There was a clear absence in Southeast Michigan for a Buddhist perspective on death and dying. Most large metropolitan areas in the West, by which I mean Europe and North and South America, offer Buddhist hospice services, both medical and nonmedical. At this point, Gentle Ground Hospice and Grief Support is nonmedical. We are also non-denominational. Secondly, our team has the experience and passion to help fill this void. Besides Buddhists, we cater to atheists, agnostics, Christian curious, anyone really. By the way, we will never try to convert anyone.
Posts filed under Local Practitioners
Breath, Plants, and the Return to Relationship
As I got older, plants again became teachers. First tobacco, then cannabis introduced me to non-ordinary states through ritualized breath. Smoking was never just consumption for me; it was relational. Breaking apart the plant, lighting it, inhaling and exhaling with intention—these acts shaped my nervous system and my awareness.
Yoga for Life: How to Know If Your Stress Is Out of Control, Plus 6 Simple Yoga Tools to Reduce It
Unless we spend time exploring the underlying causes of our stress, ultimately nothing will change. A yoga practice can help us do just that. One of the gifts of yoga is that it helps us cultivate greater self-awareness. By getting on your yoga mat, you are taking time to slow down, be mindful, and see what you can learn about your body. With ongoing practice, you are better able to listen to your body and give it what it needs on a daily basis.
An Interview with Psychotherapist on Authentic Masculinity and Embodied Healing
Daniel DeSena is a social worker and psychotherapist who has become active in leading male embodiment and self-mastery workshops locally, and also nationally on Zoom. He is passionate about the intersection of spirituality, meditation, energy work, martial arts, sexuality and embodiment. He and his twin sister, and younger brother, were raised in the Pittsburgh area. Now 52, he’s been in southeastern Michigan for 30+ years.
Light Therapy: Energy Medicine for Body, Mind, and Spirit
What if healing could be as natural as sunlight on your skin? For centuries, wisdom traditions have spoken of the body as an energetic system—alive with rhythm, resonance, and flow. Modern science is now showing that light itself is medicine. Each wavelength carries a frequency, a vibration, a kind of language our cells understand. When we receive light, we are not just absorbing energy; we are reconnecting with one of nature’s oldest forms of nourishment.
Messages from the Beyond, Empowerment from Within — Discovering My Purpose as an Intuitive Animal Communicator
After this eureka moment, I took a leap of faith—I started offering free readings via Zoom for pet parents—I did group, one on one, and email readings. It was at the end of my first group reading in July 2020 that a participant (Julie) asked me if I could read horses. (During the gallery, I had been able to connect with her dog Ripple). I told her that I didn’t know but was willing to try!
A Warrior Spirit: Q&A with Intuitive Scott Baker
Meet Scott Baker aka Chetan, a Dexter local that has homed in on powerful intuitive abilities. These abilities have helped him navigate his own life in a more meaningful way and allowed him to help others understand themselves better. Baker has found a connection to those who have passed and can tap into the spirit of those around him through psychic and tarot card readings.
Spirit Seeds, Winter 2026 on Abundance, shadow work, and infusing your cooking with intentional energy
Triana tackles answers to your burning questions, like how can I release a past-life vow that is blocking abundance in this lifetime? What’s the most effective technique to integrate my shadow after an intense ritual? How can I infuse my cooking with intentional energy, so every meal becomes a spell?
Sustainable Health: Perimenopause Hormones Explained: Symptoms, Natural Relief & Self-Care Strategies
Perimenopause brings fluctuating hormones, irregular periods, hot flashes, brain fog, and fatigue—often called the "second puberty." Discover what's happening in your body and explore natural, non-medical ways to find relief through nervous system support, nourishment, blood sugar balance, rest, and radical self-care. No one-size-fits-all—personalized steps to reclaim energy and peace.
Namaste, Katie~ Our Yoga Column, Issue #91, Winter 2026
Reinvigorate your yoga flow with Revolved Triangle Pose – a favorite standing twist for soothing yet energizing effects. Step-by-step guide to this intermediate posture for better awareness, grounding, and overall wellbeing.
Core Transformation: The Treasure Map to the Wellspring Within
After decades of battling returning anxiety, I found Core Transformation: a step-by-step method to transform limiting parts, unconscious beliefs, and old coping strategies into profound inner resources. Learn how it works for deep, organic healing.
Crazy Wisdom Salons Series: Sage Women of Ann Arbor, Starts this Month!
Live interviews with Ann Arbor women including Mary Anne Perrone, Wasentha Young, and Haju Sunim begins in March 2026.
Sparkle Goddess An interview with Mari Ziolkowski, PhD
Mari Ziolkowski, PhD, embodies a remarkable breadth of multicultural experience. Her background spans academic and experiential/altered state study of the Hindu goddess tradition to living and working with traditional African spiritual practices in New Orleans and even risking her own safety while researching human rights abuses in Guatemala. Culturally, she is truly well-rounded. Despite her extensive experience, she remains grounded—warm, approachable, and full of bubbly enthusiasm, her presence brightened by a childlike, sparkling smile.
Nicole Leffler: From Retail to Holistic Healing at ALCHEMY Collective in Chelsea
Discover Ann Arbor native Nicole Leffler's inspiring journey from retail and cannabis to founding ALCHEMY Holistic Collective in Chelsea, MI. Explore IASIS Micro Current Neurofeedback for anxiety, PTSD, and nervous system reset, plus Scar Release Therapy for postpartum and surgical scars, intuitive business consulting via Dharma Hive, and holistic wellness offerings.
Off the Pill: Zainab Alradhi’s Quest to Restore the Sacred Knowledge of Body Literacy
Discover how Zainab Alradhi founded Niswa to teach body literacy and the Sympto-Thermal Fertility Awareness Method. Learn about hormone-free fertility control, cycle tracking for health, spiritual empowerment, and why understanding your body transforms women's lives across generations.
Redefining the Mental Health Experience — A Conversation with Kerry Biskelonis, Founder of Reset Body and Mind
You might miss Reset Brain and Body while cruising up Packard. Next door to the Cobblestone Farm, the business lives in a cozy brown building nestled back among the trees. Kerry Biskelonis, Founder and Managing Director, explained, “All of our offices are located within green space. It’s very important to have trees, to have natural light and access to outdoors, because connecting to nature is how we feel better; It’s always quiet, like an oasis, so you won’t find us in a high rise.”
A Miracle Led the Way--A Talk With Naturopath, Dr. Dennis Cousino
Dr. Dennis Cousino, ND, HHP, CFT of Dynamic Health lets us in on a journey of pain, faith, and healing in his own life—an experience that can only be described as miraculous. Dr. Dennis Cousino was raised in Tecumseh, MI and stil lives in the area with his wife and three boys. He completed his Naturopathic Doctorate at the First University of Naturopathy and has been practicing for 15 years specializing in chronic digestive and adrenal disorders.
Astrologically Speaking--The Four Elements in Astrology
A simple way to understand the language of astrology is to view the twelve signs according to the element they represent: Fire, Earth, Air, or Water. We all understand what these elements look, and feel like, and we rely on them to live.
What's New in the Community: fall 2025
What’s New in the Community: New books from local authors, new businesses, new offerings and practitioners and upcoming events for fall 2025.
Kindred Conversations with Hilary Nichols--featuring Jonathan Buckman
What does normal even mean?” Jonathan Buckman asked. Buckman is not normal—he is unique and extraordinary by any measure, and that is what makes him such a great therapist, social worker, practitioner, neighbor, and friend. “Jonathan has attained master level accomplishments in so many domains, but you would never guess it if you were meeting him for the first time,” his bandmate, neighbor, and co-conspirator Jeff Gladchun told me. “You couldn’t ask for a better friend than Jonathan. He is one of a kind.”
