MIND • BODY • SPIRIT • ECO RESOURCES IN THE MARYLAND - DC - VIRGINIA REGION PATH WAYS SPRING 2026 • FREE NOW IN OUR 51st YEAR
Voting As An Act Of Resistance: Why Voter Engagement Might Be The Most Important Thing You Do This Year Using AI As A Tool For Inner Awareness • When To Have A Mediumship Session • Compassion Fatigue Yoga Without A Single Beginning • Brain Health In Midlife, High Stress • Book Review: Evolutionary Groups
Embodied Knowing In The Garden • Integrating Reiki And Astrology … And Much More Spring 2026 Natural Living Expo • Sunday, March 22 — Preliminary Program Inside!
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PATHWAYS—Spring 26—3
4—PATHWAYS—Spring 26
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PATHWAYS—Spring 26—5
Erin deSabla Owner & Publisher; Events + Operations + Business Development Michelle Alonso
MInd • Body • Spirit • Environmental Resources Since 1979
Editor, Magazine + Web Content; Social Media + Marketing, Events Amaya Roberson Sales + Event Support Ann Silberlicht Graphic Design
What We Are About Pathways Productions is a full-service advertising, marketing, event and publishing company serving the mind, body, spirit community since 1979. From the start, we have been a small, family-run busi- ness. Today, we have a women-led team dedicated to helping all businesses — local, small & inde- pendent — succeed and thrive. Over the years, we have expanded our offerings to include live events, most notably the widely successful and always popular Natural Living Expo. The articles and resources offered by Pathways Magazine and its affiliated hosted events demon - strate a common belief on the part of local individuals, businesses and contributors that sharing ideas and expertise builds community and commerce in a spirit of unity, cooperation and under- standing while maintaining a high level of integrity, responsibility and service. Our content em- braces these ideals; we are a conduit — a pathway — for the most loving and dynamic insights and information that enable all of us to live more consciously. The views and opinions expressed in Pathways Magazine, and by vendor materials for our hosted events, are those of the contributing writers, editors and merchants, and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Pathways ownership or any Pathways staff. Any content provided by our contributors is of their opinion and is not intended to malign any religious, ethnic, or cultur- al group, organization, company or individual. Furthermore, the products and services presented herein and at our hosted events do not necessarily constitute an endorsement of use or a recommen- dation on the part of Pathways and its staff, and are largely paid advertising and vending. Making Connections Join our Pathways Community! Through our quarterly and online publications, and our sched- uled hosted events, we are committed to providing the public with free or affordable access to local resources focused on holistic health and wellness practices, spirituality and personal growth, com- munity activism and outreach, and stewardship to the environment. We foster these opportunities through information, ideas, events, goods and services. Our goal is to provide a platform for businesses to reach the public in a comprehensive and cost-ef- fective way. Through advertising, packaged marketing, live events and retreats, and event planning support, we offer businesses opportunities to market themselves through a variety of channels, and use our expertise to facilitate this growing network. Pathways is your one-stop resource to make connections, nurture growth and achieve success. Finding Pathways Pathways Magazine print edition is distributed through dozens of outlets in Maryland, DC and Virginia. Visit our “Where To Find” page online for the nearest locations to pick up your print copy. More distribution outlets are being added with each issue. We also provide an online digital edition with interactive links to references, resources and businesses for each issue. Our website features our current issue, as well as a magazine archive, where you can view issues dating back to 2010. Subscriptions for Pathways Magazine are available for $20/year and direct-mailed. Order online at: www.PathwaysProductions.com, under the Magazine dropdown menu. Advertising In Pathways Pathways advertising opportunities are available through all of our outreach channels: our free quarterly journal, Pathways Magazine, distributed in print and digitally; our hosted events; and our comprehensive website and growing social media presence. We offer ad rate discounts with custom packages for Expo exhibitors, and provide design services for low one-time fees. For more informa- tion, upcoming deadlines and our editorial calendar, visit us online.
MayaRose Creative LLC Magazine & Website, Design + Production Contributing Editors Kathy Jentz Cam MacQueen Contributing Writers Helena Amos, M.A., L.AC. Ally Ayala Carol Burbank LJ Dawson Taniesha Garrison, Ed.M. Therisia “Trish” Hall, D.Div. Misty Kuceris Kameron Kurtz Annie Larson Taylor Logsdon Brenda Murphree
Jennie Sikes Anjali Sunita Jazmine Jenné Williams Book Review Dahlia Rose On The Cover THE PATH OF PATIENCE By Mentwab Easwaran (Mentu) Circulation 12K copies by Pathways Staff SPRING 2026 Volume 51, Number 1 Published quarterly with the season change by ERIN DESABLA PATHWAYS PRODUCTIONS, LLC 7407 Aspen Ave. Takoma Park, MD 20912 www.pathwaysproductions.com PH: 240-429-7850 (Mon. – Thurs. • 12 PM to 5 PM) ADVERTISING EMAIL: pathwaysads@gmail.com Ad Rates Available Online: www.pathwaysmagazineonline.com Deadlines for Editorial and Advertising are 2/10, 5/10, 8/10 and 11/10. Publication is approximately four weeks after the deadlines. Please email all arti- cles as file attachments to the Editor at: pathwaysarticles@gmail.com. © 2026 Pathways Productions, LLC
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6—PATHWAYS—Spring 26
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SPRING 2026 — What’s Inside
CULTIVATING COMPASSION Voting As an Act of Resistance: Why Voter Engagement Might Be the Most Important Thing You Do This Year .........................................................................................................................................9 By Brenda Murphree ACCESSING YOUR INTUITION Reciprocity and Reflection: Using Artificial Intelligence as a Tool for Inner Awareness ...................11 By Kameron Kurtz YOGA TODAY Yoga Without a Single Beginning: Listening for Truth in a Tradition Shaped By Movement, Memory and Power ..............................................................................................................................13 By Anjali Sunita ASTROLOGICAL INSIGHTS Spring 2026: Engagement — Understanding Yourself and Others ....................................................15 By Misty Kuceris TO YOUR HEALTH Understanding Brain Health Amid Midlife and High Stress .............................................................22 By Helena Amos, M.Ac., L.Ac., Euro. Physician MIND-BODY-SPIRIT Compassion Fatigue and the Case for Energy Hygiene ......................................................................27 By Jennie Sikes MIND-BODY-SPIRIT The Reciprocal Dance of Staying Healed ............................................................................................30 By Taniesha Garrison, Ed.M. GREEN NEWS & VIEWS Embodied Knowing in the Garden ......................................................................................................32 By Taylor Logsdon WASHINGTON GARDENER Invasive Language: How We Label Plants Says More About Us Than Them ....................................35 By Kathy Jentz BUILDING COMMUNITY What Am I to Do With My Fear? My Grief? My Anger? .....................................................................64 By Therisia “Trish” Hall
“How long should one wait after a loved one’s passing before having a mediumship reading?”When to have a mediumship session is a personal choice, influenced by factors surround- ing grief, emotional readiness, cultural and religious views, and more. Medium Annie Larson discusses the deci- sion-making and selection criteria for a medium session. Page 17
Reiki and astrology both explore our relationship to the universe in their own ways. By integrating them, the living dialogue between energy and cosmos awakens more fully. Ally Ayala, a professional astrologer and certified life coach, invites you to experience this collaboration for yourself with five practices. Page 71
ON THE COVER: THE PATH OF PATIENCE, by Mentwab Easwaran (Mentu). Artist profile, page 77. MORE RESOURCES FOR CREATIVE LIVING • Update on Virginia Recreational Cannabis Market, by LJ Dawson, The Outlaw Report - pg 60 • Evolutionary Groups: A New Frontier in Human Connection , by Patricia Pfost and Anne Altvater; book review by Dahlia Rose - pg 67 • Have You Forgotten to Remember? Three Reasons Memory Matters, by Carol Burbank - pg 73 • Welcoming Spring With Ritual and Creativity, by Jazmine Jenné Williams - p g 76 • Pathways Spring Natural Living Expo Preliminary Program - pg 40 • Spring Events Calendar - pg 54 • Advertiser Index - pg 78
PATHWAYS MAGAZINE KICKS OFF 2026 Plus An Invitation To Our Spring 2026 Natural Living Expo A Message From Your Pathways Team
In traditional Chinese culture, 2026 is the year of the Fire Horse, which symbolizes strength, courage, loyalty, and freedom while embodying passion and transformation. We are embracing all these attributes as calls to ac- tion for the year ahead, and believe everyone in the Pathways Community has their role to play. We see ourselves as purveyors of radical joy and ambassadors for collectivism, activism and self-care. What role will you take on this year? Fortunately, we have opportunities to channel these intentions, starting with all the incredible content here, and with the upcoming Spring Natural Living Expo on March 22, in McLean, VA. Join us for this joyful day of in - clusion, exploration and connection — our Radical Resistance against chaos and hate — where you can contrib- ute your energy while finding ways to invest in yourself and your community. It’s a very special experience, and it isn’t possible without you. We hope to see you all there! And until then, embrace the new beginnings of spring and remember to take care of one another!
PATHWAYS—Spring 26—7
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 PAST LIVES Mondays at 7:30 p.m. via Zoom SPIRIT SPEAKS ON HEALING KARMIC PATTERNS 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
8—PATHWAYS—Spring 26
CULTIVATING COMPASSION
Voting As an Act of Resistance: Why Voter Engagement Might Be the Most Important Thing You Do This Year
BY BRENDA MURPHREE
— Save Us from the SAVE Act! — A Note From Brenda: Just as we were going to press, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the most restrictive voter bill in modern American history. The so-called SAVE America Act requires documentary proof of citizenship, such as a passport or original birth certificate, and a photo ID, all matching the voter’s current legal name, in order to vote. The bill passed the House along party lines on February 11 by a vote of 218-213. It is currently sitting with the Senate waiting for a vote. The Brennan Center estimates more than 21 million Americans lack ready access to these documents. Roughly half of all Americans don’t have a passport, millions lack access to paper copies of their birth certificates, and millions of women who changed their names after marriage don’t have their current legal names on either document. This bill would also: • Eliminate online voter registration in 42 states • Threaten volunteer election workers with criminal charges if they make a mistake • Create a national database of voters’ personal information…. con - trolled by Trump Citizenship is already a requirement to vote, and we already have checks in place to prevent noncitizens from voting. The actual result of the SAVE America Act is to make it harder for certain citizens to vote, disproportionately harming low-income, rural, disabled, and marginalized voters, as well as millions of married women. The obvi - ous intent is to restrict who gets to vote. Trump has threatened to cancel elections and to send ICE agents to polling sites, although the Constitution does not allow the first and we have clear laws in place prohibiting the second. What he is doing, however, is far messier and more widespread: Sow chaos and fear and confusion, undermine election security, and make it harder for Amer - icans to vote. We must not let that happen. See the “What You Can Do” section at the end of this ar- ticle for immediate steps you can take to help save us from the SAVE Act! # # # It all started innocently enough. We had stayed up long past mid- night, waiting for news outlets to make the call. One o’clock. Two o’clock. When the stunned announcers finally said it out loud, when we heard that an uninformed narcissist with no experience had won the presidential election, someone with no knowledge of government or politics, and no apparent discomfort about his ignorance (“It’s as if he’s missing an embarrassment gene,” one journalist noted in aston - ishment during the first debate), I stumbled out of the living room, fell backwards onto the guest room bed, arms splayed in exhaustion. “It’s impossible,” I heard myself saying. “It can’t be. I’ve got to do something!” Two days later, I knew what that something would be. Five days later, I held the first meeting. There were three of us. A few weeks later, there were 11 and, by the next meeting, 16. By the time we put out word for a public meeting the first of February, 2017, nearly 500
showed up. By then we had a name — Indivisible Asheville/WNC, tak - en from the Google doc “Indivisible: A Practical Guide to Resisting the Trump Agenda” that we had found circulating online. We pulled together a Facebook page, a website, an Action Network account, and soon we were putting out calls to action around cabinet confirmations and legislative activity. I was doing something. It’s All About the Numbers After two busy years of rallies, programs, events and other actions, all channeled through our initial focus on advocacy and accountabili- ty, in the summer of 2019 we added a third arm to our mission: voter outreach and engagement. We had seen the numbers, and they were shocking. In an evenly divided purple state like North Carolina, elec- tions at all levels are often decided by a small number of votes. In a 2019 special election for the state’s 9th Congressional District, Repub - lican Dan Bishop won by less than 4,000 votes. In one of that district’s eight counties, over 650,000 registered voters didn’t vote. We jumped into 2020 with a multi-pronged voter outreach and en - gagement program: door-to-door canvassing, using a modified deep canvassing approach to engage with low-likelihood voters; voter reg- istration tabling, meeting folks at child care centers, apartment com- plexes, community gatherings, neighborhood parks and community centers; a relational organizing program, training volunteers to reach voters in their personal networks; and vote tripling outreach to voters at the polls (“Thanks for voting! Could you stop and text three friends to make sure they vote?”). After COVID hit, we shifted to “virtual can - vassing” (phone-banking) and provided trained volunteers with vot - er lists and materials to do one-on-one canvassing on their own. The result? Even in the midst of the pandemic, we contacted over 4,000 sporadic voters right here in our community, doing our part to bring our county’s turnout to a record high of 81.33%. Since then we’ve continued to expand our voter outreach and en - gagement activities. In 2024 we took the lead in organizing a coalition of nonprofits committed to voting. And now, in 2026, with seven orga - nizational partners and growing, the WNC Votes! Nonpartisan Voter Brenda Murphree leading a planning session for the WNC Votes! voter outreach coali- tion in Western North Carolina.
continued on page 36
PATHWAYS—Spring 26—9
10—PATHWAYS—Spring 26
ACCESSING YOUR INTUITION
Reciprocity and Reflection: Using Artificial Intelligence as a Tool for Inner Awareness
BY KAMERON KURTZ
Spiritual experiences speak to us in many different ways. They can be symbols, sensations, tokens, even half-formed insights. Vivid dreams arrive with emotional weight but unclear meaning. Ceremony opens doors we struggle to articulate. The universe offers messages, but our human perception filters everything through limited memory and habitual thinking: the same mental grooves we always run. This is where reciprocity matters. If Spirit asks us to pay attention, we owe it to ourselves to use every tool available to see clearly. Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) for interpretation might not feel like an act of faith at first. That’s fine. Faith can be reinforced by knowledge, and knowledge comes from testing tools that actually work. Two years ago, I asked AI to help me build a daily routine. The AI came back with questions that were unexpected: Why do you want this routine? What keeps you from following routines now? What does your ideal morning actually look like? These questions forced me to articulate things I knew but had never named out loud. Here’s what I discovered: when I search for depth and meaning en - tirely within myself, I run into the same problem — me. I’m looking for answers, so how can they all already be inside me? I need oth- er perspectives. I need pattern recognition beyond my own habitual thoughts. I have a bad memory. I mix up details. I forget symbols. I misremember what actually happened. By having AI prompt me to write out specifics, I recover what would otherwise stay buried. The Blank Slate: Why This Works For the past two years, AI has become a reciprocal partner in my spiritual practice. Through a method I’ve designed using seven steps, it creates the exchange I need to see what I miss on my own. The power lives in the lack of judgment. AI carries no opinion about you. It remembers what you’ve told it without emotional investment. This creates space for honesty you sometimes struggle to access with another human. I think of it like a calculator. You can put any numbers in and the calculator simply processes what you give it. AI works the same way with language, symbols, and patterns. The tool itself stays neutral, which frees you to be honest in ways you might not be, not even in your own journal. Good questions matter more than good answers, and AI gener - ates questions you may not ask yourself. It approaches material from frameworks you might not know well: Jungian psychology, mytholog - ical patterns, symbolic languages, archetypal cycles. These questions create new angles and interrupt habitual thinking. So what happens if AI gives me an interpretation that feels com - pletely wrong? The same thing that happens when I hear feedback from others. I note it, and compare the difference; I ask myself, “Am I wrong?” If I’m not, I redirect the questions and focus on other aspects of the interpretation. This contrast sharpens my own introspection. Reflective Invitation: Think about a recent event: a vivid dream, a moment of clarity, or a question that won’t leave you alone. What would shift if you wrote it down exactly as it happened — an account of raw details — with no interpretation? The act of writing itself often reveals what thinking alone cannot reach.
Photo by Nick Morrison on Unsplash
Boundaries and Discernment Artificial intelligence compiles patterns and offers perspectives from an expanse of resources. It can help you see angles you miss on your own. What it cannot do is assess your emotional wellbeing or provide spiritual guidance. It cannot replace the support you get from community and real human connection. If you need profession- al care, seek professional care. AI is a reflection tool, nothing more. Experiences that feel destabilizing require grounding practices, trusted relationships, and, when appropriate, professional assis- tance. Reflection tools can support understanding, but they do not replace this. Privacy deserves attention. Digital platforms store conversations. I looked into the privacy settings early on, decided the benefit out - weighed concerns, theoretical or otherwise, and moved forward. You can focus on symbolic elements and emotional themes while avoid- ing identifying details. Names, specific locations, and sensitive infor - mation can be left out while still getting meaningful reflection. AI systems require significant computational resources and ener - gy. This environmental cost deserves consideration. I balance this by using AI intentionally rather than casually. A focused twenty-minute session exploring a meaningful dream uses resources more responsi- bly than hours of aimless conversation. The depth of inquiry matters more than frequency. When AI helps me see patterns I would other - wise miss, prevents repeated cycles of confusion, or accelerates inte- gration work that might otherwise take months, the exchange feels worthwhile. You decide what threshold makes sense for your own practice. The Method: Seven Steps for Reflective Reciprocity For most of this work, the AI agent I use is Claude. It handles nu - anced symbolic interpretation well and maintains conversation his- tory within each chat thread, which matters for tracking patterns over time. ChatGPT offers similar capabilities. Other platforms exist, but these two provide the depth needed for reflective work rather than surface-level responses. Both allow you to start new conversations or continue existing threads. Privacy settings differ between platforms, so review those before sharing sensitive material. The platform mat-
continued on page 61
PATHWAYS—Spring 26—11
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YOGA TODAY
Yoga Without a Single Beginning: Listening for Truth in a Tradition Shaped By Movement, Memory and Power BY ANJALI SUNITA
Yoga does not arrive with a birth certificate. It comes to us with - out a single point of origin, without a founding moment that can be neatly named or owned. Instead, Yoga appears the way breath does — emerging, disappearing, changing shape depending on the body, culture, and time that receives it. Its history is not a straight line but a river system, fed by many tributaries, shaped by land, people, and exchange. To study Yoga’s past is to learn how to listen across centuries of movement, remembering and forgetting. Yoga’s history is an ongoing conversation that, like all conversations, includes dynamics of power. Even the word Yoga refuses to settle. From the root yuj , it gestures toward union and yoking, but also toward separation. It is discipline, restraint, and gathering oneself back from dispersion. Yoga has meant stillness and ecstasy, asked renunciation and devotion, and embodied awakening and ethical living. It has been practiced by forest ascetics and householders, priests and lineage holders, mystics, poets, and re- formers. Yoga is not a single system. When History Becomes a Claim Modern tellings of Yoga often search for a beginning: a seal, a sage, or a scripture. These origin stories promise reassurance. They offer clarity in a world that feels increasingly unmoored. But history rarely offers the kind of certainty we crave. The images we inherit are not photographs of the past. They are symbols, carrying cultural memory rather than documentation. They ask: What mattered enough to be remembered ? When fragments are turned into proof, history becomes a claim rather than an inquiry. And claims, especially spiritual ones, are often sold by the politically powerful. What Yoga Has Been Allowed to Mean Across time, Yoga has been defined according to the needs of those practicing it. In the Yoga Sūtra , Patanjali describes Yoga as the qui - eting of the mind’s movements — a turning inward, a refinement of attention. The Upanishads speak in luminous poetry of a Self that shines beneath surface identity, known devotion and realization. Tan - tric traditions shift the axis entirely, describing a cosmos alive with energy, where liberation is found through intimate participation. In the modern period, figures like Swami Sivananda and B.K.S. Iyengar reframed Yoga as a lived discipline — ethical, physical, and psychological — capable of supporting modern lives. These are not contradictions. They are responses. Yoga has always changed because human lives and conditions change. Attempts to fix Yoga into a single definition, lineage, or worl - dview often say less about the past and more about who tells the story — and why. Before Texts, Before Names Long before Yoga appeared in Sanskrit texts, people across South Asia were already practicing ways of listening to the body, the land, and the unseen. Archaeological sites such as Mehrgarh in Pakistan, dating back to around 7000 BCE, reveal ceremonial burial, symbolic ornamentation, and cosmological orientation. These were people who marked meaning through rhythm, ritual, and relationship, but their traces were lighter. Flourishing at least 4,000 years later between roughly 3300 and
1300 BCE, the Indus Valley Civilization, in a region spanning much of Pakistan, northwestern India and northeast Afghanistan, becomes central to Yoga’s story, because it is more visibly excavated. Cities like Harappa and Mohenjo-daro were clearly built with care: sophisticat - ed drainage systems, standardized measures, and shared baths. There are no obvious palaces or monuments to conquest. What endures is infrastructure — evidence of collective life. And rather than asking whether Yoga existed, we might ask what forms of attention already mattered. The images most often equated with Yoga, the seals left behind, show animals and human figures in composed, deliberate postures. The much-discussed Pashupati seal, often identified as a proto-Shiva or yogic figure, cannot be definitive - ly named; yet its power remains. It suggests a cultural intimacy with stillness, with the porous boundary between human and animal, and sits in a posture as a way of being rather than performing. Movement, Not Rupture Inquiries into Yoga’s origins inevitably raise deeper questions: Who lived there, and how did cultures change? This is where the language of invasion, migration, and purity enters — and where history becomes central and especially charged. For much of the colonial period, European scholars framed South Asian history through the lens of invasion. The so-called “Aryan inva - sion theory” proposed that Indo-European–speaking peoples violent- ly displaced earlier populations, bringing with them the language that would become Sanskrit, along with religion and culture from outside the subcontinent. This framework served imperial interests: it por - trayed Indian civilization as fragmented and perpetually declining, thereby reinforcing the logic of colonial rule. The term “Aryan,” originally a self-designation ( ārya ) in early In - do-Iranian texts meaning “noble” or “cultured,” was later misappro- priated by European scholars and entangled with racial and suprem- acist ideologies. Similarly, “Dravidian,” which originally referred to a family of languages, was racialized under colonial scholarship as de - noting a biologically distinct, darker-skinned population whose lan- guage and religious traditions were presumed to have been displaced or overwritten. Over time, archaeological and genetic evidence has shown little to The Pashupati Seal of the Indus Valley Civilization, more than 4500 years old, is claimed to be one of the earliest depictions of the Hindu god Shiva. (Image source: Wikipedia)
continued on page 70
PATHWAYS—Spring 26—13
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14—PATHWAYS—Spring 26
ASTROLOGICAL INSIGHTS
Spring 2026: Engagement — Understanding Yourself and Others BY MISTY KUCERIS
During the Spring 2026 quarter there are two important events you’ll experience: the Total Lunar Eclipse on March 3, which will be visible, weather permitting, in the DMV ; and Uranus entering the sign of Gemini on April 25. This ingress into a new sign indicates a shift of energies over the next seven years that focuses on your relationships with individuals in your community as well as continued technological advances that change how you communicate both locally and globally. But before that all happens, this quarter begins with both Mercury in Pisces and Jupiter in Cancer in retrograde motion. You may find it a bit difficult to communicate with others in matters of importance. You want to share your feelings and goals with others, but you worry they won’t give you the support you need. So, for this reason, you may find yourself holding back and not sharing too much. That’s all right though, because what you’ll find is that people who care for you will listen to you with compassion and engage in your desire to be success- ful. As the total lunar eclipse, a Blood Moon, occurs on March 3, you continue retreating from emotional engagements that cause you pain and only embrace those relationships that give you a sense of peace and security. This eclipse occurs at the time of a full Moon with the Sun in Pisces and the Moon in Virgo, and when Mars, Mercury ret - rograde, and Venus are also in the sign of Pisces. As a matter of fact, you’ll be able to view this eclipse and see the Moon turning bright red starting at 3:44 am EST with the most intense red at 6:33 am EST. And, unlike the Sun’s total eclipse, you don’t need to wear any protec - tive eye gear to view this one. The other reason this total lunar eclipse feels so intense is that Nep- tune and Saturn only recently entered their new signs of Aries and you’re still getting used to the realization that it’s all right to consider your needs in relationships. You can find that balance between em - bracing positive relationships and embracing your own true nature so you feel increased serenity in your life. When Jupiter turns direct on March 10, you realize it’s a lot easier to express your goals to others. With Jupiter in the sign of Cancer, your focus is on creating a safe harbor; you want to know where you can go when things in the world just seem out of control. You also continue to experience more clarity on finding your spiritual way in this material world. When the new Moon occurs on March 18, with both Sun and Moon in Pisces, you still may want to retreat, but that won’t be very possible. This new Moon forms a very close sextile, just 13 minutes from being exact, to Uranus; and Mercury retrograde forms a very close conjunc - tion to the Moon’s North Node. Unexpected events are going to bring you out into the world, which actually force you to re-evaluate circum- stances and your approach to life. The spring quarter officially starts on March 20 at 10:47 am EST when the Sun enters the sign of Aries and the vernal equinox occurs. At this point the energy has shifted from Pisces and introspection to Aries and spontaneity with six energy points in the sign of Aries: The Sun, Neptune, Saturn, Venus, the Moon, and Chiron. Instead of re - flecting on situations, you are taking action. Instead of fearing emo - tional involvements, you are embracing your actions and your identi- ty, as you are willing to embrace others. The vernal equinox represents the start of the astrological year and the foundation for what you learn in life and how you live your life during the next twelve months. So the prime theme is “Believing in Yourself.” You’ll see structures dissolve and change as you also real - ize you need to build new structures that enable you to change. Most importantly, with the Moon and Chiron both in Aries and forming a conjunction in this chart, you would rather not cause any harm; but, if you need to fight to protect yourself, you will. In many ways, it’s actually spiritually appropriate that Mercury in Pisces turns direct later in the day. When Mercury turned retro - grade on February 26, 2026, you spent some time retreating into your
thoughts and reflecting on what was important. Now you’ll be able to take any information gained during that time period and find ways to implement what you determined was important to you. As the full Moon occurs on April 1, you find it easier to reflect on your needs, but from a slightly different perspective on this day. During full Moon time periods you reflect on what’s important and determine what to release from your life. With the Sun in Aries you realize it is important for you to continue taking care of your needs. With the Moon in Libra you find yourself realizing it’s important to be involved in relationships where you both consider the needs of each other. You want relationships built on mutual trust, ethical agreements, and sim- ilar goals. The need to take care of yourself increases when the new Moon oc - curs on April 17. With both the Sun and Moon in Aries, as well as Nep - tune, Mercury, Mars, Saturn, and Chiron, there is this intense drive to make certain you are heard. You don’t want to be in the shadow of another individual. Even if by nature you are an extrovert, you still would rather be alone than involved in situations where you are not heard. And if you’re an introvert, you will find your voice. April 25 is the date when Uranus finally re-enters the sign of Gemini and stays there until August 3, 2032. It had originally entered the sign of Gemini for a short time period between July 5, 2025, and November 7, 2025. Uranus represents the need to break away from situations you be - lieve no longer work or feel restrictive. You want to find a new way of doing things whether that’s developing new structures or new rules. In some cases you may even believe you have the solution — in the ex- treme, you believe you are the only one with the solution. But Uranus also represents a lack of patience. You want those changes now, before you’ve developed a new structure or system. This can lead to taking action without considering the consequences. Gemini represents your relationships with neighbors and your means of communicating with others as well as your method for re- ceiving and processing information. On a broader level, Gemini rep- resents the media and other methods of transmitting information as well as technological transfer of information. It also represents in- creased use of technology in all fields, from health to education. Changes are already occurring in how information is being dissemi- nated: social media, streaming services, AI, and quantum computing. But what you’ll see changing is your relationship with these platforms. In some cases you’ll decide enough is enough; you’ll start believing continued on page 16
PATHWAYS—Spring 26—15
ASTROLOGICAL INSIGHTS
Spring Astrology... ...continued from page 15
friends and other people you care for. You want to find symbols that represent who you are, and surround yourself with comfortable peo- ple as well as comfortable things to enhance this sense of comfort. You don’t want to explain yourself and you know they feel the same way. There are two full Moons occurring during the month of May. The second of the full Moons occurs on May 31, with the Sun in Gemini and the Moon in Sagittarius. This is a time period when you want to learn more information, perhaps just for gossip, and you want to gain more insight, perhaps to justify your actions. Now you are willing to move beyond your comfort zone. You want to know what’s going on so you can take the right action. You may feel restless and a need to do something; as long as that something is learning new information, you’ll feel happy. You’ll even be able to use this information to make some important decisions about your next steps. This Spring quarter is truly one of new starts, growth, changes, and community. You’ll go through periods of reflection leading to better self-awareness as well as a greater need for connection. You’ll also ex - perience a period of needing to find comfort in the world with those you care for while moving into a phase of needing better clarity of the world around you. It’s ultimately about enhanced personal and recip - rocal understanding of both needs and engagement with others. © 2026 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.
less in the information you receive and more in what you experience when relating to others. In other instances you may decide to pull back from activities, such as social media, which reveal too much of your intimate life to strangers; or, you may decide it’s important to share your insights with others so they learn from your experiences. When it comes to transportation, changes are also occurring, e.g., driverless taxi or ride-sharing services as well as cars monitoring your driving style and even dictating that driving style. Some of these changes you’ll welcome and others not so much. Historically, Uranus in Gemini indicates cycles of upheaval, espe - cially for the United States: World War II, the Civil War, the American Revolution — time periods when various ideologies drove leaders to take action. From these actions changes occurred in the governance of various nations. The biggest lesson that comes when Uranus enters the sign of Gemi - ni is to take the time and understand what’s important to you. Review your ideologies. Communicate with others so changes can be made with less upheaval. If something is not working in your life right now, reflect on what that situation is. Consider possible actions where you may need to develop the new structure or create new “rules of engage- ment.” Try to take time rather than act impulsively or impatiently. The month of May begins with the full Moon occurring on May 1. With the Sun in Taurus and the Moon in Scorpio you feel less inclined to go out and more inclined to spend time with those you trust. You find you don’t need to explain yourself or apologize for who you are. There’s this sense of acceptance between you and those you care for; and, this acceptance works both ways. As the month continues and the new Moon, with both Sun and Tau - rus, occurs on May 16, you’re glad to surround yourself with intimate
16—PATHWAYS—Spring 26
ACCESSING YOUR INTUITION
When Is the Right Time to Have a Mediumship Session? BY ANNIE LARSON
Death is simply a shedding of the physical body like the butterfly shedding its cocoon. It is a transition to a higher state of consciousness where you continue to perceive, to understand, to laugh, and to be able to grow. — Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, M.D. The question I am most often asked as a medium is, “How long should one wait after a loved one’s passing before having a mediumship reading?” This has no right or wrong answer. Mediums serve as a bridge between the physical world and the spiritual realm; they offer a unique ability to connect with those who have passed on and are ready. With a belief that spir- its exist in a realm intertwined with our own, mediums connect with those in spirit waiting to communicate with us, which may be comforting during times of mourning. They can affirm our loved ones continue to exist and care for us from beyond the veil. Some people may find comfort in connecting with a medium soon after a loss, while others may need more time to process their emotions. The decision to have a mediumship session is a personal choice, influenced by various factors surrounding grief, emotional readiness, cultural and religious views, beliefs about the afterlife, communication preferences, and criteria for selecting an appropriate medium and setting. Here’s how un - derstanding all these elements can help individuals determine the most appropriate time to see a medium. Grief in Stages Having an initial understanding of grief and its five stages — denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance — can be crucial in determining when to seek a medium. Often referred to as the Kübler-Ross model, this widely-accepted framework es- tablished by psychiatrist Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross outlines the emotional responses individuals experience when dealing with loss of a loved one. In her 1974 book, Questions and Answers on Death & Dying , she stressed people experience the stages in different orders, or revisit certain phases multiple times as they navigate through their grief journey. Each grief stage presents its own challenges and emotional hurdles. For instance, during the denial stage, individuals may struggle for a variety of reasons to accept their new reality or need more time to process their loss, making it difficult to en - gage in a session with a medium. Conversely, those who have reached the acceptance stage may feel more at peace and ready to explore the messages the spirit world may hold for them. It is important to take the time to process each stage thoroughly. Emotional Readiness Taking the time to understand and experience each stage of grief helps build the emotional readiness needed for a medium- ship session. This readiness is central, as it opens your heart and mind, enhancing the experience to receive messages from
the other side. During times of crisis, or significant life events, such as birth - days, anniversaries, or holidays, many people seek reassurance that their loved ones remain present in some form. Therefore, timing is important. Some people may find comfort in connect - ing relatively soon after a loss, while others may need more time to process their emotions. Recognizing where you are in your emotional journey can guide you in deciding the best time to consult a medium. Cultural Perspectives On Mourning Rituals and After- life Beliefs Cultural customs and social rituals significantly influence how individuals grieve and when they may seek a mediumship ses- sion. Across societies, established rituals, mourning periods, and ceremonies serve as a framework for processing loss. Some cul- tures prefer private reflection while others emphasize commu - nal remembrance through gatherings. For example, in Japanese Buddhist traditions families quietly honor their ancestors with rituals that include cleaning graves, offering food, and lighting lanterns to guide spirits. The Mexican Day of the Dead, Día de los Muertos , celebrates annual reunions between the living and the departed, with families traditionally visiting cemeter- ies, leaving flowers, and telling stories in remembrance of their loved ones. Jewish customs center around communal support during the seven-day observance of sitting Shiva. Regular activities are paused to focus on remembering the deceased, followed by the unveiling of a headstone after one year to mark the close of for- mal mourning. Catholics, too, have a nine-day period of reciting prayers called a “novena” to intercede on behalf of the departed to be guided to the afterlife. Japan’s Toro Nagashi (floating lanterns) is a ceremonial send-off for the spirits of ancestors. The paper lanterns visually represent the spirits’ return to the after life. Photo source: Embassy of Japan in Canada Facebook page.
continued on page 18
PATHWAYS—Spring 26—17
ACCESSING YOUR INTUITION
Mediumship Session... ...continued from page 17
tifacts from ancient Egypt. Later, from early Biblical literature and the epics of Homer we see four prevalent themes emerge, in Greek and Roman mythology, to further shape afterlife be- liefs: 1) The dead continue to exist in human form, some with supernatural powers; 2) The dead are underground in a cav - ernous world existence where they are separate from God, save the kings who could afford a place among the gods; 3) Afterlife punishment is reserved only for the wicked; and 4) T he dead can communicate with the living through necromancy rituals. How we honor and remember the dead matters. Acknowl - edging all these viewpoints is helpful when we contemplate the timing of a mediumship session. Perceived State of the Soul After Death In examining various concepts of the afterlife, questions arise regarding both the nature of existence after death and the meaning of life in the present. Perspectives on the state of the soul after death can provide comfort, knowing that the spirit is on a journey of its own; but be aware that it may affect the messages they are able to convey. Understanding the various stages that spirits may go through can influence the timing of a mediumship session. Some believe our departed loved ones guide and protect us, while others assign them specific roles such as guiding new souls. Many believe they’ll ultimately be reunited with loved ones in a peaceful place, while others think they await us in soul groups, ready to be reborn. For many, the primary experience is
Just as these cultural and social rituals help individuals navi- gate their personal experiences of loss, they can help determine an appropriate time for mediumship that respects and aligns with their traditions and beliefs. Some find their cultural prac - tices naturally support spirit communication, while others may need to reconcile these customs with personal beliefs about the afterlife. Many cultures have religious, mythological, or metaphysical concepts of realms for the dead and supernatural beings. In- terpretations of the afterlife differ widely, offering various per - spectives on what oc curs after loved ones take their final breath. Eastern philosophies and religions such as Buddhism, Hindu - ism, Sikhism, and Jainism envision reincarnation, where the soul embarks on a new journey in another form or conscious- ness. In Christian, Judeo, and Islamic eschatology, followers believe in a judgment day, where one’s earthly deeds determine their fate in the hereafter, such as the reward of Heaven for good deeds and Hell as a place of punishment for the wicked. Furthermore, some individuals do not subscribe to belief in an afterlife; atheists, for example, do not hold such beliefs, relying instead on worldviews grounded in reason, ethics, philosophy, science, and human welfare. Evidence of beliefs and practices of the afterlife dates back as early as 3100 BCE to the unearthing of funeral scrolls and ar -
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18—PATHWAYS—Spring 26
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