Nighttime Rituals & Gathering Windfalls
Words and Photo Diary: Eerie Rose
It’s January, and the bright winter sun is streaming in orange-toned through my window, deceivingly warm in hue but bitingly cold in touch. The frost on the decking outside is so icy it makes the wood feel hard and brittle underfoot, as if it could snap with any step. I like this time of year. I know lots of people find these early months far too dark and miserable to make plans or do much more than hibernate, which I truly respect (it is definitely a time for being cosy) but I personally find the moons in January to be more enticing, the sun brighter when it does come, and the space before the eventual spring to be a perfect pausing time, while the earth is still mostly bare, to plant seeds.
I’ve been running 5.18 now for almost eight years, which I find hard to comprehend that it has been that long. It feels like only yesterday I was turning up to my university library with a usb stick and a dream, folding, trimming and stapling each issue entirely by hand. Over the last few years, I’ve been through so much with finishing my degree, going through covid lockdowns, being in and out of various jobs, moving houses many times, and the magazine has always continued albeit sometimes quite irregularly. The thing I’ve learnt though - is how important 5.18 is to me, and the people that interact with it. I always try and restart with the best intentions, and struggle to maintain a regular content schedule, especially without funding - but, the best things do sometimes take time to form.
Starting as of now, 5.18 will continue to be not-for-profit, but I will aim to improve it’s ability to pay creatives and support more artists by applying for funding, so that we can produce more art with more people, and pay them fairly for their time. I have tried to apply in the past, but have finally accepted I need help to organise all of the information needed for a strong application. Expect more print issues (one is heading to print this month) and more events and live shows supporting DIY and grassroots music and venues. There will be a regular content schedule, meaning the webzine will be more up to date, and hopefully many more submissions platforming work from around the world.
Thank you so much for reading, and for being a part of 5.18’s journey so far. If you’d like to suggest any changes you’d like to see in the coming year, please email us on info518magazine@gmail.com or DM us on instagram @5.18mag. Please also get in touch with any submissions - I would truly love to hear from you.
Best wishes for the new year!
Eerie x
