Featured Articles from Issue 56
I have been a happy habitant of Southeast Michigan for more than 15 years now, and we are blessed to have many metaphysical stores in our corner of the state. Each is filled with warm, welcoming people who are eager to help anyone on their personal spiritual journey. Join me as I visit five of them.
In the early 2000s, co-owners Marcia Stroko, Patricia Barrett, and Sharon Stroko were inspired by cultural anthropologist Angeles Arrien to create a place where guests could focus on self-development. In a January 2006 guest book entry, guest F. Rowe shared, “Thank you for having such a wonderful atmosphere in your home inn and surroundings,” thereby recognizing that Rustic Gate is not only a space for visitors, but also a family home
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.
Let me introduce you to Annie G’s, a small herd dairy cow farm run by Kat and her husband David Mageean. This dynamic duo, along with their two young children, Annie and Angus, whom the Dairy is named after, have a dream of their own to share. Their dream is to make the “100 cow dairy farm” viable again and they are working to revolutionize the dairy industry to help encourage others to do the same.
The Mahons don’t endeavor to build their client’s dream home. “We prefer to build their ‘legacy home’ to be passed down for generations,” said Andrea Mahon. The goal is anchored in something more tangible than today’s dreams. “We build homes to last, but more so, to matter,” Mike Mahon added. And that is what the Mahons work so hard toward. In 2006, Mike Mahon founded Adaptive Building Solutions (ABS) here in Ann Arbor to be part of the zeitgeist. “I knew it was the perfect place to start a business that focuses on sustainability.”
At the simplest level, resurrection is understood as coming back to life after death. At the simplest level, reincarnation is understood as coming back to life after death but in a different body or form. Both resurrection and reincarnation provide a path to purpose and enduring existence of soul consciousness.
It could be said that teens these days are more inundated with imagery than ever before via the glowing box in their pockets. Everyone is a photographer in 2026. Everyone is a content creator. But when kids are chasing the perfect feed, instead of the golden hour, the art of photography becomes lost. When teens are looking without seeing, snapping without thinking, a disconnect between heart and brain forms that Amy Kimball, of Amy Kimball Photography, is trying to bridge. Enter her teen photo camps.
For Aubrey and Art Schupbach, a little goes a long way. It is a little mindfulness, in the form of a friendly check-in with a yoga patron they haven’t seen in a while. A little stretching in the morning, to get the body in the right mental and physical space to move about the rest of the day. A little meditation session in the afternoon to remind oneself that the quiet times are just as important as the loud ones. The Schupbachs have found that these little moments are what create the foundation that supports a larger community. It’s these moments that help make Zion Well what it is: a studio rooted in community, mental health, and purpose.
Michael Klement additionally credits his wife for the inspiration to shift toward sustainability. When they moved into their new home in 2004, it was discovered that she suffered from multiple chemical sensitivities. Klement became aware of how many elements of their new home were probable culprits. “In our business we would determine our client’s choices by three criteria: do they like it, can they afford it, and can we get it?” Klement shared. “Never did we ask, ‘will it kill them?’ Once we learned about the effect of toxins so prevalent in building materials firsthand, you can’t unknow what you know.”
More from Issue 56
In the early 2000s, co-owners Marcia Stroko, Patricia Barrett, and Sharon Stroko were inspired by cultural anthropologist Angeles Arrien to create a place where guests could focus on self-development. In a January 2006 guest book entry, guest F. Rowe shared, “Thank you for having such a wonderful atmosphere in your home inn and surroundings,” thereby recognizing that Rustic Gate is not only a space for visitors, but also a family home
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.
