English Version | Editor's Letter: Animal Instinct, October 2025

There's something deeply unsettling about the idea that, beneath centuries of civilization, an animal still throbs within us. Not a mythical or poetic being, but a simple animal, guided by basic impulses: hunger, fear, desire, survival. Of course, we prefer other names. We call aggression "assertiveness." We call the sexual drive "connection." We call the need to belong "networking." But all it takes is a threat to the ego or a long line at the supermarket for us to see the civilized mask slip. And there it is—instinct. Naked, direct, and unfiltered. We live convinced we've evolved. We have GPS, sophisticated language, and even opinions on Ethiopian coffee. But faced with the unknown, we still react like those living in a cave: we either attack or flee. Only now we flee emotionally, blocking people instead of running. The curious thing is that we spend our lives trying to control our instincts. Calling them primitive, irrational. When, in fact, they are the part of us that knows what it wants best - it just doesn't know how to hide it.

Lara Cosima
Élio Nogueira

There's a certain arrogance in the way we view animals, as if they were inferior creatures because they live guided by instinct. But perhaps we're the naive ones—convinced that overthinking makes us freer, when often it only leaves us more confused. The animal, at least, doesn't live in denial. Deep down, we're all animals with complexes. Animals who dress in costumes, go to therapy, discuss politics… and yet, at the slightest sign of rejection, return to howling internally, like wounded wolves calling for the pack. 

Lex Peckham
Boe Marion

Fashion, for instance, is perhaps one of the most sophisticated, yet disguised, expressions of our animal instinct. We dress to protect ourselves, yes, but also to be seen, recognized, desired, feared, or accepted. Every fabric carries a code, every color, an intention. The wild patterns, the cuts that accentuate or conceal, the shoes that hinder escape but ensure presence. We call it style, but deep down we continue to dance mating rituals in front of the mirror, hoping someone will notice our "feathers." Perhaps the secret isn't to stifle instinct, but to listen to it with some dignity. To realize that not everything needs to be tamed. That there's wisdom in feeling before thinking—and that the animal within us sometimes just wants peace, warm food, and someone to hibernate with. The rest... is just performance.

Jordan Roth
David LaChapelle

Perhaps what we lack most today is not restraining animal instinct, but reclaiming certain more human instincts—those that require a higher degree of consciousness, but that also arise from a visceral need: the ability to dialogue without the need to win, to listen without being defensive, to tolerate without dismissing, and to extend empathy even when there is no identification. These, indeed, seem like instincts in extinction. In an era where noise is confused with communication and opinion with identity, perhaps the most radically human gesture is to recognize the other as legitimate in their existence. Even when you don't bark like us—or... even when your instinct leads you down other paths.

Alysha
An Le

DOGUE

A dog's instincts hold a silent loyalty. They're more than just animals; they're an integral part of the family, a love felt without words. This special Dogue, which you'll find at the end of this issue, invites you to celebrate the discreet yet transformative presence of these faithful companions. Love for dogs is a profound bond that transcends time and enriches human life. Discover stories, emotions, and what makes a dog a passionate friend.

Translated from the original in the Animal Instinct issue, published October 2025. For full stories and credits, check the print issue.