Issue VII of Half Mystic Journal is a constellation of contemporary art, lyrics, poetry, and prose celebrating music in all its forms. This issue showcases the theme of aubade: the dawn-dizzy dance—the first chords of warmth—the sun forgiving everything it touches. The aubade issue is a resurrection out of dusk, a lovesong to the living.

Issue VII features the voices of Julia Kolchinsky Dasbach, Paola Bennet, Em Bartholet, Maureen Evans, Mia and Jonah, Dina Hardy, Courtney Felle, Tyler Summers, Quinn Lui, Elizabeth Spencer Spragins, Hana Widerman, Meriwether Clarke, Topaz Winters, Cate McGowan, S.K. Grout, Mina Yu, Daniel Gallie, Rex Ybanez, Elizabeth Ruth Deyro, Sandra Chen, and Lynn Werner.

When the aubade issue speaks of hope, it does so with every knowledge of death as an old friend. When it speaks of hope it means baptism, reawakening, beginning. It means something sober yet mellifluous still, with a steady faith in how sunrise inevitably proves despair wrong. Issue VII knows it is impossible to sing and be afraid at the same time—and it knows too that the devil cannot stand mockery.

(All orders over $60 come with free worldwide shipping. Use the code FREESHIP at checkout!)

Reader photos