until I don’t. There is no greater pain than in the split second moment where my manifestations are shattered. Things aren’t quite right. When did my reflection stop looking like me? My body seems disproportionate; I’m pulled too taut. My smile looks as though it’s been plastered on. Bringing a careful hand to my lips, I trace them. They feel unfamiliar. Panic bubbling up in my chest, I scrub at my lips to no avail, the foreign expression remains. How could my perception have warped this quickly? My shoulders seem so stiff. What is holding me together? This certainly can’t be my own doing. I don’t understand how I could look so much like myself, but at the same time a complete stranger. It puts a bitter taste in my mouth. Is this what it

Re fractio

looks like to get better? To be truly happy? My future imaginings have manifested into a reality, yet I can’t seem to wrap my head around the twisted feeling they stir inside my gut. And maybe in being swallowed whole by my own daydreams, I’ve been spit out as a version of myself I don’t recognize. How is it that I’m haunted by a vision that I was once so sure was my better self? As realization washes over me, I’m thrown back into the present. Such manifestations are born from obsession. In an attempt to achieve a seemingly whole form, I’ve ended up sacrificing pieces of myself that were never broken in the first place. My distorted desires to get better have left me forcing down every emotion as a mechanism to flush out my sadness. Such suppression has drained the visionary within me. With apathy disguised as contentment, I’ve gained the qualities of my peers I so greatly envied at the cost of my own individuality. Thus, I’m left with a shell of myself. Confronted by this unsettling depiction, I fear that what is lost will never come back. Maybe my idealizations were never that ideal in the first place.

With outstretched hands, I drag my fingertips along the mirror, forcefully smudging the present into my future. Curling my hands around the edges, I tighten my grip. Inhale. Exhale. Holding the corrupted glass above my head, I’ve come to terms with my fate. The mirror crashes against the floor. Admiring the scattered shards, the tension in my chest dissolves. I seem more assured in the fragments of me that encircle my feet. It’s as though there’s a newfound strength in my stature. I catch a glimpse of my face. My eyes crinkle at the corners. A blush creeps upon my cheeks. The causes of such airs are no longer of importance; I am feeling them to the fullest extent, the beauty of such vulnerability painting each of my features. In the reflection of the broken glass, maybe I am truly seeing myself for the first time. Someday, with a careful hand, I’ll reassemble the pieces into the most recognizable reflection.

Reflections and

Blue Button Up - Goodwill White Tank - Thrifted

Blue and White Floral Top - Pretty Little Thing White Top Underneath - Pretty Little Thing White Skirt - Thrifted Shoes - Naked Wolfe Blue Purse - Salvation Army

DIRECTOR TAVLEEN GILL STYLISTS JANAE DYAS TAVLEEN GILL ANASTASIA HERNANDO PHOTOGRAPHER HANNAH ANDERSON GRAPHIC DESIGNER RINO FUJIMOTO MODEL ZARA WEST-UZOIGWE

SILKS & O S

unrays seeping through a veil of color; perfumes entwined in the silk; my mother’s scarves were al-

ways a place of refuge in my childhood. I was so small, they felt more like a blanket to me, and I would throw them over my body, over my head, I would lay down and tuck them underneath my toes, in between my thighs, and let my body fall into a fever dream of reality, an escape. Becoming one with my mother’s embrace was a way of self-soothing. I’ve never felt more at peace with my identity, my lineage, my background, than when wrapped in silk. This shelter was my home, my healing: I found myself in the colors and the softness of my mother’s belongings.

We’ve come to understand healing as a commodity. In a society that capitalizes on working bodies, the solace found in stillness has been made quantifiable: wellness is a quick fix, and healing, a luxury reserved for those with class privilege, as bell hooks explores in All About Love1. Our understanding of spirituality has become watered down to an external, superficial, performative transformation: we cleanse our crystals of their unethical sourcing in illegal mines2, we sage our apartments, mislabeling the practice as witchcraft instead of smudging3, grounding our rituals in a culture we do not care to understand; we learn our yoga positions from white women. In a world where health is only seen as a privilege,

1 hooks, bell. 2000. All About Love. N.p.: Harper Collins. 2 Evans, Scarlett. 2019. “The Cost of Crystal Mining.” Mining Technology, 12 03, 2019. https://www.mining-technology.com/ features/the-cost-of-crystal-mining/. 3 K, Adrienne. 2018. “Spiritual Theft.” Native Appropriations, 09 05, 2018. https://nativeappropriations.com/2018/09/sephorasstarter-witch-kit-and-spiritual-theft.html.

and wellness, a gentrified industry, how do you make space for healing? I discarded the scarves as I grew. No matter how far I stretched them over my limbs, no matter how I folded my body, my toes could no longer fit underneath. And so I would cradle the scarf, instead, I’d let my tears roll, and I would clutch it,

and clutch, and fill... The fragrance had faded too much for me to imagine it back onto the silk, and when my mother wasn’t looking, I would sneak into the bathroom and reach for the perfume bottles, trying to no avail to wrap myself in her outline, in her scent. But the scarves no longer worked, and the rose quartz under my pillow didn’t help, so I wrapped myself in something else: I wrapped myself in someone, hoping to find shelter in arms and kisses that were just as distraught as mine. I was losing myself. In Care Work: Disability Justice4, Lakshmi elaborates on how the need for Healing Justice became evident in her activism. A term born out of the Black Lives Matter movement and created by queer, trans, Black, Indigenous People of Color, Healing Justice consisted of “politicized Black and Brown healers reclaiming our traditional methods of healing and redefining what healing and health could mean.” In our culture of self-care, which we practice only “to return to organizational structures where we reproduce the systems we are trying to break,” it became essential to create spaces of nurturance within movements and communities. Healing did not have to be a “sideline,” or a luxury:

4 Lakshmi, Leah. 2018. Care Work: Dreaming Disability Justice. Vancouver: Arsenal Pulp Press.

OUTLINES it was a powerful means of reclaiming one’s identity. It is a form of protest, argues Pettiford, artistic director and founder of the Conciliation Project. A firm believer that healing is to be found in your personal stories and heritage, Pettiford has developed the therapeutic approach of Ritual Poetics, or the idea of looking to your roots, your

own rituals, rites of passage and upbringing, to find solace: by “trying so hard to become qualified by the White Aesthetic,” BIPOC artists have, “whether intentionally or subconsciously, eviscerated themselves from their own cultural, spiritual and even physical context5,” she explains, and it is essential to look to your lineage and personal story to ground your body in a strong sense of self. Rather than using external, purchasable, quick-fix approaches to wellness, Pettiford encourages us all to look inward: where can you find healing in your life? August slips out from under me, suddenly, without warning; I’m nursing a broken heart. Tik Tok tarot readings keep promising he’s coming back. Afraid of the emotional weight my body is capable of carrying, I stumble in and out of my bedroom, and softly aching, I fall to the ground. I cry; and out of nowhere, I pull my mother’s scarf out from a box under my bed—and I drape it over myself again. I find healing in my old source of refuge. I wipe my tears with my mother’s scent; I find refuge in the feminine, I embrace it, I indulge, I bask in perfumes, in dance, in candlelight; I nurture my body and my mind, and I write. Looking

5 Pettiford-Wates, Tawnya. 2016. Ritual Poetic Drama within the African Continuum. N.p.: Routledge.

back, I had always felt safest in my mother’s, my grandmother’s arms. It is in the tender, in the soft, that I ground my identity: my lineage becomes palpable through the embrace of the feminine. Healing, as Pettiford writes, means going back: “These stories are rites of passage moments—and each time we reclaim one of them or a piece of

them we become stronger—we reclaim ourselves, our voice, our power.” Claiming your narratives, whatever shapes and objects and colors they may come in, means looking to your own identity: “It’s nothing new to invite people into your home, give them some tea, listen to their grief, hold space for their pain, lay them down on cushions on the floor and pray with them,” Lakshmi explains. How do you find healing? By looking for wellness in your own rituals, however small, however big. After all, healing can be found in anything; whether that be in outlines, in scarves, in stories and in silk.

WRITER TIARA PARTSCH GRAPHIC DESIGNER TAYLOR SILVER

DIRECTOR SARAH ORY STYLIST SARAH DETTLING PHOTOGRAPHERS GABBY CERITANO ANDERS LUNDIN GABBY MACK GRAPHIC DESIGNER CAMILLE ANDREW MODEL CAROLINE DICKERSON

Spiritual (Re “B

aruch atah Adonai…” “Our Father, who art in heaven…” My family has a unique religious make-up: my mother’s Lutheran beliefs and my father’s Jewish upbringing mixed together within our household. Dichotomy surrounded me. Even in prayers such as those above, the use of language, the concept of the afterlife, and the manifestation of divinity differ in a way that made it impossible for my young mind to reconcile the two. For many, religion is synonymous with peace. Security. Belonging. This is a wonderful concept—a certainty. But religion has been anything but certain in my experience. Studying the belief systems and traditions of both Judaism and Christianity resulted in a disinterest and even outright confusion over which—if any— was my ‘true’ religion. How could just one of my family’s religions be right? What was the truth of my spirituality? I’m not alone in this lack of religious harmony. The disconnect from organized worship is especially prominent among young people: in 20181, nearly half of all Americans between the ages of 18 to 29 classified themselves as “nones” when asked about their religious affiliation. This doesn’t necessarily mean that they identify as Atheists or Agnostics—it simply defines those who do not associate with any particular denomination they’ve been exposed to.

1 Timothy Beal, “Can Religion Still Still Speak to Younger Americans?” The Wall Street Journal, https://www.wsj. com/articles/can-religion-still-speak-to-youngeramericans-11573747161

There are a myriad of reasons for this development. The Wall Street Journal points out that large numbers of these individuals doubt the validity of religious teachings or disagree with conservative religious ideologies, effects of a general societal push towards rationality and open-mindedness. As the first generation to grow up in a world tightly intertwined with technology, being open-minded is critical as we are constantly exposed to different perspectives and lifestyles. Media and the globalization of information has made a mosaic out of many young minds: a mixed array of opinions and worldviews that cannot fit within the box of a single traditional religion. Here lies the conflict: I don’t feel a connection with religion, yet I still seek spiritual fulfillment and meaning, to be connected with something greater than myself, something that would make me feel less alone during times of strife. I am fascinated with the idea of believing in a higher power guiding me along my life’s journey — but my search for one always comes up short. I am stuck with the overwhelming idea that I am completely alone, that each one of my individual actions decides my fate. This doubt has left me unanchored, insecure about my place in the world. But as I’ve pushed myself to speak with others about their beliefs, exploring other avenues of spirituality and fulfillment, I have learned that there is a difference between ‘religion’ and ‘spirituality.’ Religion involves tradition, an established set of beliefs, and faith in something unseen and divine. But spirituality is not solely confined within religion; it’s a much more abstract approach to finding one’s purpose. It centers

e)Awakening the individual, empowering them to turn inward and reflect on their needs and goals in whatever form that may take. Those who are not religious can still find fulfillment by pursuing the center of their spirituality or finding community based on shared values. Religion can be daunting for many young people, especially as current movements inspire secularism and criticism of organized religion. This can provoke wariness and outright objection to worship. But finding something that instills us with a sense of purpose can ground us as we embark on our journeys of self-discovery. This can take the form of religion, but now more and more people are turning towards other mediums to provide them with meaning and comfort. The recent rise in popularity of alternative forms of spirituality including astrology and Tarot2 have mirrored the decrease in Gen Z religious participation. These practices can give participants insight on their personalities and present circumstances, while advising them on what steps they can take to make the most of their futures. The current prominence of these practices reveals that though more members of Gen Z are identifying as “nones,” many still crave a connection with a higher power, but one that is more tailored to their individual experiences. A sense of purpose and membership to a community based on a shared set of profound beliefs are what attract many people to religion. Throughout my life, I have coveted this

2 Luca Fischer, “The revival of spirituality amongst Millennials and Gen-Z,” Medium, https://medium.com/futurists-club-byscience-of-the-time/the-revival-of-spirituality-amongstmillennials-and-gen-z-ee00c4f28fc8

multifaceted connection and personal meaning associated with religious belief. Yet I have neglected to see how the communities I have been a part of can provide me with the same personal truth. Playing on a volleyball or soccer team gave me a role and the drive to help my team — a collective group of people with the same goals and interests within the sport. On a more profound level, focusing my efforts on environmental and social justice activism allows me to express my personal values about relevant issues into concrete action alongside others who plan to make real societal change happen. Spiritual community does not have a set expression, and one may find their purpose where they least expect it. A large number of people find peace in religion and draw from it as they work to improve the world. But for those who question the direction of their beliefs—a population that is growing by the day—the idea of assimilating into a religious institution can feel wrong. I have felt like an impostor, an outsider, as I’ve scraped through countless religious experiences and teachings. I never found an answer within the concept of divinity. Instead, I found it in a mix of values, communities, and familial traditions that have shaped the core of who I am. The beauty of spirituality lies not in its surety, but in its fluidity; it forces us to take on the ultimate challenge of reflection, looking within, and determining our own path to faith and truth, to find our unique place in the universe. WRITER SARAH STOLAR GRAPHIC DESIGNER GABI MECHABER

DIRECTOR ABBY RAPOPORT STYLISTS AMANDA LI GIGI KALABAT SHARIFA DOUDI PHOTOGRAPHERS ALVIN YAO HANNAH YOO BROOKE DODDERID SIRAPA VICHAIKUL GRAPHIC DESIGNER SANDY CHANG MODELS KENE ONWUDIWE SOLOMON LUCY

dazed d

diversion

DIRECTOR OLIVIA MOURADIAN STYLISTS KELSEA CHEN BEN MICHALSKY PHOTOGRAPHERS TESS CROWLEY MARGEAUX FORTIN ANNA FUDER FRANCES GU GRAPHIC DESIGNER CHRISTINA TAN MODELS HELENA GROBEL ENA HUMPHRIES

Slip Dress - Zara Mesh Top - H&M Sweater - Club Monaco Leather Shorts - Olivaceous

PAST LIFE

Dress - The GetUp Vintage Pants - The Ragged Priest Top - Studio of One

DIRECTOR COURTNEY MASS STYLISTS COURTNEY MASS PETER MARCUS DHRUV VERMA MAYA CRYSTAL PHOTOGRAPHER HANNAH YOO MODEL MAYA CRYSTAL GRAPHIC DESIGNER KIMI LILLIOS

INDULG

GENCE

STYLISTS ISABELLE FISHER COURTNEY MASS PHOTOGRAPHERS ALEX ANDERSEN JACOB WARD GRAPHIC DESIGNER EMMA PETERSON MODELS SALISHA BARANWAL ANNA BARR

EDITOR’S NOTE T

here’s a psychic in all of us. They show their face every time we peek behind the curtain, call out to a god, a deity, fate, hope for a miracle. Behind every prayer, every question there is our own oracular voice whispering the answer. Do we listen? Clairvoyance is temptation, the seductive truth that sits just out of reach and pulls us towards the mystic. Purpose can hide between intricately drawn figures in a tarot deck or cloudy messages from a Magic 8-Ball. Answers can come in the form of your favorite lucky numbers or a sign too applicable to chalk up to coincidence. Our guides can be mothers, mentors, or heroes from legends and storybooks. As reality becomes more and more muddled, myth appears increasingly more attainable. In CLAIRVOYANT, we search for truth, the hard truth. What is true about us when no one is watching? Alternatively, in the age of social media, where the line between celebrity and ordinary is blurred beyond recognition, what is true when everyone is watching? How do we understand the truth about ourselves when the mirror reflects an image we don’t recognize? There’s a danger in only dwelling on the future. In crafting ten-year life plans or fixating on images of our future selves, who we are can get tangled up in expectations—where we should be, what we should be doing, what fears we should have let go of and left in our pasts. When we idealize the future, we don’t make space for present pain, and thus, as Tiara Partsch explores in “Silks and Outlines,” we don’t heal. Clairvoyance takes guts. What do you know for certain, and what ideas do you hope to challenge? When the answers you seek are brought to light, how will you receive the truths they reveal? Looking to the future to gain insight on the present can be daunting, damned, convoluted, or enlightening—that’s the gamble. And, perhaps, that’s also our challenge. Defy your own expectations, and look beyond. Turn the page, and look within.

Lauren Champlin Digital Features Editor

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