Got a Girl Crush: Issue 06

Kickstarter pre-sale is now LIVE!

We've come a long way since our very first issue and are trying to raise some funds since we were able to pay every single contributor this issue for the first time, AND do our largest run to-date (2,000 copies)! So we're asking our readers to invest in the future of the magazine before we consider partnering or being sponsored by large entities that we believe in, in order to maintain our voice. 

Pre-order now!

We’ve moved!

After nearly 8 YEARS on tumblr, we’ve moved gotagirlcrush.com to more customizable pastures. Same site, same address, same inspiring content. Check it out!

xoxo

Crushascope January 2017

Every month I pick a tarot deck out of my collection and pick 12 cards from that correlate to each sign of the zodiac. This is #crushascope for January 2017.   

Something to note: Mercury is still in retrograde through January 9. The year is off to a slow start because the focus is on self-care and focusing on making yoursleves all around better. Once the full moon in Cancer hits on the 12th, you will definitely focusing on taking care of the self and the rest will follow.

Some signs have 2 cards assigned to them. This is because I needed a clarifier card to give me more information. You can usually pull out 2-3 cards to clarify a vague answer or a reversal, if you work with reversals.

CAPRICORN - PRINCE (PAGE) OF CUPS

Expect surprises in January Capricorn! All the networking you busted your ass doing last year is gonna pay off. You will finally receive an offer you can’t refuse.  Whether it is work related or Relationship related, this card shows that you are putting your best foot forward for 2017. You have renewed hope and happiness that will outshine the rest and the right people will take notice.        

AQUARIUS - THREE OF WANDS

2017 will be collaborative for you. You are re-inventing yourself as a caregiver and a creative.You will find yourself in a great place physically, mentally, and emotionally. You will want to spread the love and include your nearest and dearest in making sure they are just as happy. Lending a hand will also reap rewards for you. Your generosity won’t be taken for granted. Expect to forge amazing new friendships after the 12th.    

PISCES - X THE WHEEL OF FORTUNE

Start the year off by making your own luck Pisces. Do not wait for the opportunity to strike. Seize the moment!  Be proactive even if the result do not yield what you desire. The point is that you need to just take charge and manifest the right things. Do not wait on anyone. This month is yours to do whatever it is you please. Take the risks and know that you will be in right.

ARIES - KING OF PENTACLES

You have been working towards a goal and there is pay off for you starting now. Expect for upcoming reviews to shine and for things to improve. You will find that you are going to gain more responsibility as you are a natural leader. Your finances improve this month as well with new job offers or a promotion at your current job. The payoff is just around the corner Aries. Be patient and let them positive comments ring in the new year.

TAURUS - V TRADITION (THE HIEROPHANT)

Post retrograde will bring you the answers you need in order to have peace in your life. You are seeking for exciting routines and lots of stability. The right people and opportunities will show up for you and not leave. You will be quietly exiling flakes from your life. 2017, will be you focusing on healthy relationships and really buttoning up who is part of your inner circle. Choose wisely and execute your actions with peace in your heart.

GEMINI - THE DEVIL/ NINE OF WANDS

The start of the year will be rocky because you have a lot of bad habits and negative people to shed. There is light at the end of the tunnel. Alone time is essential and healthy for you. If people from your past have hurt you and you are having trouble letting their memory go, focus on forgiving them. You are working diligently on trying to improve yourself every day. Do not give up for this month is meant  to lead to greatness for the rest of the year. Self care, forgiveness, and the occasional good company is recipie for 2017 success.

CANCER - VII THE CHARIOT You may find yourself in a glass cage of emotion this month. Take control of your feelings! You may have heightened sensitivity and may feel extra aggressive. Self care is super important for you and your emotions. Resolve this with a meditation practice Cancer.

LEO -  FOUR OF PENTACLES

You want to hold onto your experiences from last year but they don't have to necessarily shape you. You learned a lot last year about who you are and where your path is leading you to. Be careful to apply your lessons accordingly. Don't be too harsh in judging or making haste decisions with the data you have collected. Instead use your findings as a tool that will help you create something new entirely.

VIRGO - ACE OF WANDS Start the year off right with new perspective. Your motto is “Challenge Accepted”. You want to approach things with a fresh pair of eyes. You will want to explore and test your boundaries with new projects and challenges. This is a stellar month for you Virgo, you are the best at conquering anything that comes your way. Just don't shy away from new methods of problem solving.

LIBRA - SIX OF WANDS

It’s the little things really. Tiny victories that pop up mid-retrograde will gain speed and pile up for you. The great thing is, it won’t stop. The new year is going to charge you full of positivity and grace. You will also be the voice of reason and offer good advice and insight to those cannot see the forest through the trees. 2016 was really rough on you Libras. You are getting a break. Things will build as they are a reflection of the hope you choose to emit.

SCORPIO - NINE OF SWORDS/ TEN OF PENTACLES

Self care is a major focus for you this month. When was the last time you talked to someone or had reiki done? You may feel the heaviness of the last year following you into the new one but that should not be necessary. Explore your spiritual side as a means to acquire what you want in life. It is okay to be picky in relationships too. Be the boss and communicate what your needs are. Things turn around for the best quite quickly once you address the underlying emotional issues you may be suppressing.

SAGITTARIUS - THREE OF PENTACLES

Start saving your pennies. This is a great month to manifest more money. Do so by opening a new savings account and taking charge of your finances. Doing work with basil water and honey or even meditating with The Empress card will help bring in more prosperity. Doing this work before the Full moon on the 12th will help you out greatly. Don’t be surprised if people ask you in a few months for financial advice.

January’s #crushascope was conjured up using The Goddess Tarot.

This month’s artwork was photographed by artist Sarah Best.

About Sonia Ana Ortiz: Sonia Ortiz is American made with Cuban parts. She has been reading tarot for over 20 years. She is a licensed Reiki Practitioner, Bruja, and Graphic Designer. She is the mother of the #guapacat and #badgirlfrifri. You can follow her across all social media at @soniaotarot.

2016 Round-up pt. 2

Women on (and behind the) Screen

Writer, actress, director, and musician Michaela Coel’s Chewing Gum started streaming stateside.

Isa Rae (creator of Awkward Black Girl)’s debuted Insecure on HBO!

Writer, director, casting director (and occasional actress) Katja Blichfeld (and her husband Ben Sinclair)’s cult web-series High Maintenance also debuted on HBO this fall!

NEW web-series 195 Lewis is about being Black, Queer and Polyamorous in Brooklyn -- directed by Aponte Pearson.

Broad City returned for their 3rd season this year and announced their 4th season is coming summer 2017!

2016 Round-up pt. 1

What. A. Year.

It wasn’t all bad. And we want to remind you as we count down to the new yea, some of the reasons why it wasn’t a total dumpster fire:

Women in Music SLAYED in 2016!

Solange - “Cranes in the Sky” from A Seat at the Table

Lizzo - “Phone” from Coconut Oil EP

PJ Harvey - “Community of Hope” from The Hope Six Demolition Project

Princess Nokia - “Tomboy” from Tomboy single

Beyoncé - “Formation” from Lemonade

See also: 

Rihanna - “Work” from Anti

Angel Olsen - “Shut Up Kiss Me” from MY WOMAN

Jenny Hval - “Conceptual Romance” from Blood Bitch

ANOHNI - “Drone Bomb Me” from HOPELESSNESS

Nice as Fuck - “Runaway” from Nice as Fuck

Tower - “Hold on to Me” from their debut album

The election has inspired unprecedented levels of giving from concerned Americans seeking to protect the parts of this country they value most. For every person who has donated, there’s another who wants to give but doesn’t know where to start. That’s where newly launched Mo’ Money Mo’ Progress steps in. 

Partners Cari and Laura decided to leverage their combined skills in philanthropy and graphic design skills to create Mo’ Money Mo’ Progress. Does Mom have a passion for feminist causes? Then the site directs you to donate in her name to orgs like National Network of Abortion Funds. Does Uncle Jerry concern himself with LGBTQ+ issues? Then the site suggests causes like Southerners on New Ground. And if you still want something to put under the tree, they’re offering shiny gold Certificates of Donation. This week, they’re also launching a #momoneymoprogress social media campaign that aims to make giving go viral. They’re inviting friends to tag a friend and offer to donate $20 in their honor, to an organization of the friend’s choosing. The friends, in turn, are urged to do the same.

Part holiday gift guide, part fundraising engine, Mo’ Money Mo’ Progress makes it easy for people to donate to causes in lieu of giving gifts this holiday season. <3

Put your $ where your mouth is

We donate 20% of proceeds from our shirt and pin sales to the legal defense fund at Standing Rock and to Black Lives Matter. Consider making a donation to charitable causes and organizations in lieu of giving presents this holiday season <3

• ACLU - (American Civil Liberties Union) has worked for almost 100 years to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the United States

• Ali Forney Center - their mission is to protect LGBTQ youths from the harms of homelessness and empower them with the tools needed to live independently

• ASPCA - (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) was the first humane society to be established in North America and is, today, one of the largest in the world

• Black Youth Project 100 - an activist member-based organization of Black 18-35 year olds, dedicated to creating justice and freedom for all Black people

• Center for Reproductive Rights - has used the law for more than 20 years to advance reproductive freedom as a fundamental human right that all governments are legally obligated to protect, respect, and fulfill

• Planned Parenthood - America’s most trusted provider of reproductive health care, 100 years strong

• RAINN - (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) is the nation's largest anti-sexual violence organization

Our genius pas from & friends made a pretty great thing: yulebra.com

It was originally gonna be for the election, but they’re releasing it now as a small comfort/“fuck this” during these crazed&dark times.

It’s an endlessly burning bra for screensavers/tv at parent’s house purposes.  

Check it out in action at: yulebra.com yulebra.com yulebra.com

Sady Doyle’s Trainwreck in the Time of Trump

Book review by Emily Simpson Artwork by by Gordon Magnin and G. Paul Burnett

November 15th, 2016, 6:00pm

One week ago, we battened down the hatches for a last electoral squall of nerves and tequila before bidding a final fuck-you to the gnarliest campaign season in American history. It was almost over, thank god.

Hillary Rodham Clinton, for whatever establishment rhetoric she personifies, was about to fulfill her destiny as the first woman leader of the most powerful, influential country on Earth. She was going to tip the Supreme Court into more equality-bound waters for theoretical decades to come. Some polling experts even predicted the momentum could nudge half of the legislative branch in a similar direction. Generations of little girls were going to grow up with concrete knowledge of the possible where their forebears had only dreams. At the very least, any American with an ounce of common sense had to be appalled by the alt-right’s influence over the conservative ballot option, right?

The early morning hours of November 9th were a fresh hell. Instead of the expected victory, we woke sentenced to four years of an anti-progress villain whose least-embattled job is a credit as a reality television host, and whose chief skill — despite aggressive posturing as the golden answer to morally bankrupt Washington — is a Machiavellian knack for murdering facts and burying them out in the yard.

This is reality. We’ve been reading news outlet after twitter feed after Facebook rant about it obsessively, trying to pinpoint some wrong turn or way out (looking at you, Electoral College). Of course, the Clinton campaign faltered perhaps irretrievably from fiascos like the DNC’s primary impartiality, and she was twice-haunted by the specter of a private email server. Still, I can’t help but wonder how her innate being — her femaleness, really — damned her from the beginning. And I do mean far before either presidential bid. This populist election was ultimately decided on cults of personality, and hers simply couldn’t do the trick. But why?

I read Sady Doyle’s recent Melville House title Trainwreck in the weeks leading up to the election, considering it a valuable exploration of the work yet to be done to reverse the centuries of cultivation behind deep American gender divides. Since November 9th, the book has become something more: a stark reveal of the impossibly disparate characteristics we continue to expect of women both in public and private spheres, a reminder that there are infinite ways to do “femaleness” wrong in a patriarchal society.

“The patriarchal code of conduct isn’t remotely so forgiving for women, who we largely trash and hold to impossible standards when they aren’t even hurting other people.”

ELECTION DAY

Collaborative poem from Gramma Press with 26 other poets that was released for election day, in the hopes we had a better outcome...

I grab myself by the pussy and there is an infinite history of pussies within me I grab myself by the pussy and I hate the word that bestows hate upon me I grab myself by the pussy and I hate the action that is an action of hate I grab myself by the pussy and I do not hate myself I grab myself by the pussy and I praise the pussy I grab myself by the pussy and I am a baby born from a pussy I grab myself by the pussy as the one true grasp at time I grab myself by the pussy and you were also born there I grab myself by the pussy and I am born inside the rapture I grab myself by the pussy and I ask myself for more I grab myself by the pussy and I build a wall where all my love is caged I grab myself by the pussy and I am a comfort object I grab myself by the pussy as a consequence of my body I grab myself by the pussy and begin to dismantle years of negative self-talk I grab myself by the pussy and I objectify myself with my own permission I grab myself by the pussy and I’m alone in my bedroom so it’s a sin I grab myself by the pussy and I yell and I yell and I yell loud I grab myself by the pussy and I call her Moana and Cunt and The Heaviest Part I grab myself by the pussy and I have another mouth for screaming I grab myself by the pussy and feel so boy I grab myself by the pussy and it is the pussy of a woman though men can also have pussies I grab myself by the pussy and I sing the love of the body of man or woman I grab myself by the pussy and finger the cord that turns on the ceiling fan of love I grab myself by the pussy and the crown of my head launches through the ceiling I grab myself by the pussy and I’m in my bedroom with my husband watching so it’s gotta meet his needs it’s we serve one another it’s gotta keep him interested it’s good wife it’s cool girl I grab myself by the pussy and ask my lover to show me what she likes I grab myself by the pussy and I’m the only muse I’ve ever had I grab myself by the pussy and I answer my own questions regarding the physical existence of soul I grab myself by the pussy and the soul is wet and warm and welcomes me quietly I grab myself by the pussy and light a fire to toss through our hair I grab myself by the pussy and hit send on a fire tweet I grab myself by the pussy and remember the complexities of forgiveness I grab myself by the pussy and forget myself I grab myself by the pussy and I only do this when I’m completely alone I grab myself by the pussy and I watch the great minds of your generation trapped in the beginnings of hate I grab myself by the pussy and I refuse to justify my own desire to hate the hateful I grab myself by the pussy and I make no room for another part I grab myself by the pussy and you would be so lucky I grab myself by the pussy, therefore discourse I grab myself by the pussy and realize I’ve never said pussy aloud I grab myself by the pussy and you get it on hot tape I grab myself by the pussy and I feel sad I have not known my pussy better I grab myself by the pussy and I am honest in public — such as right now — though it scares me I grab myself by the pussy and muffle those who’ve told me it isn’t mine I grab myself by the pussy and I spell UNRAPE as a word that always was I grab myself by the pussy and tell my trauma this’ll be the last time I need to tell her story I grab myself by the pussy and I’m working to rewrite the histories of men grabbing at me I grab myself by the pussy and my pussy grabs back I grab myself by the pussy and sit and stare I grab myself by the pussy and I claim all the air in the room I grab myself by the pussy and that's how I tell you to go fuck yourself I grab myself by the pussy and flowers begin to throw themselves into each other behind my teeth I grab myself by the pussy and I hear a fly buzz in the stillness of the room I grab myself by the pussy and turn the light on after the room has gone dark I grab myself by the pussy and I am a perfect circuit, damp and sparking I grab myself by the pussy and it relaxes and I feel safe I grab myself by the pussy and I am very gentle, for all its been through I grab myself by the pussy and feel safer with a handful of fur I grab myself by the pussy and try to remember if I fed the cat when she was crying in the middle of the night or did I ignore her and go back to sleep I grab myself by the pussy and purr I grab myself by the pussy and remember the titans I grab myself by the pussy and acknowledge that my SSRI has altered my libido I grab myself by the pussy and allow myself to be bored I grab myself by the pussy and wonder if the internet allows a holistic projection of the self I grab myself by the pussy and take 45 selfies—I upload them to the cloud I grab myself by the pussy and idly twirl my pubic hair while on the phone with the bank I grab myself by the pussy and forget what to do with the other hand I grab myself by the pussy and bite into a peach I grab myself by the pussy and come back drawing myself into a place where each window is an altar to fog and water and dryland, sanctioned by nobody I grab myself by the pussy and feel the waves beneath me I grab myself by the pussy and let myself go wavy I grab myself by the pussy and fill myself with gravity so I can sink to the bottom of the pool I grab myself by the pussy and lay down in the furrowed field I grab myself by the pussy, wild blueberries in a milk lake I grab myself by the pussy and see her blue hair, shock of bangs flung back in prairie wind I grab myself by the pussy, eye of the still water in the eye of the marrow I grab myself by the pussy and I walk us to the end of land I grab myself by the pussy and we start a fire I grab myself by the pussy and blue smoke fills our eyes I grab myself by the pussy and imagine its changing color I grab myself by the pussy and I am the sharpest reddest rose I grab myself by the pussy and I cast the spell of no metaphor | actual transformation I grab myself by the pussy and I count myself among the almonds I grab myself by the pussy, persimmon light orb I grab myself by the pussy and I lean so far in I swallow all authority I grab myself by the pussy and say no I grab myself by the pussy to remind myself who has the power I grab myself by the pussy and I cross my legs to keep my secret I grab myself by the pussy and seal the opening to encroaching winds I grab myself by the pussy, by the soft warm, by the wet dark I grab myself by the pussy and make you sweat I grab myself by the pussy and flick a toenail at your door I grab myself by the pussy and I walk like that: staring right at you I grab myself by the pussy and climb down the ladder that made no room for us but windows I grab myself by the pussy and cry for one thousand nights I grab myself by the pussy and shut the blinds, turn inward I grab myself by the pussy, licorice root in our cups I grab myself by the pussy and know why doves cry I grab myself by the pussy and know I am not the first, nor the last I grab myself by the pussy and this is because I have no bootstraps to pull myself up I grab myself by the pussy and get myself out of bed I grab myself by the pussy and try to remove from it the fear of confronting my privilege I grab myself by the pussy and the church lady stands at the front of the bio class, silver gum wrappers on the floor I grab myself by the pussy and make a new a floor I grab myself by the pussy, hope that quake doesn’t hit I grab myself by the pussy and writhe noticeably I grab myself by the pussy and I harness the energy of my own expansion I grab myself by the pussy and recite a couple choice ballads in the yard I grab myself by the pussy and improvise most the words I grab myself by the pussy and improvise all the words, fuck the words, I’m on a roll out here! I grab myself by the pussy and I’m on stage and it’s a dance move I grab myself by the pussy and it throbs to exhale I grab myself by the pussy and hit the high notes of "Under Pressure" I grab myself by the pussy and I am one of billions of pussies I grab myself by the pussy and welcome my distinguished guests I grab myself by the pussy and I am all of the women/animals I grab myself by the pussy and remember I’m just a moth among moths I grab myself by the pussy, honey bubbling, shrimp and their shed exoskeletons I grab myself by the pussy, humming the choral language of unfound sea creatures I grab myself by the pussy and howl at the moon I grab myself by the pussy and I watch as everyone does the same I grab myself by the pussy and bloom an obelisk to honor my hollow I grab myself by the pussy and create a visual barrier I grab myself by the pussy, drive with her and her bloodstone through a bloodstone canyon I grab myself by the pussy and fold myself into the shape of an arrow I grab myself by the pussy as it electrocutes fibrous future light I grab myself by the pussy and am pearlescent I grab myself by the pussy and I unfold into a room I walk inside with no roof I grab myself by the pussy with the fists of unplanned atoms I grab myself by the pussy and I am treasure blinding because of my geometry I grab myself by the pussy and I honor my existence I grab myself by the pussy, practice surrender I grab myself by the pussy and surprise even myself I grab myself by the pussy and I merge onto a highway of other speeding pussies I grab myself by the pussy and fall in step with a stranger on the street I grab myself by the pussy and you come along I grab myself by the pussy and tell you to do the same, like grandmas with hand mirrors I grab myself by the pussy and wait until everyone is making direct eye contact I grab myself by the pussy and I hold a baby, a fruit, a bubble, a pistol, a fissure, a singing fish I grab myself by the pussy and become my mother I grab myself by the pussy, & tear the pages from the bildungsroman, & begin again I grab myself by the pussy and I breeze through revolving doors without hesitation I grab myself by the pussy and this is what I call a dance move I grab myself by the pussy and I’m wearing sweatpants I’m wearing a hijab I’m wearing a sari I’m wearing a prom dress a business suit a swimsuit a miniskirt a pair of jeggings from Goodwill I grab myself by the pussy in my Calvins I grab myself by the pussy and lead the room in a round of coordinated meditative kegels I grab myself by the pussy and give you some lithium I grab myself by the pussy and this time with feeling I grab myself by the pussy and get fed up I grab myself by the pussy and make it nice I grab myself by the pussy and I feel fancy with body I grab myself by the pussy and it is glistening with criticisms I grab myself by the pussy because I'm nasty I grab myself by the pussy and it's as pointless as explaining a dream I grab myself by the pussy and am impressed by the grip I grab myself by the pussy and then rage and rage and rage I grab myself by the pussy and the future bleeds out of me I grab myself by the pussy and I understand why you are afraid of this I grab myself by the pussy and I am guaranteed returns I grab myself by the pussy and I am the island you take to the desert island I grab myself by the pussy and history inverts, a rush of red ribbon flutters back to the mud I grab myself by the pussy and say, yeah, go ahead, write flutters, write whatever you want, you’re immortal I grab myself by the pussy and live forever, not even metaphorically, it’s just this weird thing that happens I grab myself by the pussy and paint smiles with my menses upon the faces of all smug men I grab myself by the pussy and it's just like a fairy tale I grab myself by the pussy and feel fine, actually I grab myself by the pussy and I speak blunted words to the world I grab myself by the pussy and decide I don't have to explain shit I grab myself by the pussy and conjure all the women alienated by pussy labor I grab myself by the pussy and I am a diamond mine that is one giant diamond that cannot be mined without being chiseled into smaller stones so we leave me I grab myself by the pussy and I am two facing mirrors in an infinite discourse of self I grab myself by the pussy, and say: I swallow no pride, I spit it I grab myself by the pussy and pull myself headfirst back through myself—what magic manifold—myself after myself: I am an army of unstoppable pussy—ride or die pussy, boss bitch pussy, intersectional pussy, stay home pussy, nights were never yours pussy, bowdy bowdy pussy, look here pussy, come again pussy, #blacklivesmatter pussy, #nodapl pussy, I pay my damn taxes pussy, fucking over this bullshit pussy, hangry pussy, glitter pussy, rageful pussy, zaftig pussy, cheeseburger pussy, dismantle white supremacy pussy, bilingual pussy, stressed pussy, broke pussy, busy pussy, hustler pussy, pussy can't stop won't stop pussy I grab myself by the pussy and heal you of all your diseases I grab myself by the pussy and say, it’s time to spit the poison out I grab myself by the pussy and begin to concoct the antidote I grab myself by the pussy and look at places I cannot reach I grab myself by the pussy and know one hand in the wound is the source of my power I grab myself by the pussy and it's a distraction from the panic sitting on my chest I grab myself by the pussy and rainbow into the grave where every pussy waits I grab myself by the pussy and the blood there is the flag of the earth I grab myself by the pussy and see stars and stripes as far as the eye can see I grab myself by the pussy and I wail I grab myself by the pussy and yet nothing is being held I grab myself by the pussy and hold forth I grab myself by the pussy and I'm not far now I grab myself by the pussy and say, you’re powerful I grab myself by the pussy and cry grateful for my hand I grab myself by the pussy and I get very brave I grab myself by the pussy and say, you’re here, you’re safe, you’re alive again I grab myself by the pussy and I brace myself for what’s to come I grab myself by the pussy and find god as she was named I grab myself by the pussy and I can finally describe the feeling of change I grab myself by the pussy and I am the original flame I grab myself by the pussy and say, you are real, you are valid, you exist I grab myself by the pussy and I believe I am the prize I grab myself by the pussy and ride bareback to the Hotel Wewonda crying, America, America, let’s make all things new I grab myself by the pussy and I am the prize I grab myself by the pussy and I deserve I grab myself by the pussy and it goes without saying I grab myself by the pussy and I do not say sorry I grab myself by the pussy and I fly us I grab myself by the pussy and I do not let go

We’re teaming up with New Women Space (a brand new place where women can collectively gather and shape the future together in Brooklyn) for our first New Women Print & Zine Fest on Saturday, November 12th from 12-6pm. Come meet the creators and browse an exciting, emerging line-up of women/trans/gender non-conforming-led zines featuring: + Got a Girl Crush - a blog and annual print magazine about women, by women, for everyone + The Bettys - Female-identified LGBT art collective from NYC tri-state area + Boys I've Kissed & Hated - a collection of poems about the adventures of a young woman fumbling through intimate experiences from her teens through her early twenties and explores the awkwardness and dissatisfaction with most of the young woman's encounters through a comedic lens + La Motocyclette - a bi-annual independent magazine featuring stories and images from motorcyclists from all around the world + Math Magazine - an independent porn quarterly for open-minded adults + Metaphorical Fruit - quarterly zine that seeks to disrupt western art’s infatuation with the male gaze by publishing art by women about women + NO SHAME Distro - POC collective based in Philly & NJ who are interested in promoting zine writers and artists of color + Selfish - a team of women who want to share other women's stories in an incredible way + Suffragette City - an annual DIY zine and community based in Brooklyn committed to promoting the creative and intellectual ideas of strong and outspoken women + Tom Tom Magazine - the only magazine in the world dedicated to female drummers And works by Hayley Blatte of Troll Hole NYC, Lili Emtiaz, Pegacorn Press,Pretty Dirty Press, The Kitchen Witch and more! WORKSHOPS // all $10 suggested donation (pay what you can) ***************** 1:00-2:00pm Social Media for Boss Babes with Jess Schreibstein 2:30-3:30pm Self defense with Sanja 4:00-6:00pm The Tarot as a Gateway to Intuition with Anna Toonk *NEW* 5:15-6:15pm Post-election Group Grief Counseling with Christina Tesoro

This event is FREE and OPEN to the public. A donation based beverage bar will be present for all ye thirsty readers and passerbys. See you there!

CRUSHASCOPE OCTOBER 2016

Every month our resident bruja, Sonia, picks a tarot deck out of her collection and picks 12 cards from that correlate to each sign of the zodiac. This is #crushascope for October 2016.  

“To get into the Halloween Season I decided to use the one and only Halloween Tarot. Suits are named differently here so please take note that pentacles are pumpkins, cups are ghosts, swords are bats, and wands are imps.  

I would also like to dedicate my post to my #tuxedotwinkie cat, Dita. Today marks the one month anniversary since I had to say goodbye to her. She used to always sit at my side while I read tarot and when I would write this column. She will be missed but her little spirit lives on.

Without a further ado, here are the #crushascopes for October 2016.”

LIBRA - THE HERMIT

Happy Birthday Libras! Your focus this month will be based on self-care and looking inward.It is okay if you are not feeling too social and want to focus on having some time to yourself. You will want to spend most of October reflecting on your achievements and planning for the next big steps. Many of you will level up and become mentors to others looking to get into a specific field you excel at. You are always innovating, pushing forward, and ahead of the game. Take this time to pata yourself on the back for the achievements you have accomplished thus far.

SCORPIO - PAGE OF IMPS

Make your voice heard this month. You have a lot to say and need to find that audience who will hear your ideas. Perhaps it is time to take on a creative hobby like drawing, singing, or dancing to help you execute those ideas. Vision boarding will also help get your ideas across. With October starting off with a nice waxing moon, take advantage to communicate what it is you want to manifest properly. Your mojo will also be on fire this month as you will appear more attractive than usual to everyone.  

SAGITTARIUS - EIGHT OF GHOSTS

Don’t be afraid to let go of people or situations that don’t suit you this month. You are feeling extra sensitive too.  It is a good month to break bad habits. Don’t feel guilty if you feel like you have to walk away from someone either. You endure but toxic relationships are an absolute no for your happy-go-lucky nature. This also goes for bad work environments too. Let this month give you the courage to speak your mind and walk away from bad situations. You owe it to yourself.

CAPRICORN - THE HIEROPHANT

You don’t have to stress yourself out this month by living up to impossible standards by anyone. Don’t fall into a trap of constantly explaining yourself to others. It would be a good time for you goats to find way to break or bend the rules. You have strong ideas and you shouldn’t let anyone get in the way of them. If you find that you are being too hard on yourself and trying to live up to superhuman standard give yourself a break. Remember you are a SUPERSTAR no matter what.    

AQUARIUS - NINE OF PUMPKINS

You are gonna be blessed this month. You will have a wonderful sense of accomplishment and independence. You will find that you will have a better and stronger sense of self. You will be crossing many things of your list. This is also a great time for you financially. There is a strong chance you have some extra money coming. Invest or perhaps book a nice vacation. All in all this month is all about you getting shit done and enjoying the benefits of it. You have earned it Aquarius!  

PISCES - THE MOON

Listen to your guy this month. You have a stronger and heightened sense of things this month. You’re definitely more psychic than usual. Don’t fight it. If you are extra moody this month it has to do with your surroundings. You are susceptible to the vibes are you. Don’t make any rash moves. Just remember exhale profoundly and politely excuse yourself if things aren’t feeling right. Chances are you will be proven right about your feelings before the month is over. That will give you much relief.

ARIES - TEN OF IMPS

Your dance card is overflowing this month. You may need to buy more time this month Aries. Try to not overcommit to everything. You may feel exhausted before Halloween is in even over. Make a schedule and make your boundaries clear. You can only offer so much of your time. Yes you are super but remember you are only human! Make sure you are extra organized and have a daily agenda to get you through such a busy time.

TAURUS - SIX OF GHOSTS

Strong feelings of nostalgia will hit you hard this month. Perhaps you need to talk to an old forgotten friend. Maybe make peace with an ex? But I get a strong sense of you wanting to come back to an idea or perhaps to an old job. Either way you will very sentimental about your past and will analyze those feelings in full. It feels as though the Mercury retrograde stayed with you a little longer than expected. It is not a bad thing, once you know what you need to re-visit you will be ready for a big aha moment or release.

GEMINI - THE WORLD

A cycle ends and new one begins. You are shedding an old skin to reveal a new shiny version of yourself. It’s been a wild ride but now it is time for changes. You will be deeply rooted in your spirituality. A past life regression or an old-fashion seance may be just up your alley to get into the mood for Halloween as well as get you in touch with your esoteric side. You may not know it but the rest of this year is a preliminary of greatness to come for your sign.

CANCER - JUDGEMENT

Wake up to new solutions this month. A big breakthrough is coming your way Cancer. Many times I have asked your sign to take a break from your issues but this month I invite you to face them head on and with a new game plan. Get analytical. Study all the facts. Yes karma may be knocking at your door but that doesn’t mean you have to be at the mercy of it. This is an opportunity for you to be a warrior, look at your adversary head on and surprise them with a compassionate move. You are ready for a new phase in your life but it is okay to leave some of the old baggage behind.

LEO - THE FOOL

Step into uncharted territory this October. Take that risk you have been thinking about and don’t be afraid of failure. The only way you will learn and excel at anything is if you practice with consistency. Remember you cannot have a beautiful life without making beautiful mistakes. You are supposed to learn from your errors so just let them happen. Be kind to yourself and remember you are always learning. This month is a stepping stone for you to make those dreams come true.

VIRGO - QUEEN OF IMPS

You’re in a generous mood this month. You will have a strong focus on taking care of your loved ones more than usual. Words have power but no doubt Virgos will have a serious boost this month. Your love and encouragement are going to plant themselves into the people who need it most and it will reflect back on you. Lend a hand, give advice, and have fun. This October will bring out an almost Empress card vibe out in you. Don’t be surprised if you feel like you will start thinking about adopting a new fur friend into your life or start thinking about children.

October’s #crushascope was conjured up using The Halloween Tarot.

About Sonia Ana Ortiz: Sonia is American made with Cuban parts. She has been reading tarot for over 20 years. She is a licensed Reiki Practitioner, Bruja, and Graphic Designer. She is the mother of the #guapacat and #badgirlfrifri. You can follow her across all social media at @soniaaortiz.

Hey Northampton! We’re coming for ya!

Free and open to the public, the Northampton Print & Book Fair is a one-day event that takes place at A.P.E. Gallery in downtown Northampton, Massachusetts on Sunday, October 2nd. We’ll have copies of our brand new issue, zines, pins, and shirts for sale! The NPBF is a curated event established to promote contemporary prints and publications, celebrating local talent while bringing regional artists and publishers to our community. Artists, publishers, labels, editors, and distros are invited to display and sell their work—including zines, artists’ books, chapbooks, minicomics, screenprints, letterpress prints, photographs, shirts, records, tapes, and more. The fair is part of a day-long, city-wide celebration of printmaking, Print Works 2016, in collaboration with Zea Mays Printmaking and BIG INK.www.northamptonprintandbookfair.com/printworks Saturday, October 1st they are hosting the NPBF 2016 Pre-Fair Party! Everyone is welcome – come hang out with us! This event is sponsored in part by the Northampton Arts Council and co-produced by Fugitive Arts, with additional support from Small Oven andRiver Valley Co-op. Come check it out along with other amazing vendors including Selfish Magazine and Heather Benjamin!

Interview with Jennifer Judkins of The Ripple Podcast

Interview by Amanda Stosz Photos courtesy of Jennifer Judkins

Jennifer Judkins is a photographer living in Brooklyn, New York. Jennifer and I are from the same town in Western Massachusetts, but we met in 2005 when we both transferred to the Rhode Island School of Design to study photography. After Jennifer’s father was diagnosed with cancer in 2007, she started a project documenting her family’s experience, their relationship, the progression of his illness and his passing. Chester Judkins, also known as Chet, was a US Navy veteran, a great and kind man, characteristics which drove him to volunteer in the recovery efforts immediately following the attacks at the World Trade Center on September, 11th, 2001. As the number of his diagnoses grew it came to light that his illnesses were likely linked to his time spent at Ground Zero. The project documenting Jennifer’s father became not just about a family’s struggle and perseverance, love and relationships while facing illness, but it also became part of the story of the aftermath of 9/11, a story of an experience many other families have had to face and still are dealing with today, 15 years later. This week Jennifer launched The Ripple podcast, in which she interviews people so they can tell their stories surrounding that day and the days since. We met up to discuss her family’s story, how she came to start her podcast and where she hopes to take it.

Amanda Stosz: Can you talk about how your dad ended up at the World Trade Center on 9/11?

Jennifer Judkins: My dad, at the time, in 2001, was the Northeast Regional Maintenance Manager for an equipment rental company. He ran 80 stores up and down the East Coast. He was at a company-wide meeting that day. Forever, I thought it was in Connecticut. My mom is convinced it was in Flushing, Queens. I'm going to go with Flushing. Mom knows. I think she thought Flushing was somewhere else. He was in Flushing. When the plane hit, he just got his whole crew mobilized, basically, to bring in bulldozers and excavators, staging lights, generators, and whatever they could. That's the stuff they were renting. They just brought it all in. He stayed for the first 6 days and he slept in his truck. He had this big white truck. It was an F150 or F250, a big white truck.

AS: Did he sleep in Manhattan?

JJ: Yeah, on the street, in his truck. I don't know where his car was parked or any of that. He was there. Some of the people who were there didn't know ... There were so many people down there. I can't even imagine what the coordination was like. Because so many people didn't know how to use the equipment, my dad stayed to use it for them. He would drive grappling hooks and pick up cars and make roads for people to be able to come in and out and move things in and out. He delivered 300 body bags to Battery City Park. What else did he do? He cleaned out the air filters and all the generators or all the staging lights. He would come back, I think, once a month for the next 6 months.

AS: After your father was diagnosed with cancer in 2007 you began photographing him and this became your thesis project at RISD. Having been present while your project with your father was developing and ongoing, it was a very emotional time. How do you think photographing your father affected your experience as his illness progressed? Did it help you to step back and process what was going on?

JJ: That's a good question. I don't know. I was just saying this to somebody the other day. Because they were like, "Wasn't it heartbreaking to look at your contact sheets after you developed them?" I was like, "No. That was the easy part. Because the hard part was being in the moment and hearing doctors say things that I didn't understand and hearing my dad respond and hearing my mom asking bunch of questions that were medical, and then take pictures during that but also try to understand what was happening." Going back and processing everything, it felt really natural because that's what we were doing. We're studying. We are learning a bunch of stuff. We're trying new cameras. We're trying new films, new formats, and different ways of lighting.

Once I got back, everything was really chill, but I don't know that it got any easier or any harder as I went. I think, if I wasn't shooting, I don't think I would even have fully grasped anything that was happening. It would've just been me getting phone calls from people telling me what was happening to him, or him telling me what the doctor was like that day or X, Y, and Z. Instead of me, actually, being in it and seeing it firsthand.

AS: Since his passing, how do you look back on the project and the images you took? What do you hope that the audience takes away from them? Because obviously, initially, they are outsiders removed from the situation. They weren't there, they don't have the emotional connection right away.

JJ: [It’s the reason] why I try to get it out as much as possible [in recent years], people have a better understanding of the after effects of 9/11 and that this is still happening to people. People still have family members getting diagnosed with cancers, and lung disease and still have family members that are dying from that experience. I think, if anything, the main thing that people should take away from it is that this is happening. Just because they don't say it on the news doesn't mean it's not happening.

AS: This leads into my next question, which is that your project with your father highlights the ongoing aftermath, families directly connected to 9/11 are having to deal with beyond the events of that day. Your father died from illnesses that have stemmed from being exposed to the toxins and dust at ground zero. It's something that had sort of been swept under the rug. The government had dragged their feet [with the Zadroga Act] acknowledging the health issues and now with giving financial relief to the families affected. How has that affected your family?

JJ: There are multiple parts to that question that I'm going to answer. First, the first time we heard anybody, at all, acknowledge that people got sick from being at [Ground Zero] was 2 or 3 years ago. When the museum first opened in New York, the 9/11 memorial museum, I was at an event.

AS: It was after your dad passed away?

JJ: My dad had already passed away. He had recently passed away within, I don't know, 6 months to a year or something. I went to an event there with my mom, actually, and her friend was with us. That was the first time that there was a stage and people were speaking about 9/11. They had said they had acknowledged that people had become sick. That was, honest to God, the first time anyone had really heard acknowledgment from any authority in New York City.

AS: Right. I may be remembering it wrong, but there was talk that it was connected and that all these things were stemming from it, I think, before he passed.

JJ: Yeah, for sure. It was right before he passed that his cancer was added on with these 60 other cancers onto the Zadroga Act. He's in the Zadroga Act which is another part to your question, and my mom is in charge of that whole scenario because she would obviously get any money that would be coming. Because he was covered on her insurance, I think. Every now and then, she'll get a communication from the lawyers for the Zadroga Act. She hasn't seen any money, zero money. The only people I know that have really seen money are children of people who have passed away who have scholarships setup for them.

AS: Is that a private foundation?

JJ: I think it's [private] scholarships for school and for further educations and things like that that were probably setup immediately. Things have been developed long term. Whereas, maybe the Zadroga Act didn't happen fast. Also, we haven't seen fully what it can do yet. I don't know a lot of people who are in the Zadroga Act. I can't say who has gotten money and who hasn't. We have not seen anything from it.

Here's the last part that I wanted to answer. 2 days ago, not even, yesterday, I recently met this woman. She was a volunteer. I don't fully know her story. She was there for a long time at ground zero, coordinating a lot of things. She called me yesterday at work. She's been very helpful this week, in particular. She said, "Jen, do you want to come to all the events with me on Sunday?" I was like, "Yeah. Why not. I'm not doing anything." She said, "Also, this year is the first year that when they do the name readings of the people who died, they're going to name the volunteers who have died since 9/11 and they're going to say my dad's name.”

AS: Wow.

JJ: I know. It's crazy. At 3:30 on Sunday at the church at St. Paul's, they're going to read his name. I think there's 40 other people who are volunteers who have died since then. I don't know if they died because they were sick. I think a lot of them have, maybe, half or more. I haven't fully gotten into that. It's crazy. Acknowledgment, 15 years later.

“I just want people to hear other people's stories. I tried to do this 10 years ago and nobody would talk to me. Now that people are actually having conversations about it, it's a huge change in how people are communicating.”

AS: Yeah. So, you’re launching the Ripple Podcast which seems to be a progression of your project with your father. How did you decide to step beyond photography and go into the realm of podcasting and what do you hope to achieve with it? What’s your mission?

JJ: One, switching from photography to audio documentation is terrifying because we are photographers.

AS: Yes. Not good with words.

JJ: Not good with words. I know. We're very visual people. We're not wordsmiths necessarily. I'm not a writer. Making a podcast requires a lot of writing. I'm not kidding. For the last 6 months, I have seen zero friends, unless they come to the coffee shop where I am at every single weekend, just working for hours on my laptop. E-mailing people, setting up interviews, just reaching out to anybody who I can get my hands on and just arranging how we're going to do things. I was doing that for 6 months. Right off the bat, I had entered this podcast competition on Radiotopia. I didn't get selected which is fair. It gave me a really quick start. It got me right off my ass. I immediately had to have a quick edit of the first episode. It was a real kick-starter to moving forward with the podcast.

When they told me that I didn't get selected, they sent out this mass email to people who didn't get selected and said, "Here's a lot of things that will help you start your podcast." It was articles from other podcasters or from new stations on the best techniques and practices to get your podcast off the ground. That was incredibly helpful. I read all of it. That was how the podcast started.

I'm doing all this leg work and finding the people and setting up the interviews and then deciding where we're going to do our interview and how much should I know about their story beforehand or should it be full secret? I'm like, "I don't know." It's all as we're going. Putting out the first [episode] was great because a lot of people are coming back to me now with all this feedback. They're like, "Oh, here's what I think would really benefit you. Here's what you did that's great." I love my friends for that reason because everyone has such great feedback. I'm sure you would agree with me. We went to college with a really eclectic group of people that have amazing opinions about things.

My hope for this podcast is that people will listen to it. I want it to be used as a teaching tool at some point. I would really like to have people use it in classrooms. There's so many children that have no idea what 9/11 is. It's never talked about [on their level], right?

AS: That's one of the things I was thinking, because moving into podcasting, even though it's so different from photography, as artists, we’re visual thinkers, it’s just another form of storytelling. The thing that’s so great about you doing this is that you're archiving people's personal stories and their experiences. It's insane to think, for instance, my youngest sisters who are teenagers now, they're going to be adults in a few years. They were born after it happened. They have no recollection whatsoever, don't remember what it was like before. It shaped the world that they've grown up in. It’s so completely shaped that world.

JJ: Right. My nieces and nephews are all the same situation. They range from 4 to 10 and none of them know that it happened. They don't know how papa died. They don't know why he was sick or anything. If anything, all of this will be a nice way to show them what's happening. Also, just to teach in classrooms and share with everyone ... Because the stories I want to share are not just people in New York or in D.C. You can be anywhere and had a story that is fascinating. I think that that's a really important part to share. Make it slightly educational on the way that people can utilize it in the classroom sense.

Also, I just want people to hear other people's stories. I tried to do this 10 years ago and nobody would talk to me. Now that people are actually having conversations about it, it's a huge change in how people are communicating. People would never talk about it and now, they want to share their stories. It's a huge therapy for them to be able to tell me what their day was like or what that week was like. That's what I'm noticing. It's a release for people to be able to share it and have it out there. I'm so happy to be able to just sit and listen to them, share these stories.

AS: My last question is, could you to summarize the story of the woman that you interviewed for your first episode? What are some of the other stories you have coming up?

JJ: Colleen Piccone is the first episode. She was working for Homeland Security. Now it's US Customs and Border Protection. We did her interview in her office, in a conference room on the 50th floor of the World Trade Center which was crazy. She worked at 6th World Trade. She had been working there since, I think, she said 1991. It was a long time. She barely missed the first attack on the tower. She just happened to take that day off. Her birthday is September 10th. The morning of September 11, 2001, she actually had switched her flight. She would fly out in the morning instead of a different time because she wanted to spend her birthday with her children.

She ended up being in the airport in Newark at the same time as the terrorists. They very easily could've taken her plane to San Diego instead of a plane to San Francisco which is what they did take. She flew and got grounded in Las Vegas and spent this quiet drive through the Mojave Desert, finding out what was happening in New York. Everything she learned that day, she heard on the radio. She was just having to visualize what was going on. It was so unbelievable to her that that's what could've happened and that that was really happening. She had to figure out how to get back to New York because there were no planes and her children were there.

There was a lot of fears that she was having that week and trying to figure out what she was going to do. Eventually, she gets back to New York and gets to her children and her scared babysitter and gets into the city with her co-workers and go to 6th World Trade. Because they have contraband and things in the basement of their building for ongoing investigations. They had to go secure all of that stuff, drugs, and ammunition, and things like that. She spent a couple days down in the pile. For a year after that, she suffered with a bizarre illness that eventually did go away. She doesn't know and wasn't sure where it even came from. Colleen's story has a little bit of everything. It's a little all over the place and that's why I like it. It's very different. I've not heard a story like that.

Episode 2, I like to call him German Bert, because he is German. He's a delight. His story is really fascinating. He was a young photography assistant working in New York. He wasn't working on September 11th. He woke up and turned on his computer and saw his main page on his computer. It was a German newspaper. He saw that a plane ... It just said like, "Small plane hit World Trade Center." He was like, "Oh, I should go down there." He took a shower because he didn't think it was a rush. He went down there with 3 film cameras and 70 rolls of film, maybe. Almost immediately, when he got to the corner of Vesey Street, right where the back of the church is, the police stopped him. He had this German press pass. They stopped all these photographers there, all these reporters, and said, "Give us a minute and then you can get closer." As they said that, basically, the tower fell. He had to run up the street and hide.

The whole day was spent down there shooting what was happening. Now, he has cancer. He has leukemia in his neck that's really rare. The reason that he lives in Germany [now] is because he needs the health care. One episode will be 3 people who were all NYU students and 9/11 was their first day of school. They all have very different experiences of moving to the city a week or days before and then all of a sudden, the city that they barely know is completely flipped upside down. They don't know where they're supposed to be or should they be in class or should they not be in class. Why does everyone seem so scared? What does this mean? They were all very young. They just didn't know.

Listen to the first episode of The Ripple Podcast

theripplepodcast.com

@theripplepodcast

jenniferjudkins.com

@jjuds

CRUSHASCOPE SEPTEMBER 2016

Every month our resident bruja, Sonia, picks a tarot deck out of her collection and picks 12 cards from that correlate to each sign of the zodiac. This is #crushascope for September 2016.

VIRGO - 4 OF CUPS

Patience is needed from you this month. You will find yourself somewhat dissatisfied and wondering how you can escape or perhaps come down on someone. Don’t go nuts trying out new things this month. You need to look inward this month and see what is up with you and what you are feeling. Do not project onto others. Although you do not mean to be harsh the retrograde will not help you get your opinions across so be careful and think before you speak. The energies in Neptune are also making things extra emotional so just chill out and get into a small meditation practice to help your energy flow better.

LIBRA - SEVEN OF WANDS / 9 OF PENTACLES

So it looks like i pulled the same card for you this month. If you need a recap of last month’s horoscope it’s here. Looks like you are gonna be stuck for a hot minute but be patient Libra. Your hard work will pay off. Last month I asked you to not second guess yourself. I am asking you again to be confident and trust that things will work out. The end of the month will bring sunshine and a ray of hope. You have been working towards something and it’s been an emotional ride but things will get light for you again. Just remember your vibe and how you approach others will set the stage for you. Don’t be too hard on yourself and just keep things light where you can.

SCORPIO - THE HERMIT

This month is about self-care Scorpio. Maybe you have been partying too hard or are overworked but you need to practice taking better care of yourself. Focus on boundaries too. You are one person and you cannot do everything at once. Only help the people who aren’t wearing you out. Spreading yourself too thin this month will come back to haunt you. Make your priorities clear. You definitely should use this retrograde to get back in shape and change your eating habits. Also make sure you give yourself some alone time to think.

SAGITTARIUS - FIVE OF CUPS

Onward and upward! You are feeling major FOMO but truly don’t worry about Sagittarius. The best is yet to come. Ride this retrograde wave out to find new opportunities and solutions waiting for you on shore. It’s been a lot of back and forth and you feel like you may have blown it. Truth is, if it was meant for you it wouldn’t have gone anywhere in the first place. Definitely know that the end of the month looks promising in regards to career and goals. Things are gonna come up Milhouse.

CAPRICORN - THE HANGED MAN

You are in need of a major inward journey. Take out all the stones, go get some reiki, and get that journal because you are about to embark on the most new agey journey of your life. You seem hasty and want to rush things off. Truth is, you need to lay low. You really need to have a good look at yourself and see how you can change to improve the situation. You are the business class aisle of the zodiac. You are not afraid to get your hands dirty but why can’t you put the same amount of work into your heart? 5 minutes a day of nothing but breathe work and self-care. You can call me in the morning when your aha moment hits.

AQUARIUS - EIGHT OF WANDS

Do not get distracted by shiny objects Aquarius. You will have a lot of new people coming through the woodwork and perhaps someone from your past will have a potential offer for you. The card is not against you making friends. Just have that sick judge of character you use when your friends meet someone new. Make sure not to commit to any new offers too soon. Get the details and put them in writing. This retrograde will b lucrative for you but pick your battles and words wisely.

PISCES - TEN OF SWORDS / THREE OF PENTACLES

I promise the bark is worse than the bite. You are feeling overwhelmed. It is okay to ask for help. That is why I pulled that second card for you. It is a hard month with all this outer planetary fuckery. Yeah I ever dropped an f-bomb right now. Truth is you are so sensitive and you are feeling it harder than usual. It is okay to call in a lifeline and have a friend listen or help. It doesn’t make you less than! On the contrary, the vulnerability will be healing and wonderful.

ARIES - SIX OF CUPS

Use this month to reflect on all you have accomplished. You may thinking, “What have I done really?” You have been helpful to so many but you tend to forget how great you really are. Aries have a loving nature towards their friends, family, and lovers. Make sure to give yourself a big pat on the back because you have managed to give back selflessly on a year that has been rough on so many signs.

TAURUS - TEMPERANCE

Take control of bad situations and gracefully turn them into incredible experiences filled with love and positivity. You have a tendency to have a fixed view but your challenge during this month is to find something good in everything you don't agree with. It sounds exhausting but it can be rewarding. The problem doesn't have to be huge. Start small and work your way up. Think of it as a strategy. You're an alchemist.

GEMINI - SIX OF PENTACLES / SIX OF WANDS

The dog days of summer have been exhausting for you Gemini. It's going to be difficult to get your point across it gain some steam during this retrograde. Miscommunication is going to be a major problem but you can overcome. If you've been struggling at work (I know I have) or you just can't seem to get something right, take a step back and breathe profoundly. The end of the month will prove you to be victorious. It's gonna be a stressful few weeks but you can overcome.

CANCER - PAGE OF PENTACLES

You are going to seek something new this month. It's good to have the idea to start learning a new skill or find a new job but definitely commit to taking a new course or project after the 22nd. I'm not against looking but do your research. Mercury retrograde likes to pull the wool over your eyes so things aren't what they seem. The end of the month will show the new prospects you have been looking for. You will get out of your slump.

LEO - KNIGHT OF PENTACLES / NINE OF CUPS

You aren't going to let the planets stop you this month and why should you? You've got things to do, goals to set! You're hard work pays off at the end of the month. You've been working so hard and you're not showing any signs of stopping. I would say of anyone is in the clear from the retrograde madness it's you Leo, granted you don&#39;t have Virgo rising. With that said be patient with those around you as communication may be difficult for them.The nine of cups promises you getting what you want what you really really want. 

September’s #crushascope was conjured up using Lo Scarabeo Tarot.

This month’s artwork is by artist Sara Kinney You can follow her Instagram here. You can also check out her film reel here.

About Sonia Ana Ortiz:

Sonia Ortiz is American made with Cuban parts. She has been reading tarot for over 20 years. She is a licensed Reiki Practitioner, Bruja, and Graphic Designer. She is the mother of the 2 best tuxedo cats on Earth. You can follow her across all social media at @soniaaortiz.

ISSUE 05 LAUNCH PARTY!

After another year of love and dedication, we are so pleased to announce the release of the fifth issue of Got a Girl Crush Magazine! Come celebrate with us with copies of the mag for sale, drink specials, and tunes on Saturday, September 10th from 8pm-12am at Flowers for all Occasions in Brooklyn!

Featuring: Chicana punk icon Alice Bag • planetary scientist Carolyn Porco • joke punk band Childbirth • the women behind Feminist Library on Wheels • human rights activist Grace Lee Boggs • National public policy chair at Black Youth Project 100, Janae Bonsu • menstrual activist & drummer Kiran Gandhi • artists duo LAZYMOM • single mother and future lawyer Marcella Jayne • musician, writer and MTV News anchor Meredith Graves Cover Illustration by Molly Bounds // Edited by Meg Wachter & Amanda Stosz Printed by The Prolific Group // With contributors: Ariel Roman, Beth Hoeckel, Brit Julious, Emily Simpson, Karolin Schnoor, Kat Thek, Katie Edmonds, Kelly Thorn, Lauren Denitzio, Malaika Dower, Michelle Chen, Natalie Snoyman, Ness Lee, Sam Paul, Taylor Emrey, & Whitney Blank // Limited run of 1000. 6.5” x 9”, 88 pages, 100% recycled matte paper, full color, perfect bound.

Can’t make it to Brooklyn? Pre-order your copy today!