Digital Issue: Annual BODY

Digital download of the complete issue:

BODY, June / July 2023, Vol 8, No 3, 100+ pages

Message from the guest editor: "For far too long, society has placed undue emphasis on a narrow and unrealistic portrayal of women's bodies, perpetuating the idea that two breasts define femininity and womanhood. ⁠This limited perspective not only fails to recognize the diverse experiences of those affected by breast cancer but also reinforces harmful stereotypes that exclude and marginalize individuals who do not fit this mold.

It is time to redefine normalcy and embrace the full spectrum of chest types with compassion and acceptance. Every person's journey with breast cancer is unique, and their experiences should not be overshadowed by society's narrow standards. We must challenge the prevailing narrative and elevate the voices and stories of individuals who have undergone mastectomies, lumpectomies, or other life-saving surgeries to combat their diagnosis. Courage and resilience in the face of adversity deserve to be celebrated, not hidden away, or stigmatized."⁠ ~ Dana Donofree, Founder of AnaOno

Enter, the 7th annual Wildfire Magazine BODY issue. In collaboration with Dana as our returning guest editor, we strive within this issue to showcase as many different breast & chest expressions within a younger experience of breast cancer as possible. “Changing Landscape” was our guiding theme for this year’s issue. When we put the call out for submissions, we were blown away by the diverse responses. Within this issue, you’ll read breathtaking essays and poetry as well as see original pieces of artwork and gorgeous photography that work to express and make sense of a complicated relationship with the body. Each person’s experience is different, and yet within each story, painting, or photograph, you’ll see glimpses of your story. These are the echos of the universal question: will I ever feel at home in this body?

Contents:

Cover Star: Ginny Shudlick

Pieces of Me a poem by Silvana Langley | Pressure, Pause by Kellie Chouinard | Old Girl by Whit Fuston | In the Middle artwork by Emily Campbell | Never Assume by Lisa Jones Christensen | Bald a poem by Katherine Perry | Margins by Lauren Trestler | Letter to My Lump by Kathleen Moss | Garden Grows artwork by Ginny Shudlick | My Body the Paper Doll by Stephanie Millett | Infertile Crescent a poem by Beth L. Gainer | Fast Will Make Me Furious by Ann Camden | What is Healthy? by Rachel Marx | Chest Inclusive a photospread by AnaOno photography by Nell Hoving | Learning to Sit with Myself by Becca Keleher | Deception of the Body a poem by Kiana Wooten | Learning from Regrets by Tasha Carlson | Self-Portrait artwork by Lorelei Colbert | Live Wish Tree a poem by Sophie Dormal | Wholeness by Gabrielle Peeters | My Body is a Changing Landscape by Anna Wassman-Cox | Love Letter artwork by Irene van Zeeland | Intuition by Gina Lamanna | Ode to My Body: My Frenemy by Rachel Becker | My Body Doesn’t Care What I Want by Kate Bodart | Breathe Deeply and Hold a poem by Lucy White-Lehman

PLUS: Guest Editor’s Note by Dana Donofree | Tell Your Story Writing Prompt by April Johnson Stearns