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From Hangovers To Hope: How Derek Brown Became A Mindful Drinker And You Can, Too Animal Medicine And Holism • Zero Proof Herbalism: Botanicals In Bar Craft • Kundalini Awakening Understanding The Nature Of Suffering • Disaster Preparedness For Animals • Winter Plant Picks Part 3 Zero Balancing Therapy • Support Local Bottle Bills • Meditating Through Grief… And More
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PATHWAYS—Winter 24-25—3
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4—PATHWAYS—Winter 24-25
LIFE CHANGING SPEAKERS Winter 2025
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PATHWAYS—Winter 24-25—5
Erin Desabla Owner & Publisher; Events + Operations + Business Development Michelle Alonso
Editor, Magazine & Web Content; Social Media + Marketing, Events Claudia Neuman Operations + Sales + Event Support Amaya Roberson Sales + Event Support Ann Silberlicht Graphic Design
MInd • Body • Spirit • Environmental Resources Since 1979
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 $16/year and direct-mailed. Order yours through our website: www.PathwaysProductions.com/magazine/subscriptions. 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.
MayaRose Creative LLC Magazine & Website, Design + Production Contributing Editors Kathy Jentz Cam MacQueen Contributing Writers Idowu Adekoya Helena Amos, M.A. ,L.AC. Philip R. Appel, PhD Derek Brown Emily Jennings Kelly Johnston Misty Kuceris Charles S. Masarsky, D.C. Bettina Perry Ruslana Remennikova Trey Sherard Casey Urban Jared Urchek, L.Ac, CZB Howard Edelstein Rev. Dr. Trish Hall Rebecca Henson
Book Reviews Alyce Ortuzar On The Cover SERENITY By Frankie Alika Circulation 12K copies by Pathways Staff WINTER 24-25 Volume 49, Number 4 Published quarterly with the season change by ERIN DESABLA PATHWAYS PRODUCTIONS 7407 Aspen 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. Publication is approximately four weeks after the deadlines. Please email all arti- cles as file attachments to the Editor at:
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6—PATHWAYS—Winter 24-25
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Winter 2024-25 — What’s Inside
PATHWAYS PROFILE From Hangovers to Hope: How I Became a Mindful Drinker, and You Can, Too ..............................9 By Derek Brown MIND-BODY-SPIRIT Animal Medicine & Holism: The Word Medicine & Evolving with the Ancient Animal Language ...11 By Ruslana Remennikova MIND-BODY-SPIRIT Understanding the Nature of Suffering ...............................................................................................13 By Philip Appel, Ph.D. GREEN NEWS & VIEWS Plastic Bottles Don’t Need To Be Litter: Support Local Bottle Bills ...................................................15 By Trey Sherard, Anacostia Riverkeeper ASTROLOGICAL INSIGHTS Winter 2024: Moon-Driven Desires and Compassion ........................................................................17 By Misty Kuceris TO YOUR HEALTH Managing Gastritis ..............................................................................................................................20 By Helena Amos, M.Ac. L.Ac., Euro. Physician CULTIVATING COMPASSION: Animal Relief Efforts, Disaster Preparedness and Eco-Grief in the Aftermath of Hurricane Helene Keeping Families Together: Caring for Carolina Evacuees and Their Companion Animals in the Aftermath of Hurricane Helene ..............................................................................................27 By Kelly Johnston; edited by Cam MacQueen Disaster Preparedness for Animals ..................................................................................................30 By Howard Edelstein Combining Eco-Grief and Action on the Heels of Hurricane Helene ..............................................33 By Cam MacQueen GREEN NEWS & VIEWS Rachel Carson (Part Three): Resolving Ourselves To Do Good in the Natural World ......................35 By Rebecca Henson ACCESSING YOUR INTUITION Kundalini Awakening: An Exploration of Spiritual Transformation .................................................58 By Idowu Adekoya (Idow Soul) WASHINGTON GARDENER Winter Plant Picks - Part Three ..........................................................................................................64 By Kathy Jentz
Herbalists are a great resource when looking to explore Zero Proof, or non-al- coholic, drink preparations; history and wisdom are the ingredients for creating interesting, delicious craft mocktails and cocktails; by Bettina Perry. Page 53
It’s time to be gentle with ourselves and others; ask for and seek connection, and be the initiators of reconciliation conversations; by Rev. Dr. Trish Hall. Page 66
ON THE COVER: SERENITY, by Frankie Alika. Artist profile, page 69
MORE RESOURCES FOR CREATIVE LIVING • Meditating Through Grief, by Emily Jennings - pg 34 • ‘Say Ah!’ Exercises For Sleep Apnea, by Charles S. Masarsky, D.C. - pg 39 • Discover Zero Balancing: An East- Meets-West Touch Therapy, by Jared Urchek, L.Ac, CZB - pg 56 • Grief: A Personal Process, by Casey Urban - pg 62 • The District Welcomes WorldPride in 2025, by Michelle Alonso - pg 70 • Winter Events Calendar - pg 43 • Advertiser Index - pg 74
WINTER’S REST: A TIME FOR REFLECTION, RESOLUTION & HEALING PLUS SAVE THE DATES FOR PATHWAYS 2025 NATURAL LIVING EXPOS A Message From Your Pathways Team
After the frenzy of fall, and a long year of productivity and politics, we are ready for this season of quietude and introspection, and for some holiday joy. We want you rested and ready and looking forward to the three Natural Living Expos we have planned, including the return of a summer show! Plus, we will be celebrating Pathways Magazine all year long — it’s our 50th year in print! More on this to come. Until then, Pathways Community, a bit of mind-body-spirit hibernation will do us all a world of good, so we can take on the new challenges we’ll be facing in the New Year with fresh energy. This issue is full of content for a fireside read — spiritual exploration, health and wellness tips, and thoughtful pieces to guide your spirit. Rest well, friends, and from our families to yours, we wish you a wonderful holiday and winter season.
PATHWAYS—Winter 24-25—7
8—PATHWAYS—Winter 24-25
PATHWAYS PROFILE
From Hangovers to Hope: How I Became a Mindful Drinker, and You Can, Too
when it stopped working, the rush of pain and regret from reckless be- haviors set in. My relationships were strained, my health was less than optimal. I was not living up to the person I knew I could be. On the outside, I appeared successful. Inside, I was crumbling. The weight of my experience overtook the fantasy perpetuated by alcohol use. Throughout my life, I tried to grapple with the hold alcohol had on me. I was able to stop drinking in the sense that I didn’t wake up with an unquenchable thirst for it, but it always returned as a necessary medicine when the highs or lows became unbearable. It was a tool for me to escape my own thoughts, but it wasn’t the right tool, and when it ceased to work, the results were devastating. From Breakdown to Breakthrough When my son was born, I found myself at a turning point where I could either get help or continue these destructive patterns. One
BY DEREK BROWN
If you had a glass of wine or a cocktail last night, you’re among the 62% of Americans who drink alcohol. If you woke up this morning and swore off it, you may be among the half who want to moderate how they drink. There were many mornings when I woke up hungov- er myself — so often that I kept a kit ready: ibuprofen, ramen, and Gatorade. Of the many signs that your drinking may be out of control, none is clearer than anticipating a hangover with this level of detail. The culture around alcohol is changing, with younger generations adopting a more mindful approach, and an explosion of sophisticated non-alcoholic adult alternatives. At the same time, binge drinking re- mains at record levels, and pandemic drinking habits have persisted despite a return to normal conditions. It wasn’t just me, nor is it limit - ed to those with severe alcohol use disorder (AUD, commonly known
morning, I found myself curled up on the couch crying uncontrollably — this time too low for even alcohol to soothe. My son, only two at the time, tried to comfort me, nuzzling into me as he said, “It’s OK, daddy.” My heart shattered: I’m supposed to be the one to comfort him. I felt as though I had failed as a fa- ther, but I hadn’t. Reaching out for help was the first step toward becoming the father my son needed. I swallowed my pride and checked myself into an outpatient pro- gram. After getting help through thera- py and holistic practices such as medita- tion, nutrition, and positive psychology, I realized I was not the only one whose life had been overwhelmed by alcohol.
as alcoholism). Many people face chal - lenges with alcohol, even if they don’t meet the criteria for AUD. It may be time for a new approach. Mindful drinking is about choices you make for yourself. It’s not a one- size-fits-all mentality, nor does it re - sign you to a lifetime of drinking bad coffee in a church basement. It offers solutions to our current problem that fit within the framework of wellness and mindfulness — one that focuses on what we gain and not necessarily what we lose. It was critical for me and may have even saved my life. Bad Medicine As a beverage professional, I worked
This experience opened my eyes to the broader struggles many people face with alcohol, even if the details differ. And even if others didn’t have the same problem as me, they had problems nonetheless. But the goal isn’t to compare suffering. Instead, it is to find a path we can all take that allows us to address drinking in a way that acknowl- edges the health risks of alcohol and its effect on people with prior ad - verse experiences, such as myself. I realized that, while our struggles may look different, our need for compassion and support is universal. The solution, however, is not universal. For some, it means giving up alcohol. For others, it means finding a path to moderation. For ev - eryone, it means addressing the way we drink in a comprehensive way. Mindful Drinking, Explained For the majority of Americans who want to change their relationship with alcohol, they might not have a story like mine; but they fall along a spectrum of drinkers who, through peer pressure, social conformity, or habit, have integrated alcohol into a life that also feels somewhat out of their control. For those with the most severe circumstances, they might need additional support from their doctor, therapist, or peer recovery groups like AA and SMART Recovery. However, for the rest, mindful drinking is a welcome solution. Mindful drinking isn’t a prescription for how to live; it’s an aware - ness of how you want to live. Mindful drinking can be best defined as
in one of the heaviest drinking professions: hospitality. It’s a profes - sion characterized by long hours, high stress, and late-night to early morning drinking. One in five hospitality workers have substance use issues, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). I saw it first hand working with grizzled old line cooks and lifelong waitresses. They had one rule and one rule only when it came to drinking — no matter how much you drank the night before, you still showed up for your shift. As a 16-year-old, when I first started working in restaurants, that did little to offer a respon - sible framework for drinking. The occasional drink soon became a nightly ritual after work for me. By the time I was in my thirties, my nightly ritual progressed to a bottle of whiskey. I rose in the ranks to become one of the most recognized bartenders in the U.S. I won numerous awards, ranging from “Bartender of the Year” ( Imbibe Magazine , 2015) to opening the “Best Cocktail Bar in America” (Spirited Awards, 2017). But my success wasn’t enough to quell the emotional instability I felt from my unaddressed mental health stemming from the adverse experiences of my youth (I would later be diagnosed with bipolar disorder). At a young age, alcohol had defined my life in ways that were far out - side of my control. I watched my father leave due to his own struggle with substances. Later, my foster sister Tina died in a drunk driving incident. As if to prove alcohol couldn’t hurt me — though it already had — I drank with abandon. Alcohol became a soothing balm, but
continued on page 51
PATHWAYS—Winter 24-25—9
10—PATHWAYS—Winter 24-25
MIND-BODY-SPIRIT
Animal Medicine and Holism: The Word ‘Medicine’ and Evolving with the Ancient Animal Language
tle configuration. It’s like learning a new language: when you do, the size of the brain’s hippocampus and cerebral cortex increases with it, strengthening its neuron connections over time. What happens with sentience happens with clairsentience, and it has the aura and upper chakras (throat, third eye, and crown) to work on its behalf. The union of humans and animals has always been a holy, divine, divinatory experience. Ancient Egyptians likewise treated animals as gift-bearers from the gods and proxy humans. Pets were mummified in the same way that people were. Pythagoras believed that animals had the same type of soul as humans do. In non-Western tribes, animals are equal members of clans and sodalities as our brothers, sisters, aunts, and grandmas. Shamans incorporate their skins and skulls as robes and masks, and imagine the spirit of the animal into their healing practices. San cultures in Africa dance in animal form to draw power for rainmaking, capturing game, and healing. For a sim-
BY RUSLANA REMENNIKOVA
The word medicine in its traditional meaning is “to connect” or “a way of life.” Medicus and medicina in Latin means “physician” and “the art of healing,” respectively. In Sioux, Lakota, Cheyenne, Aztec, and Mayan teachings along with other indigenous traditions, medicine people were considered the most spiritual and divine. They healed by invoking gods and spirits, including animals and plants. We all have this medicine within us. It is a matter of awakening the divine spirit within to connect with the outer world. We may not commonly realize it, but animals are as important as any teacher, guide, or mentor that wants to share something with us. In his The Return of the Tower of Babel , author Richard Grossinger wrote, “Some animals — insects, reptiles, mammals — have inborn medical intuitions, whether from DNA, hundredth monkeys, or mor - phic resonance.”
ilar reason, Asian martial-arts forms have animal names and choreographies: hawk, chicken, dove, turtle, monkey, horse, bear eagle, snake. Practitioners of Xing Yi, a style of Chinese martial arts, mimic the way a bird swoops, viper coils, roost- er pecks, turtle snaps. They spread their “wings,” plunge, pounce, shimmy side- to-side, and hop to close gaps. They ruffle their feathers and peck with a five-finger beak. Animal Symbology There are different methods of getting in sync with the animal kingdom. Some people spend many hours perfecting their caws and ribbets , or doing monkey and bear Xing Yi or chi kung sets, while others assimilate animal lessons on the Discov - ery Channel and YouTube. I have my own method, a psychospiritual approach that encourages you to induce a relationship
Animals also have oracular meanings; their presence and relation to your being in the moment has purposeful significance. In a divinatory sense like a Tarot or ora- cle deck, seeing an animal emits a human or angelic frequency , or a way of resonat- ing information to evoke a deep emotion, memory, or image that gently nudges us on our path. It depends on the animal; each has its own cosmic message. We may spend countless hours studying animal lit- erature, classifications, and read numer - ous indigenous stories to better interpret the meaning of an animal. However, this method can lose the background of the an- imal in real time, the action of the animal, and its relationship with your life because of your common and divergent evolutions. Animals and humans share similar DNA, and they should not be discriminated against based on a hierarchical system of
with the spirit of the animal through meditation and introspection. My approach is built on physical observation, empathy, and listen - ing to frequency changes in my body, which I have developed through my personal practice of sound meditation. This approach takes time, practice, and patience, and it works. In the sense that I utilize this approach in my personal interactions, keep the heart (or desire) and mind (the organized faculty of senses) open to learning and accept - ing. However, there are no fixed interpretations in the following ex - amples, and the defining key is for your mind to accept fluidity and the nature of spontaneous change. Be respectful of all traditions and perspectives; each story has wisdom and ancestral density. Though my descriptions of animals emphasize traditional as well as divinatory aspects, the key is not their actual characteristics, which may be common and well known, but the way you receive them like oracle cards. You may see a hummingbird, swan, or bear and look at it as a live form of nature, and that is part of its transmission and divination; but you can also look at it as a figure on a card drawn from a deck, the deck being the world and the reader being you. In that regard, finding a piece of cardboard with a swan image or a part
being more or less intelligent or dominant. We may not share furry or scaly physical properties, but our similarities can be shared in rela- tionships, procreation, and survival mechanisms. My method is to cultivate your understanding of animals so that it helps, heals, and offers holistic support of your evolution and soul’s purpose. You are looking at a somewhat near DNA assemblage to your own. Animals and plants are a part of us, essential to every breath. An animal, a holy being, isn’t any different from our intrinsic connection to angels and our breath. Anima itself means “having breath.” This ap- proach heals our DNA’s electromagnetic field and changes our body’s signal. Spirit and totem animals interact with us on a higher frequen- cy. When you embark on this healing journey, you will find that animals start to naturally gravitate to you. That is normal. They pick up that frequency and are naturally more generous and clairsentient (able to perceive emotions and energy) than us in that regard. It’s why spir - itual teacher G. I. Gurdjieff urged students to practice love first on animals; he thought them more sensitive. Establishing a dialogue with animals changes your internal dialogue with your DNA and its sub -
continued on page 23
PATHWAYS—Winter 24-25—11
12—PATHWAYS—Winter 24-25
MIND-BODY-SPIRIT
Understanding the Nature of Suffering
BY PHILIP APPEL, PHD
I always tell my patients that suffering arises from being in a state of resistance or aversion to what is. We suffer when we identify with our desires, and those desires are thwarted — when we want something to be a certain way and it isn’t, or we don’t want something to happen or to be in a certain way, and it does or it remains that way. Either way, we struggle with desires not being met. Now this does not mean you should want pain; but struggling with the pain is struggling with your body, and you don’t need to be in a civil war with yourself. People suffer with pain for a variety of reasons: when they perceive a threat to their existence and integrity; when it evokes fear involving the future; and when it is associated with social isolation and distrust of one’s own perceptions of one’s body, especially if a physician or rel - ative fails to affirm the experience as being transitory, or worse yet, fails to provide the individual with a reason for the pain. Physician and bioethicist Dr. Eric Cassell stated this tendency succinctly, “Pain is re - lated to suffering when pain is out of a person’s control, overwhelm - ing, its source unknown, its meaning is dire and the pain is chronic.” Struggling with pain is like being caught in an ocean riptide. Trying to swim against the current will exhaust you and potentially lead to your drowning. The solution is not to waste energy fighting the cur - rent, but to swim parallel to the shore until out of the current’s grasp and then swim to shore. I also compare it to how the only way to es- cape a Chinese finger trap is to push the fingers deep into the tube and then gently extricate them in a relaxed manner; otherwise, the harder you attempt to pull your fingers to free yourself, the more the tube grips you. Pain is like that — the more you resist it emotionally/cognitively, the more you will suffer. Physicians are trained primarily to apply complex diagnostic and technological methods to find out what is wrong with the body in terms of diseases or pathophysiology; they do not necessarily examine what is wrong with the person. Think about it… Have you ever been ques- tioned directly, “Are you suffering?” Or “I know you have pain, but are there even worse things than just the pain that you are experiencing in life right now?” Or “Are you frightened by all that is happening, and if so, what specifically are you afraid is going to happen to you?” There are strategies and techniques for learning how to respond to pain in your body in caring and loving ways. After all, your body did not do this to you intentionally. The pain is your body’s way of cry - ing out. Your task is to respond to your hurting body and take care of yourself. Don’t approach it with fear or anger, which intensifies the suffering; instead, learn how to care for the body as if it were your own child in such pain. It is important to start thinking about per- sistent pain in a similar fashion to other chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, or cardiac disease in that you, the patient, must become a co-manager of your own condi- tion. Successful pain rehabilitation does not cure pain, but emphasizes self-control and self-management of symptoms. Suffering As Story of Self In many ways, suffering from a lengthy medical event is all about the wounding of Self, and how that wound becomes a narcissistic in- jury or threat to Self. There have been losses in some of your abilities (prolonged walking, sitting, standing, etc.) as well as in many areas of self expression. For example, sometimes the fear of pain prevents one from joining family and friends in an activity. The more you withdraw from life and the expression of your true nature, the more emotional distress and suffering you will create for yourself. I knew a patient of
Tarcisius, Christian martyr, by Alexandre Falguière, 1868 (Musée D’Orsay, Paris); Photo by Michelle Alonso.
mine finally understood this point when he said, “Doc, I finally got it. I can have a better time being at the football stadium with my friends and in pain than being alone at home and in pain.” When medical illness or injury creates lasting disability, then one’s sense of Self is often confronted and conflicted because your current experience of Self no longer seems to match your remembered sense of Self, the one based on familiar routines, abilities, and beliefs. When the body becomes impaired or disabled, a person can believe that their essential Self is also disabled. To restore a sense of Self, my particular professional approach is to have the person not continually identify with Self as a physical being alone or as the story of one’s life. The challenge is in preserving self-esteem independent of one’s abilities, and relying on something internal rather than external. If you can, I recommend finding a Pain Psychologist to work with. Alleviating a person’s suffering requires someone that knows some - thing about the nature of [your] suffering. To this end, bearing wit - ness can change the feelings of isolation and go a long way to restoring dignity. By being a mirror through listening and acknowledging a pa- tient’s suffering, we can restore their sense of Self. We reflect back to them more than their disability or their pain; we can reflect back the hero or heroine and the journey that s/he is on with all of its struggles and travails. Affirming the patient’s experience, and helping him or her achieve a way of understanding, will lessen their suffering. We all have a story about who we are, where we have come from, etc. Even though our story changes through the years — the story you may have had in your teens or twenties is not the same as now — we still act as if our story is an essential truth, as opposed to a changeable ref- erence. We have told our story so often we have come to identify with and believe it. Suffering may be difficult to overcome when you try to cope with your injury or disability by grasping onto your former sense of Self, and/or have an aversion to your present experience of Self. Furthermore, suffering increases when you cannot create a meaning - ful story about Self and life that integrates the loss of function and ability. We don’t recognize that we are the storyteller , not the story! Imag- ine a young football player, third season out, who gets injured so badly on the field that he cannot play pro-ball anymore. If his sole identifica - tion of Self is being a football player, he is going to suffer greatly as he
continued on page 38
PATHWAYS—Winter 24-25—13
Takoma Metaphysical Chapel
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 EVERYTHING Mondays at 7:30 p.m. via Zoom SAYING YES TO GOD (ACCEPTING GOD’S GIFTS) 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
14—PATHWAYS—Winter 24-25
Plastic Bottles Don’t Need To Be Litter: Support Local Bottle Bills BY TREY SHERARD, ANACOSTIA RIVERKEEPER GREEN NEWS & VIEWS
Plastic bottles are public enemy number one for litter on the Ana- costia River and throughout its watershed in the District of Colum - bia (DC) and Maryland. For over a decade, plastic bottles have been half of the trash captured in trash traps when measured by weight and emptied before weighing. This matches the pattern we see across data from multiple groups’ water-based trash cleanups up and down the Anacostia River and its tributaries. See our 2023 Trash Mitigation Re - port. On land we find lots of glass bottles and aluminum cans as well, but plastic bottles are far and away the biggest part of the problem; and plastics carry the most additional impacts as litter. Aluminum and glass become sharps hazards in the environment, but they largely just go back to nature, albeit slowly, and they are rarely toxic in addition to being sharp. Plastic, however, never stops being plastic on a human timescale; it just gets smaller and more toxic as time wears on. The sun and other elements wear on the plastic bottle, shedding mi- croplastics and nanoplastics into our air, water, wildlife, and us. Even before the plastic is that small, it is responsible for killing all kinds of wildlife through entanglement and through ingestion where it cuts and/or blocks up the animals’ digestive tracts. Plastic is also a sponge for toxic chemicals; made of oil and fracked gas distillates, like-dis- solves-like, so plastic absorbs most of our local toxic contamination, including pesticides, PCBs, and other fossil fuel compounds. You can think of the plastic litter we see as a very slow, but still very harmful oil spill on land and in our streams. Ways to Support Plastic Reduction This is where you come in. The most fun way to remove plastic waste is to join volunteer cleanups run by Anacostia Riverkeeper or another group in this area. Not only can you help beautify communities and our environment, you’ll help us continue to gather data that, through our website (www.anacostiariverkeeper.org/programs/trash-mitiga - tion/), informs and reports back to the public, to local jurisdictions for their reporting to EPA, to articles like this one, and to new legislation in both the District and Maryland. That brings us to the easiest way you can help. Call your legislators and tell them to support your jurisdiction’s beverage container recy - cling refund law for litter reduction, also known as a bottle bill. The refund is the deposit repaid to the consumer for each empty can or bottle returned to a retailer or redemption center for recycling and our local bills will suggest ten cents for most bottles. Ten states already have these laws, and most have had them in place for decades. The laws work because people are given an incentive to return recyclables; and those states consistently see better and improving recycling rates and reduced litter. If you live in DC, please call your ward councilmember and each at-large councilmember. Ask them what they’re doing about bever - age container pollution, and tell them to support a beverage container deposit-return law when it is proposed. We hope to see one put forth early 2025. More information and resources can be found on the Re - turn, Refund, and Recycle Coalition for DC (3RCforDC) website: ww - w.3rcfordc.org/campaign. In Maryland’s General Assembly (GA), the session this January 2025 will be the third year such a law is proposed, and each year we have gained ground. We expect to see the law proposed in both houses again, and are hopeful this is the year it gets the momentum it needs. You can help by calling your state representatives and your state sen - ators.
A typical litter trap in a tributary feeding into the Anacostia River. Source: Anacostia Riverkeeper
Instead of passing a bottle deposit bill last year, the Maryland GA adopted industry’s push for an extended producer responsibility bill (EPR) and pushed off the beverage container bill in favor of a large recycling needs study for future EPR work. While the work going into the study is worthwhile, it will take a long time to properly set it up. In the meantime, we already have a tried and true tool for getting bev- erage containers out of our streets and streams; there is no reason for us to wait on EPR writ large. Firmly tell your legislators you want to see a beverage container law separate from EPR, and you want to see them support it now. You can find additional resources for the Mary - land action via Maryland Sierra Club (www.sierraclub.org/maryland/ zero-waste) & Trash Free Maryland (www.trashfreemaryland.org/). Today, plastic bottles are public enemy number one for litter here in the DMV. But you can help us keep them out of our neighborhoods, streets, and streams by supporting legislation where you live. After you make your calls to your legislators, join a volunteer cleanup, and stay in touch with us about other ways to reduce single use plastics in the Anacostia River. Trey Sherard is the Riverkeeper at Anacostia Riverkeeper (www. anacostiariverkeeper.org/) where he has worked for nearly 13 years now. Originally a marine biologist in North Carolina, he moved to DC to shift into policy and advocacy, and looks forward to eliminat - ing trash on this river with your help. Holistic Brand Photography In this very noisy world of ours, it can be difficult to reach the people you most want to work with, but I can help you with that! Hi, I’m Tammy Batcha - a holistic brands photographer in the Shenandoah Valley. The work you do is vital. Let’s make it easier for people to find you and for you to find the people you most want to serve.
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PATHWAYS—Winter 24-25—15
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16—PATHWAYS—Winter 24-25
ASTROLOGICAL INSIGHTS
Winter 2024: Moon-Driven Desires and Compassion
BY MISTY KUCERIS As the Winter Solstice welcomes the start of the winter quarter and the last quarter of the astrological year on December 21, 2024, you find yourself breathing a sign of relief. The four-year election cam - paigning (no, that’s not a typo) is finally over, leaving you with some peace, or some trauma, with the results. Honestly, when it comes to historical significance, either candidate would leave, and will leave, a critical imprint for years to come. But it does matter in terms of strate- gies for healing a country divided. Every significant astrological occur - rence during this winter quarter indicates you’re tired of divisiveness and arguments. You just want to move on with your life in peace, qui - et, and with compassion. During this Winter Solstice, the Sun enters the sign of Capricorn to form a square to the Moon’s North Node and South Node. This is significant as the Sun represents you and your needs while the Moon’s Nodal Axis (as the Nodes are also called when considered as one en - tity) represents the direction your soul wants to take while trying to make sense of your life’s impactful past events. You know the Winter Solstice is the shortest day of the year; but it also begins the time pe- riod where it’s good to pull back, evaluate your place in the world, and determine the best direction for your life. Normally when the Sun forms a square to the Moon’s Nodal Axis, you release what doesn’t work from your life so you can implement what will work to improve it. This time the square is more important than usual because later in this winter quarter (on January 11, 2025), the Moon’s Nodal Axis will be changing signs, which indicates a major paradigm shift. (More on this to come.) Right now, with the Moon’s North Node still in the sign of Aries, you are willing to stand up for your rights and beliefs, even fight for them if necessary. At the same
time, with the Moon’s South Node in the sign of Libra, it’s important to understand how your style of standing up for your beliefs impact- ed your relationships with loved ones, and whether you now need to make some changes in your communication style. A few days later, on December 24, 2024, Jupiter retrograde forms a square to Saturn. Jupiter represents the need to move forward with your life while exploring possible plans of action but not taking direct action. When Jupiter is retrograde, it’s important to spend more time exploring your options rather than taking action. With Saturn, you want to have a plan. You need to feel organized and have structure in your life; but when Jupiter retrograde forms this square to Saturn, you feel stress because you don’t have a plan. With current events and the
continued on page 18
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PATHWAYS—Winter 24-25—17
ASTROLOGICAL INSIGHTS
Winter Astrology... ...continued from page 17 election just ending, you don’t yet know its impact on your life. This is not the first time that Jupiter forms a square to Saturn, nor is it the last time. On August 19, 2024, a few hours after a full Moon, Jupiter in direct motion formed a square to Saturn, which was in ret- rograde motion. You thought you had your plan laid out; but, with Saturn in retrograde motion at the time, you weren’t sure how to structure your plan, so you couldn’t implement it at that time. If you feel you need to make changes now, wait a while. If you experience any stress right now, that stress may end up being a positive motiva- tor for your plans. Pay attention to the stress, but don’t let it control you. When this aspect occurs for the third time on June 15, 2025, both Jupiter and Saturn will be in direct motion and you’ll find answers to your questions as well as some ways of implementing those answers. Perhaps it’s fitting there are actually two new Moons occurring in the month of December — the first, with Sun and Moon in Sagittarius, on December 1, 2024, and the second, with Sun and Moon in Capri - corn, on December 30, 2024. When new Moons occur, while you don’t see them, you still feel the energy of something missing and something about to start. This second new Moon is called a ‘Black Moon’ and em - phasizes the importance of finding that missing piece so you can start something new. It’s considered a period of healing. Help finding your direction becomes more important as the Moon’s Nodal Axis shifts sign on January 11, 2025. At that time, the Moon’s North Node enters the sign of Pisces while the Moon’s South Node enters the sign of Virgo. This axis remains in these signs until July 26, 2026. The Moon’s Nodal Axis is an astronomical energy point that is cre - ated as the Moon orbits around the Earth and the Earth orbits around the Sun. The ancients studied and utilized the Moon’s Nodal Axis to determine when solar and lunar eclipses would occur. Through this
study, they found the Moon’s Nodal Axis would return to the same signs every 19 years and stay in those signs for about one-and-a-half years. Basically, the interplay between the Sun, Moon, and Earth cre - ates a dance between our physical needs (the earth), our emotional reactions (the Moon), and our ego drives (the Sun). In astrology, your Moon’s North Node indicates how you want to shine and find your spiritual greatness while your Moon’s South Node indicates where you feel you need to retreat and, hopefully, bring healing into your life. It also shows how upcoming trends impact both mass consciousness and your own approach to situations and your re- actions to authority figures. When the Moon’s North Node was in the sign of Aries during this past year-and-a-half, you may have been willing to fight for what you believed in to the point that you didn’t care who you alienated. Now you’re feeling a change. As the Moon’s North Node shifts to Pisces, you want to understand all the changes that are rapidly occurring around you. While you’re not certain you truly understand others with differ - ing opinions, you may find you no longer need to prove the correctness of your viewpoint. You’d rather walk away, perhaps just keep your opinions to yourself. Pisces represents seeking inner guidance rather than pursuing the advice of others. For this reason, social influencers will find their approach won’t be as powerful as in the past. You’re looking for people you can relate to, not people who dictate to you. You’ll also find a change in your relationships. When the Moon’s South Node was in Libra, you feared that giving in to others might interfere with your freedom of expression. Even though relationships could actually be healing, sometimes you didn’t want to engage be - cause others had different points of view. Now with the Moon’s South Node moving into Virgo, you are more concerned about routine mat- ters, like taking care of your mental and physical health. You fear that if you have too many disruptions in your life, you may not be able to get important things done. You also realize that while relationships are important, too many obligations and commitments may not be the
18—PATHWAYS—Winter 24-25
ASTROLOGICAL INSIGHTS
Special Offer – FREE Ebook: Overcoming Negative Self Talk bit.ly/LotusFreeOffer1 ● January 29, 2025 — New Moon with Sun and Moon in Aquarius. You’re willing to try new things, perhaps some new technology; or you’re willing to include more AI in your life… or not, and you’d rather do without. ● January 13, 2025 — Full Moon with Sun in Capricorn and Moon in Cancer. Realizing compassion for others is one way you can find a better place in society. ● February 4, 2025 — Jupiter in Gemini turns direct. It went retrograde on October 9, 2024. Now you finally feel people are listening to some of your ideas. ● February 12, 2025 — Full Moon with Sun in Aquarius and Moon in Leo. Time to find that balance between responsibil - ities and fun. ● February 27, 2025 — New Moon with Sun and Moon in Pi - sces. Renewed sense of compassion. ● March 1, 2025 — Venus in Aries turns retrograde on this date and will turn direct on April 12, 2025. Watch for hid - den costs in contracts. You may find someone from your past re-enters your life. ● March 15, 2025 — Mercury in Aries turns retrograde on this date and will turn direct on April 7, 2025. Don’t bother with arguments. Other people won’t listen and you won’t get the results you seek. healthiest way to live. Still, as with everything in life, there can also be a dark side to the Moon’s North Node in Pisces and the Moon’s South Node in Virgo. While Pisces represents the increased desire for compassion and Virgo represents the need for self care, both signs can also represent expecting a form of perfection from individuals that can never exist. This perfection-seeking can create the illusion someone else can do no wrong and no harm. This can also create the illusion that it’s wrong to question an individual, especially one of authority. Another dark side to the Moon’s Nodal Axis in Pisces and Virgo is the desire to retreat when confronted with anger only to let someone else take matters into their hands, i.e., you absolve your responsibility in a situation. After the Moon’s Nodal Axis shifts signs, the first eclipse of the year, a total lunar eclipse, occurs on March 14, 2025. Called a ‘Blood Moon’, this eclipse occurring at the time of a full Moon does turn the Moon red if you’re in its path. Here in the DMV, you’ll be able to see this Blood Moon if the skies are clear. While the eclipse may start at 11:57:38 pm EDT on March 13, 2025, the Moon will become full at 2:26:06 am EDT on March 14, 2025, and reach its maximum fullness at 2:58:43 am EDT. Unlike solar eclipses, total lunar eclipses are safe to view without glasses. At the time of the eclipse, the Sun is in Pisces and the Moon is in Virgo emphasizing the fact that the Moon’s North Node entered the sign of Pisces and the Moon’s South Node entered the sign of Virgo. Because the Moon is eclipsed, you find it more difficult to express your emotional needs. You may let other people take advantage of you, or you may feel you don’t understand everything going on around you. But, and please excuse the pun, there is a bright side to this moon’s eclipse. While you may not understand all your emotional needs right now, you realize just how important compassion is in your life. You re - alize that while you want to help others, compassion starts with help - ing yourself. And, you find you can take the time to bring healing into your life. Other significant dates for astrological energies occurring during the Winter Quarter: © 2024 Misty Kuceris | Misty Kuceris is a Certified Astrological Professional, a Reiki Master, and Co-founder of the NOVA Astrology Group. She has contributed to Pathways for over 30 years. See her website for monthly astrological reflections: www.EnhanceOneself. com. Contact her at: misty@EnhanceOneself.com.
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PATHWAYS—Winter 24-25—19
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