Strike Magazine FAU Issue 03 by Strike Magazines

THE LAWS OF THE UNIVERSE

Issue 03 1

FASHION

HEAD OF FASHION Sage Olivia West STYLING DIRECTOR Alexa Andrioff STYLISTS Brandon Brownstein, Francesca Cella, Kennedy Carbert, Dylan Cotrone, Samantha Schoonover, Lea Tabbaa

PRODUCTION

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Samantha Hipp PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR Nektaria Kleopoulos PHOTOGRAPHERS Alexia Haag, Sage Holaway, Logan Reliford, Emma Saunders, Jeffrey Simon, Delaney Wiggins, Valorie Wiseman CINEMATOGRAPHY DIRECTOR Romina Amat CINEMATOGRAPHERS Sophie Freid, Jeffrey Simon, Kailee Singer, Paloma Rossano

WRITING AND EDITING

WRITING DIRECTOR Jolie Tanner CONTENT EDITORS Jackie Elliott, Emma Saunders STAFF WRITERS Jackie Elliott, Lily Ellis, Aubrie Henry, Cristina Jimenez, Eden McClave, Annie McGrath, Emma Saunders, Blake Von Tilzer

GRAPHIC DESIGN

ART AND LAYOUT DIRECTOR Hannah Schimko GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Eden McClave, Sammya Mufarrej, Hannah Schimko, Melania Zilo

SOCIAL MEDIA

MEDIA COORDINATOR Angel Ennis SOCIAL MEDIA ASSISTANTS Ella Chan, Rachel Hirsch, Allyson Kifer, Keandra Mentor

BEAUTY

BEAUTY DIRECTOR Sarah Glynn MAKEUP ARTIST CeCelia Baughn

BUSINESS

MARKETING DIRECTOR Meg Christensen MARKETING DIRECTOR ASSISTANT Lisa Campion MARKETING TEAM Daniella Dragone, Delaney Wiggins PUBLIC RELATIONS DIRECTOR Taylor Bafer PUBLIC RELATIONS DIRECTOR ASSISTANT Taylor Fricke PUBLIC RELATIONS TEAM Michaela Berinato, Morgan Brown, Sarah Glynn, Simone Gonzalez, Samantha Schoonover, Casey Tetter FINANCE DIRECTOR Julia Sieradzan

CASTINGS

CASTINGS DIRECTOR Cindy Alonso

FROM THE EDITOR To Our Beloved Strike Supporters, It is with a very full and very grateful heart that I write my last Editor’s Letter for Strike Magazine FAU. I truly don’t know how to put into words what this magazine means to me, and I am unsure where to begin. That being said, please bear with me as I try to navigate this letter. I’ve always asked myself the infamous question: “what is it all about?”. Strike Magazine has taught me a million things and more, but above anything else, it has taught me the power that one decision can hold. One s decision to bring Strike Magazine to FAU has quite literally changed my life forever. It has taught me that each moment and decision in your life has the power and the potential to be pivotal. It taught me the power in recognizing these moments and absolutely ensuring not to let these moments pass me by.

Starting this magazine feels like a lifetime ago. Since then, I’ve poured just about every ounce of energy and love into it, and I feel like I am now writing a breakup letter (I’m so dramatic, but I deserve it.) We began this journey with wide eyes and excited for the future, anxious to create something magical. Two months later, we were hit with the hardship of 2020 and, despite tremendous odds, we have succeeded and simultaneously evolved. We are coming out of this era more educated, more intentional, more compassionate, and more experienced.

To my mom and to my twin sister, Izzy, thank you for understanding my commitment to this magazine and supporting me constantly through it all. To my friends, thank you for respecting my priorities and being there for me after one too many consecutive all-nighters. To my loving boyfriend, Jacob, thank you for your unfailing support and belief in me from the first moment I decided to start this.

By the time you’re reading this, I will have graduated, our third Issue will have launched, and there will be a new Editor-in-Chief in my place. I am feeling a million different emotions, but it must be known that only a small fraction of these emotions are sad. More than anything, I feel proud and so filled with gratitude. So while I still have this platform, I would like to use it as a thank you.

Thank you to Hannah Kealy for not only entrusting me to extend your vision to FAU but for supporting me, lifting me up, and for being the ultimate miracle worker. None of this would be possible without you. To all 14 other Strike Magazine Editors, thank you for being the most badass group of editors to work alongside. I feel gifted to be a part of this pivotal moment for the future of Strike Magazine with each one of you.

Photographed by Logan Reliford

To my team- the waterworks are now in full-fledged action. Thank you for having faith in my vision and trusting me as founder and Editor-in-Chief. Thank you for every single exchange of creation, art, and inspiration you have given to Strike Magazine. Thank you for three beautiful Issues, over 30 shoots, for every photo, cinema, styling, makeup look, blog post, story, essay, poem, interview, playlist, tweet, post, and graphic. The rareness of creating something so beautiful and meaningful with the most extraordinary people is something that I will cherish forever. To Zha Zha Mair, our Creative Director, thank you for sharing your passion for creating something that has never been done before with me. Your uniqueness and your art will forever awe me. To Sage Olivia West, our Head of Fashion, thank you for being a light in my life. Watching you grow and evolve has been nothing short of beautiful to experience. To Melania Zilo, Strike Magazine FAU’s new Editor-in-Chief, thank you for everything. Thank you for being the most incredible assistant to me, which does not even begin to cover your title, and for your presence in this team since the very beginning. Thank you for pouring your heart and soul into everything you do and for nurturing Strike’s voice and values as we evolve. I cannot wait to see the magic you create and the incredible things that await you and the future of Strike Magazine. To our writing team, production team, fashion team, beauty team, art team, social team, and business teamsthank you for making Issue 03 pure magic. The love and appreciation I have for each one of you is infinite. To our readers, thank you. Thank you for inspiring us, sharing our work, and supporting us every step of the way. We hope you enjoy our third Issue as much as we do. So, to answer my younger self’s question: “what is it all about?” I answer: It is you, it is me, it is our Divine Oneness to experience this life together. It is what allows us to experience creation, community, and love. It is the microscopic moments in our lives that hold the power to be pivotal. The Universe has a plan for you, so say yes to each opportunity that comes your way because it might just change your life forever. With all my love, Strike Out for the last time,

Emma V. Oleck 5

Styled by Alexa Andrioff Makeup by Sarah Glynn Model: Romina Amat

Photos by Logan Reliford

TO TOUCH LOVE Written by Blake Von Tilzer

s I recline behind my desk, I find myself unable to fathom anything but the soft, somber piano singing before me. The only long thoughts lulling through my head, a pleasant sorrow of how to approach such a piece. Asked to write about the action and attraction in men’s souls, as if one man can conjure such a phrase. Love, much like death, is incredibly complicated. Often, I converge ambitious ideology with ambitious theology, for only God can cite true wisdom with the brain in my head and blood in my heart. To say it simply, love is unavoidable. People love to escape their deep, black souls. Lovers love because they must. Dancers dance because they must. Writers write because they must, for such is the will of man. Love, much like dancing or writing, is the very reason for one’s existence. We love because we are attracted to the mass that will fill the ache in our souls. The action is how we approach said love. In my opinion, relationships are crazy, stressful, full of loss and regret. Yet, we still push through it. Why?

The answer is simple–because we must. We are a species raised on love. From the early fog of our mother’s love, of our mother’s touch, we have been trained to fiend. I often think of the Harlowe Monkeys, some blessed with the soft wool mother, some dying with a mother of cold steel. Touch is the inherent basis of attraction. We crave to touch. We crave to be touched. Yet again, touch is death. The touch of the devil is the touch that plagues men’s souls. As such, touch is the most important facet of our lives. It is the action of attraction that makes men’s souls weep. Love, on the other hand, cannot be diluted to a simple definition. Love for me extends far beyond the erotic touch. Love for me is Mozart’s Jupiter Symphony. Love for me is Orson Welles’ Citizen Kane. Love for me is William Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure. Love for me is the reason that life is worth living. I find myself craving, attracted to the love in my life. Without love, life is empty. Without emptiness, there is no reason to love. 7

Photos by Logan Reliford

Dear John, Love John Written by Blake Von Tilzer Dear John, How is it that one of pure romance can live a life completely absent of it? You have found yourself surrounded by love, longing, passion, yet none is afforded to you. For years, you have carried your heart with a warm and pure ember. You have loved like the angels have deeded, and sinners have sinned. You have looked up to others as a son to thy father. Yet, you receive no satisfaction. Such is the divergence of life. Good is inherently evil, and evil is inherently good. Love is inherently unloved. You are inherently unloved. In your heart, you feel not jealousy but longing towards your beloved brothers. You sit back in wonder of why everyone is loved but yourself. Suddenly, you gasp. A tear flows down your cheek. Your pleasant smile quickly melts to a bitter frown. A fire has set in your heart.

Life has infinitely become lost for you, such is the essence of another brother’s kiss. Such is the sudden hate in your soul. The black, empty, soulless hole in your heart cries in a quiet murmur. You have fallen to the cold, flat concrete. Your hands grasp your cottoned mouth. Your charred heart beats rapidly. You gawk at your brother’s love. Suddenly, the simple tear bled to a tumultuous flow. Your heart has skipped a beat. You find the gun. You wrench at your brother’s ring. You hate your brother’s heart. You find the loaded trigger. You hate your own heart. You pull it. You broke your own heart. Love, John

Photo by Logan Reliford

Photos by Sage Holaway and Logan Reliford Edited by Logan Reliford

Photos by Sage Holaway Edited by Logan Reliford

THE CAUSE IS YOUR ACT ACTION THERE WILL BE A THAT OF WHICH YOU MAY KN WILL KNOW THE EFFECT, BUT

ONLY BY TAKING CORRESPOND WITH OUR FRE UNIVERSE KNOW WHAT TO 14

TION, AS YOU TAKE THE A CORRESPONDING EFFECT, NOW OR ONLY THE UNIVERSE T THERE WILL BE AN EFFECT.

ACTIONS WHICH EE WILL DESIRES WILL THE O BRING INTO YOUR LIFE. Photo by Logan Reliford

Photographed by Alexia Haag Styled by Kennedy Carbert Makeup by CeCelia Baughn Model: Ronnie Jones

THE LAW OF GENDER Written by Paloma Rossano

o truly understand gender in a broader, yet deeper sense of the word, we must escape the mindset that shapes gender to be a form of division, stereotypes, and constrictions within society. In exploring gender in the context opposite to this, we are exploring the duality of gender within us. We are exploring the elements of masculine and feminine energy that we don’t see but rather feel and experience in every action, interaction, decision, and thought we have. When we acknowledge that these energies are not something that is solely one or the other, but rather existing and working together, we may expand the understanding we have of ourselves and the people around us.

person. In paying attention to these moments, we become more in touch with the powers at play. More so, we are able to become self-aware of the shape and colors of our internal Yin-Yang of gender, as well as learn to work with it to navigate our lives and the world around us.

The duality of the yin-yang symbol serves as a common ground for many of the Laws of the Universe, and the visceral masculine and feminine energies we find in ourselves within the Law of Gender is no exception. We find the Yin in our Divine Feminine, where the energy of the subconscious mind lives in cycle within the soft, old, passive, yet dark, and chaotic parts of ourselves. It can be described as the foundation of our energy. On the other hand, the Yang is found in the Divine Masculine, which is that of activity, youth, lightness, structure, and order – the place where the conscious mind brings our foundational feminine energy to life through action. To deny either of these energies would be the same as denying whole parts of ourselves that make way for the sense of emotional and mental balance we need to guide us. Where our feminine energy makes up the deeper parts of ourselves, our masculine energy brings these parts to surface in a way that is unique to each

Styled by Samantha Schoonover Makeup CeCelia Baughn and Angel Rodriguez Model: Angel Rodriguez

Photo by Alexia Haag

RELATIVITY Written by Eden McClave

Photo by Valorie Wiseman

e are not randomly generated characters. We are humans, babies of our mothers and fathers who had to meet, connect, even fall in love, and birth us. I, not often but sometimes in moments of clarity, think about how many women had to live an entire lifetime filled with experiences and emotions unique to their time period and circumstances so that I could live my own life on this earth. I am because they were. The Law of Relativity states that everything exists in relation to other things. More succinctly, things are made real by their relation to other things. Colors are made real by their existence in nature, which is made real to us by their visible presence in the spectrum of waves we can see. From this basis, more has blossomed into philosophical fruition. Reality is perception, and our perception of things is relative to how we see that based on our positions in life, what we have gone through, what we’ve been born into, where we’ve been raised. A frustrating but honest example of this is the fact that no idea is completely new. We will never be able to invent some idea or character, or story that has not been based or inspired by something already in existence. Another facet of this law is that we each have been given a set of circumstances, challenges unique to us to raise our vibrations and strengthen our souls by learning lessons and overcoming said obstacles. We have our own perceptions of the gravity of our problems and When we cannot step back and look at the bigger picture, we become absorbed in self-pity and defeat. In a Tarot deck, the Nine of Swords embodies the consequences of lack of perspective. A woman sits up in her bed, unable to sleep with nine swords stacked above her.

When we are unable to step outside of our personalized negative self-talk and anxiety, we manifest the fears that we spend so much energy imagining; we are choosing to invest in their fruition. If we step outside the anxiety and instead choose to address what the anxiety is a result of, we can heal by realizing that our shadow selves, the parts of ourselves that we don’t like to look at or acknowledge, are the yin of the yang which is positivity, productivity, and joy. The shadow self, which we detach from, roams free to create the dark corners of our mind we feel we cannot control. But the dark cannot exist without the light, and the light cannot exist without the dark. Balance is at the center of existence. Birth and death are two sides of the same coin, loss and gain, joy and pain. They exist for and because of the other. Our ‘bad sides’ exist so that our ‘good sides’ can blossom and create without naivety or shallow inauthenticity. People spend years on high hills, in silent monasteries, or on bathroom floors with a locked door trying to confront and accept the shadow self. In this struggle, the Law of Relativity assures that every low has a high and everything has balance. If we accept that the balance is not in our control, we can use relativity like a stream in which we build a canoe and ride to learn our lessons and accomplish our goals instead of trying to swim upstream. There is no best time or worst time of our life; it’s all relative. Looking too far into the future and overthinking about the past leaves us shadows of our potential happiness and success in the present. The only way to truly live is in the present. Cliche, annoying, and said too many times, this truth endures. We accept the past now, as we live and move forward, we plan for the future now, as we work hard and navigate the opportunities which arise in our lives. So, while you are alive, a lifetime to us, a blink to this earth, live freely and awarely. As we grow, we must realize that accepting both sides of the coin, in relationships, opportunities, and moments, sets us up for a more fulfilling life.

Photos by Valorie Wiseman

THE LAW OF COMPENSATION You will always be compensated for your efforts and for your contribution, whatever it is, however much or however little.

Photographed by Logan Reliford Styled by Melania Zilo and Alexia Andrioff Makeup by CeCelia Baughn and Sarah Glynn Models: Jazmin Morrison, Julia Saxton, Jolie Tanner

Written by Lily Ellis

he Law of Compensation states that every person will be compensated for their efforts and contribution to the universe. Whether payment comes in the form of love, money, fame, or success is up to the powers that be. We have to believe that somewhere, somehow, the universe takes care of us and our needs. This requires a great deal of trust in the greater power which can be hard given the lack of concrete evidence of the Universe rewarding good behavior. Coming to terms with the unknown is a scary notion. The idea of letting go and letting the world take over is daunting but should be, and needs to be, applied to everyday life. At one point or another, we have all questioned whether or not the things that they say or do have an impact. Yet, there is a universal truth that no matter how little output you actually see being produced, it is the input that matters. The same way that energy cannot be created or destroyed only changes its form. Within this logic, there are certain tenets. The first one is that if we put in more effort and power, we will get more in return. Throughout history, people have tried to fill their lives with materialistic things that gave them temporary fulfillment. This was most literally portrayed during the French Revolution and the decline of the monarchy, where wealth was measured by the size of your hair and your belly. More was more, and everything came in excess. We still see the remnants of this overconsumption in today’s western society, yet the difference lies in the details. The interest now lies in having items of quantity rather than quality, leading to mass consumerism. More is more, and there are now thousands of unethical companies waiting to fulfill our gluttonous hands and empty hearts. After centuries of questionable values and materialistic priorities, one would think we would have recognized a pattern. The Law of Compensation shows us that when we get too caught up in the tries of everyday life, we forget to focus on what really matters. To do so, we need to have balance. If one makes it their mission to put as much effort into life no matter the outcome, they will be truly happy.This applies to experiences, relationships, and the small moments that make living worthwhile. Since no one truly knows what follows our last breath, then we might as well make this life grand. Make life a champagne-popping, fluffy dress-wearing, cake-eating party that doesn’t stop until we walk our last step or take our final breath.

THIS IS W H A T THE FACE OF HARD W O R K L O O K S L I K E

The Universe fills up with the empty space or vacuum with the things that we desire but first we will need to create a space for it to happen. We need to constantly focus on and energize the good things in order to get the outcome that we want to achieve.

TRANSMUTATION We each have the power to transmute negative energy into positive energy by simply deciding to change it. Not one person on this planet is incapable of altering the energy which surrounds them. This law is not selective. The power to change your outlook and the way you feel has never been out of reach.

Photographed by Logan Reliford Styled by Francesca Cella Makeup by CeCelia Baughn Model: Angel Ilona

s humans, we naturally grow out of people, places, and things. If we stayed stagnant our whole lives, we would never progress, grow, or

neither be created nor destroyed. Energy can only be converted from one form to another. The positive energy we desire is never too far away, and the negative energy we wish to purge is never permanent.

We encounter different scenarios in our lives that transform the people we are. We become familiar with the circle of life and grieve the loss of a loved one. We experience our first heartbreak and learn how to love ourselves enough to put back the pieces on our own. We meet someone who shakes up our whole world, sometimes in a good way, sometimes not so much. We land that job, crush that goal, and accomplish things we could only dream of. There are things we go through in life that can be either soul-crushing or empowering and revolutionizing. Either way, we are never truly the same person for a very long period of time. We are reborn again and again.

We have the power to change the energy that surrounds us; trade out the bad energy we no longer wish to carry for the positive energy that lifts us up. It is easy to fall into the upset of heartbreak, grief, or simply a negative headspace. It is not uncommon to face difficulty turning our headspace around. Sometimes strength and perseverance mean adapting and changing. A rebirth of our identity and our energetic field does not always have to stem from hardship or crisis. We are able to transmute our energy at any given time, which is why the Law of Transmutation of Energy is so powerful.

evolve.

Constantly, there is an energy that surrounds each and every one of us. Our energetic fields give off a first impression before we even get the chance to open our mouths. We can feel when someone is giving off light and positive energy, just as we can sense if someone is weighted down or carrying negative energy. The energy that surrounds us is the energy we choose to let in from the pool of energy the Universe has to offer. Even in our darkest time, the Universe does not deny us the ability to choose which energy we carry around ourselves and keep in our energetic field. When Robert Mayer discovered the Law of Conservation of Energy, he stated that energy can

Not one person on this planet is incapable of altering the energy which surrounds them. The Law of Transmutation of Energy is not selective. The power to change your outlook and the way you feel has never been out of reach. This law allows us to transmute the energy around us into the energy we truly desire. Energy is in constant motion. There have been many versions of our existence prior to this version of ourselves, and there will continue to be so many more. We will be stronger, more experienced, and more loving. We will face hardship and happiness, failure and success. However, now we know how to come out of every situation surrounded by the guidance of the Universe. Set your intentions, see through the darkness, and imagine ridding yourself of all of the negative energy you have been carrying and trading it out for new positive energy. With a few deep breaths, say your last goodbye to this version of yourself.

Written by Jacquelyn Elliott 32

“To love someone long term is to attend a thousand funerals of the people they used to be.” Heidi Priebe

THE LAW O N N E C T S C OF

U S

ENERGY

ENERGY IS WHAT

TO EVERY PERSON, PLACE, PLANT, ANIMAL, AND EVERY CELESTIAL BEING IN THE UNIVERSE. 36

Photo by Logan Reliford

Styled by Emma Oleck, Anastazia Mair, Sage Olivia West, and Melania Zilo Makeup by CeCelia Baughn Model: Renekie G

Num nimodis aborrInum fuga. Itatis exerspernam vere volorer natemquo et untis as voluptatem rem 37

Photo by Samantha Hipp

EVERYTHING IS

AS ONE

CONNECTED

Photo by Logan Reliford

Energy flows where intention goes. You give life to what you give energy to. 39

Photo by Logan Reliford

Photo by Samantha Hipp

H I G H E R S E L F

Bring good energy everywhere you go.

Photo by Logan Reliford

e are energy. As is every action we perform, every emotion we feel, and every thought that enters our mind. The Law of Energy shines through in all of the universal laws, as they all use energy in different forms. Energy is never created nor destroyed. It is transferred.

Also referred to as the Law of Vibration, the Law of Energy has to do with the presence of vibrations within and around us. It moves in a cyclical manner and is constantly flowing. To our understanding, energy is a superpower, as it gives us the ability to view the Universe with a wideopen mind and have complete control over how we respond to the world around us. Whatever we put into the world will find its way back to us because, in the Universe, everything is connected as one. To truly understand the Law of Energy, it’s important to remember that every thought, emotion, object, and every action is energy, and it is all intertwined. Since energy is never created nor destroyed, that energy has passed through others before us and will continue to pass through others after us. It’s what makes the Universe work. Whatever you feel inside will attract that same vibration from the outside world, and it will find its way to you.

If you want to experience something, you must feel it within yourself, just like any other emotion, and draw it to you from within the Universe. There’s truth in the old saying “like attracts like,” but it doesn’t stop there. Pain attracts pain, and love attracts love, too. When viewed from a scientific perspective, there are parallels between the Law of Energy and other scientific laws. For example, energetic bodies are evidently connected to others of the same kind, much like the gravitational pull between planets. Human beings are no exception to this universal law. All of our thoughts are connected to the divine Universe, and they are made up of different vibrations. High vibrations attract high vibrations, while low vibrations attract low vibrations. The frequency of the energy you embody is determined by your thoughts and emotions. Everything we experience on Earth through our five senses is delivered to our brain by those vibrations. In order to shift our energy into something new, we must alter our frequencies by thinking differently and choosing what we put our energy into. This is where thought forms come into play, as each thought we have has a certain vibration, whether negative or positive.

Thought-forms are fed by our perception; they are the product of our inner thoughts, which materialize through our patterns, interests and even manifest into anxieties. The way we behave comes back to our brain’s dependence on thought-forms, as one thought leads to another until we have a set perception of how we see the world. They can be contagious as well, as we influence others through those vibrations, shaping the collective consciousness of society as a whole. These thought-forms are not always positive and can change slightly with each influential factor. They can be thought of as sort of an addiction, as your brain becomes dependent on the emotions and thoughts running through your subconscious, and it will prevent you from allowing anything else to enter the cycle of your thought-forms. To break free of this, it is important to stay in tune with your vibration and prevent negative energies from entering your space. After all, your energy is sacred. Energy is a divine building block of the Universe that connects us all, and it’s what makes us who we are at our cores, and without it, nothing would exist. It connects us to every person, place, plant, animal, and every celestial being in the Universe. You are energy. I am energy. We are energy, connected as one.

Written by Emma Saunders

Photo by Samantha Hipp

Photo by Logan Reliford

Photo by Samantha Hipp

Photo by Logan Reliford

LET ENERGY FLOW Photo by Logan Reliford

LET ENERGY FLOW

Photo by Logan Reliford

Photo by Samantha Hipp

Photographed by Logan Reliford Styled by Samantha Schoonover Makeup by Sarah Glynn Model: Melanie Vasquez Vargas

Rhythm Written by Annie McGrath

hythm is known to be movement marked by strong and weak elements, or a fluctuation of regular recurrence. The law of rhythm reminds us that everything has a flow or cycle, and we must find the way to ride this wave through life. The large satellite that comes out to befriend us at night holds the delicate balance and rhythm of our world in its being. The moon’s own gravity affects the entire Earth and gives the ocean it’s tides. How can we discount the tidal pull, the gentle friendship between the moon and the earth to just being between them two. The moon has as much influence over us, personally and spiritually, as it does with the physical world. It must be understood that the universe’s energy ebbs and flows like the tides our friend, the moon, creates.

rhythm, followed and programmed into us unconsciously. We were brought into this world with a set of instructions to follow the world’s rhythms and patterns. These cells, found in our brain, are called the suprachiasmatic nucleus and maintain our inner clock. We can thank these cells for releasing our different hormones throughout the day, namely melatonin and cortisol, to keep us moving at the same pace as our friends, the moon and the sun. This rhythm affects women separately than men as well, as men and women run two hours different from each other. Women are also more likely to be negatively affected by circadian rhythm disruption. These oracle cells prepare us for the rhythm of seasons, revolutions, and every day. We have the frame of the Earth rotating built into us.

The Goddess Luna is our first introduction to the Moon being a feminine energy. Mythology credits her with being pregnant and giving birth to the new moon each month. Women have their own 29.5 day cycle in our biology, the same length as the world’s lunar cycle. The strongest forces on the physical Earth, the ocean and women, are mandated to act on a set cycle in conjunction together made by the same mystical force. An ancient practice, Ayurveda, is understanding the world’s rhythms and using them to our advantage. In previous times, women lived in clans together and matched their moon cycles, living through the collective experience and inner inquiry needed at different times through their cycle together. The moon’s energy awakens and lulls our collective unconscious, controlling not only our physical but also emotion. Women are energetically at their highest point with the full moon; the waxing and waning affecting her interactions with the world around her.

The Law of Rhythm can be observed not only in how much it affects our physical health, but in the pace of our lives. The phrase what comes around goes around encapsulates the true nature of this delicate law. Every darkness has a light to it, and the universe cultivates this in its ultimate experience. A friend is lost and a friend is found, a love dies out and a love springs up. A pendulum swings back and forth, as does everything in the universe and as does your life. The best way to use this to your advantage is to create an internal happiness and unwavering trust that the universe brings you along in this dance for a reason. Nothing is random and nothing is happening without reason that it shouldn’t.

The unheard but felt rhythm of the world is felt in our everyday routines in our circadian rhythm. We have adapted our bodies to work with the rotation of the planet. This clock cycle is the circadian

You are floating in the middle of the ocean of your universe, being controlled by the satellite moon waxing and waning and bringing you along with its movements. Feeling a sense of internal stillness helps to feel balanced in the waltz created in the thrashing tides. The sun always sets and the moon always comes up. The pendulum always swings.

POLARITY

THE LAW OF

Photographed by Nektaria Kleopoulos Styled by Brandon Brownstein Makeup by Sarah Glynn Model: Jasmine Lewis

Death is God, Life is Satan Written by Blake Von Tilzer

he Wife laid dead on the floor. The Husband’s hands were drenched in blood. The paranoia flooded his guilty conscience. Suddenly, God appeared before him. The Husband’s eyes protruded toward the spiritual figure. Lyrical hymns of existential rhetoric flowed through the lips of God. “Love is War. War is beauty. Beauty is love.” God confessed. “By this, you live. By this, you die. Full Circle.” God confessed. “Down goes the beauty into the eyes of the beholder, up goes the conflict that lies in every human heart, but by the end–we are all equal,” God confessed. The Husband, contemplating his existence, witnessed God evaporate before his eyes. All of a sudden, the Husband fell into a trance defined by Vietnam war footage. The bodies, the carnage, the War–emphasized hell. The reverie ended abruptly. The Husband was now an old man. Love is death. Loss is life. The human experience follows the Daoist train of polarity. As of late, love and loss have reached new, tumultuous peaks. We live in a world shrouded in division and separation. Where love and remorse have converged, political ideology has diverged. The spheres of influence left and right, sit apart as polar opposites. The proverbial factions that fiends on the interconnections, the American ideology, have subsequently forced brotherhood into remission. As a result, the world has been thrown into a pit of fire and fiery. No matter the side, everyone believes that they, themselves, are God and their fellow Americans are the Devil. In such a world, there is no purgatory.

However, if everyone is simultaneously good and evil, then how can society establish a moral structure? How can society distinguish between Right and wrong? In a polarized world, there are no morals, there is no structure. The very notions that hold society together are dissipated at a moment’s notice. The separation and polarity facing the world today have forced society into an ideological conflict. Left and Right, divided to fathom a deep, empty hole in the center, a center that is necessary to foster a sustainable world. The mother laid softly in the bed. The Father stood, newborn baby in arms. An unequivocally warm emote floods his somber mind. Suddenly, the Devil appears before him. The Father’s eyes coward from the silhouette of darkness. Harsh stanzas of introspective fear rush from the black pit of the Devil. “War is Death. Death is Beauty. Beauty is War,” the Devil confessed. “By this, you die. By this, you live. Full Circle,” the Devil confessed. “Up goes the evil in the soul of the committer, down goes the sin in the mind of the good, but by the end, we are all doomed,” the Devil confessed. The Father, contemplating his son’s existence, witnessed the Devil grow before his eyes. All of a sudden, the Father fell into a trance defined by innate images of sheep being flocked by the shepherd. The innocence, the simplicity, the beauty–emphasized heaven. The reverie ended abruptly. The Father was now a newborn baby, held in the mother’s arms.

Styled by Diana Rodriguez Makeup by Sarah Glynn Model: Diana Rodriguez

Written by Aubrie Henry

he Law of Cause and Effect elucidates that each individual action in our universe, whether salutary or adverse, is ours to face.

Moments come and go, and before you know it, they’ll become just another memory. Our lives are on a never-ending shuffle on to a new adventure, relationship, opportunity, and experience. There’s always a decision for us to make in these moments. To imagine how everything we say and do has an overarching effect on not only us as individuals but our lives as a whole is alarming. It is not always the case, but we have the upper hand in a great number of situations. More often than not, we forget to realize the power we hold in determining what lies in front of us. We can choose whether or not to continue being content or regretful. By all means, some circumstances are out of our control, and if and when we are blindsided, we are to appoint how to navigate those situations and emotions. It’s when you choose to use your past as a stepping stone rather than a roadblock that you’ll recognize growth. It is our motion that we choose to make, and it’s all in the colors we choose to paint. In the grand scheme of things, we can refer to ourselves as an unfinished work of art. As the artist of our lives, we create a vision in our minds of what we want on our canvas, and we begin to take the steps towards bringing that finished product to life. We can look at our decisions, actions, emotions, thoughts, feelings-each its unique color of paint. We are the hand guiding the brush that is being pressed upon on the canvas of our lives. I am not only the effect of the occurrences in my life, but I am also the cause that makes the effect take place. In the life you choose to manifest and dream of, you have the same ability to press play on. It’s time for us to take control of our paintbrush- it’s time that we embrace all that we are and all that we are called to be. We are the canvas, and we are its painter.

CAUSE AND EFFECT Photo by Delaney Wiggins

Photo by Nektaria Kleopoulos

Photo by Delaney Wiggins

Photos by Nektaria Kleopoulos

Photo by Nektaria Kleopoulos

Photographed by Logan Reliford Styled by Emma Oleck and Dylan Cotrone Makeup by CeCelia Baughn Model: Tatianna Valiente

he Law of Correspondence allows patterns to repeat continually throughout time, mirroring our inner thoughts. What you are feeling directly correlates with the physical life you experience. By allowing your inner thoughts and feelings to be resolved, you can control the environment that you surround yourself with. We are constantly generating an external reality that is corresponding to our internal reality. Our present correspondence is the accumulation of, situations, circumstances, and experiences that we deserve as a result of the set of attitudes, intentions, and past actions in accordance with the Law of Cause and Effect.

Everything that exists in our day-to-day is our responsibility and happens in perfect synchrony as it is the reflection of our actions. We are a correspondence of the Universe. Our physical body is exactly the same as the Universe is: as above, so below. What one generates outwards is a replica of what is inside. That is why it is not necessary to go to the Universe to understand the Universe. Simply by living here, we are already experiencing a correspondence of what the whole is. If we manage to enjoy and experience our life with maximum happiness and maximum freedom, we are doing the same work in all other dimensions because everything is u n i - fied, everything is fractal, everything is the same. Today, social media is used as a mechanism to portray a reflection of one’s life. Social media is often used as a wellthought-out, highly curated highlight reel that exists to show the world exactly what you want them to see; no more, no 62

less. The pressure to look or appear a certain way to be accepted goes way beyond a simple trend. It is the discontent that people feel within their own bodies and even their personalities. On average, studies show that an estimated 64% of Americans aged between 17 to 24 believe that social media negatively impacts their lives. The falsities of social media have made us oblivious to its damaging effects on society. The ability to critically look at this and accept it takes deep self-reflection. As we know that our direct external world is a mirror of our most inner self, the only path to solving this problem is to go inside ourselves and evolve internally. Understanding the Law of Correspondence allows the liberation of all fears. To each human being corresponds a perfect and corresponding physical body with a mental capacity of perception that determines a specific personality. This mental behavior will assimilate information from its environment, creating a personality where destiny is installed. This is why, in the Law of Correspondence, there is no error but experiences through an evolutionary process. Everything in the Universe serves a perfect purpose. Everything is usable; both the wise, the ignorant, and the innocent have a role in the Universe.

Written by Cristina Jimenez

what one generates outwards

is a replica of what is inside 63

Photographed by Samantha Hipp Styled by Lea Tabbaa Makeup by Sarah Glynn Model: Patricia Urbonaite

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You move your body, your mind, and your spirit in somewhat eccentric patterns; for you have not completely grasped the concept that you are part of the original thought.

A special thank you to Golden Gal Thrift and Iris Tattoo Studio for supporting us in our creative endeavors.

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