MIND • BODY • SPIRIT • ECO RESOURCES IN THE MARYLAND - DC - VIRGINIA REGION PATH WAYS FALL 2026 • FREE NOW IN OUR 51st YEAR
Why Integrative Care Is Gaining Ground • Psychedelics And The Counterculture Of Aging Sentient Earth: Ancient Animism Meets Modern Biocentrism • Grounding Practices For Fall Biphasic Sleep And Insomnia • Autumn Ayurveda • Understanding Ageless Wisdom … And Much More Fall 2026 Natural Living Expo • Sunday, October 25, McLean, VA — Preliminary Program Inside!
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THE SECRET TO GOOD HEALTH By Ewaul Persaud, MD, FAAFP
pertension, and obesity. We emphasize outcomes-driven follow-up, using baseline and repeat testing—plus digital monitoring when appropri- ate—to track improvements in blood pressure, blood glu- cose and lipids, weight man- agement, physical function, and patient-reported quality of life. Ewaul Persaud, MD, FAAFP a physician with Virginia Family Medicine.
Too many patients are treat- ed only after illness appears. The healthiest care is the kind that helps prevent chronic disease early—and supports long-term well- ness through practical, evi- dence-based change. That is why our practice is centered on a simple idea: use natural remedies as first-line care, and use modern medicine when needed as a supporting layer to protect and restore health. For more than 25 years, my focus has been to help pa- tients improve healthspan and quality of life by shifting care from reaction to preven- tion. This approach combines careful medical evaluation with personalized plans that prioritize the fundamen- tals—nutrition, movement, sleep, and stress reduction— so patients receive actionable strategies they can sustain. “We are proud to offer Dr. Persaud’s Lifestyle Medicine program as a core part of our preventive care offerings,” said Kavian Milani, MD, the Medical Director of Virginia Family Medicine. The goal is to shift the focus upstream—prevent disease where we can and restore health where it’s already been compromised. We do that by addressing the life- style causes and enabling lasting change.
PREVENTION THAT’S ASSESSED, TARGETED, AND MEASURABLE Our program blends conven- tional medical assessment with structured natural-care interventions: Comprehensive preventive assessments • Risk stratification, metabol- ic screening, cardiovascular risk evaluation, and func- tional lab testing. Individualized prescriptions using natural remedies • Tailored nutrition plans, exercise regimens, sleep optimization, and evi- dence-based stress reduction techniques. Coaching and behavior change support • Regular coaching sessions, habit tools, and goal tracking to improve adherence and outcomes. Integrative collaboration when indicated • Coordinated care with spe- cialists, mental health pro- viders, registered dietitians, and physical therapists as needed. Targeted programs for high-risk groups • Prevention and reversal pathways for metabolic syndrome, pre-diabetes, hy-
www.virginiafamilymed.com 703-383-4836 Loudoun O ce 44160 Scholar Plaza Suite #450 Leesburg, VA 20176
PATHWAYS—Fall 26—3
Continuing Education & CERTIFICATION COURSES ANATOMY TRAINS A revolutionary map with practical results! Create lasting fascial change with your hands.
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4—PATHWAYS—Fall 26
PATHWAYS—Fall 26—5
TABLE OF CONTENTS
FALL 2026 — What’s Inside
Erin deSabla Owner & Publisher; Events + Operations + Business Development
TO YOUR HEALTH Beyond the Prescription: Why Integrative Care Is Gaining Ground ....................................................9 By Ginger Mair, M.S. ENVIRONMENTAL & SOCIAL JUSTICE Listening to the Sentient Earth: Where Ancient Animism Meets Modern Biocentrism ....................11 By Sheer Zed CULTIVATING COMPASSION How Then Shall We Live? The Fierce Urgency of Now .......................................................................12 By Clare Hanrahan Boomers and the Body Politic ..............................................................................................................15 By Cam MacQueen MIND-BODY-SPIRIT Psychedelics and the Counterculture of Aging ....................................................................................17 By Abbie Rosner ASTROLOGICAL INSIGHTS Fall 2026: Eliminating Garbage from Your Life .................................................................................19 By Misty Kuceris TO YOUR HEALTH Biphasic Sleep: A Historical Perspective on Insomnia .......................................................................22 By Annie Larson YOGA TODAY It Begins at the Root: Grounding Practices for the Season ................................................................28 By Julie S. Holly HERB CORNER Making Friends with Invasives: 5 Abundant Plants for Food and Medicine .....................................35 By Candise Jordan ESOTERIC THOUGHT The Teachers Return: Understanding This Moment Through the Lens of Ageless Wisdom ............64 By Sheida Kourangi GREEN NEWS & VIEWS “The World is Our Body”: Healing the Loneliness of the Anthropocene ...........................................68 By Carol Burbank
MInd • Body • Spirit • Environmental Resources Since 1979
Michelle Alonso Editor-in-Chief: Magazine + Web Content; Events + Social Media + Marketing Amaya Roberson Sales + Event Support Ann Silberlicht Graphic Design
What We Are About Pathways Productions is a full-service advertising, marketing, event and publishing company serving the mind, body, spirit community since 1979. From the start, we have been a small, family-run busi- ness. Today, we have a women-led team dedicated to helping all businesses — local, small & inde- pendent — succeed and thrive. Over the years, we have expanded our offerings to include live events, most notably the widely successful and always popular Natural Living Expo. The articles and resources offered by Pathways Magazine and its affiliated hosted events demon - strate a common belief on the part of local individuals, businesses and contributors that sharing ideas and expertise builds community and commerce in a spirit of unity, cooperation and under- standing while maintaining a high level of integrity, responsibility and service. Our content em- braces these ideals; we are a conduit — a pathway — for the most loving and dynamic insights and information that enable all of us to live more consciously. The views and opinions expressed in Pathways Magazine, and by vendor materials for our hosted events, are those of the contributing writers, editors and merchants, and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Pathways ownership or any Pathways staff. Any content provided by our contributors is of their opinion and is not intended to malign any religious, ethnic, or cultur- al group, organization, company or individual. Furthermore, the products and services presented herein and at our hosted events do not necessarily constitute an endorsement of use or a recommen- dation on the part of Pathways and its staff, and are largely paid advertising and vending. Making Connections Join our Pathways Community! Through our quarterly and online publications, and our sched- uled hosted events, we are committed to providing the public with free or affordable access to local resources focused on holistic health and wellness practices, spirituality and personal growth, com- munity activism and outreach, and stewardship to the environment. We foster these opportunities through information, ideas, events, goods and services. Our goal is to provide a platform for businesses to reach the public in a comprehensive and cost-ef- fective way. Through advertising, packaged marketing, live events and retreats, and event planning support, we offer businesses opportunities to market themselves through a variety of channels, and use our expertise to facilitate this growing network. Pathways is your one-stop resource to make connections, nurture growth and achieve success. Finding Pathways Pathways Magazine print edition is distributed through dozens of outlets in Maryland, DC and Virginia. Visit our “Where To Find” page online for the nearest locations to pick up your print copy. More distribution outlets are being added with each issue. We also provide an online digital edition with interactive links to references, resources and businesses for each issue. Our website features our current issue, as well as a magazine archive, where you can view issues dating back to 2010. Subscriptions for Pathways Magazine are available for $20/year and direct-mailed. Order online at: www.PathwaysProductions.com, under the Magazine dropdown menu. Advertising In Pathways Pathways advertising opportunities are available through all of our outreach channels: our free quarterly journal, Pathways Magazine, distributed in print and digitally; our hosted events; and our comprehensive website and growing social media presence. We offer ad rate discounts with custom packages for Expo exhibitors, and provide design services for low one-time fees. For more informa- tion, upcoming deadlines and our editorial calendar, visit us online.
The cooler, drier, lighter, and more changeable qualities of autumn manifest in ourselves. In Ayurveda, these are signs that Vāta is elevated. Explore ways to cultivate their opposites — warmth, moisture, nourishment, steadiness, softness, and rhythm — for seasonal wellness . Page 27
MayaRose Creative LLC Magazine & Website, Design + Production Contributing Editors Kathy Jentz Cam MacQueen Contributing Writers Helena Amos, M.A., L.AC. Taniesha Garrison, Ed.M. Therisia “Trish” Hall, D.Div. Clare Hanrahan Julie S. Holly Jenae Barnes Carol Burbank
Psychedelic plant medicines differ enough in character and in the qualities of experience they tend to produce. Learn about the more common varieties, and the tradition and applications available before deciding on the guidance needed for any personal journey. Page 32
Candise Jordan Sheida Kourangi Misty Kuceris Annie Larson Ginger Mair, M.S.
Hanh Nguyen Abbie Rosner Anjali Sunita Sheer Zed On The Cover RESTLESS DRAGON By Şermin Ciddi Circulation 12K copies by Pathways Staff FALL 2026 Volume 51, Number 3 Published quarterly with the season change by ERIN DESABLA PATHWAYS PRODUCTIONS, LLC 7407 Aspen Ave. Takoma Park, MD 20912 www.pathwaysproductions.com PH: 240-429-7850 (Mon. – Thurs. • 12 PM to 5 PM) ADVERTISING EMAIL: pathwaysads@gmail.com Ad Rates Available Online: www.pathwaysmagazineonline.com Deadlines for Editorial and Advertising are 2/10, 5/10, 8/10 and 11/10. Publication is approximately four weeks after the deadlines. Please email all arti- cles as file attachments to the Editor at: pathwaysarticles@gmail.com. © 2026 Pathways Productions, LLC
ON THE COVER: Restless Dragon , by Şermin Ciddi. Artist profile, page 77.
MORE RESOURCES FOR CREATIVE LIVING
A Message From Your Pathways Team Plus An Invitation To Our Fall 2026 Natural Living Expo
• Different Types of Insomnia: Why the Right Supplement Depends on the Cause, by Helena Amos, M.AC., L.AC., Euro. Physician - pg 25 • My Favorite Ferns, by Kathy Jentz, Washington Gardener Magazine - pg 71 • Trump Dismantled A Federal Climate Website. These Women Rebuilt It., by Jenae Barnes, The 19th - pg 72 • What If You Have the Power to Change “Collective Consciousness”?, by Therisia “Trish” Hall, D.Div. - pg 74 • Once Awakening Happens — Does That Mean No More Suffering or Anger?, by Hanh Nguyen - pg 76 • Pathways Fall Natural Living Expo
It’s very difficult to ignore all the noise in our current environment, especially leading up to the critical midterm elections. The gravity of the moment is weighing heavily, and rightly so, with so much at stake for all of us. Our theme of “Reverberation” has moved many in their respective directions, as you will read in these pages. Our actions have consequences, our spirit is consequential, and we are not operating alone. The messages are resounding: take care of others, take care of yourself, and take care of our planet, because we are all connected. We foster connections within the Pathways Community, and the next opportunity is happening October 25 at the Fall Natural Living Expo. Join us at the lovely Hilton McLean Tysons Corner and take the day to engage in all the things: self care, community building, and engagement with others on a mind-body-spirit level. It’s an experience you can’t find in many places, and sorely needed. A one-day doom antidote. Spend it supporting the local and re - gional businesses there, learning something new to keep your mind agile, and recharging for the battles yet to come. We choose love. We hope you do, too. See you there.
Preliminary Program - pg 38 • Fall Events Calendar - pg 52 • Advertiser Index - pg 78
www.PathwaysProductions.com
6—PATHWAYS—Fall 26
PATHWAYS—Fall 26—7
TO YOUR HEALTH
Integrative Medicine for Optimal Health Leaders in Integrative & Functional Medicine, Holistic Dentistry and Healing Therapies – One Convenient Location –
Beyond the Prescription: Why Integrative Care Is Gaining Ground
a single cause. Instead, they develop through a mix of factors that may include genetics, eating habits, sleep, movement, stress, environment, and social and work relationships. That’s why many people are asking different questions. Instead of asking, “How do I treat this condition?”
BY GINGER MAIR, M.S. For most of us, healthcare has followed a familiar script: something feels wrong, we make an appointment, a doctor names the problem, and we leave with a plan — often a prescrip- tion, a procedure, or a referral. And to be fair, that approach has changed the world.
they’re asking, “How do I become healthier overall?” “How do I increase the quality of my health, not just live longer?” People Want Deeper Conversations About Health Many people are searching for answers that go beyond test results. They want to understand why they feel exhausted when their lab work looks normal. They want to know how stress affects the body, whether inflammation plays a role in how they feel, and how factors like sleep, food, relationships, childhood trauma, toxic work environments, and emotional well-being contribute to long-term health. These aren’t new questions. They simply haven’t always fit neatly into a healthcare system designed pri- marily to diagnose and treat disease. As a clinical herbalist in the state of Maryland, I cannot diagnose or treat disease. While some might see that as a barrier in clinical practice, I have found it can create a different kind of free - dom. It allows me to sit with clients in a deeper conversation about the many causative factors that shape health: home life, childhood experi - ences, major life changes, heartbreak, ongoing stress, and the ways those experiences can show
Modern medicine has nearly wiped out most deadly diseases, made complicated surgeries routine, and turned many once-fatal condi- tions into manageable ones. From vaccines to antibiotics to advanced imaging and emergen- cy care, medical science has dramatically im- proved both life expectancy and quality of life. There’s no question modern medicine is one of humanity’s greatest accomplishments. But something interesting has been happen- ing alongside those advances. More people are paying closer attention to the everyday factors that influence their health. They’re taking up Yoga, learning meditation, tracking their mac - ros, spending more time outdoors, exploring herbal remedies, and seeking healthcare pro- viders who look beyond symptoms alone. Integrative medicine practices are growing, lifestyle medicine is becoming more common in medical education, and research into areas like nutrition, mindfulness, menopause, and the gut microbiome continue to expand. This is not just anecdotal. According to research
Integrative & Functional Medical Care Treats the Root Cause, Not Just Your Symptoms Our doctors treat the whole person by blending integrative medical care with healing therapies. We address a wide range of medical conditions, including allergies, pain, fatigue, hormonal imbalances, gastrointestinal issues, and more.
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conducted by Richard L. Nahin, MPH, PhD, and reported in a 2024 article in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), the percentage of U.S. adults using at least one complementary health approach nearly doubled over the past 20 years, rising from 19.2 per - cent to 36.7 percent in 2022. Practices such as meditation, Yoga, mas - sage therapy, acupuncture, and other evidence-based complementary approaches have all seen significant increases in use. Some people see this shift as a rejection of conventional medicine. In reality, it’s something quite different. Most people aren’t turning away from medicine — they’re looking for a broader understanding of what it means to be healthy. Health is More Than Avoiding Illness Conventional medicine has been incredibly effective at what we might think of as wartime medicine: responding to urgent threats, stabilizing crises, and saving lives when the body is under immediate attack. If you had a serious infection, a broken bone, or appendicitis, modern healthcare could often make the difference between life and death. Today’s biggest health challenges, however, tend to be more com- plex and chronic. This is where peacetime medicine matters most: not in the emergency moment, but in the long, ongoing work of sup- porting the body through conditions that build slowly, linger, and are shaped by daily life. Conditions like heart disease, diabetes, chronic pain, digestive dis- orders, anxiety, burnout, and autoimmune diseases rarely stem from
up physically in the body. In many ways, this is the work of peacetime medicine: tending to the terrain of a person’s life when health challenges are ongoing, complex, and not easily solved by a single intervention. A whole-person ap - proach starts from a different place. It asks not only, “What’s wrong?” it also asks, “What helps this person thrive and recover?” In practice, I often find people are relieved simply to have the room to tell their full story. A symptom may be what brings someone in, but the conversation often widens quickly to include grief, caretaking, overwork, loneliness, or the pressure of holding everything together for everyone else. Moving Beyond Either-or Thinking Even the language we use is starting to change. For years, terms like “alternative medicine” suggested people had to choose one approach over another. But that is not how most people think about healthcare today. Someone might take prescribed medication, get regular screen- ings, and see their primary care doctor while also seeing a Reiki heal- er, taking herbal medicine, or using certain evidence-informed com- plementary therapies. These choices are not necessarily in conflict. For many people, they are part of the same effort: to feel better, un - derstand their bodies more fully, and support health from more than one angle. The goal is not to replace modern medicine. It is to build a more complete picture of health.
• Natural, Alternative Pain Therapies
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National Integrated Health Associates 5225 Wisconsin Ave., NW, Suite 402 Washington, DC 20015 Friendship Heights Metro, Garage parking www.nihadc.com • Call (202) 237-7000
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PATHWAYS—Fall 26—9
ENVIRONMENTAL & SOCIAL JUSTICE
Takoma Metaphysical Chapel
Listening to the Sentient Earth: Where Ancient Animism Meets Modern Biocentrism
trism — the default setting of modern Western civilization — posi - tions humanity as separate from, superior to, or merely steward over nature, both frameworks insist other beings possess standing independent of human utility. This is not an abstraction. The conse- quences ripple outward into every dimension of life. When we grant rivers, forests, and animals moral standing, we re- shape environmental law, conservation practice, and the intimate ethics of how we eat, build, and grieve. Indigenous legal systems influenced by animist principles have granted personhood to the Whanganui River in New Zealand. Ecuador’s constitution recognizes the rights of Pachamama , Mother Earth. Biocentric ethics has qui - etly informed species protection legislation and conservation move- ments worldwide. The stakes are not merely philosophical — they are existential, concerning whether civilization can learn to see itself as part of the web rather than its master. Animism: The World as Community of Persons For much of the modern era, animism was dismissed by Western scholars as primitive superstition, the belief that “spirits” inhabit rocks and trees. Contemporary scholarship has thoroughly disman- tled this reductive framing. Graham Harvey, one of the most influen - tial scholars in religious studies working today defines animism in his book Animism: Respecting the Living World with startling elegance as the understanding that “the world is full of persons, only some of whom are human.” For Harvey, who specialises in Paganism and indigenous religions, animism is not a belief system about invisible entities dwelling inside inert matter. It is a relational ontology, a way of being that insists humans learn to become good persons through respectful interaction with other persons: animals, plants, rivers, mountains, and weather. Harvey’s ethnographic work with Ojibwe, Māori, and Aboriginal Australian communities reveals animism as a vibrant, lived practice offering ethical guidance for care, reciprocity, and ecological belong - ing. In this worldview, ethics are not abstract rules but cultivated sen- sitivities: “Animism is not only an enchanting vision of a world that might be, it is a considered and cultivated interaction with a world in which there are better or worse ways in which to relate and act.” David Abram, an American ecologist and philosopher who coined the phrase “the more-than-human world,” deepens this further with his phenomenological approach , emphasising sensory reciprocity: the land speaking through wind, birds carrying intelligence, rivers hold- ing memory in their currents. What animism proposes is not metaphor but a different epistemol - ogy entirely: a way of knowing the world through relationship rather than detachment, through intimate participation rather than distant observation. Crucially, this personhood extends beyond biological life. In animist ontologies, geological formations, weather phenome- na, and ecological processes all participate in the social fabric of ex- istence. The mountain is not merely rock; it is a being with its own integrity, history, and mode of presence. Biocentrism: The Inherent Worth of All That Lives The Western philosophical parallel emerged most rigorously through Paul Taylor, whose 1986 Respect for Nature: A Theory of Environmental Ethics remains a cornerstone of environmental phi- losophy. Taylor argued that every living being possesses “inherent
BY SHEER ZED
There’s a moment many of us have known, standing in a forest, beside a river, beneath a sky thick, lush and velvet with stars, when the world seems to speak back to us. Not in words, exactly, but in an overwhelming presence. The trees feel attentive and loving. The wa- ter seems to remember us. The landscape holds something we cannot quite name but we feel compelled to honor. What if this experience is not merely sentiment but a portal into a deeper understanding of the nature of reality itself? Two seemingly disparate frameworks, one ancient and one modern, converge on this territory: animism , the world’s oldest living worl- dview; and biocentrism , a philosophical political tradition born of Western environmental ethics. Both assert that the world is far more alive, responsive, and interconnected than our dominant culture al- lows. Though they emerge from different soil, their roots intertwine around two convictions that matter enormously in this moment in history: that non-human beings possess agency; and that all existence is woven through with interdependence so profound it challenges our very sense of self. This shared ground invites us into what we might call a “reckoning,” a recognition that the human-centered story we inherited is neither inevitable nor exhaustive. To stand in that forest clearing, to feel the river’s presence, is to encounter evidence of a world refusing our con- tainment. It is here, at this threshold, where both traditions meet and point toward a more humble way of being: one where we learn to lis - ten as participants rather than command as controlling and dominant overseers. The Shared Reckoning: Moving Beyond Human-Centered Worlds Both animism and biocentrism begin with a radical act: they de - throne the human from the center of existence. Where anthropocen-
Sunday 11:00 Services now virtual at Zoom (81385184622) and Facebook Live. Other activities via conf. at 717-908-1636 (635833#) A Spiritual Community That Supports Your Individual Development
Imagine A Place Where…. Your beliefs are supported and embraced. Everyday events are explored from the physical, mental and spiritual perspective. Like-minded individuals support you in your spiritual journey. At the Takoma Metaphysical Chapel, you will find such a place. The Takoma Metaphysical Chapel is a growing community of people committed to spiritual growth and development resulting in transformation and emotional well-being. You’ll find uplifting services, you’ll feel the spirit of Love, and you’ll learn practical ways to put this energy to work for your greatest good. Relevant, Practical Themes. Teachings based on numerous “new thought” spiritual traditions that show you how to apply timeless spiritual principles in practical ways to navigate your life with more peace, joy and grace. Come As You Are Come experience uplifting music, meditation, prayer and messages designed to touch your heart and uplift your spirit. Experience wisdom from various spiritual traditions to heal your heart, mind and soul. The Takoma Metaphysical Chapel meets on Sundays at 11:00 a.m. on Zoom (Meeting Code 81385184622) and on Facebook Live.
Our Mailing Address Is: 1901 Powder Mill Road, Silver Spring, MD 20903
Classes and Workshops Include: SPIRIT SPEAKS ON HEALING RELATIONSHIPS Mondays at 7:30 p.m. via Zoom I THOUGHT I DEALT WITH THAT (Healing What Remains) Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. via Zoom See website www.takomametaphysicalchapel.org for other classes, online support and more details. Many classes available via conference call also.
OTHER EVENTS INCLUDE: Wednesday Evening Healing/ Meditation Circles 7:15 – 8:30 p.m. via conf. 717-908-1636 (635833#) 3rd Sunday Goddess Circle 7:30 p.m via conf. 717-908-1636 (635833#) A Course In Miracles Calls M-F 6:55 a.m. via conf Sunday 9:30 a.m. via conf 717-908-1636 (635833#)
(301) 587-7200 • takomachapel@netzero.com www.takomametaphysicalchapel.org
continued on page 60
Sheer Zed at Big Sur
10—PATHWAYS—Fall 26
PATHWAYS—Fall 26—11
CULTIVATING COMPASSION
CULTIVATING COMPASSION
How Then Shall We Live? The Fierce Urgency of Now
policies that fundamentally threaten the public good.” Organizing the marginalized and poor in sustained weekly protest and civil disobedi - ence, they act to challenge immorality in public policy and to disman- tle voter suppression tactics. Recently an elder woman standing in a weekly demonstration on a street corner in Asheville held a sign: “Dissent is what rescues Democ - racy from a quiet death behind closed doors.” Nearly six decades ago I marched in Memphis from city hall to Beale Street among the mourning sanitation workers after Dr. King’s brave - ly prophetic life was taken. Arm in arm, moving in silent grief through my hometown among people of color who found the courage to rise, I was transformed. The experience set me on the path of nonviolent resistance, a journey with consequences I could not have foreseen. Two of my brothers, twins, were casualties of the American war on Vietnam, their noble intent exploited by a system of organized vio - lence for political ends. That grief further fueled my resistance to “the greatest purveyor of violence in the world: My own Government.” As Dr. King said, “I cannot be silent,” as the coffins of yet another gen - eration of youth are met on the tarmac in a so-called “dignified cere - mony” attended by the very U.S. officials who ordered the war crimes. What then shall we do? I have long been compelled by “the fierce urgency of now” to a life - time of non-cooperation and resistance; and yet, and still, as I move into my 78th year, ecocide and genocide, mendacity and misery con - tinue. I am tired, I am deeply sad, but I cannot turn away from what is happening, nor give in to despair. As activist and songwriter Joan Baez said, “Action is the antidote to despair.” I know from experience that when we act to disrupt the system, we will disrupt our own lives. Over the years, in movements and cam-
paigns throughout the South I have experimented with active nonvi- olence. From nuclear weapons production in Tennessee, to Georgia’s School of the Americas, to West Virginia’s mountain top removal, into county jails and federal prison cells. I’ve crossed paths with hundreds of women and men who strived to live with integrity and to act with fierce resistance to the evils of the day. Many are gone now, as I will be. As I ponder my own end times, coinciding with the exponentially escalating climate disasters, I con- tinue to explore new ways to make my dissent visible. I realize I, too, will leave this world without seeing an end to the wars, the poverty and the devastation of the natural world. I recently came upon a quote by author and activist Meena Harris, the niece of former Vice-President Kamala Harris: “We have a duty to show up in the world with meaning and purpose and commitment to doing good. And to use any privilege that we have to make positive change and to disrupt oppressive systems.” Journalist and author Chris Hedges echoes the moral imperatives that should guide our actions while letting go of attachment to suc- cessful results. “Yes, it may be futile,” he writes, “but the fight is what makes us human. It gives us dignity. It affirms life in the face of death” Ten years ago, I looked out my apartment window on asphalt park- ing and fenced off empty lots with only a few struggling sidewalk trees. Together with a few neighbors, we nurtured the brave wayside plants pushing up through the cracks and crevices and planted a seed here and there. Others came forward to join in a regenerative effort, and eventually the city allowed access to one small parcel of desecrated land. My elder neighbors and other community allies, through con - structive, collaborative action have created a thriving community
But where is the real power? I’ve been to Selma and marched with others com- memorating that hard fought and bloody struggle to uphold voting rights. I respect those sacrifices too much to not cast my vote. But voting alone will not turn the tide. We must be- come engaged citizens find - ing our way, individually and collectively, to contrib- ute to the common good, even in these times when our actions to turn the tide of destruction may seem fu- tile.
BY CLARE HANRAHAN
This is a time for courage. The world is on fire. We all feel the under - currents of a planet in deep distress. Social, economic and ecological collapse is underway, even as our relative privilege insulates us now from the brunt of suffering. We will not escape. Escalating climate disasters have put many global populations on the move. ICE and the anti-immigrant counterparts throughout the world attempt to hold national boundaries with brutal impunity. Re- taliatory violence among military powers is fueling the flames; and the gun violence echoes on the streets of our cities where many of the un- housed and broken wander. It is almost too much to bear, especially when the traditional chan- nels for redress of grievance are failing us. The sense of powerlessness can lead to despair, and the feelings of futility cause withdrawal from civic engagement at a time when it is most needed. What Then Shall We Do? The more optimistic take hope in the upcoming mid-term elections. If only we can get enough voters to the polls, they proclaim, then per- haps we can recover the Democracy being systematically eroded by the forces of authoritarianism. Certainly, we must not relinquish what power remains at the ballot box, and we must not allow access to the polls to be undermined by those seeking to hold on to political power at all costs.
Peaceful senior protestor.
Effective dissent requires “relentless persistence”— brave, creative and risk-taking action. The Moral Monday Movement, originating in North Carolina with the Rev. Dr. William Barber II has seen some success. In These Times contributing journalist Matthew Cunningham-Cook describes these events as an “extraordinary example of the power of citizens to resist
continued on page 14
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CULTIVATING COMPASSION
CULTIVATING COMPASSION
How Then Shall We Live... ...continued from page 13
While Baby Boomers often have a negative reputation among young- er generations, it’s worth mentioning many Boomers were activists on the front lines for Civil Rights, Voting Rights, Women’s Rights/Re - productive Rights, LGBTQAI+ Rights, Pro-Union/Workers Rights, Veterans Rights, Peace/Anti-war/Anti-nuke efforts, Immigration/ Refugee advocacy, Healthcare for All, HIV/Aids awareness, Disability Rights, Death with Dignity laws, Title-IX, Environmental and Animal Rights Movements, and more. Boomers’ institutional knowledge and memory provides a historical road map for nonviolent resistance methods that encompasses the en- tire spectrum of progressive, liberal, humane causes. Many of these same Boomers, now seniors, are still active and en - gaged in resistance efforts, with the numbers growing larger with ev - ery passing year. At this time there are approximately 62 million se - niors (adults aged 65 and older) living in the United States. This group accounts for roughly 18% of the total U.S. population. By 2040, ac - cording to demographers from agencies like the U.S. Census Bureau, the U.S. senior population is estimated to reach more than 78 million. The senior demographic is vital for political resistance movements due to the unmatched voter turnout, free time, financial resources, and decades of historical perspective, participation, and leadership. Sane, sensible, smart, fired up senior activists are forming and run - ning grassroots organizations (see list that follows), door-knocking, phone-banking, letter-writing, calling their elected officials, protest - Boomers and the Body Politic BY CAM MACQUEEN
to do the right thing. It may not be in your power, may not be in your time, that there’ll be any fruit. But that doesn’t mean you stop doing the right thing. You may never know what results come from your ac - tion. But if you do nothing, there will be no result.”— Mahatma Gandhi
garden amid our bustling tourist town. As the writer Clarissa Pinkola Estes said, “Ours is not the task of fixing the entire world all at once, but of stretching out to mend the part of the world that is within our reach.” Every day tourists from throughout the country and world pass through our gates. We enjoy connections and conversations, and don’t shy away from sharing our concerns for our endangered world. These are important conversations that help break through the denial that has led to tragic inaction in the face of climate change. The late author and activist Joanna Macy advised, “The most radi - cal thing any of us can do at this time is to be fully present to what is happening in the world.” It is hard to hold it all in awareness without being overcome with grief. The brave and perennial beauty of our gar- dens has helped me carry on, moving through grief and despair. Most of my free time I am in the garden, though I continue to stand up with others when I can on street corners and bridge overpasses, and in marches through the city streets in solidarity with others who are acting how they can, when they can, and while they can on issues that they cannot ignore. At a time when so many are asking: “What then shall we do?” the real question before us is this: How then shall we live? “We’re in the great dying,” acknowledges author and Dharma teach - er Catherine Ingram in a 2020 documentary about the climate crisis. Species are disappearing at a rate so rapid that the critical biodiversity that sustains us will not survive. We must accept the truth and give it our voice. As one among this generation of seniors, we have benefitted
Clare Hanrahan is an author and long-time peace and envi- ronmental justice activist living in Asheville, North Carolina. Her books include: Elder & Sage Community Gardens: An Ur - ban Uprising (2026); The Half- Life of a Free Radical: Growing Up Irish Catholic in Jim Crow Memphis (2016); Legal Sys- tem (2007); and Conscience & Consequence: A Prison Memoir (2005). She is a founding mem - ber of Elder & Sage Community Gardens, now in its 10 th year. She can be reached at Hanrah - an.celticwordcraft@gmail.com. Photos courtesy of Clare Han- rahan.
Seniors speaking up for justice.
greatly from the industrial consumer society. Now in these last years of our time here, the consequences of this exploitation of the living Earth are terrifyingly evident. First, we must process our grief, and then find ways to listen deeply to the natural world and to the younger generations who will bear the brunt of the social and ecological col- lapse. Living now in full awareness, we can still love the earth and one an- other, offering our resources, our perspectives, our solidarity — living with gratitude and with courage, even as we face our fear of what is to come. “It’s the action, not the fruit of the action, that’s important. You have
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Awaken to the God-Knowledge That’s Already Within You!
The teachings of ECKANKAR are based on God’s love and spiritual freedom for everyone. Whatever your path or religion may be, ECKANKAR’s creative spiritual tools can help bring you more understanding, love, and help in these challenging times. You’re free to explore our in-person programs or online spiritual resources at your own pace – with no pressure, expectation, or judgment. We respect your divinity as a spiritual being, and honor your choices and journey.
“Eckankar’s mission is to bring Light and hope to everyone who is looking to know truth, to know themselves more fully, and to grow closer to God.” —Sri Doug Kunin, the Spiritual Leader of ECKANKAR
For more information about Soul Travel Adventures in Virginia, visit eck-va.org
ECKANKAR, the Path of Spiritual Freedom
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Pathways Ad-Fall 2026.indd 1
CULTIVATING COMPASSION
MIND-BODY-SPIRIT
Psychedelics and the Counterculture of Aging
Boomer Activism... ...continued from page 15
BY ABBIE ROSNER
• The Gray Panthers: A historic, multi-generational national net - work founded by Maggie Kuhn that fights against ageism, social injus - tice, and systemic inequality. Electoral & Political Campaigns • Seniors Taking Action: This dedicated group of progressive polit- ical activists coordinates postcard writing, phone banking, and voter registration drives to support Democratic candidates nationwide via weekly Zoom meetings. • Alliance for Retired Americans: Boasting over 4 million mem - bers, the Alliance for Retired Americans enrolls retired union mem - bers and community activists to lobby for civil rights, fair economic policies, and healthcare reform. Healthcare & Senior Rights Advocacy • AARP: As the largest membership organization for people over 50, AARP drives massive federal and state-level lobbying efforts to pro - tect Social Security, lower prescription drug costs, and expand voter education. • National Council on Aging (NCOA): The National Council on Aging allows seniors to sign up for public policy advocacy alerts to track and influence legislation affecting economic security and health - care. • Justice in Aging: A national organization focused on using legal advocacy to combat senior poverty and secure safety-net programs for low-income older adults. General & Intersection Activism • National Caucus and Center on Black Aging (NCBA): This group advocates explicitly for improved minority aging policies, hous- ing, and employment opportunities. • AmeriCorps Seniors: For older adults wanting hands-on, com- munity-level public service, AmeriCorps Seniors matches people 55+ with localized volunteer programs and community development proj - ects.
ing, participating in civil disobedience, registering voters, hosting house parties, working the polls, staffing party headquarters, writing letters to editors, mentoring, making banners, donating to nonprofit organizations, and so much more. Their actions are critical to defeat - ing the toxic patriarchal dictatorship currently in power. (This sidebar would be remiss if it didn’t mention the need to have dialogue and debate regarding our very elderly elected statespeople and whether it’s advisable to have age limits. The current leader, the oldest president to occupy the White House, makes a great case for enacting them, as our democracy and the world can’t afford to be hi - jacked by a dangerous gerontocracy.) If you’re a senior and looking for ways to plug in, there’s no better place than the DMV, and no better time. No matter where you are, no matter what type of housing (aging in place, independent living, assisted living, or nursing home), there are available opportunities. Consider working the polls this election cycle — your local Board of Elections wants Y-O-U! And, no matter what, this November, V-O- T-E! To see an award-winning PBS documentary on the topic, check out Sunset Story (2003). It takes place in an independent living facility in Los Angeles that caters to progressive, elderly activists and free think - ers. The film highlights two friends, who are lifelong political/social activists. They are determined to stay passionately engaged regardless of their health challenges. It’s an inspiring watch, showing what’s pos- sible as we age, and how we can continue to make a difference along the aging continuum. Below are several well-known organizations with missions to mo - bilize older adults for grassroots activism, political campaigning, and social change. Do your own search, find your fit, and get involved. The crucial thing to remember is that your time, talent, and treasure are needed more than ever — in whatever capacity your circumstances allow — to create a future that is inclusive, democratic, compassion- ate, just, green, equitable, and peaceful for all. Climate & Social Justice • Third Act: Founded by environmentalist Bill McKibben, Third Act organizes people over the age of 60 to protect the climate and safe - guard democracy through local chapters, rallies, and letter-writing campaigns.
LSD, peyote, magic mushrooms. For those of us who came of age in the 1960s and 70s, we were warned these were dangerous drugs that would destroy our brains, and worse... But over half a century later, a new consensus around psychedel- ics is emerging. Hundreds of clinical trials have demonstrated that, when used appropriately, these powerful compounds are remarkably safe and effective for treating depression, PTSD, addiction and other mental health ills. Within a year, it is expected the first psychedelic medicines will receive FDA approval and enter the healthcare system. In the meantime, there has been a resurgence of popular interest in psychedelics, inspired in large part by Michael Pollan’s New York Times bestseller, How to Change Your Mind – What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence . A growing number of those willing to change their minds about psychedelics are baby boomers. Psychedelics in Older Age Now entering older age, the boomers are facing a troubling disso- nance between their youthful self-identities, the realities of an aging body and mind, and society’s negative messaging around aging. In re- sponse, they are organically forging a new model of what getting older looks and feels like. And they are increasingly turning to psychedelics to support that transition. To be clear, approaching psychedelics in older age is different than
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Photo by Kaboompics
— About the ‘Cultivating Compassion’ Column —
Cam MacQueen, MSW, is the creator and curator of ‘Cultivating Compassion.’ She earned her MSW from the University of Maryland School of Social and attended Howard University School of Divinity where she specialized in Social Justice Ethics. Recently, she’s started a new career as an elder care social worker, so this column’s topic is of particular interest. Cam, still mildly shocked she’s an over 60 Boomer (not yet a senior), is a firm believer it’s never too late to be a force for change and for good. The world needs each of us — young, old, those in the middle, and everyone navigating arrested development — to make it a better place! Cam continues to dedicate this year’s columns to various forms of activism, resistance, and dissent necessary to help save our democracy and progress toward a more perfect union. If you have a suggestion for a column on resistance, contact Cam at ncm.advocacy@gmail.com. Kindly include “Resistance” in the subject line.
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PATHWAYS—Fall 26—17
MIND-BODY-SPIRIT
ASTROLOGICAL INSIGHTS
Fall 2026: Eliminating Garbage From Your Life
Psychedelics... ...continued from page 17
Some experienced for the first time what it felt to be held in love, and others found the grace of forgiveness and the unloading of old griev- ances. Many found nurturing and joyous communities among their fellow journeyers. But what I heard consistently throughout all the interviews was that, through the intentional use of psychedelics, they were experiencing older age as the most healing, meaningful, spiritual and joyful time of life. The picture that emerged through these conversations was that, if psychedelics once were part of a radical counterculture of youth, now they are helping us imagine a radical new counterculture of aging. Respect and Due Diligence Psychedelic journeying in older life is not without its risks. There are very real physical and psychological issues older adults should con- sider well before any psychedelic medicine is ingested. In my book, I outline the basic questions anyone considering a psychedelic journey should be asking as part of their due diligence process. Psychedelics are also powerful and unpredictable. In indigenous cultures, they are considered to be sacred medicines which can open access to guidance and healing from the spirit world. Regardless of one’s relationship with spirit, it behooves us to relate to them with appropriate humility and respect, and acquaint ourselves with the in- digenous concept of sacred reciprocity. Making Peace With Mortality One of the earliest clinical findings for psilocybin therapy was that it can be remarkably effective in helping terminal cancer patients find relief from depression and anxiety. To date, there have been dozens of studies affirming that the opening psilocybin offers, to experience consciousness beyond the limits of one’s personal stories, can help the dying person reframe their relationship to death. Reading about those studies, it occurred to me that one needn’t wait until they are at death’s door to face this most primal fear; and that psychedelics can help us not only die well, but age well. The Opportunity for Community Psychedelics can be extremely useful in clinical, therapeutic settings. But they are also powerful means for enhancing wellbeing and spiri- tual exploration, often in group ceremonial contexts. These collective immersions into sacred space add an extra level of group healing and cohesion, which can be particularly valuable for older adults. We know loneliness and isolation in the older population can stifle the mind and deaden the soul. I envision the creation of a framework that offers older adults the opportunity to build communities of mu - tual support based on group study, community service and periodic, ceremonial psychedelic journeying. Bringing that vision to life is the focus of my own elderhood. Abbie Rosner writes about how her generation of baby boomers are discovering – and rediscovering - the drugs of their youth, in ways that enhance their aging. Her new book, Psychedelics and the Counterculture of Aging (Park Street Press) is the first to systemati - cally explore the emerging phenomenon of older adults using psyche- delics. Her writing has been published by Forbes, Double Blind, Next Avenue and others. She lives in Washington, DC. www.abbierosner. com To follow Abbie’s progress of psychedelic journeying into elder - hood, consider subscribing to her ELDEREVOLUTION Newsletter on Psychedelics in Older Life, available on Substack (free to subscribe): https://abbierosner.substack.com/.
BY MISTY KUCERIS As the new Moon occurs on September 10, 2026, you feel the need to start fresh. You want to toss out what no longer matters. You want to improve your relationships through better communications. You want to heal from any pain, which was caused by negative situations, and you want to find a way to correct mistakes from the past. That’s be - cause this new Moon not only has the Sun and Moon in Virgo, but both Venus and Mercury entered new signs (Venus in Scorpio and Mercury in Libra). Usually when the new Moon occurs, you want to start fresh, take on new projects. With the Moon in Virgo, you tend to take on too many responsibilities. But the true lesson during the time of a new Moon in Virgo is to learn how to simplify your life — delegate what you can, and learn to reach out for help when you need it. Understanding that you don’t need to do it all becomes more im- portant on September 16, 2026, as Neptune retrograde forms a sextile to Pluto retrograde. Neptune dissolves boundaries and in doing so re- veals what’s behind the curtain. Pluto represents garbage that needs to be thrown away so that the toxins from that garbage don’t poison you. At the same time both planets can also represent fears that lurk in the subconscious mind. If not careful, you tend to react in a manner driven by primal concerns rather than logic. It helps that the aspect is a sextile because sextile aspects represent opportunities; and the op- portunities represented at this time involve creating space so you can move on with your life. When Chiron entered the new sign of Taurus on June 19, 2026, it only stayed there for a short time period; it turned retrograde on Au - gust 3, 2026, and now, on September 17, 2026, is re-entering the sign of Aries until April 17, 2027. Chiron represents the danger of inflicting self-harm when you go through frightening situations. Yet, more im -
it was back in the day. We are now more mature, risk-averse, and will- ing to invest time and resources to ensure a foray into expanded con- sciousness will be safe and meaningful. An Emerging Phenomenon As someone who came of age in the 1970s, my youthful experiences with psychedelics ended when I got married and had kids. Forty years later, after receiving a copy of How To Change Your Mind for my 60 th birthday, I decided to celebrate my entry into a new chapter of older age with a psilocybin experience. That opening into a new vision of myself as a vital, inquisitive elder led me on a journalistic journey, to investigate if mine was an isolated experience, or whether older adults doing psychedelics was, in fact, “a thing.” (Spoiler alert: it is!) Over a period of about a year, I sought out other older journeyers to hear their stories of how, why, where and what the outcomes were of their psychedelic experiences. Ultimately, those 36 interviews formed the basis for my book, Psychedelics and the Counterculture of Aging . Everything about the people I interviewed was notably diverse. They represented different ages — from their 50s to 80s. They were trying different psychedelic medicines, in different contexts, with different intentions. Some had experienced psychedelics back in the day and, like me, returned to them after a decades-long hiatus. Some found healing from deep, psychological trauma. Others found that entering sacred space through psychedelics allowed their authen- tic voice to come through, bringing profound, transformative insights.
Source: CC0 Public Domain portantly, Chiron represents how you bring healing into your life and the lives of others. In the sign of Aries, it’s all about you — the health of your physical body and the understanding of your personal identity. It’s knowing you don’t need to give up your individuality in order to get along with others. Astrologically the fall quarter starts on September 22, 2026, at the time of fall equinox when the Sun enters the sign of Libra. Spiritually this is when you move from focusing on your needs to the needs of others. During this Equinox you start re-evaluating your relationships as the Sun forms a trine to Pluto retrograde (the planet of passion and
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18—PATHWAYS—Fall 26
PATHWAYS—Fall 26—19
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