Living

Update: On June 24, 2022, the United States Supreme Court overturned their decision on Roe v Wade, which  means that Americans have lost their Constitutonal right to safe abortions, and 26 states are either definitely or likely to ban on abortion.  On May 2nd in a leaked memo, it was reported that the Supreme Court intends to overturn Roe v. Wade, the historic 1973 decision that legalized abortion in the United States. Since then, we’ve mobilized, we’ve protested, and we’ve disseminated resources through every media outlet...
My neighbors probably hate me. This morning I opened my front door, lit some incense, and grabbed some pots and pans. One would naturally assume I would start frying an egg for breakfast, but my intentions were quite different (much to my neighbor’s demise). Once I felt ready, I began to clang the metal pots together, creating a powerful noise that vibrated in my hands. It could have been my imagination, but the air felt cleaner. Maybe my ancestors were onto something; maybe this really does...
 What is a hot girl walk? Walking is the fitness trend that is hardly a trend, but thanks to a 22-year-old Tiktok-er by the name of Mia Lind, the oldest exercise in the world is getting a rebrand. The Los Angeles native started going on what she called "hot girl walks" in 2021 as a way to put focus back on herself, instead of things outside of her control. “The way that I was living was focused on other people, full of anxiety, a bad relationship with food...
The sphere of mental health has witnessed monumental advancements over the past many years. What spearheaded this change was the replacement of asylums with community-based mental health services in the 1960s, that helped foster the holistic well-being of people battling mental illnesses. Moreover, in 1949, May was established as the Mental Health Awareness Month to acknowledge the existence of mental health struggles and spread awareness about how one can emerge from them. And ever since then, we have come a long way in destigmatizing...
  Several times a year, messenger planet Mercury starts to slow down in the sky, creating annoyances amongst us earthlings, as communication and travel starts to go haywire. Yes, it’s that time of year again! Drama, arguments, and chaos abound: welcome to Mercury Retrograde. Hours before Mercury starts its journey backwards, Venus — the planet of love and money who had been retrograde since the beginning of May to June shifts out of its rearward rotation, moving forward. This may cause complications in matters of the heart...
On May 14th, various reproductive justice, health, and rights organizations want us to mobilize across the country. Planned Parenthood, MoveOn, Women’s March, and other organizations are promoting the “‘Bans Off Our Bodies’ day of action” and calling for mass mobilization. 80% of Americans support access to abortion, and yet, the supreme court seems not to be on our side. We are the majority. We can pressure unjust lawmakers to respect the will of the people, just like the Green Wave movement in Latin America. The...
For much of human history, women have been the main keepers and distributors of mycological knowledge. Here, we meet just a few of the female scientists, naturalists, farmers, and healers who have been, and continue to be, inspired and empowered by the magic of mushrooms The mushrooms glisten in the early autumn light like freshly glazed confections in a pastry case. Deep in the forest, each form shines under a fine dew, amplifying the ethereal blues, maroons, and yellows. I move slowly, as leaves softly crackle...
Turn any old piece of furniture into a total tile icon Whether you’ve got a boring table or an ugly nightstand, a little mosaic-style tile and grout is an easy way to give just about any piece of furniture a brand-new look. And it’s way easier than the dramatic finish would have you believe. Tiles are available at just about any home-improvement store, but it’s worth a visit to your local independent tile shop—they typically have more interesting options and will often have leftover tiles from...
The first eclipses of 2022 occur on April 30 at 4:28 PM ET in Taurus and May 16 in Scorpio at 12:15 AM ET. This set of eclipses will help us glow and grow in the upcoming months, as well as pushing us to take responsibility and accountability for our actions in order to evolve. We may change our paths or see matters in a different light, as we are being cosmically gifted with knowledge which will help us become the people we always wanted...
Whether it's a shit work-from-home setup, long hours of crafting, or simply “phone neck,” modern life can really do a number on our bodies. Discovering exercise biologist and mobility coach Alexandra Ellis on TikTok (@aewellness)— and her therapy-ball-based self-massage techniques—is one of the best gifts the Internet has given me. “Rolling,” as she calls it, lets you dig into your sorest spots, relieving tension, improving blood flow, releasing fascia—the connective tissue that basically holds everything in our body together— and getting more “ooey and gooey”...