THE HALF MOON TIMES

Parish Pilgrimage to St. Tikhon's Monastery

A short article on a parish pilgrimage to St. Tikhon's Monastery, but with some practical guides to maybe help you make a similar journey.

Christ the Savior Orthodox Church

Teens are as Good, or Better, than Adults in Hiding Suicidal Thoughts: What to Look For

A great article on understanding what to look for and what to do if you are worried about you teen. What are the powder kegs that can't trigger suicidal thoughts, and what can you do to help them. A must read if you have teenagers.

Focusonthefamily · Rhonda Robinson · Sep 21, 2026

Exploring the Trails and Small Towns of McDowell County

Tucked into western North Carolina's Blue Ridge Mountains, McDowell County offers a welcoming base camp for hikers, cyclists, and paddlers. Outside highlights how local community partnerships in towns like Marion and Old Fort have expanded access to public lands, waterfalls, and regional trail networks. We selected this piece as an appealing example of attainable outdoor travel, pointing readers toward scenic Appalachian routes and unpretentious mountain hospitality without requiring elite skills or major expense.

Outside · K. Matt Brown · Oct 1, 2026

Stretching Household Budgets Through Practical Homesteading

In this discussion from Homesteading Family, Carolyn Thomas addresses the pressures of rising food and living costs, sharing practical household strategies to help family resources go further. The piece offers an encouraging look at how traditional home-scale food practices and intentional budgeting can build resilience during times of economic strain.

Homesteadingfamily · Carolyn Thomas · Oct 3, 2026

Crafting a Traditional Five-Herb First-Aid Powder at Home

Carolyn Thomas shares a traditional five-herb first-aid powder blend incorporating comfrey, slippery elm, myrrh, bayberry, and garlic for household wound care. Writing for Homesteading Family, Thomas outlines the preparation process alongside essential safety guidance for treating minor cuts and abrasions naturally. The guide offers a practical starting point for families seeking to build self-reliant home apothecary skills with time-tested botanical remedies.

Homesteadingfamily · Carolyn Thomas · Sep 30, 2026

Measuring Human Flourishing Beyond Material Wealth

Writing for the Human Flourishing Program at Harvard, epidemiologist Tyler VanderWeele examines national well-being through a framework that looks beyond purely economic metrics. The essay highlights how genuine flourishing encompasses character development, a sense of purpose, and deep interpersonal relationships. We selected this piece for its thoughtful, evidence-grounded perspective on what truly sustains individual and communal health over generations.

Hfh Fas Harvard Edu · Tyler VanderWeele · Jul 1, 2026

Proven Tough: What We Can Learn From the Gear Real Cowboys Use

Writing for Outside, Jakob Schiller travels to Montana sheep ranches and local rodeos to see which gear survives continuous, punishing outdoor use. Working across tens of thousands of acres in extreme weather, these ranchers and rodeo athletes favor reliable essentials over delicate novelties—from impact drivers for rural tire changes to compact pocket knives and traditional silk wild rags for dust protection. The resulting list offers practical insight for anyone looking to invest in equipment built to endure real backcountry conditions.

Outside · Jakob Schiller · Sep 30, 2026

Exploring the Intersection of Artificial Intelligence and Psychoanalysis

I think a lot about the impact, good and bad, of AI on Psychoanalysis and other areas of counseling. Here is a scholarly article that digs into the topic.

Tandfonline