There’s a saying that metaphysical shops serve almost as places of worship for people of alternative spiritualities. Without a tithing base, spaces for teaching spiritual arts and knowledge often need a commercial front to finance their public spaces. Almost every metaphysical store also serves as a community hub where people meet each other, support each other, and often feel truly seen for the very first time.
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.
Patient Advocacy: A Gift of Understanding
The fundamental principles of “safety, security, and trust” is the foundation of good health care. As a patient, we want our providers to give us their time and attention—to treat us as they would like to be treated. A satisfying relationship produces growth and trust.
How One Sentence in an 800-Page Book Changed My Practice: An Interview with Benebell Wen
In an age of bite-sized disposable bits of information, and fleeting content, Benebell Wen’s work is a welcome anomaly best approached with a quiet space and a cup of tea. Her idea of “basic” is anything but, and I’ve learned to only dive into her writing when I’m ready to fully absorb deeply layered, carefully constructed thought.
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.
Book Review: Nature’s Symphony: The Spirit of Scientific Pantheism by Martin Docherty
In Nature’s Symphony, Martin Docherty presents a refreshing and deeply thoughtful perspective on our relationship with the natural world—one that blends science, philosophy, and spirituality in a way that feels both intellectually satisfying and emotionally grounding. This book is neither your typical science read nor a standard spiritual guide. It’s something more layered: a meditation on the sacredness of the universe, grounded not in supernatural beliefs, but in the elegant truths of science itself.
Molly Ging: Owner of Ann Arbor's The Little Seedling
As a mother, entrepreneur, and community figure, Molly Ging provides local families with what they need most—support, and the best baby gear available. We sat down to chat about motherhood, philosophy, Ann Arbor, and the tenuous future of small businesses.
Wild Wellness at Mother Bear Sanctuary and Retreat Center
Barbra White, co-founder of Mother Bear Sanctuary and Retreat Center, believes that all living beings are deeply interconnected. “It’s kismet,” she explained, that just as she was longing to spread the word about her retreat center, which opened in 2018, The Crazy Wisdom Journal came calling for an interview. “I feel like I’ve been in a cooking pot for 30 years in this work, but here, specifically with Mother Bear Sanctuary for the last eight years, I feel like I’m saying to the universe, ‘I’m ready. I’m ready.’ So when [the Journal] called, I thought, ‘kismet.’”
Anthropocentric Sound and the Search for Serenity
They are shooting over at the Washtenaw Sportsman’s Club this morning. It’s a half mile away, but it sounds like I’m in the middle of a firefight. Though a mile off, the din of Interstate 94 is ever present like the constant flow of a rushing river with none of the charm. At first periodically, then steadily, cars pass the house. I can hear them coming from well down the two-lane road on which the speed limit is 45 mph but on which many drive much faster. A car passes, then there is a momentary lull, then another goes by. Think of the inexorable splashing of waves against the shore of one of the Great Lakes and you’ll get the rhythm.
Ode to the Arb
When you step through the wrought iron gates along Geddes Boulevard into the hushed shady entrance of Nichols Arboretum, between a wide pea-stone path to the left and a thin deer trail to the right, sits the first bench to welcome you. Benches are placed along the river side, on overlooks, in meadows, along trails, in the Peony gardens, and in countless shaded areas throughout this 128-acre preserve, inviting anyone to rest and take in the grand expanse of nature.
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.”
The Enchantment of Lympha: Ancient Spirit of Pure Water
Inside mossy sunken walls, a bronze nymph pours out splashing streams from cupped palms, arms outstretched to make an offering in a little-known garden I visit.
Water calmed as the goddess raised her face from the pool.
Sprinkling her forehead with crystalline drops,
she drew moist tresses over her shoulder,
and began her story…
Five Tales of Ann Arbor’s Haunted History
The city of Ann Arbor has been around for over 200 years. That’s more than enough time for tales of the paranormal to manifest. Probably the most famous local spirit is that of Martha Crawford Mulholland, a.k.a. the Dixboro ghost, who is believed to haunt the Dixboro General Store. But she is far from the only ghost story Ann Arbor has to tell.
Spirit Seeds--Fall 2025
Answers to your questions! How can I use advanced intentional living space principles to create a harmonious home, energetically balanced, and aligned with my spiritual path? What are the best practices for creating and using a vision board to manifest my highest potential and dreams? What are the best ways to protect and shield my energy field from negative entities and psychic attacks?
Healing from Within: The Transformative Power of The Emotion and Body Code
In today’s world, emotional baggage and physical discomfort often leave us feeling disconnected from ourselves. Energy healing modalities provide an avenue for renewal. Among them, The Emotion Code and Body Code—developed by Dr. Bradley Nelson—offer a powerful approach to identifying and releasing emotional blockages. Using techniques such as muscle testing and direct communication with the subconscious, these methods help restore harmony to the mind, body, and soul. Learn more at discoverhealing.com/the-emotion-code.
Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy: Opening Doors to Our Inner World
The use of plant medicines for healing and wisdom continues today with many people finding profound benefits from these ancient traditions when used respectfully and in appropriate contexts. One common thread, in almost every practice, is that there’s more to our experience than what we normally see in our day-to-day consciousness. This day-to-day consciousness, along with our ability to reflect on ourselves, is both uniquely human and can create special kinds of suffering.
On Being Authentic
My sister’s death continues to be one of those events my life that frustrates me. I’ll never have the answers that I need to “move on” or “accept” the massive cave of despair her absence has created. It has, however, made me realize that despite the pain of not having her in my life, I have a responsibility and a need to be present for the people that I love, and I will continue to strive to be the best possible wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, and therapist that I can be. My conversation with my cousin reminded me of the important and incredibly impactful moment I had with a client shortly after my sister’s death.
Namaste, Katie--Fall 2025 Yoga Column
I also adore leading, or more often being led by, these foundational elements of yoga. This is That: Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras Padas 1 and 2 by Anand Mehrotra, gets right to the heart of your question when he writes “… it is very dangerous to translate it merely as “Thou shall speak the truth and only the truth.”” He goes on to explain that all of our truths are subjective, based our own experiences, and not based on any universal or unbiased truth. He extrapolates that if we are in conflict, our truth is filtered through the lens of that conflict.
A Look at Great Lakes Performing Artists Associates: A Champion for Human Connection Through Music
As arts funding dwindles and screens pull audiences away from live experiences, one Ann Arbor nonprofit is quietly transforming the cultural landscape with soul and purpose. For nearly five decades, Great Lakes Performing Artist Associates (GLPAA) has championed real human connection through music.
A Spiritual Journey Begins With A Dream
Those “angsty” teenage things suddenly meant nothing though when my father abruptly died from a heart attack at the age of 57. I was 19. The incredible pain, fear, emptiness, and anger of those days can’t be adequately described. I felt like I carried huge, black, heavy boulders inside my body. It was hard to lift my feet. Smiling and laughing had become foreign to me. I carried the weight of the world on my shoulders.
