the shadow issue 1 april 2014
DESCRIPTION
South African Gothic Society's gothic magazineTRANSCRIPT
April
2014
SAGS Notes & Letters Gruesome Twosome Shadow from The Raven 3 Shadow from Macabre Marspuppy 4 Founders Letter Birth of SAGS 5 Beauty and Fashion Lessons in Ink 7 Piercings, piercings everywhere !! 9 Bubbling Cauldron Batty for cupcakes 11 Black Rice 15 Dark Icons Victoria Frances 18 Celebrities Life in the womb of Amy Lee 21 Support The Dark Veil of Depression 23 Life’s Thorns 25 Being who you are 26 Poetry Shadows of the mind and soul The Eternal Moon –A Butcher 28 Darkness – J de Beer 29 Reviews Books Alexey Pehov – Shadow Prowler 30 Movies The Mortal Instruments 31 Pets Morbid Menageries 32 The Shadow Shards of Shadow 35 SAGS Communities 36 SAGS Contact Details 37 Classifieds 38
T S A
Shadow From The Raven
Gruesome Twosome
elcome to the lair of the SAGS. As an
anthropologist I
often wonder into the cultural and historical
background of goth and I soon came to realise that it is
irrelevant. To be goth is a norm. It is spectacular,
meaningful and poetic and at the same time it has its
darker traits. Being accepted is the biggest dream for
anyone in the "alternative scene" and to be called goth
almost seems like being categorised into a fallen
minority who lives a life of constant judgement and
discrimination. I however am proud to be a part of this
fallen minority despite all the negative interactions I
witness from the public. I hold my head up high, knowing
that this growing culture will soon be like any other in
the world. So we bring you The Shadow Magazine. A
shadow never dies, can never be worn out, stabbed,
burnt or oppressed. It is omnipresent and even if you
cannot see it, elsewhere in the world other shadows
exist. We are the shadows. Our thoughts and ideas are
also shadows and our latest forum for sharing all these is
now available.
- The Raven
W
"Those who dream by day
are more cognisant of
many things that escape
those who dream by
night." -Edgar Allen Poe
T S A
Shadow From Macabre Marspuppy
Gruesome Twosome
“ t was a dark and stormy night” seems to be the
stock introduction phrase for many things dark
and gruesome and associated with anything alternative.
Saying I’m somewhat intimidated by writing an
introductory editor’s note for the first copy of SAGS’s
The Shadow, is an understatement of epic proportions.
Oh my goth, the pressure – I’m but a girl with a penchant
for all things dark and dramatic... It is in the darkness
and shadows where I shine brightest.
A New Earth’s lyrics say “Deep inside you there’s a
roaring fire that is not cooled by comfort or tamed by
fear. A fire that burns in all things.” This is the way we
feel about all things gothic here; passionate about our
love of all things seen as different, macabre and even
eccentric. A passion on wanting to educate every type of
goth about each other as well as giving the world a look
into OUR world... A passion for taking the stereotype of
being gothic and turning it upside down.
Where even the shadows have shadows – this is us and
we hope you’ll find much comfort in your non-
conformance, as we share news, knowledge and aim to
entertain.
- Macabre Marspuppy
I
T S A
Birth of SAGS
Letter From The Founder
ear readers
I would like to start off by welcoming you to the SAGS and The
Shadow, it is most fortunate to have you with us.
You may have noticed that we have big plans that are currently
under development. The SAGS has seemingly simple goals, but
following the roots of these goals is not that simple.
I have been working, tinkering, brainstorming and throwing ideas
together for a few years now, and to be honest, the launch of the
SAGS was unplanned and unscheduled. It simply happened
through the courage I had received from a good friend.
Our goal is straightforward; we want to unite the gothic culture
in South Africa, bringing all types of goths together under one
banner, thus forming our own society. We have various reasons
accompanying this goal, such as friendship - not all of us are
fortunate to have a friend in our area that shares our views or
ideas. We usually hide from the human eye, yet we dress to
impress, but yes it can be difficult to find company. Another point
is to look at our youth or our baby goths; by us uniting we will be
able to not only guide them but help them with life and the
choices that are to follow in their lives as they come of age.
By uniting under one banner we will be able to accomplish so
much more. We have all seen or heard of the fancy annual goth
events that are hosted in other countries as the goth Treffen in
Germany and the Louisiana Vampire Ball and those are just a few
things we would like to accomplish in our own country. We plan
to host our very own events. We have the people and we have the
numbers - it might not seem that way, but that's because there's
no structure or communication amongst us. –Pg 6
D
T S A
Birth of SAGS - Continued
Letter From The Founder
That's something we as a society can change. We are
currently planning a fully interactive web page along
with its own forum and a proper gallery function where
all the artists will be able to host and publish their
works. With you, the reader, we can make this a
success: we need you to communicate with us and
inform us what you would like to accomplish with us.
No two people are the same and that's one of the
reasons we have different types of goths - we want you
to express it. We want to offer something for everyone,
but this means that again we will require you, the reader,
to help us and inform us what it is that makes you YOU.
We want the SAGS to be an interactive forum and not a
formal business.
We want to hear from you. We want to know your
definition of goth. What life events and challenges are
you dealing with? What have you achieved and what are
you planning next?
We are open minded people. Our being is a way of life, a
style and a culture on its own with multiple subcultures,
and we want to know about it all and only with your help
are we able to.
Thank you for taking the time to read this, and thank you
in advance my fellow goths.
May you find as much joy "here" as we do in putting here
"here."
-MGR
T S A
Lessons in Ink
Beauty and Fashion
n the modern gothic lifestyle it is often assumed that
a person would have tattoos. It is one of the most
prolific stereotypes in today’s gothic culture, but that is all it
is: another stereotype. That said, it is also one of the most
explored topics for gothic people in today’s world.
As a child you probably drew on yourself. It is supposed to be
bad for your skin, and you've probably heard all the scientific
theories of how it can cause cancer - but stubbornly ignoring
this together with your school teachers stern reprimands - you
developed an acute desire to have some sort of design
permanently etched on your body, since it then wouldn't wash
off in any manner!
The main thing to remember is that tattoos are permanent,
unless it’s of the semi-permanent henna variety. Laser
removal is expensive and may be very harmful to your health-
not to mention not always successful and rather painful. I'm
obviously all for tattoos, but seeing as it is permanent, I
refuse to have something on my body simply because "it looks
pretty". It needs meaning and value - something significant.
What other reasons would you have it on your body for until
the end of your life? –Pg 11
I
I had the opportunity recently to
have my second tattoo done. I thus
decided to ask a few people about
their choice of tattoos. Some said
that they simply enjoy the feeling,
others that the sound of the
machine is hypnotic. Then there was
my personal favourite: "because it
looks pretty"! That statement was
what made me decide to give you a
short tutorial on tattoos.
Tattoo by dr Jade from Jaded Ink
T S A
Lessons in Ink - Continued
Beauty and Fashion
I always tell people that the best way to choose a tattoo is to
remember who you are, what you stand for and what you love
most in life – your identity, philosophy and passions. Most
certainly not the name of your lover or a silly tramp stamp.
I personally have my ‘identity’ on my wrist; a Celtic cross as I am
of Celtic descent. Also because I sign my artworks with a cross
and at one stage my nickname was Chris Cross. My ‘philosophy’
is my most recently done tattoo, but blends well with my overall
Celtic theme. It reads: "Light of eye, soft of touch. Speak ye
little, listen ye much." I had it done using Elder Furthark script as
the font.
Tattoos aren't just a form of art, it is body art, something sacred
that should be taken seriously. Take consideration into choosing
what to ink into your skin. Ask yourself what it means to you?
Will you regret this when you get older? Will you regret its size
and its chosen location in years to come? Often people get
themselves a small fish that with time passing amusingly morphs
into a whale, or bucks morph into giraffes as peoples bodies age
and very often sag or expand!
When you have had it done don't let anyone tell you that you have
made a mistake. They will more than likely say that 'your body is
a temple and you should take care of it'. Sure your body might a
temple, but have you EVER seen a temple that isn't somehow
permanently decorated and adorned with amazing works of art?
Come back to me with a better excuse for what makes body art
so terrible next time please.
In the end our bodies all turn to dust. Tattoos may fade or scar
with time, but its meaning to you as well as the memories of the
experience can never be taken away and will remain with you for
life.
-The Raven
T S A
Piercings, piercings Everywhere !!
iercings: (noun) piercing
1.holes in parts of the body,
typically other than the ears, made
so as to wear rings, studs, or other
jewellery in them.
"She had piercings in her nose,
eyebrow, and tongue.„
That is the definition of what
piercings are according to google.
Nowadays its more than safe to say
that piercings are not only
P
Beauty and Fashion
found on the female physique, but are in fact gaining more and
more popularity with the male population- it is also no longer
limited to ‘run of the mill’ piercings such as ‘nose, eyebrows and
tongue’.
Many of us are familiar with the age-old question ‘Why on earth do
that to your body?’ accompanied by a horrified expression! So let’s
see, why DO we pierce and what exactly is the history behind it?
Humans have been piercing their bodies for a great deal of
reasons since thousands of years ago! Research has shown that
the majority of people pierce to express their individuality, some
do so to celebrate a big life event or to overcome a traumatic one.
Many do so simply for aesthetic value and also for sexual
gratification. Our bodies are our biographies and temples and we
choose to decorate them appropriately it seems.
The oldest mummified body with pierced ears was discovered in
Iceland and dates back 5300years – he had a stretched ear
piercing of 7-11mm! Talk about trendsetting! After that, the rest
as we say, is history. We at The Shadow will be edutaining all our
readers in future issues regarding different types of piercings and
stretches as well as tattoos and other body art – knowledge is
power after all! Please feel free to contact us regarding any
specific piercings or tattoo styles you’d like featured. -pg 13
T S A
Double Monroe above left upper lip
Piercings, piercings Everywhere !!
-Continued
Beauty and Fashion
For the first issue we are focusing on a piercing that is not all too
well known: the double Monroe. This is similar to the standard
Monroe except that it is two Monroe’s placed next to each other.
This makes it a bit less mainstream and more noticeable. Its name
stems from its name sake, Marilyn Monroe, who had a beauty spot
on the same location as this piercing(off-centre above the top lip
to the left) – its sometimes also referred to as a Crayfish, Angel
bites or Anti-bites.. It is a piercing that can be worn with rings,
studs or even a combination of the two.
Please remember with any new piercings that the correct
aftercare is essential, otherwise severe complications can set in!
Make sure you please follow the correct aftercare as prescribed,
on all piercings
All piercings featured is done by our resident official piercer, Cole
Moebius from Jaded Ink in Fourways, Johannesburg. Please feel
free to contact him regarding any work needed or advice on
piercings. Their contact details are (011)658-1736 or
[email protected] or www.jadedink.co.za
Painful pleasures to all darklings!
Some piercing trivia!
From the European Middle Ages, a superstitious belief that
piercing one ear improved long-distance vision led to the practice
among sailors and explorers. Sailors also pierced their ears in the
belief that their earrings could pay for a Christian burial if their
bodies washed up on shore.
In some Pre-Columbian and North American cultures, labrets were
seen as a status symbol.
Nipple piercing may have been a sign of masculinity for the
soldiers of Rome.
A cross-cultural study published in 2011 found that individuals
with piercings were likely to be involved in other forms of
countercultural expression as well.
- Macabre Marspuppy
T S A
Batty for Cupcakes
Bubbling Cauldron
he vampire cupcake decoration is quite simple and the bat
one is a bit more advanced. The method itself isn't difficult but
the ingredients and equipment needed is not that commonplace,
one would probably need to buy some of the required items from a
cake decorating shop. The bats can also be made by rolling out
marzipan or decorative icing(fondant) and cutting them out after
tracing the outlines onto the icing.
T
Red Velvet Cupcake Recipe (makes 24)
Ingredients
CUPCAKES
625ml (2.5 cups) cake flour
2.5ml (0.5 tsp) salt
60ml (4 TBS) cocoa powder
3 extra large eggs
250ml (1 cup) castor sugar
312ml (1.25 cups) oil
60ml (4 TBS) red food colouring
5ml (1 tsp) vanilla essence
250ml (1 cup) full cream milk
7.5 ml (1.5 tsp) bicarbonate of soda
5ml (1 tsp) lemon juice
Paper muffin cups
-Pg 15
T S A
Batty for Cupcakes - Continued
Bubbling Cauldron
ICING
250g (half a brick) white margarine at room temperature
1kg icing sugar, sieved
1ml baking powder
90ml (6 TBS) full cream milk
5ml (1tsp) vanilla essence
METHOD
1. Sieve flour, salt and cocoa powder together. Put to one side.
2. Beat the eggs and sugar with an electric beater until light
yellow, for about 5 minutes. Stir in oil and beat for another 3
minutes.
3. Add food colouring and vanilla essence and mix well.
4. Add flour mixture, then the milk, to the egg mixture.
5. Whisk bicarbonate of soda and lemon juice together and add to
the mixture.
6. Arrange paper muffin cups in a muffin pan and fill them ¾ full
with mixture.
7. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes.
8. Let cupcakes cool completely.
9. To make icing: Cream margarine until soft, for about 5 minutes.
10. Mix the icing sugar and baking powder. Add about 1 cup of
icing sugar to the margarine.
11. Add milk and vanilla essence to the margarine mixture. Beat
with electric beater until fluffy.
12. Add more icing sugar a little at a time and keep beating until
mixture is firm, for about 5 minutes.
13. Trim the tops of the cupcakes if necessary, then spread icing
evenly over the cupcakes.
-Pg 16
T S A
Batty for Cupcakes - Continued
Bubbling Cauldron
TO MAKE VAMPIRE BITES
Red food colouring
Small paintbrush or kebab stick
1. Use the back of a paintbrush or a kebab stick to make
two small holes (about 4cm apart) in the icing of the
cupcake, just deep enough to reach the cupcake itself.
2. Saturate the paintbrush with red food colouring and try
to fill the holes, pulling the brush out and down slightly to
create small channels in the icing for the colouring to run
into – this creates the bloody fang bite wound effect.
TO MAKE BATS
1 egg white
Icing sugar
Black food colouring powder
Silver food colouring powder
Small paintbrush
Clear alcohol
Small piping bag
No. 1 round and No. 3 round piping nozzles
Wax paper
-Pg 17
T S A
Batty for Cupcakes - Continued
Bubbling Cauldron
1. Make royal icing by whisking the egg white until light and
frothy.
2. Add a teaspoonful of icing sugar at a time, mixing well each
time.
3. Keep adding icing sugar until mixture has formed a consistency
that will form a peak when a wooden spoon is pulled out of the
icing. Keep mixture covered with a damp cloth while not in use.
4. Place wax paper over bat template and secure in place.
Carefully pipe outline with No. 1 nozzle. Repeat for as many bats
as you need. Let this dry completely before continuing.
5. Fill in the outlines with the No. 3 nozzle. Try to make the layer
of icing fairly thick or the bats will be too fragile. Let this dry
completely again before continuing.
6. Switch back to the No. 1 nozzle and pipe two small dots on each
bat for eyes.
7. Once the eyes have dried completely, mix a small amount of
food colouring powder with clear alcohol and use this to paint the
bodies of the bats. Make the layers thin, and let each dry properly
before adding another layer so as not to soften the icing.
8. Next, paint the eyes with silver.
9. Carefully lift each bat off the wax paper by gently curling the
paper so the icing separates from it.
10. Place them onto your cupcakes and enjoy!
-Angela Butcher
← Print out and
use outline!
T S A
BLACK Rice ?!
Bubbling Cauldron
elieve it or not, black rice, also known as purple- or
forbidden rice, is a medium-grain rice that is simple
to make and easy to use in many recipes. Once cooked,
this rice turns a deep purple-blackish colour and has a
nutty flavour with a soft texture. Varieties include but are
not limited to Indonesian black rice and Thai jasmine
black rice. Black rice is high in nutritional value and
contains 18 amino acids, iron, zinc, copper, carotene and
several important vitamins. The grain has a similar
amount of fibre to brown rice. Unlike most types of rice,
black rice does not cook well in a rice cooker. Also be
aware that although the colour of cooked black rice is
pretty, it may stain your ceramic or enamel cookware.
Washing and preparing the rice for cooking
Step 1
Measure out two cups of water for every one cup of rice.
Remember that the rice will double in volume once
cooked.
Step 2
Rinse the rice two or three times. Place in a bowl and run
it under cold water. Rub the rice through your hands. Let it
sit a while, then strain. Repeat this process two or three
times. Doing this will remove most surface starches.
Step 3
Cover the rice in water one more time. Let it sit in the
water overnight. Doing this will ensure that your rice does
not clump.
If you don't have the time, you can cook the rice after you
have completed step 2. –Pg 19
B
T S A
BLACK Rice ?! - Continued
Bubbling Cauldron
Boiling the rice(finally!)
Step 1
Pour your measured out cups of water into a large pot.
Add the rice to the water. Do not turn the stove top on
until both the water and the rice are in the pot.
*If desired, you can cook it in stock (chicken, beef,
vegetable etc.) rather than water. The stock will give the
rice a saltier taste. Most recipes state that you should
have 1 cup of stock for every 1/2 cup of black rice.*
Step 2
Bring the water to a boil. Reduce the heat, cover the pot
and leave to simmer for 20 to 35 minutes, or until all the
water is absorbed.
Step 3
Turn off the heat and leave the pot to sit for 15 minutes.
Do not stir.
Step 4
Fluff the rice with a fork to separate the grains and serve
with a dish of your choice. –Pg 20
T S A
BLACK Rice ?! - Continued
Bubbling Cauldron
Different ways of cooking and serving black rice
- Use in cold salads. Black rice is a healthy substitute for
noodles and white rice. If you are planning on making a
cold pasta or Asian-fusion salad for a BBQ, party or
sporting event, why don’t you try replacing the pasta with
black rice? (Always make sure that the rice is fully cooked
before adding other ingredients.)
- Add it to stuffing - it is also an easy and delicious way to
make stuffing. Cook the rice fully and then combine it with
bread crumbs, herbs, spices and celery like you would
when making normal stuffing. Place the stuffing in your
turkey or chicken and then bake it as you would usually.
Your guests at Thanksgiving and Christmas will be
begging for more.
- Eat it as a side dish with your favourite meat, fish or
poultry dish. You can also add different herbs and spices
to give black rice some exciting flavours. Don’t be afraid
to play around and create some different palate-
pleasing combinations.
- Make black rice into a dessert. Next time you think about
making rice pudding, use black rice! Combine the rice
with cream, sugar, and cinnamon for a delicious after
dinner treat. Try adding different fruits too!
Source and image - http://wikihow.com and
www.gatheratthetable.com .
T S A
Victoria Frances
Dark Icons
ictoria Frances was born in Valencia, Spain, on October 25
1982. She attended the Polytechnic University of Valencia,
where she studied Fine Arts at the Facultad de Bellas Artes de
San Carlos. She started out as an illustrator designing book
covers and other pieces. Her illustrations and sketches resemble
the surreal world of gothic romanticism. Influenced by pre-
Raphaelite paintings as well as the works of Luis Royo and
Gerald Brom, Victoria specifically chose characters that
represented a symbolic, magical and ancient world. All the
sufferings of the outcasts of this world are portrayed in dark
castles and mansions complete with flickering lights, with the
well-defined influence of Goethe, Edgar Allan Poe, Baudelaire
and even Bram Stoker.
V
Favole, her first illustrated book, is
the remembrance of three cities,
Verona, Venice and Genoa. Soon
after, Favole 2 and 3 followed,
gaining her even more success.
Her most recent work includes:
El Corazon de Arlene (Arlene's
Heart) in 2008 - a metaphor for
hope in the shape of a fable.
Lyrically and suggestively painted
it's a visual poem of fascinating
sensuous gothic beauty.
In 2009, her first volume of Misty Circus was presented
at the Salon Del Comic de Barcelona; a collection of
books filled with magic about the indulgent world of
travelling circuses.
At the end of that same year Dark Sanctuary was also
published. –Pg 22
T S A
Victoria Frances - Continued
Dark Icons
Witches Night is the title of the second volume of Misty Circus
and was published in 2010. The continuation of a plot that will
take you to a Pagan witches' Sabbath, beyond the medieval night
of Samhain.
In 2011, came the publication of Internal Favole, a compilation of
the three volumes.
The Lament of the Ocean is Victoria's most recent work- an
illustrated story told through the obscure songs of mermaids.
As the 'greats' sum up her vision near perfectly:
“It is a strange world, a sad world, a world full of miseries, and
woes, and troubles... Bleeding hearts, and dry bones of the
churchyard and tears that burn as they fall- all dance together to
the music that he makes with that smileless mouth of his. Ah, we
men and women are like ropes drawn tight with strain that pull
us different ways. Then tears come, and like the rain on the
ropes, they brace us up, until perhaps the strain becomes too
great and we break. But king Laugh, he comes like the sunshine,
and he eases off the strain again, and we bear to go on with our
labour, what it may be.”
-Bram Stoker, Dracula
“ Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering,
fearing, doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to
dream before.”
-Edgar Allan Poe
“ An artist is an artist only because of his exquisite sense of
beauty, a sense which shows him intoxicating pleasures, but
which at the same time implies and contains an equally exquisite
sense of all deformities and all disproportion.”
-Charles Baudelaire
T S A
Life in the womb of Amy Lee
New Essence to
Evanescence
he Gothic rock icon Amy Lee(real name
“Amy Lynn Hartzlerr”) has been a
lasting member of the band Evanescence. Its
our greatest pleasure to kick our first issue
off by writing a small article on both her and
the band.
T
Amy Lynn Hartzler
She has taken the world by storm since the appearance of
their first album “Fallen” and the instant hit song Bring me to
life. This singer and songwriter, along with the band
Evanescence has been nominated for several awards. They
had the good fortune of also winning several of those awards,
such as two ECHO awards, two Grammy awards, one World
Wide Music award, two Teen Choice awards and one Revolver
Golden Gods award.
Besides for writing and singing she also enjoys designing her
own fashionable clothing such as been seen in the Going
Under music video.
Although she has nothing planned music wise for this year thus
far, we’re all pretty sure when she does start planning she will
deliver another work of art. –Pg 25
Celebrities
T S A
Life in the womb of Amy Lee
New Essence to Evanescence -Continued
As a great start to this year she has announced that
she and hubby Josh Hartzler are expecting their first
child, so that extended break she was talking about
might just be what she needs. We’re eager to find out if
the baby will be a boy or a girl...
From all of us at SAGS, congratulations to Amy and
Josh with the baby on the way ,may it be a prosperous
year filled with joy and love.
-MGR
Celebrities
FEEDS
@amyleeEV:
19 Jan
“OK I can’t
keep it a
secret
anymore-I’ve
been working
on a very
special project
for 2014- A
BABY! Josh
and I are
expecting!
I’m so happy!”
T S A
The Dark Veil of Depression
Support
adness is when you have had your heart broken or you feel a
sense of great loss. You might even cry, punch it out or talk to
someone who understands. Depression is something entirely different.
It is a clinical mental disorder in which the sufferer has a complete
imbalance of happy juice in the brain. For most depressed and bipolar
people it is something that always lurks in the shadows of their minds,
ready to pounce periodically. It’s been likened to having a heavy dark
veil pulled over your life and everything you love and care for and about–
the veil feeling utterly out of reach, leaving you unable to lift it and pull
it off again. This in turn leads you to feel even more emptiness, despair
and isolation. It’s a vicious emotional cycle.
You will need your friends more at a time like this, especially when
people are often tempted to isolate themselves from the outside world
during a depressive episode. What you probably need to remind yourself
of most during this period is that it isn't something you can control or
have caused, and it isn't your fault you have it. Bear that in mind and
the weight on your shoulders should already become somewhat lighter.
I myself had an unusual experience that triggered a bit of an epiphany.
During a heavy migraine, I felt myself slip into a darker and darker
mental space, the feeling still looming as I write this article. I strongly
considered taking more than just my migraine cocktail and to perhaps
also raid the medicine box for pills, then sitting in the shower and just
leaving the world and this life behind. I would probably have been dead
now if my brother hadn’t found me lying on the floor reading an
assortment of pill packets and inserts.
The very next day at work, I hyperventilated, but luckily my colleagues
were quick in assisting me. I opened up to them for the first time ever,
expecting them to say things like “you'll be fine” and ‘just pull yourself
together man”, or “get over it and get back to work”, which are often
the responses by people who simply don’t understand depression and
other mental illnesses. To my surprise they ended up sending me home,
arranging help for me and giving me contact details of people I could
talk to about this. Not that I needed validation, but the mere fact that
they knew and also understood that depression is an actual medical
disorder, and didn’t just brusquely dismiss my experience as I’d
expected them to, made me realise that the world might actually be
more educated on this topic than I had originally assumed.
S
T S A
The Dark Veil of Depression
Support
Bipolar disorder and depression are two of the world's most common mental
diseases. You can have depression through genetics, but it’s mostly caused
by past traumatic experiences and situational stress. This makes me
appreciate the fact that it is treatable. One could actually live a very healthy
and fulfilling life if it is correctly diagnosed and treated by medication and
also counselling in some cases. It’s vital to start treatment before you come
to a phase in your life where suicide becomes an option or great
consideration.
There are ways to make a preliminary diagnosis on suffering from depression
yourself.
Here are a few warning signs and symptoms:
Anxiety and feelings of panic
This can be a neurological issue all on its own, but generally when a person
feels random bursts of unexplained anxiety it is a symptom of depression.
Feelings of helplessness and lacking control
These are especially applicable to those who are still undiagnosed.
Blank stares
Often the individual just gazes blankly into space, seemingly lost in their
thoughts. A case of “the lights are on, but nobody’s home”. These deep
thoughts can be so regular that they may even occur in mid-conversation.
This symptom usually applies to the more severely depressed person.
Inability to concentrate and emotional outbursts
Disturbing flare up’s of emotions that seem unusual or inappropriate for
certain situations. These can both be signs of depression or symptoms of
bipolar disorder, especially if the outbursts involve anger or frustration.
Crying
Please note that not all depressed people cry- in fact they seldom do. In most
cases random sobbing sessions indicates the severity of the disorder, this
applies especially when the feeling of helplessness kicks in. Crying is also a
good sign. The depressed person would usually only cry if they are fighting
the illness.
We will be looking at bipolar disorder more closely in our next issue, as well
as the effects suicide has on the loved ones left behind afterwards.
If you would like to share your experience with a mental disorder, please do
send us an email at [email protected] - You may just get more help
than you expected and there is also the option of connecting with people in
similar situations and circumstances. Remember that you are NOT alone!
T S A
L I f e ’s T h o r n s
Support
t some point in our life we all have been discriminated against
by
various means which all led to different endings.
A few examples of discrimination we’re dealing with would be verbal
and physical along with religious remarks… All which lead to
unwanted happenings.
We’re called Satanists, evil, devil worshippers, suicidal and another
misunderstood word "emo“ Why? Because of how we choose to dress?
The make up? Our way of life? Thus leading to us being tagged as
things most of us never even remotely thought of doing.
Most of us are pacifists and peaceful by nature but alas the saying
goes "if ye want peace, better ye prepare for war" and this is true.
Discrimination will never stop, not even when every human being is
the same. Its in human nature to act this way and there are things we
can do to lesson it although it will depend alas it will depend on the
situation of the person. For those who are fortunate to have fellow
goth friends. Pack travel is used by goths as a way of self defence for
safety is in numbers...
The bare honest truth is that once you choose to express yourself in
"our style", prepare yourself for the harsh worlds cruelty - it is how it
is unfortunately and its not likely to change.
Forms of discrimination and abuse can't be controlled and sadly it will
happen when we enter public areas and places. It is unfair and it is
uncalled for but take a look people!, look at life and how things are?
We can't wait it out or hide away in our homes, we have to face the
words "what does not kill you, makes you stronger". This quote serves
true but yet it can sometimes be difficult to maintain composure.
The times when we feel like drowning from this cruel world’s actions,
we must take into consideration that the night is darkest before
dawn...it is when we are at our lowest that true courage is born.. To
be goth is to grow a thick skin... My darklings, when in doubt, talk to
someone not just for help, but to lower your emotional build ups...
In today's life we have many "issues" to deal with - for some its
school, further studying or bullied, and for others its discrimination,
problems in the workplace and acceptance in society amongst many
other thorns in life...
Should you feel the need to discuss something feel free to mail us at
-tBR
A Discrimination
T S A
Being Who You Are By The Don
Support
ust like most of you
fellow goths out there, I
was raised in a "normal"
family, one that didn't
understand or even know
the word "goth". I myself
at an early age in my life
never knew that.. As
people we are all different
and unique, some of us
more so than others. I
was such a person,
concerning my interests,
hobbies and my way
J
For me, the way I presented myself in the beginning was not only
frowned upon, but it was looked down upon and criticism was
always in the surrounding areas. When it came to work and the
working environment where you had to look and be respectable,
especially when your profession is in the line of quality control, I
had to choose, give up who I am, or improvise on the situation.
That led to the importing of my Corporate goth image, style and
lifestyle. at first it was a big change, but one that in a short time
I grew fond of. We have all faced and still face bad
reception amongst many other actions, remarks
and condescending criticism, but this is not what I'll be
discussing in this article. In the last few years, I have been
working on finding what my role in life is, the reason I'm on earth
and the way that I am. –Pg 30
of thinking and expression...
My music was unique among my populace, my taste in art,
literature, films and my way of expression even more so it was
a truly unique view which most didn't care to understand.
“living a lie is
not living at all”
T S A
Most of my answers came from a deeply religious
experience. Psychology is a passion of mine. I mainly
dug into it as a self help basis, but I have been most
fortunate to help several others that had been battling
with problems and situations. I can add that most of
them can be described as goth or "outsiders" and in
time this proved to me that I am where I need to be
and that I'm on the right path. While trying to find my
"destiny", I have walked quite a few paths with one
foot always treading the dark Gothic road, with the
other on "normal" ground... I faced many challenges
but in the end it proved to me that I am who and what
I am... I should be proud that I am aware of this
knowledge and I can use it to help others.
Here where I am today I have a fairly great
confirmation of what my purpose in life is. For me to
partake in my purpose I had to accept my role in life. I
had to accept who I am and what I am... without being
ashamed of it, for there is nothing to be ashamed of
when you are true to yourself - living a lie is not living
at all. This ladies and gentleman is a brief story of me
and how I know what you are going through. I am what
I am, and what I am is all I need.
-The Don
Being Who You Are -Continued
Support
“I am what I am, and what I am is
all I need.”
T S A
Shadows of the mind and soul
Poetry
eel free to mail us your poetry at [email protected]
for possible publications in future issues!
The Eternal Moon By A Butcher
Steal the life and make it your own
From darkest blood and palest bone
Drink the essence that you might
Live to see another night
Again, to hear the painted stars
Sing their starry tales from afar
And the chanting forest, you’ll never tire
Of listening to that whispering choir
But again to see your Goddess arise
Her silver skirts light up the skies
There She stands, the Wicked Moon,
Her bloated body a bloody maroon!
All hail, the glorious Queen of the Night
Who bathes the land in Her life-giving light!
Her terrible beauty for which you so long,
The only reason you choose to go on.
Her rule is short-lived as night quickly fades,
When pagan daylight sacrilegiously invades.
And you, with the darkness, will disappear,
As the end of her savage reign draws near.
As you lie, like the dead, in your gravelike bed,
She sings to you still, inside your head,
You dream of the sacrifice you’ll procure;
Sweet and dark, blood spilt for Her.
As evening creeps, the time is soon,
She waits, your Queen, the Eternal Moon.
F
T S A
Shadows of the mind and soul
Continued
Poetry
DARKNESS By J de Beer
Daily, my soul is disturbed by darkness;
The rain of heaviness my only hope.
Yearning for peace, trying to cope,
Submitting, trying rather to embrace the
blackness.
In the deepest corner of the forest of my soul;
It is the birth of the hope of light.
Suddenly clinging to the hope of a goal.
There is the dim flicker of a lone dark candle in
sight.
The fears of all the midnights, only darkness;
My soul once again yearns to be consumed by
blackness.
...Then springs forth the fountain of red...Of
life...Of blood.
My heart and mind being run over like a flood.
Now the light forces back the darkness,
My soul now down to the flicker of that dim light.
One thought returns with more life than death:
Light always drives out the darkness.
A new day always starts in the blackness of
darkness.
Now I embrace darkness...
Knowing that the dim flicker of the candle will
always...
...replace my old friend, the darkness.
T S A
Shadow Prowler by Alexey Pehov
Reviews
Like a hellhound on a scent... …
his remarkable series of novels from
Russian author Alexey Pehov consists
of 3 books, namely Chronicles of Siala;
Shadow Prowler, Shadow Chaser and
Shadow Blizzard.
T
“Night is the best time for my kind.”
– Shadow Harold
The first of the trilogy, Shadow Prowler, plays off in a city
called Avendoom.
The main character is Harold(better known as Shadow
Harold), who is a thief by profession. He discovers that he
is marked and destined for greater happenings in life.
Armed with a crossbow, miscellaneous alchemical
weapons and magic, he stumbles onto a path he knows
little of.
A dark and evil force (the Nameless One) has gathered his
army consisting of giants, ogres, demons and many more
to fall under his command. In the meantime, Harold and
his feeble army consisting of goblins, dark elves and the
king’s selected garrison shows courage and
determination, ready to overthrow the Nameless One’s
forces.
From arch mages to the King’s goblin jester, Alexey gives
a fantastic start to the Chronicles of Siala with great
humour, gut splitting gore and violence.
The storyline is gripping and for the fantasy freaks it’s
VERY hard to put these books down. Each and every
chapter ends in a way that compels you to turn to the
next page.
-Jean Marks
T S A
The Mortal Instruments
City of Bones (2013)
Reviews
Director: Harald Zwart
Starring: Jamie Campbell Bower, Jemima West, Kevin Zegers,
Lily Collins, Robert Sheehan, Lena Headey, Jonathan Rhys
Meyers
Budget: $60 million. Box office: $90,565,421
Genre: Fantasy
teenage girl is thrust into a supernatural world featuring a
handsome, sullen young man who competes with her love-
struck best friend for her affections.
No, I'm not talking about Twilight. This 2-hour long production
based on the first book in Cassandra Clare's series of six teen
fantasy novels takes us into a dark world of angels and demons,
vampires and werewolves, and a secret order that protects the
mortal world from these evil entities. Not a bad formula for a
film, if it weren't for the raging hormones and bad acting.
There's nothing wrong with romance, but in this case the
struggle against evil takes a back seat to the angst-ridden love
triangle. The story feels rushed, and the tone inconsistent.
Though the special effects and settings are breathtaking, the
rest is fairly predictable and painfully clichéd. Recommended for
under 16-year-olds, unless the Twilight type films are to your
liking.
- Angela Butcher
A
T S A
Morbid Menageries
Pets
ets: almost everyone has one at least once in their lifetime.
For some they are interesting specimens to study and admire; for
others they are close companions. We, who enjoy the darker
things in life, are no different. Do our out-of-the-ordinary lifestyles
call for out-of-the-ordinary pets? Let's have a look at some of the
eerier creatures out there to love and look after(and we are not
referring to us).
Snakes
For most folks, snakes are dreadful, dangerous things... but there
are some who appreciate their silent grace and beautifully painted
scales. Boas, pythons, and some smaller varieties are most
common as pets. They are low-maintenance and don't require a
lot of space; however, your sublime serpent is to be enjoyed with
the eyes more than with the hands. People looking for affection
and acknowledgment from a pet should consider another option.
-Pg 36
P
T S A
Morbid Menageries -Continued
Pets
Spiders
These eight-legged predators haunt old and abandoned
places... as well as the abodes of those who care for them as
pets! In just about any pet shop one will find tarantulas of all
shapes, sizes, and colours for sale. Expensive and exotic,
their beauty and longevity are ample rewards for spider-
lovers. Like snakes, minimal space is required, as well as
minimal attention - frequent handling is discouraged.
Rats
Rattus Norvegicus (or brown rat) is native to Norway, and is
now the common domesticated breed for pet rats. Rats are
social animals and are happiest when in a group of two or
more. Highly intelligent and attention-loving, your little
plague-bearers are able to learn their names as well as simple
tricks. They are inexpensive to care for but need a lot of
attention as well as daily free-range run and play time. They
love investigating their surroundings, often in the form of a
bite, so be prepared and don’t be alarmed when this happens!
Wolves/Wolf-dogs
Who wouldn't want a magnificent tamed wolf as a pet?
Unfortunately pure wolves are extremely rare as pets, but in
the past have been successfully bred with dog breeds such as
Huskies and German Shepherds to create hybrids. These
hybrids retain much of their wild ancestors’ characteristics,
both in physical appearance as well as in their behaviour, and
are extremely difficult to train. If not socialized properly at a
young age, their wolf instincts can cause them to become
aggressive and dangerous. Only the most dedicated handlers
with an extensive knowledge of animal behaviour are able to
successfully raise their wolf-dogs to be intelligent, loyal and
beautiful pets. –Pg 37
T S A
Morbid Menageries -Continued
Pets
Crows/Ravens
These carrion birds are handsome and symbolic, and make
intriguing pets. Like parrots, they can be taught to speak and
imitate sounds; unlike parrots, however, they need substantial
space(even the largest macaw cage lacks the necessary space for
a raven or crow). A human skull for a perch is also compulsory.
Owls and Bats
Owls are mysterious and elusive in the wild; silent as ghosts in
flight. If you want one for yourself, you may as well forget it.
Special permits are needed to be able to keep an owl- even owl
sanctuaries need these to operate- and indigenous species are
illegal to buy or sell as pets. Owls are expensive to feed and
cannot be kept in a cage. Unfortunate as it is, owls as pets work
best in the movies.
The same goes for keeping bats as pets. Again, it is illegal in
South Africa to keep local species in captivity, because of the
rabies threat. It is however possible to build or purchase bat nest
boxes to place in trees outside your home for them to freely
inhabit.
Cats and Dogs
Lastly, for those who would prefer something more familiar over
some exotic creepy-crawly, cats and dogs will always be the ideal
choice. What about a formidable pure black German Shepherd as
your personal bodyguard? Or a coal-coloured Persian cat to
lounge about and look pretty all day? Any breed of cat or dog has
the potential to become your very own hellhound/hellcat; at the
end of the day, it's up to you to decide what breed would suit you
as individual best.
-Angela Butcher
T S A
Shards of Shadow
The Shadow
T S A
~SURVIVING THE CORPORATE WORLD~ Corporate goth survival strategies Courtesy of the corporategoth.net • Always take advantage of stereotypes that work in your favour and play along. • Know , and never cross, the boundaries of tolerance in appearance for your specific profession. • Check how others dress in the company before interviewing. • Wean them in-establish mutual respect and then slowly show your true colors (or in this case, lack of colors!). • Maintain a professional stance. Dress and act appropriately for meetings. Sometimes you need to make sacrifices to stay ahead. • To help make sure you are taken seriously, try to make your first contact via e-mail or phone. • Dress in a manner that is comfortable for your coworkers (within reason). Compromise enough to establish a good working relationship with your coworkers. • Speak to your HR representative and learn your rights! Technically I can dress in drag (as long as it is something a woman could wear to work), and legally they can't say anything to me. Of course that does not mean they won't figure out another reason to fire me! So know your rights and also the limitations to those rights.
~ANCIENT TATTOO RECIPE~ Tattooing recipe from 6 A.D. Rome Courtesy of Aetius, Roman physician •1 Lb. Egyptian pine wood bark •2 Ounces corroded bronze, ground with vinegar • 2 ounces of gall (insect egg deposits) •1 ounce vitriol (iron sulphate) Mix well and sift. Soak powder in 2 parts water and 1 park leek juice. Wash skin to be tattooed with leek juice. Prick design with needles until blood is drawn. Rub in the ink.
YOU MIGHT BE GOTH HICK IF… •Your casket is on cinder blocks in your driveway. •You name your child after your dog, and they're both named "Enigma". •You think Dolly Parton should be the lead singer for Switchblade Symphony. •Your coffin is lined with a velvet Confederate flag. •You smoke cloves in a corn cob pipe. •You dye your sheep black. •Your bull's nose is pierced six times. •Even your teeth are black. •Your rooster crows at moonrise. •You have spent your life perfecting black corn. •Your coffin has side- mounted spitoon. •Your granny crochets your fishnets. •Your favorite comic is Johnny the Homicidal Tractor. •You have an Elvira pinup in your outhouse. •You get up at 4 A.M. Every morning to collect eggs from the raven coop. •You and your pit bull share the spiked collar. (Taken from the Goth bible.)
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South African Gothic Society
T S A
SAGS Contact Details
Details Contact Person Address
Editors Marlise Magna Christopher Knight [email protected]
Information
SAGS [email protected]
Support tBR [email protected]
Submit Poems Marlise Magna [email protected]
Request reviews Angela Butcher [email protected]
Submit complaints SAGS [email protected]
Submit Suggestions
SAGS [email protected]
Graphic Design Jean Marks [email protected]
Photography Sven Slabbert [email protected]
Add to mailing list
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Classifieds
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/pages/Eye-VooDoo-
Contact-
Lenses/222880087876497
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Tel: 011 658 1736 [email protected]
www.jadedink.co.za
Shop 38 The Buzz Shopping Centre, Cnr Nerine and Witkoppen Road,
Fourways
aded Ink, situated in Fourways Johannesburg
is the OFFICIAL South African Gothic Society’s Tattoo and
Piercing parlour (With surprise give aways at surprise times!)
Something to look forward to is articles about different tattoo
styles and artists MONTHLY as well as FAQ section, so send in
those requests!
J