Portugal has become a global hub for cannabis exports, yet most of its own citizens are shut out of safe access. While a handful of patients can get prescriptions, the rest are pushed into an underground market, tolerated only through possession limits. Becca reflects on the strange paradox of a country that grows cannabis legally but keeps its people in the shadows.
The other day I spotted a box of cannabis-scented Kleenex in my local supermarket in Portugal. It was such a quirky surprise that I tossed it in my cart – and started thinking about what it means when cannabis symbols appear in ordinary places. From the scent itself to the bigger cultural ripple, I found myself reflecting on how normalization can arrive in the most unexpected ways.
From cardboard wars in Portugal to old inner voices I thought I’d packed away, this season has been about more than pool dreaming about floats – it’s been about loosening shame’s grip and finding real freedom.
Is it healing, or just a really pretty way to avoid your feelings? From retreat mats to festival dance floors, psychedelics are often framed as tools for healing and transformation – but they’re just as often used as another way to mentally check out.
There’s nothing like being abroad on the 4th of July to remind you how strange patriotism can be. From here, the holiday looks less like a celebration and more like a performance. Love of country doesn’t mean ignoring the mess — it might mean finally acknowledging it.
I recently had one of those days where nothing seemed to go smoothly – a string of mishaps that kept piling on. It stirred up the memory of a particularly hectic day that I wrote about back at the end of 2022 (funny how certain moments stay crystal clear over the years). As it came rushing back, I decided I should revisit what I took away from the experience.
Unprocessed emotions often find expression in the body. Skin issues, inflammation, chronic tension – these symptoms may be signs of unresolved feelings stored deep within. The link between mental and physical health runs deeper than most of us were taught. And healing begins by listening.
George I. Gurdjieff was what you’d call a modern day mystic – an unconventional spiritual teacher who was committed to “waking up” as many people as possible. His mission was to guide people living in the U.S. and Europe to higher consciousness, believing that humans exist in a state of “waking sleep” – essentially held captive by the unruly emotions that run them.
Psychedelic breakthroughs can feel like hitting reset – but without a clear path forward, it’s easy to slip back into old patterns. I explore the challenge of integration, emotional healing, and how to build new mental scaffolding that supports lasting change in a world that wants the old you back.
Whether you’re hiring for your business or welcoming someone into your personal life (like a housekeeper or caregiver) the stakes go far beyond what’s on a candidate’s résumé. Even if their experience looks like a perfect match on paper, you still can’t gauge someone’s character or integrity. After years of trial and error, I’ve learned how to recognize the people who genuinely belong.