PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Reign Congrejo
CONTRIBUTORS
Cara Paine
Coco St. George
Compe Lockwood
Gin Blade
Jamee Sandalwood
Jay Anson
Némesis
Stevie Basevi
LAYOUT
Viktor Serrao
COVER PHOTO
Jamee Sandalwood
COVER MODEL S
Dresden Couerblanc
Zelly Jackson-Sinclair
Coco St. George
When you know that the word ‘April’ comes from the Latin 'aprire', then this time of the year acquires a whole new meaning. ‘Aprire’ means “to open”; this definition helps us understand why the ancient Romans used this name for the second month of their calendar year:: the time when flowers start to open after the cold and dark months of winter. The Greeks did something similar when they called spring 'anoixi', a word related to the verb “to open.”
Romans called the moments when the Sun crosses the Earth’s celestial equator “equinox”, or “equal night”, to mark the two times of the year when daytime and nighttime are equal. In the northern hemisphere, the vernal equinox falls around March 21st and marks the beginning of spring. From that moment on, days begin to grow longer and warmer.
This is a purely natural phenomenon, but nothing says people can’t help make the promise of renewal come true. The Aztec civilization, for instance, celebrated numerous ceremonies honoring their gods and goddesses that were aimed at gaining their favor and goodwill, asking them for good germination, favorable rains, and protection for the young crops. Among their deities, Xochiquetzal was celebrated as the goddess of fertility with flower offerings, dances, and garlands. For the Aztecs, flowers represented beauty, poetry, and especially life.
In English, ‘spring’ originates in the Old English 'springan', a term that describes the sprouting of plants; around the 14th century, people started talking about the “springing time,” displacing the traditional word ‘Lent’, whose meaning was narrowed down to its religious use by the Church. ‘Lent’, by the way, comes from the Old English 'lencten' and makes reference to the fact that days start to lengthen in spring, relative to the shorter days we have in winter.
We can’t exaggerate the importance these notions had for early agricultural societies who had only recently discovered that agriculture was based on nature’s cycles. After the cold and food scarcity of winter, the promise of plants and flowers growing again meant the difference between hunger and abundance. The
One tradition has survived: on the spring equinox, people gather around pyramids thought to be structures built to channel cosmic radiation, supposedly especially favorable that day. This phenomenon is most notable at the Mayan pyramid of Kukulcán, at the ancient Chichén Itzá archaeological site on the Yucatan Peninsula. During the spring and autumn equinoxes, lateafternoon sunlight creates a shadow illusion of a serpent slithering down the pyramid’s northern staircase, merging with the serpent-head carvings at the base. This dramatic alignment is believed to represent Kukulcán’s descent to Earth and exemplifies the Mayan integration of cosmology and architecture.
We can find spring traditions all around the globe, including the idea of “spring cleaning” which started as a means of getting rid of the dirt and soot accumulated during winter, when houses were traditionally closed and heated by fireplaces. This, of course, is also a symbolic way of driving away
bad luck and illness; we could say that it’s more of a cleansing.
New beginnings set the tone for this time of the year and, for several peoples, eggs are the symbol of choice to represent new life and fertility. In medieval Europe, for instance, eggs were decorated and given as gifts, a custom that evolved into the modern Easter eggs. In Slavic countries, elaborately decorated eggs
called 'pysanky' were believed to protect homes from fire and lightning, as well as ensure good harvests.
It was only logical that animals were involved in these traditions too, including the celebration of Groundhog Day, when the famous Punxsutawney Phil makes his annual prediction on February 2nd. If Phil sees his own shadow, gets frightened, and returns to his burrow, we can expect six more weeks of winter. But if he stays outside, then we’ll have an early spring. By some accounts, the accuracy of Phil’s predictions is, alas, far lower than mere probability would suggest. But who would nitpick about such a cute animal, especially when he commands a large following that represents a veritable tourist boon for his hometown?
Hares becoming symbols for renewability and fertility was a natural choice due to their prolificacy; rabbits and bunnies would eventually join them for the same reason. The direct ancestor of the Easter Bunny seems to come from German folklore. Children were told about the 'Osterhase', a hare that visited houses at Easter and laid eggs for well-behaved children. As with the meteorologist groundhog, don’t be too fastidious about the fact that rabbits don’t lay eggs. Remember how eggs are
supposed to symbolize birth and fertility? Well, so do rabbits, and that’s the connection. This tradition appears in written sources in 17th-century Germany. German immigrants later brought the custom to Pennsylvania in the 18th century, where the “Easter Hare” gradually became the Easter Bunny.
On the other side of the globe, emphasis is placed on the awareness of the seasons, or 'kisetsukan', as they say in Japan. Japanese gardens are designed to heighten that awareness: the sound of leaves, the timing of bloom, the subtle shift in light. When you notice the season changing inside a garden, you're practicing 'kisetsukan', maybe without even knowing it.
Another Japanese holiday is 'Shunbun no Hi', the Vernal Equinox Day. Celebrated around March 20 or 21, it honors both the renewal of nature and the remembrance of ancestors, reflecting a blend of Shintō reverence for the seasons and Buddhist thought on balance and impermanence. Families visit their ancestors’ graves, clean the tombstones, and offer flowers and food.
Another widely spread tradition celebrating spring is the maypole, which, as its name suggests, consists of a pole erected at the height of spring in early May. The pole, usually a tree trunk heavily decorated with flowers and other greenery, stands in the village square, and people dance around it. This tradition appeared in medieval Central and Northern Europe, and its basic idea was to celebrate the return of vegetation, the fertility of the land, and the end of winter.
How about you? Do you have any personal traditions or superstitions surrounding spring? If you’d like to celebrate this wonderful time of the year, you may want to visit Easter Joy, a sim devoted to ensuring you have a memorable spring season this year. Point your teleporter to http://maps.secondlife.com/ secondlife/Long%20Beach/114/183/23 if you want to be part of the time-honored tradition of celebrating Nature’s rebirth.
Compe Lockwood
In a tucked-away parcel of Second Life, where digital soil seems to remember how to hold a root, Hayabusa Design quietly upends expectations about virtual gardens.
Enter the shop or float above its show plots, and the first impression is unmistakable: these are not parcels filled with slapped-together assets but environments that read as if they’ve been grown.
Hayabusa had found momentum again, rebuilt from both technical innovation and human loyalty— colleagues and friends who waited and worked through the interruption.
What sets Hayabusa apart is less a single product than a design philosophy that fuses art, biology, and mathematics. Mitsuko and colleagues developed proprietary generators—pieces of software built on procedural, fractal-based systems—that inform every node, branch, and leaf. This is not mere procedural repetition but the embedding of growth rules into form. Even when Mitsuko refines a branch manually, the curve retains a natural, mathematically-coherent rhythm. The result is vegetation that refuses to read as manufactured. It moves, layers, and responds to light in ways that feel intuitively right.
Branches curve with believable weight, layered foliage catches light in believable strata, and wind affects leaves in patterns that hint at a deeper logic. Hayabusa’s work doesn’t merely decorate virtual land—it composes ecosystems that look as if they could have been photographed in the real world.
At the center of this project is Mitsuko Kytori, a Japanese artist whose background in manga and design gave her tools that translated surprisingly well into virtual landscaping. “Home sweet home and build area,” Mitsuko says.
Hayabusa began modestly in 2010, when Mitsuko partnered with a landowner who created sculpty plants. The store stalled in 2011 after a catastrophic tsunami disrupted life across Japan, but Mitsuko returned to the virtual soil in 2012. By 2013,
Such technical rigor has yielded innovations that have become signatures of the studio. In April 2014, they introduced a convincing Wind Effect that gives foliage believable motion. They developed multi-layer foliage that creates depth and shadow within a single plant, a feature still rare across virtual plant catalogs. And while Second Life’s Animesh system remains imperfect, Hayabusa’s Animesh trees push the boundaries of what’s possible, producing arboreal forms with subtle, life-like behavior despite platform constraints.
Hayabusa’s clientele spans private owners, photographers, and businesses who want more than static ornamentation. Many customers buy plants to “plant” themselves—digital grafting that allows builders and residents to tailor their parcels. Mitsuko also takes on occasional full-landscaping commissions, designing gardens and public spaces that integrate her fractal logic with narrative composition. The studio’s work has appealed to a broad range: from quiet residential yards to installations for recognized brands, each project carrying the same insistence on believability.
Inspiration for Mitsuko’s virtual gardens flows from both analogue and academic sources. Mitsuko cites books on design, garden composition, and plant biology as essential references; she also lives in a forest in the real world, an environment she describes as a continuous source of material texture and emotional tone. That grounding in natural systems informs the studio’s aesthetic: the sensibility of a manga artist who understands perspective, the patience of a scientist who studies plant geometry, and the practical curiosity of a coder who turns rules into life.
Hayabusa is also forward-looking. Mitsuko teases the studio’s next leap: PBR—physically based rendering—materials that define how surfaces interact with light. While PBR isn’t yet perfect in Second Life, the team has developed tricks to approximate improved surface reactions, promising leaves and bark that catch sunlight with more nuanced realism. “It will change all,” Mitsuko says.
Beneath the technical achievements is a human story of resilience and collaboration. The tsunami that interrupted early work could have ended the project; instead, it highlighted the loyalty of collaborators and the determination of a designer who turned constraint into creativity. The creative team includes Hiroshi Seoung and frequent collaborator Akiko Kinoshi, and the virtual garden attracts a community of customers who become repeat clients and advocates.
Hayabusa Design stands at the intersection of craft and code, where algorithmic rigor serves an aesthetic that is unmistakably human. Step into one of Mitsuko’s gardens, and you encounter more than assets—you find places that invite you to pause, to imagine the rustle.
Jay Anson
In RL I am what used to be called “of an age.” A long RL career that was not particularly kind to ankles, knees, hips, and backs was followed almost immediately by a transition to a white collar office wonk. I kept up, though, until COVID made the decision that a ruptured meniscus wasn’t going to be repaired in any reasonable period of time.
But still, I try. The gym and staying as active as possible. Still hiking, still walking, which I understand will be much more pleasant after the knees are replaced. I love it out there, and am still taking the RL photos, some of which get enlarged and go up my, or special relatives walls.
And so I’ve been on a kick in SL to find places that would be places I would like to hike. I found another.
Among the Editor’s Picks, according to the Second Life Destination Guide Secret Valley is: ”A wonderful place to celebrate the new spring days, offering a plethora of activities. Explore the enchanting trails and forest, discover hidden caves adorned with gems and crystals, and take a leisurely horse ride. Enjoy romantic cuddles and dancing, meditate by grand waterfalls, or practice tai chi near
bubbling streams. Engage in games with friends or simply relax and immerse yourself in the beauty and splendor that Secret Valley has to offer.”
I found it for the hiking opportunities. You can wander through enchanting trails, deep forests, and hidden caves adorned with gems and crystals, but there is so much more. I much just pick up and move here.
Visitors can take leisurely horse rides, meditate by grand waterfalls, or practice tai chi near bubbling streams. Surprisingly, the region is also popular for couples, offering romantic cuddle spots, slow dancing, and ballrooms. Having looked in that area, I have a sneaking suspicion I’ll be taking a certain special someone here in the near future. Perhaps in light of that, the region also offers fabulous homes for rent for those who wish to make it their permanent base.
For the less outdoor minded, you can also find a variety of classic games are available to play with friends, including Ludo, Battleship, Mahjong, and Pictionary.
But the best of all of it is the feeling of community here. Feeling of being a part of something.
I did some more research, and found a few Facebook testimonials:
Jenni Jack said ”The pictures do not do this place justice, please go and visit, it has hidden caves and everything, plus my good friend Angel built and owns this, definitely give it a visit.”
Nan Slade called it a “A wonderful place to celebrate the new spring days, offering a plethora of activities. Explore the enchanting trails and forest, discover hidden caves adorned with gems and crystals, and take a leisurely horse ride. Enjoy romantic cuddles and dancing, meditate by grand waterfalls, or practice tai chi near bubbling streams. Engage in games with
friends or simply relax and immerse yourself in the beauty and splendor that Secret Valley has to offer.”
I have a hiking stick. Well, two, I truth be told, that are covered with hiking badges from places I’ve hiked over most o the US and Europe. They’re hanging on my wall, and they’re symbols of something I used to be. And, with crossed fingers and two new knees, will be again.
I have missed the outdoors without pain. I’ve missed not hearing the sounds of breakfast cereal every time a take a particularly steep hill, and the care I have to take when I’ve going down the particularly steep hill.
But for now; for now; this is enough. http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Celestial%20 Dream/189/20/53
And yet, here, again, I find it in Second Life. I once saw a quote I saw about SL that struck me as very real: "There isn't more than one life. Real or virtual are just two different ways to express sides of our true persona. Converging or diverging but always complementary parts of the same reality."And that’s the truth. I see those trails, and I realize that the person who built them here in SL may very well have seen them outworld. I like the idea of that. It’s unifying. Yet another example of the connection between the two worlds, the bridge of experiences between us as individuals being facilitated by the machine.
But a machine didn’t create this. A human being did. To connect to another.
AVAJEAN WESTLAND
Top | Dernier - Laura Blouse - White
Skirt | Rowne - Rei Reveal Skirt - Grey
Shoes | Reign - Katelynn Pumps
Earrings | Pom - Lina Earrings
Hair | Addon+ - Sakura Hairbase - White
Eyeshadow | WarPaint - Folie Eyeshadow
DRESDEN COHUERBLANC
Top | David Heather Desi Turtleneck
Bottom | Dope+Mercy Yandere Pants
Outwear | Jeys Empty Suit
Shoes | Sixis Keith Loafers
Accessory | Vesta Bocc Hat
Accessory | Contraption Dapper Dandy's Gloves
Hair | Shi Undercut C
Makeup | Knife Party Wintery Eye
Makeup | Izzie's White Eyeliner
MONROCIE PONTECORVO
Collar | Zibska - Eveline Right shoulder
Earrings | Gyazo - Malina Earrings Silver
Eyeshadow | RazzaNova - Evox MakeUp Smokey Eye
Gown | Royal Closet - Renata Gown
Hair | Bliss Hair - Fanny Hair Caviar
Hair Accessory | Sigma - Hair comb
Heels | Pure Poison - Vinna Pumps
Lashes | Euphoric - Celine Lashes
MZPICKLEJUICE PASSION
Dress | Ersch - Rita attire
Bodysuit | Wearehouse - Body Stocking Yellow
Body Art | Nuuna - Ari Gold
Ear Tattoo | Lex - Flie Ear Tattoo
Earrings | Sigma - Ornate ear cuffs
Nails | Rawr - Balance Nails
Nails | Alaskametro - pedicure classic gold
Shoes | Pure Poison - Diana Pumps
Hair | Velour - Tina Hairbase
ZELLY JACKSON
Dress | Madame Noir - Enigma Gown White
Hair | No Match - No Outside
Shoes | Pure Poison - Maia Pumps
Earrings | Dead Doll - Tropicalia ear Cuffs
Bracelet | Yummy - Evelyn Bracelet and cuff Set
Piercing | Mellow - Diamond Nose Stud
Nails | Pure Poison - Valeria Nails
Hairbase | Nonnative - Genie Hairbase
Eyeshadow | Jack Spoon - Solstice Eyeshadow
NOW THROUGH APRIL 25TH, 2026
A long-time non-commercial RL photographer, Sydney’s entry into Second Life photography began in 2023. What started as a quiet exploration soon developed into a focused practice, with black-and-white imagery emerging as a defining thread.
Through continued experimentation, Sydney learned to approach the SL viewer as a real-life camera. Light, composition, and atmosphere are shaped with intention, allowing familiar photographic instincts to translate into a virtual environment.
Her body of work reflects a wide range of tone and subject matter, moving between light and dark, intimacy and distance, whimsy and restraint. Together, her images reveal an evolving craft rooted in real-world photographic concepts applied within Second Life.
MODEL: NÉMESIS
ADONIS HANSOME
Sweater I Sleepy Eddy - Loose
Shorts I Alien Gizmo - Troy Baggy
Glasses I Energy - Blossom Shades
Hat I Kiru - Starlight Beret
Necklace I Mandala - Smexy Tie
Hair I Dura - U122
Sandals I Wareta - Flora
Bag I Unknown - Mesh Satchel FLower
Fluffy Ball I SEmotion - Libellune
ALE
Cardigan | Amitomo - Fluffin Set2A
Earrings | Miumiu - Earrings set #005
Hair | Wasabi - Cherie
Pants | Fashionably Dead - Baggy Jeans with Bows
Sneakers | Cult - Cassey Lee
Top | Cheezu - Rena Top
AVAJEAN WESTLAND
Sweater | Foi - Suri Cardigan
Skirt | Luas - Diana Skirt - White & Pink
Hat | Moon - Pixie Hat
Shoes | 4AEM - Dorotta Heels - Pink
Earrings | Orsini - Charlise Earrings
Hair | No Match - No Time Travel
NAARNISSE ABSINTHE
Skirt | Miss Chelsea - Verity Skirt Pink
Jacket | Foi - Suri Cardigan Baby Pink
Shoes | N-core - Highschool Fatpack
Hair | Wasabi - Flirt
Earrings | Minami - Noelis Earrings
Rings | Kibitz - Camille's earrings gold
Bag | Dots - Ella Purse White
Eyeshadow | Alaskametro - Big City BOM Eyeshadows
Manicure | Eventyra - Naturals Velour Tones
BENJI HERON
Hat | Dae - CxDemon Hat
Hair | Barberyumyum +Bangs
Choker | Codex - Choker Strayboy
Shirt | 2Cute - Hipster Shirt- Fitted Pua
Balloons | Fashiowl - Balloons
Pants | 2Cute - Leisure Pants
Shoes | 2Cute - Classic Sneakers
LUA VENDETTA
Dress | Rosier - Carmen
Stompers | 718 - Vampira
Hair | Ayashi - Chisato
Necklace | Ayashi - Heart
Tattoo | Corazon - Live
Accessories | hive x taikou - boba tea
Accessories | Momochuu - Cupi bunny roll cake
Nails | LUNA - Kawaii Emoji
CAESAR LANGER
Hat I Akikazu - Fashion Beret Bow
Shirt I Dreamcatcher - Bouquet Of Roses Shirt Lace
Neck Ribbon I Ersch - Valet Top deco
Pants I Muho - Lennon
Shoes and Socks I Unfolded - Classic Slip-On Sneakers and Classic Socks
Floating Heart I Aine - Halo Heart
Bag I Zenith - Lace Bow Backpack
ELEANORJEAN
Jumper | Cheezu - Milly, Pink and white striped
Shorts | Cheezu - Milly Shorts, Pink
Boots | Ichuly - Avalyn, Pink and White
Glasses | Mon Tissu - Harlow Sunglasses, Pink
Flowers | Poison Rouge - Matsura, Rose Gold
Necklace | Maxi Gossamer - Alexa White Choker Pearls
Necklace | Maxi Gossamer - Knotted Shimmer Pearls
Earrings | Kungler - Ilyane Flower earrings
Ring | Kungler - Hortensia rings
Hair | Stealthic - Wonder
Cell Phone | Elan's cellphone
Dog | Jian - Scruffy Shepherds, Tan Black
JAMEE SANDALWOOD
Eyeshadow | Goreglam - Moth Eyeshadow
Lipstick | Momochuu - Cupi Lips
Hair | Stealthic - Lovestruck
Choker | Ersch - Tien Choker
Bracelets | Ersch - Tien Bracelets
Choker | Orsini Jewelry - Fidjy Choker
Corset | Tres Blah - Sabine Corset - Blossom
Skirt | Tres Blah - Sabine Skirt - Gingham
Nails | Eventyra - Fairy Dust
Shoes & Socks | Dead Doll - MaryJane Shoes
Tiara | Leroy - Helena Tiara
Handbag | Studio Exposure - Desire Mini Bag 03
Bunny | Glitzz - Plush Bunny White/Pink
Necklace | Adorsy - Cat Necklace
Earrings | Dirty Princess - Cultured Princess Earrings
JAN BACON
Hair | Wasabi - Muffin
Jacket | Boys to the Bone - napen jacket
Skirt | fashionable Dead - Ruffle Lace Skirt
Handbag | Pavlova' Attic Marketplace - Miss Piggy
Handbag
Shoes | Utopia - Genevieve
Ring | Kunglers - Haya
Earring | Yummy - Amara Earring
LOLITA PARAGORN
Top | Tetra - Blossom
Belt Ribbon | Insomnia Angel - rib string
Skirt | Fashionably Dead - Paris Vacation
Bag belt | Miss Chelsea - Vali Fanny
Stocking | Ison- mila floral
Shoes | Gos - Matilda Embellished
Hair | Truth - Linger
Earrings | AvaWay - Bella Bow
Choker | parfait - Soojin
Rings | e.marie - Renita
Headband | Mossu - Melanie
Garter | Momochuu - DoDo ribbon
NEGLY CLAREMONT
Top | Mekaci - Hana T-shirt
Skirt | Kheops - Zephira Skirt
Underskirt | Beautiful Dirty Rich - Lace White Bottom
Heels | Supernatural - Delilah Heels
Bag | Vesta - Coor Bag
Headband | Blume - Floe Headband
Earrings | e.marie - Yasmin Earrings
Bracelet | Kunglers - Lorelei Bracelet
Nails | Luna - Autumn Palette I
Shadows | WarPaint - Grace Eye Glitter
Lips | Ives - Lottie Gloss
Blush | Mudskin - Jinseon Blush
Hair | Ayashi - Naoko Hair
MILA BALUVELT
Dress | Eliavah -Phantom Belle Dress
Top | Le'La- White Striper
Shoes | Cult - Ginny
Necklace| Xuxu - Bown White
Headband | Magika - Bown
Gloves | Antaya - Lace Cuffs Elise
Earring | Glow Estudio- Pear Dark Stud
Hair | tram - Q0208
BENJAMIN BLAKEWELL
Hat | Cheerno - F22 Prince Hat
Bowtie | Apple May - Simple Bow Tie
Harness | CryBunBun - CryBigBoyTango'd Crystal Harness
Belly Piercing | PuncturedPinup - AllThat! BellyPiercing
Hairbase | Karmazz - Bruno Hairbase Evox Purple
Pants | Collar Sus Pants
Rings | Rozoregalia - Narusaza_Ring
Shoes | Semller - Worn Canvas Hi Tops
Shoes Add on | Semller- Worn Canvas Hi Tops Stack AddOn
NEMESIS
Gloves | Tchelo's - Night Lace
Lipstick | Aimi - Addon 06 8
Eyeshadow | Cazimi - Savage Eyeshadow
Tights | Caelum Fero - Daisy
Sleeves | Belle Epoque - Rosalie
Dress and Top | Fantasy world - Sophia Hat | D'Elara - #28
Hair | Rama Salon - RubyJane
Necklace and Earrings | Rebel Heart - Pearls & Heart
Bag | Arnaud - Asi Crystal Butterfly
Shoes | Red Blossom - Romantic Satin
