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MIND • BODY • SPIRIT • ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES IN THE WASHINGTON DC METRO AREA PATHWAYS NOW IN OUR 46th YEAR SUMMER 21 • FREE
FRESHFARM FoodPrints: Wellness In The Kitchen & Outdoors • Weight Loss With Functional Medicine Through A Yogic Lens: Cultural Appropriation? Or Something Deeper? • DMV Update On Cannabis Laws • Summer Herbal Recipes • Re-evaluating Your Life • Vision For Living In Integrity With Creation Why Do We Mow? • Mindfulness In Everyday Life • Sensitivity Smarts • Surrendering To Transformation Tough Summer Plants For Our Region • Biden’s New Civilian Climate Corps • Healing Power Of Flower Remedies • Pathways In Memoriam • Pathways 51st Natural Living Expo August 1st: Preliminary Program www.PathwaysMagazineOnline.com
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Lou deSabla Publisher Erin deSabla Publisher; Events + Operations + Business Development Michelle Alonso Editor, Magazine &Web Content; Social Media + Marketing Claudia Neuman Operations + Sales + Event Support Amaya Roberson Sales + Event Support Ann Silberlicht Graphic Design Maya Rose Tweten Magazine &Website, Design + Production Contributing Editors Cam MacQueen Kathy Jentz ContributingWriters Michelle Alonso Helena Amos Martha Garland Trish Hall Meredith Kinner Misty Kuceris Jill Mattson John McGowan Alyce Ortuzar On The Cover Eyes of Nature By Christina Le Circulation Pathways Staff SUMMER 21 Volume 46, Number 2 Published quarterly with the season change by LOU & ERIN DESABLA PATHWAYS MAGAZINE 6501 Eastern Ave. Takoma Park, MD 20912 www.pathwaysmagazineonline.com PH: 240-247-0393 (Mon. – Thurs. • 12 PM to 5 PM) ADVERTISING EMAIL: pathwaysads@gmail.com Ad Rates Available Online: www.pathwaysmagazineonline.com Deadline for Editorial and Advertising are 2/10, 5/10, 8/10 and 11/10. Alyce Ortuzar Rose Rosetree Cynthia Sampson Hannah Schiff Anjali Sunita Patricia Ullman Book Reviews Publication is approximately four weeks after the deadlines. Please email all arti- cles as file attachments to the Editor at:
MInd • Body • Spirit • Environmental Resources Since 1979
What We Are About Pathways Productions is a full-service advertising, marketing, event and publishing company serv- ing the mind, body, spirit community since 1979. From the start, we have been a small, family-run business. 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 embrac- es these ideals; we are a conduit—a pathway—for the most loving and dynamic insights and informa- tion 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 are of their opinion and are 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 event planning support, we offer businesses opportunities to market themselves through a variety of channels, and use our ex - pertise to facilitate this growing network. Pathways is your one-stop resource to make connections, nurture growth and achieve success. Finding Pathways During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Pathways Magazine went all digital. We are returning to print effective Summer 2021! We are also launching a new and improved website that will feature our current issue, as well as a magazine archive, where you can view issues dating back to 2010. Visit our “Where To Find” page online for the nearest locations in Maryland, DC and Virginia to pick up your print copy. Subscriptions for Pathways Magazine are available for $12/year and direct-mailed. Order yours through our website: www.pathwaysmagazineonline.com. Advertising In Pathways Pathways has provided Mind-Body-Spirit-Eco resources to the Washington DC Metro area and be - yond for over forty years. Advertising opportunities are available through all of our outreach chan - nels: our free quarterly journal, Pathways Magazine, distributed in print and digitally; our hosted events, and our comprehensive website and growing social media presence. For more information, upcoming deadlines and our editorial calendar, visit us online.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Summer 2021 — What’s Inside
PATHWAYS PROFILE FRESHFARM FoodPrints: Making Space for Wellness in the Kitchen and Outdoors.....................7 By Hannah Schiff YOGA TODAY Through a Yogic Lens: Is It Really Cultural Appropriation? Or Something Deeper?.......................9 By Anjali Sunita TO YOUR HEALTH Weight Loss With Functional Medicine ...........................................................................................11 By Helena Amos ENVIRONMENTAL & SOCIAL JUSTICE Cannabis in the D-M-V: Update on Cannabis Laws in DC, MD & VA.............................................13 By Meredith Kinner and John McGowan HERB CORNER Staff Summer Picks: Herbal Recipes and Remedies .......................................................................15 Edited by Michelle Alonso ASTROLOGICAL INSIGHTS Re-evaluating Your Life....................................................................................................................17 By Misty Kuceris CULTIVATING COMPASSION Vision for Living in Integrity With Creation....................................................................................19 By Cynthia Sampson; Edited by Cam MacQueen GREEN NEWS & VIEWS Why Do We Mow?............................................................................................................................21 By Alyce Ortuzar MIND-BODY-SPIRIT Mindfulness in Everyday Life..........................................................................................................25 By Patricia Ullman ENERGETIC LITERACY Sensitivity Smarts............................................................................................................................27 By Rose Rosetree MIND-BODY-SPIRIT Cracking the Chrysalis—Surrendering to Transformation.............................................................29 By Trish Hall WASHINGTON GARDENER Three Tough Summer Garden Plants for Our Region....................................................................52 By Kathy Jentz RESOURCES FOR CREATIVE LIVING • Biden Administration Proposes New Civilian Climate Corps................................................................................24 • The Healing Power of Flower Remedies, by Martha Garland................................................................................49 • Change Your Life With the Sound of Your Voice, by Jill Mattson.........................................................................69 • Sapiens , Book Review by Alyce Ortuzar.................................................................................................................70 • Natural Living Expo Preliminary Program.............................................................................................................34 • Community News: In Memoriam – Honoring Lost Friends..................................................................................83 • Summer Events Calendar........................................................................................................................................40 • Pathways Resource Directory..................................................................................................................................56 • Advertiser Index......................................................................................................................................................88
FRESHFARM FoodPrints Program helps families share experiences cooking together and learning about the natural world. Story on page 7.
ON THE COVER: EYES OF NATURE, By Christina Le, young artist and AEHS student in the MCPS Visual Art Center (VAC) Program. Story on page 82.
PATHWAYS 51st NATURAL LIVING EXPO ~ Aug 1, 2021 An Invitation From Your Pathways Team Join us at our Natural Living Expo. It’s been a long, challenging year for everyone and we cannot wait to gather together with our first-ever summer show! Admission is $15, or just $10 with our discount coupon available on our website. Your entry is access to our 100+ exhibitors, and allows you to attend up to 8 of the 40+ workshops offered—all included in the price of admission! We are so excited to see you all in person when we return to the College Park Marriott at the University of Maryland this summer. See the preliminary program starting on page 34. Watch for event updates through social media and online on our NEW website.
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PATHWAYS PROFILE
FRESHFARM FoodPrints: Making Space for Wellness in the Kitchen & Outdoors
Resources to help families share joyful experiences cooking together and learning about the natural world
BY HANNAH SCHIFF, LEAD EDUCATOR & PROGRAM MANAGER
Through the past year, families have been receiving many tips on how to stay healthy, fit, and well during a pandemic. This influx of information and advice can be hard to fit into fam - ily life—enter FRESHFARM FoodPrints. Our health and well - ness resources focus on fun family activities that are part of ev- ery day exploration outdoors and in the kitchen. For us, learning, joy, and wellness go hand in hand and depend on one another. FRESHFARM FoodPrints integrates gardening, cooking, and nu - trition education into the elementary school curriculum through a model of partnerships, standards-based curriculum, cafeteria con- nections and food access at 15 elementary schools across Washing - ton, D.C. Our expert educators teach hands-on lessons that get stu- dents excited about growing, preparing and enjoying fresh, local whole foods—and bring science, math and social studies to life—with the goal of improving health outcomes of children and families. Learning About Cooking and Science at Home At the outset of the pandemic, FoodPrints educators worked to - gether to create FoodPrints Anywhere with videos, guides, and ac - tivities that help families build cooking skills and nutrition knowl- edge, learn about science and math in the garden and kitchen, and cook and eat nutritious recipes together at home (www.freshfarm. org/foodprints/foodprints-anywhere). The goal of FoodPrints Any - where is for families to be able to recreate the fun and engaging el- ements of the FoodPrints in-school experience in their own homes with minimal supplies and minimal screen time. With a variety of seasonal produce readily available, as well as relaxed routines during summer break, now is a great time to explore and enjoy. Some examples of resources in FoodPrints Anywhere include: • The Salad Dressing Challenge: A guide for students and fami l i es on how to invent their very own salad dressing with ingredients they have on hand. • 5 Senses Taste Test: Students and families explore any food in their kitchen using their 5 Senses. • Discover the Ingredients in Soil: Students become soil scientists by observing and sorting all of the different ingredients that they find in soil they collect near their home. • Make your own mancala board: A video and written directions so students can learn how to make a mancala game board out of recycled materials, and then learn how to play the game. • Social Emotional Learning videos: A series of Social Emotional Well - ness videos to help students and families manage stress and new ex- periences Many of these resources are available in Spanish: Food - Prints Donde Sea, aprendiendo actividades en Español. We hope that FoodPrints Anywhere can help families make much needed space for a break from computers and phones and create excitement and laughter for families everywhere. Families Cooking Together On our FoodPrints Anywhere site, we have two sections dedicat - ed to cooking skills and recipe videos. These videos and our cooking with kids guide offer ideas that make cooking as a family doable and
enjoyable. Our videos are geared towards elementary-age students, so that kids can learn skills and make recipes that allow them to take on a larger role in cooking meals for their families. For example, through our videos, kids can learn how to cut onions or make fried rice. We really believe that children, even as young as Pre-K age, can be helpful to their parents in the kitchen. Cooking together can deepen family relationships by increasing collaboration and cre- ating unique time for parents and kids to chat and spend time to- gether. During in-school FoodPrints classes, students take the helm when cooking—they happily chop, mix, stir, set the tables, and gather around to eat together. By using our videos and recipe guides, we hope that similar experiences can be recreated at home. We provide more fun, engaging, and creative resources in the areas of cooking, gardening, science, and physical activity on our Food- Prints Instagram. Archived live events with our teachers include: rec - ipe classes on how to make Smashed Chickpea and Avocado Salad; Mini Pizzas at Home made by FoodPrints students at School Without Walls at Francis Stevens
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Making hand-shaken design-your- own salad dressing at home during the pandemic
Early spring kale harvest at Bur- roughs Elementary
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YOGA TODAY
Through A Yogic Lens: Is It Really Cultural Appropriation? Or Something Deeper?
prayer beads? Should I wear bindis? Should I or shouldn’t I speak Sanskrit names in classes? Frequently the onus of education lands on an isolated South Asian practitioner who will be either pedes - taled or gaslighted for her/his/their opinions. If the opinions are unwanted, a troll will pitch in the obligatory, “If you are so unhap- py here, you should just go back home” or “Nobody owns Yoga!”. Identities Not Trends It is not a coincidence that a conversation that frequent- ly begins with cultural values, meanings, and practices quick- ly devolves into debates over citizenship and ownership. In an article entitled From Patañjali to the “Gospel of Sweat”: Yoga’s Remarkable Transformation from a Sacred Movement into
BY ANJALI SUNITA
We’ve all seen it: the deity tattoos, the turbans, self-appointed spiritual names, goddess circles, Yoga business courses, pornograph- ic Yoga pose selfies, events described as “tribal” galore. If you like Yoga or are of Indian ancestry, you will have been berated with these aesthetics through the algorithms on Instagram or Facebook. In the past decade, discussions about cultural appropriation have moved from academic and legal spheres to mainstream political con- troversy. On the far right of the cultural appropriation debate, you have defenders of artistic evolution and free market self expression, fearing censorship by the “culture police”; and on the far left there are those seeking acknowledgment of roots and cultural values, re-
sisting “cultural cleansing” by assimi- lation. Is it really so black and white? Savitha Enner, a Maryland-based Yoga teacher who was born and raised in India until the age of 27, presents a bigger picture: “Every country has an aspiration… and virtues, and values, and actions… the way you act usually; there is the culture. In India, one of the main val- ues for your life is making your life sa- cred. That means, if I am a farmer, I am going to treat my farmland as my god, so I have rituals, pujas, prayers, festivals, a few times a year to worship the farmland, because that’s where I get the fruit of my labor. If I am a stu- dent, I have prayers, pujas, and fes- tivals a few times a year to celebrate
a Thriving Global Market , recently published by Administrative Science Quarterly, Kamal Munir, Shahzad Ans - uri, and Deborah Brown report, “Yoga went from a movement underpinned by a religious and meditative philoso- phy that took years to learn to one that advocated weekend courses to become a Yoga instructor. Yoga postures were copyrighted and franchised. The repre- sentation of Yoga in popular discourse, and the values associated with it, also underwent transformation. Its image went from pictures of Yoga gurus med- itating in loincloths to athletic women in acrobatic poses that represented a blend of ballet, gymnastics, and Yoga. Many of these women emerged as the new gurus serving as role models for
books, knowledge, writing instruments like pens and even computers. If I have a job where I service the country…one of the sayings that will be put up on a building would be ‘your work is god’…even your car…because that is the mode of transportation. So pretty much any - thing that is useful to you is sacred. By that definition, we can extend it to Yoga…how do you treat things that are sacred to you? You are going to treat it with gratitude…humility…love…. Nobody has to tell me Yoga is sacred, or not; it just is. The more useful it is to you, the more sacred it is to you. So you do not have to ask anybody about whether I should say ‘Namaste’ or not, whether I should put up a deity or not. If you think Yoga practice is sacred to you…act accordingly, act in a way that feels that Yoga is sacred to you and it will be fine.” Between all the pithy memes of digital activism, Indian practi - tioners are painted with the same brush, a monolith of cultures and perspectives. Some question whether digital activism truly honors diverse values of the diaspora and ancestors. Savitha’s perspective shows there is a wider range of response than what we see in trend- ing click bait. The danger in it is that those who are looking for a single Indian person to approve and validate their behaviors as well as those who romanticize Indian people and cultures may take her statement as justification for any action they wish to justify, rather than genuinely inquiring into one’s relationship to the sanctity of life. Frequently online, at best, we sit at the surface. Well-wishers seek- ing not to offend will ask for a list, a never-ending education of do’s and dont’s. Do I or don’t I say ‘Namaste’? How do I wear and hold
urban middle-class women the world over.” Once inspired by Hindu philosophy, led by ascetics who provided an antidote to the individu- alism, greed, and consumerism fostered by capitalism, the meaning and values of Yoga were changed to meet the market. They outline how the Yoga movement was first “de-essentialized,” untangled from its socio-historical context, then syncretized with markets; and lastly, borrowed codes from related movements, in this case, the New Age and fitness movements. Part and parcel of capitalism, they note that movements seeking to infuse markets with moral values often end up utilizing the market mechanism and support from mainstream actors to scale up, even if it comes at the cost of diluting their founding ethos. At the center of many debates around cultural appropriation is the publication Yoga Journal , as it provides a perfect example of the capitalization and whitewashing imagery associated with Yoga me - dia, excluding or marginalizing the image BIPOC. The very first ep - isode of the viral podcast Yoga is Dead , Tejal and Jesal call out Yoga Journal’s response to the American Hindu Association, when they complain that Yoga Journal doesn’t reference Hinduism (www.yo - gaisdeadpodcast.com). To them, Yoga Journal responded that Hin - duism “carries too much baggage.” Jesal and Tejal provide a second example of the whitewashing imagery, when Yoga Journal agreed to put Jessamyn Stanley, a full-bodied queer black femme on the cov - er, but then seemingly threatened by this emerging market for larg-
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TO YOUR HEALTH
Weight Loss With Functional Medicine
• Often hungry • Light-headed and weak with long breaks without food • Tremors and increased appetite during eating; difficulty reaching satiety. Diagnosing high levels of insulin should be done with venous blood (a normal blood test; after levels are determined, monitor- ing can be done with blood from a finger prick), and a glucose tol - erance test. If blood glucose drops too much 2 hours after ingesting the glucose drink, it indicates insulin resistance and its overpro- duction. High levels of insulin or sugar can also be related to high levels of LDL, or bad cholesterol, and possibly to a fatty liver. Functional Medicine Approach To Obesity Weight loss and management from a Functional Medicine per - spective involves taking the full picture of the person’s current health status, and using the results of comprehensive testing to address
BY HELENA AMOS, M.AC., L.AC., EURO. PHYSICIAN
The struggle with weight loss and weight control is a deep- ly personal one. From the clinician perspective, I see patients so often who have tried every variation and plan for diet and ex- ercise and still nothing works, leaving patients frustrated and feeling helpless. Why does this happen? Often, the problem is much deeper than can be solved simply by diet and exercise. The fact is obesity is a chronic disease of a metabolic nature that leads to excessive development of fat, which leads to cardiovascu- lar disease, Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, fatty liver disease and more. The conventional thinking has largely been that a seden- tary lifestyle and overeating are the main causes of obesity; howev- er, not everyone who overeats and doesn’t exercise is overweight. BMI, or BodyMass Index, is how obesity is typically assessed. This is calculated by weight in kilos divided by height in meters squared. For adults, a person’s BMI is considerednormal or healthy if it falls between 18 to 25; 25 to 30 is the overweight range; low risk obesity falls within 30 to 35; moderate risk fall between 35; and over 40 is considered severely (high risk) obese. And it should be noted these classifications could vary depending on muscle mass with similar height and weight. That’s why BMI is not very reliable as a sole measurement. Lately we also take waist measurements into consideration. Normally, inwomen, this should not exceed 31”; and 37” in men. An example to consider: if a woman has a pear-shaped body, she would not necessarily be obese; but a woman shaped like an apple would be very dangerously ob ese. The Role of Fat (Pun Intended!) As it turns out, fat is a particularly important endocrine organ. When fat builds up on the abdomen, it’s not only immediately be- low the skin surface, but can also be around organs such as the liv- er, stomach, pancreas, etc. The question becomes how much fat is surrounding these organs; excessive internal fat can hinder the activity of these organs. This can lead to: cardiovascular dis- ease; diabetes; hypertension; osteoarthritis; infertility; gout; can- cer; low levels of sex hormones (progesterone, estradiol, testos- terone); and can even reduce life expectancy by up to 12 years. With this information, obesity is now considered to be a hormonal metabolicdisease,withcauses attributed to: 1) lowsecretionof fat burn - ing hormones; 2) low level of vitamins and microelements responsible for fat metabolism; 3) high secretion of fat building hormones such as cortisol andinsulin;4) chronicovereating; and5) lowphysical activities. High levels of cortisol and insulin are problematic for weight loss and weight control, among other issues. Cortisol is a stress hormone. Under stress, in small dosages, it acts as a fat burning substance; however, during chronic stress, it creates fat expansion, particular- ly around the waist. Insulin is a hormone required for absorption of glucose into the cells. Increasing waist measurements by even half an inch means you will require more insulin to perform the same amount of work, and over time, cells become resistant to insulin receptors. So, the key doesn’t fit the lock. As a result, glucose cannot penetrate those cells starving for energy, and extra glucose built up in the blood turns into fat tissue. Extra insulin creates all kinds of inflammation and growths such as cysts, skin tags, even tumors and cancerous growths. Following are the clinical signs of high insulin level: • Hyperpigmentation of elbows, underarms, creases, back of the neck • Ability to pinch greater than 1 inch of skin • Sweet cravings
the dangerous insulin levels, as well as the other contributing fac- tors to the why and how those levels reached the point of high risk and severity. Controlling insulin levels can then be done with prop- er diet and healthy eating habits, as well as with lifestyle chang- es, nutritional & hormonal supplements, and even acupuncture. The first line approach is an appropriate diet and healthy eating and lifestyle routines. Consider the following tips: • Do not skip breakfast. Skipping breakfast can set the body up on an insulin level high for the whole day. Instead, be sure to have a daily breakfast that includes protein and good fat, such as an omelet, yo- gurt, low fat cheese, nuts/nut butters, and lean organic turkey breast and more; for vegans/vegetarians, include a protein powder with full amino acids. • Do not have snacks. Frequent snacking triggers insulin production throughout the day, increasing the opportunity for fat formation. Eat 3 times a day. • Eat complex carbs only during the first part of the day. Your dinner should be protein and good fat, and include low glycemic veggies (there are plenty to choose from!): carrots, greens (spinach, kale, collards, beet), green beans, tomatoes, cucumbers, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, mushrooms, and many more.
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ENVIRONMENTAL & SOCIAL JUSTICE
Cannabis In The D-M-V
Summer 2021 Update on Cannabis Laws in DC, MD & VA
medical cannabis program was administered by the Department of Health, but in Fall 2020, the Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Ad - ministration assumed responsibility for its administration. ABRA will be accepting applications for another dispensary, two addition- al cultivation centers and two testing facilities in Summer 2021. As discussed above, the Constitution imbues Congress with the power to largely control the District’s budget. When the D.C. Council passes a municipal budget, it is automatically incorporated into the federal budget. This means that members of Congress have the ability to single handedly influence how the District is permitted to allocate its budget. What does all this have to do with cannabis? Good question. In Fall 2014, District voters overwhelmingly passed Ballot Initiative 71 (or I-71 as it is colloquially referred to), which legalized (kind of) adult-use cannabis. Under I-71, it is legal for an adult (age 21 and older) to possess and transport up to 2 ounces of cannabis, and to transfer up to 1 ounce of cannabis to another adult. One adult is also permitted to cultivate no more than 6 cannabis plants in their principal residence,
BY MEREDITH KINNER AND JOHN MCGOWAN
Forty-nine states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. territories of Guam, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands currently have laws which legalize cannabis or low-THC CBD for medical use. And, as of Summer 2021 , 19 states, the District of Columbia, Guam and the NorthernMariana Islands will have legalized adult use cannabis. Despite the overwhelming trend toward legaliza - tion at the state level, cannabis is still 100% illegal at the federal level. The proliferation of legalized cannabis has forced the industry to reconcile with the fact it has traditionally been considered an industry largely occupied by white males. Many Black and Brown individuals have been historically prohibited from participating in the legal in- dustry, as an owner or employee, either due to a prior felony drug con- viction and/or lack of access to capital. The hypocrisy of preventing people with drug convictions from legally selling drugs, particularly in light of the Black Lives Matter movement and the national reckoning
with systemic racism, has not been lost on state legislators. Over the past few years jurisdictions that have legalized adult use cannabis have all passed laws that include social equity provisions. These are intended to address some of these inequities and provide a pathway for BIPOC and others that have been harmed by the war on drugs to meaningfully participate in the lucrative legal cannabis market. The laws here in the tri-state area, which includes the District, Mary - land and Virginia, are no exception. I. Washington, D.C. The District is a unique juris- diction for many reasons, not the least of which is its relationship with Congress, which controls the District’s purse strings and has far reaching oversight over legislation put forward by the City Council as well as ballot initiatives adopted by District voters. To understand why Congress plays such an outsized
with 3 of the plants being mature and budding at any one time; and two adults may cultivate up to 12 plants in their principal residence with six being mature at one time. An adult is also permitted to pos - sess the harvest from their legally grown plants in their residence. Shortly after I-71 was passed by District voters Representative Andy Harris, a Republican Con - gressman fromMaryland’s Eastern Shore, authored an amendment, or “rider”, which was included in the federal budget. Harris’s budget rider prevented the District from using its budget to “enact any law, rule, or regulation to legalize or otherwise reduce penalties asso- ciated with the possession, use, or distribution of [cannabis].” In this way the Harris Rider effectively prevents the District from using its own budget to develop and imple- ment the regulatory infrastructure required to create a taxed and reg- ulated adult-use cannabis market.
I-71’s restraint on the actual sale of cannabis has created a gray economy where businesses transfer or “gift” legal amounts of can- nabis to adults. These small businesses largely operate as any oth- er small retailer would, except when a customer purchases a retail product, say a T-shirt or art, they also receive a gift of cannabis. If a business is charging fair market value for its retail products, it can be said that there is no value being attached to the gift of cannabis. I-71 has co-existed with the Harris Rider because the rider only prevents the District from enacting any law which legalizes the sale and possession of cannabis; the Harris Rider does not prevent the District from carrying out any law which legalizes cannabis. This distinction is important. I-71 does not run afoul of the Harris Rider,
role inDistrictaffairs,wehavetostartwiththeFoundingFathers.Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution allows Congress to “exercise exclusive” control over the District in “all cases whatsoever”. This broad language essentiallygrantsCongressunfetteredcontrol over theDistrict’s affairs. In 1998, HIV/AIDS activists in the District succeeded in get - ting medical cannabis on the ballot. The measure passed with 70% approval, but Congress intervened to prevent the District from implementing a regulatory structure. Congress lifted this pro- hibition in 2009, and the District began the process of licensing medical cannabis cultivators and dispensaries. In 2013, 15 years after the 1998 ballot measure was passed, the District’s first regis - tered patient was finally able to legally purchase medical cannabis. There are currently 7 dispensaries, 8 cultivation centers and 9,276 registered patients in the District. Until recently, the District’s
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PATHWAYS—Summer 21—13
Visit Our New & Improved Website For All Things Mind~Body~Spirit~Environment. www.PathwaysMagazineOnline.com
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14—PATHWAYS—Summer 21
HERB CORNER
Staff Summer Picks: Herbal Recipes and Remedies The summer season is abundant with fresh herbs just waiting to be plucked and enjoyed. Our region is blessed with many farmers markets, CSAs, com - munity gardens, and herbal and botanical shops where you can source your fresh or dried herbs, tinctures, tonics, and blends. A slower summer - time pace means time to explore and experiment with herbal recipes and remedies that are both de- licious and ripe with health and wellness benefits. We are excited about all the herbal oppor- tunities available in our area, so in the spir- it of community, we, the Pathways staff, share some of our seasonal favorites for you to try.
Sourcing Herbs Locally Need herbs? To get you started, and in addition to what’s been mentioned, here is a short list of the many area businesses where you can source all your herbal needs. Most are small, local, BIPOC-owned, and/or women-owned busi- nesses—please support them. AK Aveksha https://akaveksha.com Blue Nile Botanicals www.bluenilebotanicals.com Calabash Tea & Tonic www.calabashtea.com Charmington Holistics https://charmingtontonics. com Common Good City Farm www.CommonGoodCity - Farm.org DC Mutual Aid Apothe- cary https://linktr.ee/dcmutu - alaidapothecary District Herbs https://districtherbs.com Glut Food Co-op https://glut.org J Malv’s Pure & Natural https://www.etsy.com/ shop/JMalvsPureAndNat - ural Living Healthy Herbal Store https://www.facebook.com/ LivingHealthyLLC/
Fresh fennel. (Photo credit: ID 13565720 © Robert Sholl | Dreamstime.com)
Fennel Salad: Herbal Powerhouse
From Erin, Owner/Events Director
CBD Lavender Lemonade: Anxiety Aid
Fennel is a powerhouse herb packed with many benefits including antioxidant, anti-in - flammatory, and antibacterial effects. Fresh fen - nel bulb is an excellent source of Vitamin C and we could all use an immune boost right now. I love fennel year-round, but I especially love to add the bold flavor of fennel to my summer salads. My go-to Sunday fennel salad includes fresh fennel bulb (trim the stalks but save them for garnish), a few sliced tart green apples, pine nuts for crunch, a sliced hard-boiled egg, olive oil, a big squeeze of lemon juice, salt and pepper and fresh shaved par- mesan cheese. Easy, delicious and great for your digestive health! (For the vegans out there, simply omit the egg and substitute with vegan cheese.)
From Amaya, Events & Sales
My anxiety has been at an all-time high. Thankfully I’ve discovered CBD! CBD can ease the symptoms of anxiety, depression and pain. I prefer full spectrum CBD so I can ex - perience all the benefits of the plant; but CBD Isolate will also calm my frazzled nerves. Unlike full-spectrumCBD, CBD Isolate does not contain any THC. When I’m on the edge, a glass of CBD lavender lemonade brings me to the right lev - el of chill. I pick up my CBD tincture from District Hemp Botanicals (www.districthempstore.com), and use it to make this very easy homemade brew: Step 1. Steep a handful of lavender sprigs in 2 cups of boiling water for about 10 minutes. Strain and pour the water into a pitcher. Step 2. I use 2 droppers of Full Spectrum CBD tincture, then add another 14-ish cups of water. Step 3. Stir in 1-cup honey and the juice from 8 lemons. Pour a tall glass over ice, add a laven - der sprig and lemon wedge for garnish. It’s even better when I can enjoy a glass on my porch with a lovely summer cross-breeze as my anxiety melts away. This recipe makes a gallon that can be enjoyed all week.
Ginger ‘Latte’
From Claudia, Sales & Operations Manager
I believe in ginger. It should be consumed as much as possible for a variety of reasons, but main- ly for digestive health and respiratory functions. My favorite recipe with ginger is an Ayurvedic drink that is made with: • 1 cup Almond Milk • Raw ginger (amount is to taste) • Raw almonds (you can also soak them overnight and remove the skin when ready to use) The milk should be mildly heated, adding in the raw ginger, almonds, and a few pinches of the Ayurvedic herbs Cumin and Fennel, and a good ‘plop’ of Ghee. Stir all together, remove from the heat, and then blend this all up. I recommend us- ing a Vitamix if you have one, which makes a nice froth, and turns this into an amazing Ojas-build - ing latte that can be sipped on throughout the day. • Cumin • Fennel • Ghee
Hawthorn and Hibiscus Ice Pops
From Ann, Graphic Designer
As summer gets closer I am looking forward to cooling off with these Hawthorn and Hibiscus Ice Pops, which I found at LearningHerbs.com. I love their gorgeous raspberry color, and the fact that they are sweetened with honey instead of sugar. For added goodness, hawthorn modu- lates inflammation, and hibiscus quenches thirst. What you’ll need...
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PATHWAYS—Summer 21—15
16—PATHWAYS—Summer 21
ASTROLOGICAL INSIGHTS
Re-evaluating Your Life BY MISTY KUCERIS ©2021
The Moon, which rep - resents water and your emotions, can often ex- tinguish the Sun, which represents fire and your vitality. The Sun also rep - resents how to take action in your life. Yet, the Moon indicates how to protect yourself in order to sur- vive. Often when an an- nular solar eclipse occurs, you find you want to shine but others won’t let you. Since the Sun and Moon are in Gemini, look
As the Summer Quarter for the year 2021 begins, you find your - self in a period of reflection, especially with Mercury in Gemini still retrograde. It went retrograde on May 29, 2021. In general, the Summer Quarter is always a time period of reflection because one- fourth of the astrological year is over as well as half of the calen- dar year. But this year it may be more important than ever before. With more vaccines available to the public there is a re-evalua- tion of what it means to wear a mask and social distance. With in- creased sensitivity to diversity as well as global events there is a re-evaluation of how to treat human beings and listen to their needs. During the month of June there are several major astrologi- cal events. The first major event is the second eclipse of the year, which occurs on June 10th. This is an Annular Solar Eclipse. Solar eclipses occur during the time of a new Moon. In this case both the Sun and Moon will be in Gemini and conjunct Mercury retrograde. An annular eclipse is an incredible sight. For people who live in the area of visibility, they will see a “ring of fire”. This means the Moon will obscure the Sun from the center and the edges of the Sun will shine brilliantly around that darkened Moon. If you live in portions of Canada, Greenland, and Russia you will see this ring of fire. Individuals living in Northern Asia, Europe, and the Unit - ed States will see a partial eclipse. Here in the greater DC met - ropolitan area, you’ll see the partial eclipse in the early morning hours, 5:47 am EDT, just after sunrise begins at 5:42 am EDT. The eclipse will end at 6:29 am EDT. This eclipse is part of Saros 147. During the time period of a solar eclipse, the Moon blocks the Sun.
for greater political problems, especially relating to free speech, in por- tionsofCanada,Greenland, andRussiawhere theactual annular eclipse is visible. In other parts of the world where the partial eclipse occurs, you’ll find difficulties with communications and also Internet services. Communications are very important right now because you may not be getting all the information you need, or you may be getting con- flicting information. So, research what you hear to discern the truth. When you are communicating with others, try not to say too much; just give them the information they need. The reason is you need to guard your privacy at this time—information breaches may occur. On a more spiritual level, when this eclipse occurs you’ll start think- ing about how you want to socialize with others. You’ll start wonder -
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PATHWAYS—Summer 21—17
ASTROLOGICAL INSIGHTS
Re-evaluating Your Life
...continued from page 17 ing how to communicate with your friends in a way you can all listen to each other. When Saturn retrograde forms a square to Uranus on June 14th, this is the second time this square occurs in this triad sequence. The first time it occurred was on February 17, 2021, when Saturn and Uranus were both direct. The last time it will occur is on December 24, 2021, when Saturn is direct and Uranus is retrograde. Triad sequences with outer planets are important because their influence lasts so long—in this case from February 2021 to the end of this year. And February 2021 was a very difficult month globally: from the impeachment trial of Donald Trump ending in acquittal, to the major snow and ice storm that spread from Texas to Maine; from the jailing of Alexey Navalny in Russia, to the Candle Lighting Service held by Joe Biden and Kama - la Harris honoring the 500,000 United States individuals who died due to COVID-19; and to the landing of NASA Perseverance on Mars. Saturn represents both infrastructure and authority figures, while Uranus represents unexpected events as well as war and rebellion. So, there’s little surprise the first time this aspect occurred in this triad sequence people experienced a lot of upheaval. Unfortunately, you’ll continue to see some of these events continue throughout the year. On a personal level, Saturn represents your foundation and the scaf - folding you build in your life so you can move forward as a member of society. In the positive, it represents cultivated gardens of a spiritual nature, which enable you to grow in a way that nourishes your life and the people you love. But in the negative, Saturn represents constrictions and rules preventing you from doing what you want. So, the first time this aspect occurred in February, it was important to look at the struc- ture you created in your life that provided you with safety and security. Meanwhile Uranus represents your desire for personal freedom and living a life where you can be accepted for who you are. Uranus also represents the unexpected. So this is a time period to understand what you need to do on a routine basis while also maintaining flexibility in your life because you will experience some unexpected changes. Basically, when Saturn retrograde forms the square to Uranus, take the time to think about what occurred in February 2021 and if you need to address anything from that time period. Realize you’ll still get conflicting information regarding the pandemic and what to expect when you’re going about in the world. Take time to consider how you want to make changes in your life while still keeping a sense of sta- bility. And, more importantly, be flexible as you reflect on your life. Needing to be flexible with your goals is more evident as Jupiter in Pisces turns retrograde on June 20th. Jupiter only entered the sign of Pisces on May 13th, so it hasn’t been in this sign for very long. As a matter of fact, it’s only at 2 degrees of Pisces as it’s changing direction. When Jupiter enters a new sign, there is a paradigm shift in the world. This shift occurs about every twelve years and in general fo- cuses on commerce, religion, technology, and legislation. Specifically when Jupiter enters the sign of Pisces, you see more emphasis on the pharmaceutical industry and medical centers, spiritual and creative matters, disenfranchised or marginalized segments of society, as well as fantasy and illusion. Also what tends to happen when an outer plan - et enters a new sign is it goes into the new sign for just a short time pe- riod and, as Jupiter is doing now, retrogrades so it returns back to the previous sign for a short time period, as Jupiter will do July 28, 2021. With Jupiter now in retrograde motion, it’s important to under- stand your spiritual nature and creative drives. (Jupiter will be ret- rograde until October 18, 2021, when it turns direct in the sign of Aquarius.) You need to be able to separate illusion and fantasy from continued on page 75
18—PATHWAYS—Summer 21
CULTIVATING COMPASSION
Vision For Living In Integrity With Creation
BY CYNTHIA SAMPSON
“Where there is no vision, the people perish.” Proverbs 29:18 “We are not a collection of objects, we are a communion of subjects.” Fr. Thomas Berry The question I wish to explore here is, how do we realize— how do we “make real”—a vision for dwelling as a “communion of subjects”? To state it more simply, we are not a collection of things; we are a community of life, a communion of living beings. And then, to frame the question more complete - ly: How do we live in integrity —“in unbroken whole- ness and completeness ”—with that community of life? Giving Voice To The Whole This is such a formative moment for the global environment and for all of life on Earth. Indeed, it would appear to be the most consequential juncture in the history of humanity. At this evo - lutionary turning point, how do we shift the paradigm from en- lightened self-interest to mutually assured survival? From breakdown to breakthrough? How do we move beyond surviv - ing to thriving as a unified whole within the community of life? There is of course already a wholeness to ecological life and systems on planet Earth. How do we awaken to a deeper understanding of this essential fabric of life and our rightful place in it? How do we give voice to that whole in our everyday living? How can we hear and create and act and build and live and love in ways that cherish, nurture, and en-
Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash
liven the whole of creation short of a wake-up wrought by our devasta- tion of nature and her abilities to absorb, inoculate, save, and renew? With ecological change happening in every backyard—with glob- al climate change, galloping extinctions, food systems in distress, and multiple other forms of environmental destruction—the par- adigm-shifting train has left the station. Do we humans chug along in its wake and take what comes, or can we envision new ways that guide us to a more visionary and empowered future? Ultimately, how would we then reflect these insights in our moral behavior and our so - cial, civil, deliberative, governing, and legal processes going forward? At an earlier stage in my life, I spent two decades working in the
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PATHWAYS—Summer 21—19
CULTIVATING COMPASSION
field of international conflict resolution, mainly as a scholar of and advocate for religiously motivated peacemaking. I came to appreciate how people who engaged this work from different religious, spiritu - al, indigenous, and ethical traditions each brought something spe- cial to the table. Some focused on changing unjust systems; some on change of consciousness; and some on relationship-building, to name but three examples. It became clear there was no one right way, but rather the full spectrum of approaches was needed to “get the job done”—to progress toward peace, healing, and reconciliation. These days I ask, in a broader context, if we were to be more pro- tective of the natural ecosystems upon which the viability and quality of all life depend, would we not also, in time, become less destruc- tive (as through competition, socio-economic development, decline and decay, or warfare) of the infrastructures of human society? And still a step further, if the human race were to live in ways that re - spected,valued,andprotectedothernonhumanlifeformsaswellastheir natural living systems, might that not, in time, radically transform the way we treat those who are different from us—people of other cultures, regions, races, religions, gender identities, income levels, and climes? It would no longer be the ultimate insult to call someone “an animal,” “a pig,” “a chicken,” “a rat,” “a skunk,” “a fat cow”—and the list goes on! An extreme case in point was the systematic Nazi strategy of label - ing Jews as “vermin” in an effort to dehumanize them, justify herding them into concentration camps, and ultimately, exterminate the en- tire race. This story is told in Eternal Treblinka: Our Treatment of Animals and the Holocaust , by Charles Patterson, with a Foreword by Lucy Rosen Kaplan, who is the daughter of Holocaust survivors Vision For Living In Integrity... ...continued from page 19
and a former attorney for People for the Ethi- cal Treatment of Animals (Lantern Books, 2002). In short, if we were to stop exploiting Earth’s non-human species and instead were to honor and protect them, might we ultimately stop demoniz - ing those human identity groups that are different from our own, or what conflict resolution theory calls “the enemy other”? If we were to truly live as one with the fullness of being rather than objecti- fying the world around us and instrumentalizing it for our own small purpos-
Photo by Rishi Ragunathan on Unsplash es, what wonders might become visible to us that are currently be- yond our view? And outside of our reach? Here I summon a deeply wise quote from almost a century ago, by American writer and nat - uralist Henry Beston, writing in his book, The Outermost House: A Year of Life on the Great Beach of Cape Cod (Doubleday, 1928): “We need another and a wiser and perhaps a more mystical concept of animals. Remote from universal nature, and living by complicated
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20—PATHWAYS—Summer 21
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