Q: After 20+ years in traditional indigenous ceremonies with mushrooms, peyote, and ayahuasca in South and Central America, I’m watching local options emerge with both curiosity and apprehension. Most seem facilitated by mental health professionals or those with limited connection to indigenous roots. What’s the difference between these approaches and traditional circles? Are there benefits or […]
Culture
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Star Quality
Observations about what’s above us
A few years ago I headed to Oregon’s Summer Lake Wildlife Area to meet friends for our annual spring bird-a-thon. Armed with binoculars, the Merlin Bird ID app and bird books, we good humoredly tried to outdo each other’s species count. Come nightfall, I took in the staggering beauty of the Milky Way that claimed […]
Posted inCulture Features
Make 2026 the Year of Reading
Recommendations to start your book list
The frenzy of the holidays is almost behind us and 2026 is just around the corner. For many, using the new year to set goals and resolutions is a time-honored tradition. Some of you may join a gym or commit to Dry January. Perhaps you want to do more for our local community. Volunteer at […]
Posted inFilm
A Year of Excellence
The best (and some worst) films and shows of 2025
Every year, when it’s time to make my end-of-the-year list, I realize there are still too many new releases that I’ve yet to see, which is somewhat ridiculous since I actually managed to catch around 150 releases from 2025. That’s plenty. Feels like plenty. Along with all the new shows I tried to catch, I […]
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A Variety of New Year’s Eve Celebrations in Bend
From snowbound parties to a speakeasy to Latin dancing, there’s something for everyone
As 2025 comes to a close, Bend has no shortage of events to help you ring in the New Year with style. From luxurious dinners and endless dancing to champagne toasts shared with friends, there’s truly an event for everyone looking to end the year on a high note. One of the many events taking […]
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Free Will Astrology Week of Dec. 18
Sagittarius will have a Mozart-like aptitude in the coming months
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): According to legend, the genius composer Mozart heard entire symphonies in his imagination before he wrote down any notes. That’s a slight exaggeration. The full truth is that he often worked hard and made revisions. His inspiration was enhanced by effort and craft. However, it’s also true that Mozart wrote at […]
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Shakespeare in Loss
“Hamnet” finds creation in pain
“Hamnet” opens on Agnes (a primally explosive Jessie Buckley) waking at the foot of a massive tree in the depths of an old-growth forest. She (as was her mother before her) is treated as a Woods Witch, a blend of mysterious naturopath and rugged outdoorswoman, more comfortable as a quiet falconer than engaging in society. […]
Posted inFilm
Bill, Killed
Tarantino, Film Bros and the Whole Bloody Affair
I have a complicated relationship with Quentin Tarantino. I rented “Reservoir Dogs” on VHS when I was 12 years old and it was the first movie that ever made me really understand the importance of dialogue in filmmaking. The way QT balanced tough guy dialogue with flawless needle drops and character-driven ultra violence felt like […]
Posted inFilm
Atomized Canon: The Folly of Hollywood’s Fallout TV Show
What could have been incredible is instead incompatible
To filmmakers, screenwriters, and showrunners, being allowed to work on an established, deeply fleshed-out fictional universe must feel like a god-sent gift. Rather than constructing a tale from scratch and hoping it charms audiences enough to pay it mind and dollar, using the setting of an existing intellectual property lets creatives skip a hard step […]
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Heartburn! Risks of Long Term Use of Acid Blocking Drugs
The health of the digestive system is in many ways one of the cornerstones of overall health and vitality. When there is ongoing inflammation, or other chronic issues affecting digestive tract function, it can pave the way for other downstream health concerns over time. It makes sense, as this system is where we break down the […]
