Grimoire Silvanus is a not just a zine. Grimoire Silvanus is an education in our forgotten roots; a manifesto for reconnecting with nature. Each issue is signed by Terra Silvanus, the mysterious being that puts this creation together: a touch I found charming, as well as the calligraphy etching out my name and address on the envelope.
The first item in the contents page is a playlist, which I searched for immediately and found on Spotify, playing it through my headphones to accompany my reading. You can find it here. The musical element makes the reading of this zine a truly multi-sensory experience, immersing the reader in the landscapes captured in the skilful photography throughout. There’s something so nostalgic about it, planting you back with your ancestors in a time you never lived through, yet somehow remember.
The art and information packed into the zine strike a perfect balance of entertaining and educational – an interview with the founder of The Rewild Project, a rainbow of mushrooms and how to identify and use them, instructions for making a bow (with diagrams). It reads like a manifesto for working with and taking care of the earth, knowing we shall return to it.
Something about it subtly intoxicates you with optimism – or at least dulls and sedates the natural level of pessimism that mainstream media often fosters within us. Phrases like “You don’t need to be wealthy to be healthy” and “Gardening is radical” inspire a recollection of the self-sufficiency and connection with the land that we all contain. This zine is truly a delightful addition to any curious reader interested in nature, heritage and Medieval aesthetics. You can find your own copy, as well as many other issues, here.