Commercialization

• The MMS health plan enrollment trends data shows multiple U.S. regions are experiencing insurance exchange growth and disruption driven by exits from insurers with substantial market share and entries into new geographies by national insurers.
• Increases in Medicaid and Medicare beneficiaries are providing growth opportunities for managed care plans contracted with government agencies.
• In addition, movement by insurers leaving and entering the rapidly growing individual exchange markets is driving significant disruption.
• In the commercial enrollment sector, the exit of recent entrants to the market indicates the strength of established national insurers.

• Battelle and leading clean technology developers Climeworks and Heirloom have received Notification of Selection from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for a proposal for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s Regional Direct Air Capture (DAC) Hubs program.
• “Carbon capture opens a new era of energy and manufacturing dominance for Louisiana.
• “It’s for this reason that I wrote the original Direct Air Capture Hub program and ensured its inclusion in the infrastructure bill.
• “Our talented energy workforce and embrace of lower carbon technologies make us the perfect fit for innovative projects like this Direct Air Capture Hub.

• WASHINGTON, Aug. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- July 2023, Stef Tasca was named Vice President of Marketing & Commercialization of New Hampshire Medical Supply with locations in Washington D.C. and Maryland.
• Stef joined New Hampshire Medical Supply with over 20 years of sales and marketing leadership in the durable medical equipment, pharmaceutical and automotive industries from her latest role as Ex.
• Director of Marketing and Managed Care Contracting with Hart Medical Equipment.
• "Stef's strategic vision, innovative ideas, and dedication to excellence make her a perfect fit as we expand our operations," said Saleem Shah, president.

• Most Pagans view the Earth as the Goddess, with a body that humans must care for, and from which they gain emotional, spiritual and physical sustenance.
• Groups called covens were the norm when I began my research, but as my own research shows, most Pagans now are solitary practitioners.
• Even while the Goddess continues to be revered, the practitioners’ connection to the natural world, at least for many, is also changing.

Spiritual objects

• The objects were seen as connecting the person to both the natural world and to the spiritual realm.
• Some of these objects were then further imbued with spiritual significance by being placed on an altar during a ritual.
• Most often these rituals, a part of Wiccan spiritual practice, celebrated the cycle of the seasons in eight holidays called sabbats.
• The cherished objects can be passed on as gifts to others who may need them.

Process of commercialization

• Commercialization started in the 1980s with the sale of how-to books on Wicca.
• By the 1990s, however, commercialization was occurring more quickly – and having an impact on the majority of practitioners, particularly new entrants.
• Some of the objects that were cherished, particularly colored stones and crystals, were bought at occult bookstores or shops.

Nature online

• With this change in practice, the social bonds and obligations that came with the exchange of knowledge also came to an end.
• There is no longer a need to enter into a forest or go to the shore to find an object that connects practitioners to Mother Nature.
• Nature is still seen as sacred and celebrated in rituals, but more and more practitioners are finding the objects for their altars on websites.