I hope you are all making the most of this lovely mild and dry autumn. Its the time to get into the favourite German pastimes, hiking, biking outdoor exploring in this months’s theme - forests. As you reflect back on the month and try not to get too gloomy about the beginning of the darker months have you taken some time to admire our surrounding forests. A friend once told me that if she is ever having a tough time, a walk in the forest always brings her back to her centre. And I have taken that onboard to my own self care.

Welcome back readers, As we welcome the beginning of a new season, we can’t help but use this month’s theme to discuss one of Berlin’s favourite topics, weather. The city and its dwellers seem to have a love/hate relationship with its extreme conditions and no-one is exempt from a telling a tale of a moment when Berlin’s weather got the better of us. Which I think is humbling really. A city of 4.something million people, we can all share in this connection of funny, unforgettable or just downright miserable stories that bind us together as Berliners. So this month, why don’t you find a moment to use weather as a conversation starter. Ask someone, a friend, loved one or even a stranger you would like to start up a conversation with about one of their Berlin weather memories, let’s continue to build our connections to the city together.

Welcome back readers. As summer is drawing to a close, aren’t we all feeling retrospective once again? I cannot speak for everyone, but I have noticed a few more clouds on the horizon during this summer than the previous one. For many, this year has been a difficult one and even during the brightest sunny days, the community found themselves discussing some rather tough topics. This left us feeling rather pessimistic and at times, helpless in the broader scheme of what lies ahead. Often, I felt the weight of the world on my shoulders. I’ve slept with my jaw clenched with worry, or not sleeping at all, with the burdens that 2024 have put upon us. But fear not, dear readers, the descent is only for us to come back up stronger. This is how I have connected to month’s theme, magic. 

Naa? Was geht? Let’s dive into how language shapes us in this month’s edition of Zine Verschenken. Did you know that over half of the world’s population is bilingual? Learning a new language isn’t just about vocabulary; it’s like adopting a new personality. While that might not be entirely true, language certainly shifts your perspective. It’s a chance to explore a different culture, complete with its own quirks and expressions.

Welcome readers, to our special annual edition of Zine Verschenken in collaboration with 48 Stunden Neukölln. If you are new here, we are Zine Verschenken, a Berlin-based, non-profit, FLINTA zine collective. Our story started some 22 issues ago. We the creatives believed that giving back to our community was something of value, something to treasure and something that makes Berlin feel alive. So here we are, for you, for us and for Berlin. A small piece of this puzzle of a city, where you can still appreciate some of the quirks reminiscent of the 80’s punk, political city that it once was. Which brings us to this year’s theme, Urban Silence.

Dreaming is the unrestricted access of thoughts. Whether day or night, our minds are constantly fluttering. As humans, we often forget we are primal creatures (yes, dogs can dream too). A lot of human civilisation today is still relatively new. Ways of being, thinking and acting are always changing as we evolve, adapt and grow. Who is to say what is right or wrong? We have only learned from the people before us – our family, friends, colleagues and strangers from our collective encounters of life. Dreaming is that moment to decompress this noise, and there are different ways of dreaming.

Welcome to our latest edition, where we explore the diverse world of therapy. In today’s society, mental health awareness is increasingly important, and the concept of therapy goes beyond its traditional boundaries. It includes a range of approaches aimed at healing, personal growth, and self-discovery. Therapy is not only about addressing mental illness; it’s also about nurturing our emotional well-being, exploring our innermost thoughts, and developing resilience in the face of life’s challenges. From cognitive behavioral therapy to art therapy, from mindfulness practices to somatic experiencing, there are many paths to healing, each offering unique benefits and insights. Whether you’re considering therapy for the first time, going through your own healing process, or simply curious about the field, we invite you to join us on this exploration. Let’s celebrate the courage it takes to seek support, the resilience it takes to confront our inner demons, and the profound transformations that can arise from the therapeutic journey.

In a busy city like Berlin, we are often overlapping each other without awareness. Our trains are infrequent enough that we need to squish in against others rather than wait for the next one. The supermarket queues are so long they block the aisles for those still shopping. And rarely do I find myself completely alone anywhere. This was not the case in Berlin 10 years ago. I never craved for that extra inch to put an invisible layer between me and the next person on my travel to work, never silently begged the staff stacking tomatoes to open the second cash register and I did not feel observed in every moment of my day. Our theme this month is a room of one’s own. And to me this means space.