Featured Articles from Issue 56
In Michigan, California Poppy is grown as a self-seeding annual. The entire plant (roots, leaves, and flowers) can be harvested in late summer when the plant is flowering. Preserve the fresh, finely chopped roots in 40% alcohol to make a tincture that will last for years. Flowers and leaves can be carefully dried to make tea. Use one or two teaspoons of dried herb in eight ounces hot water and steep for 45 minutes. To collect seeds, watch for the plants to form long, thin seed pods and wait until the pods begin to turn brown and dry. Collect intact pods into a brown paper bag and allow them to dry. The pods may burst open on their own, or you can gently roll them between your fingers to extract the small, black, round seeds.
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!
The U.S. Department of Energy states that, “enough energy from the sun hits the earth every hour to power the planet for an entire year. There are obvious advantages to solar PV technology. It produces clean energy. It has no emissions, no moving parts, it doesn’t make any noise, and it doesn’t need water or fossil fuels to produce power. And it can be located right where the power is needed, in the middle of nowhere, or it can be tied into the power grid.”
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.
I’ve helped many people start gardens over the years, and my first question is, “What do you want to accomplish with your garden?” The answers vary widely, from “saving money” to “growing exotic ingredients” to my favorite: “The garden is now solely for the delight of the kids.” These are all valid approaches! To help you think about different approaches to gardening, here are some ideas for a simple 4’x8’ raised bed garden.
As my curiosity about philosophy grew, I discovered in the writings of philosopher Baruch Spinoza the same ideas about God, nature, free will, and joy which I had embraced independently: God is nature, there is no free will, and the meaning of life is to enjoy it. Nietzsche once joked that Spinoza wrote as if Athena herself imparted her wisdom to him. I agreed, but to me, it was no joke; I felt her calling to me through these ideas.
Ravi Baikei Mishra weaves a deeply personal memoir with a spiritual framework for reimagining how we engage with our inner and outer worlds. At its heart, Vow of Aliveness is a reckoning with the “default world”—a term Mishra uses to describe the consumer-driven, noise-saturated, status-obsessed culture that shapes our values and identities. From this critique emerges a guide for reclaiming something quieter and more true: a life led from within.
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?
More from Issue 56
The U.S. Department of Energy states that, “enough energy from the sun hits the earth every hour to power the planet for an entire year. There are obvious advantages to solar PV technology. It produces clean energy. It has no emissions, no moving parts, it doesn’t make any noise, and it doesn’t need water or fossil fuels to produce power. And it can be located right where the power is needed, in the middle of nowhere, or it can be tied into the power grid.”
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?
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.
The moon has a way of catching a child’s eye. It lingers above treetops, follows the car home, disappears for a few nights, then returns—quiet, steady, familiar. For parents, it’s a reminder to pause, to notice, and to reconnect with something simple yet deeply grounding: the rhythm of nature itself.
As the Director of Washtenaw My Brother’s Keeper (WMBK), Jamall Bufford makes a powerful impression of warmth and conviction. “Everyone sees his heart,” his colleague Justin Harper said. “Jamall is a great person. It is easy to work with him because he is a good listener, a team player, and completely true to his convictions. When someone has those qualities, a lot of great things can happen.”
