December 2024 – Openness

Laure of Nature

Nov 7, 20247 min read

Inspirations:

As the days become shorter and we approach the Winter Solstice on December 21st, it's important to monitor our mood and energy levels, especially with a month full of astrological events like the Mercury retrograde starting at the end of November; which may have disrupted our emotions and balance - please check this great forecast from Elisabeth Peru. This is a period when things slow down and it’s fine to pace ourselves, letting things go a little, with less expectation and being more open to what the universe may bring our way.

This is also an excellent opportunity to reflect on the past year and begin planning for 2025. The Year Compass is a wonderful tool for initiating your reflection and some gentle planning. What challenges and lessons have you encountered this year, and what are you grateful for?

I enjoyed the month of November, and although it's one of the darkest and coldest months, I felt invigorated by engaging in activities I love most. I also made sure I had some personal time by getting extra help with production and markets. Our workshops at Insole Court and Grangetown Pavilion received great feedback; it was a new and very enjoyable experience sharing my knowledge with the Grangetown community.

The Great Gut Gathering, our new - and hopefully annual - event was a fantastic experience and pushed me beyond my comfort zone! It was amazing to incorporate the world of wild foraged food within the concept of fermentation, bringing in even more diversity to our microbiome! We offered a welcoming 'Kefir Kir' in champagne glasses (naturally sparkling water kefir mixed with shrubs: a blend of apple cider vinegar - with the mother - and home-made cassis). Then following an hour or so with the speakers, we invited people to our 'fermentation station', where people could taste all sorts of ferments, from Sea Buckthorn natural soda (light passion-fruit flavour), lacto-fermented un-ripened damsons (just like olives!) to a range of aged misos and fresh Amazake (the healthiest rice pudding you'll ever try) and loads more in-between. The place was buzzing with tasting and knowledge sharing. Then it was time for the buffet and desert! Attendees kindly shared their thoughts on the event via post-it notes, and comments included 'Magical', 'Amazing', 'Such a nourishing evening on many levels', 'Heart felt, soul blowing foods, super inspiring, great chats', 'Amazing speakers, enlightening' and 'A beautiful evening'. The evening gave us the warmest of glows inside and we are so delighted and humbled by these comments. Thank you to everyone who was there as well as Rob Gould, Alex for the Foraging and Wild biome knowledge, Stephen for the Ediculture reflections, Setondji for the music and Shauna and Frankie for the buffet!

Could this be the beginning of a new journey for 2025? I am truly open to what the universe has in store for next year. I am eager to see what magic will grow from the seeds planted in 2024.

Being open involves finding peace and balance with aspects of life that might cause stress or boredom. I discovered how to enjoy moments of tension by staying present, avoiding overthinking, and letting go. By shifting your mindset during annoying situations, recognizing that tension wastes energy, and releasing it, you can create mental tranquillity and a sense of calm. Viewing challenging moments as opportunities to learn about yourself can lead to change and attract what you need, transforming negatives into positives! Focusing on your breathing (see last month's newsletter for tips) and remaining open to possibilities helps us stay centred and calm, while respecting the space needed to grow and embrace new opportunities.

Being self-aware during challenging times or when your mind spirals negatively, and being open to the following can be beneficial:

Seek opportunities to say Yes when someone suggests something; be open to it as they might see something in you that you haven't noticed.
Trust yourself to try new things.
Celebrate small achievements.
Be resilient if things don't succeed initially.
Be open and transparent.
Choose actions that have the greatest impact.
Understand your boundaries and make time for your own well-being (I love going for a sound bath or join an ecstatic dance group!).
Connect with nature and stay grounded.
Incorporate vitamin D to your daily routine to avoid getting the winter blues.

Can you challenge yourself this month to be open and curious with the most difficult aspects of your life? Being open also means trusting that something good will happen. If a challenge arises, it's there to teach you something new. Be curious and positive. What are you learning from the situation?

In Chinese medicine, the water element is associated with the winter season. During this time, we often neglect to stay hydrated because of the cold. Water Kefir is an excellent beverage to maintain hydration, especially with the festive season approaching! Dehydration can lead to bladder and kidney problems. Keep in mind that coffee and black tea unfortunately contribute to dehydration.

This season is also ideal for consuming purple and blue coloured foods. Vegetables like purple potatoes, purple carrots, sweet potatoes, kale, black/wild rice, and red cabbage are beneficial during this time. Purple vegetables contain higher levels of antioxidants, which enhance our immunity!

I'd like to repost Becky's Farinara's recipe from last year, @onlylovekitchen, as it touches on the subject of fermented batters (a Farinara with chickpea flour) and was one of the dishes serve in the buffet at the Great Gut Gathering. It's a lovely and easy recipe that you can enjoy with our Ginger Krautslaw or make a coleslaw with shredded red cabbage, fennel, carrots a bit of mayonnaise, olive oil and vinegar, salt pepper and add nuts, seeds or pomegranate for a festive look!

My mantra for this month:

I am open to new beginnings

I trust the flow of life

GOOD TO KNOW:

> Christmas and closure updates:

We are attending our regular markets up to Christmas: Roath, Cowbridge and Kenfig and our last deliveries will be made up to the 24th of December. Please bear in mind that we will not re-open until the 17th of January and that we will not attend any markets in January, so if you are on subscription (early in the month) or on our West Wales run, please get in touch to receive stock in advance or later in January.

> South Wales Fermentation Revolution:

The WhatsApp group for fermentation enthusiasts is growing with each market and event I attend, welcoming new fermenters. If you are keen on learning and sharing your fermentation experiences, kindly provide your phone number to join us! (07515493402) Please note that the group is open to those residing in the South to West Wales region.

> Initiatives for Promoting Wellness: Our mission is to share our expertise with a broader audience and make the wonderful world of fermentation accessible to all! If you know of anyone keen on exploring fermentation, whether they're individuals, communities, or organisations, please don't hesitate to get in touch with us. We offer engaging presentations, hands-on demonstrations, enriching workshops, and delightful tasting experiences, showcasing water kefir and sauerkraut. Let's spread the joy of fermentation together! Click here to get a glimpse!

> Bridge Studio News: We are currently focusing on expanding our offerings to more independent shops and - possibly! - to more Farmers Markets further afield. We are proud to have our team building up with Lavinia on the Kraut making and helping with day to day operations and Sophie, making 1st and 2nd fermentation water kefir as well as covering for a couple of markets monthly! We are on the look out for delivery drivers to cover for some of Alan's shift from time to time.

> Website links and references: We have a page on our website featuring links to authors, books, and podcasts that we enjoy... Check it out!

> Accessories: Absorb Glasses and T-Shirts, and extra touch for Christmas?: Our vibrant T-shirts and drinking glasses are available for online orders or can be bought at markets.

> Drinking Water Kefir for better health: If you want to drink our Water Kefir regularly to support your health journey, there are 2 money-saving options available:

Join our subscription scheme by filling in this document and emailing it back to us at (absorbhealth@outlook.com) *.
Learn how to make it yourself! We can sell you some grains, give you a receipt and teach you all you need to know!

*We deliver all around Cardiff and surrounding area - and further afield (see below).

> Grouped Deliveries outside of Cardiff: We have 2 separate delivery runs each month that go east of Cardiff one week and west of Cardiff on the other. Please get in touch if you live in the areas detailed below and want a Water Kefir delivery:

. Gower, Mumbles, Swansea, Swansea Valleys to Pontardawe and Ystradgynlais: Next runs are Thurs 5.12 / NO DELIVERIES WEST IN JANUARY! / & 6.02 . Newport, Monmouthshire and Bristol: Thurs 19.12 & 23.01

WORKSHOPS and TALKS on Fermentation and Digestive Health:

We have our new Fermentation and Gut Health workshops now open for next year up to the end of March 2025:

The Pantri Box, Porthcawl, on 28.01.25,

Insole Court, Llandaff, Cardiff on 01.02 & on 01.03.25,

Coed Hills Rural Art Space, St. Hilary, Nr Cowbridge on 29.03.25.

We also have a kefir workshop planned on Saturday 25.01.25 at Matter in Bristol . Please check out our linktree with all the information!

Our *GREAT GUT GATHERING* on Tuesday November 26th 2024 was a special evening full of knowledge sharing, discoveries of new tastes from foraged plants and a great buffet and music. We made lots of new connections and I am so grateful that everyone enjoyed the evening! We are looking at doing something similar next year but combined with workshops.

Please check my calendar for the latest updates on which markets I'll be attending in the next couple of months and links to workshops (some will be updated later)!

WATER KEFIR

Flavour of the Month:

Our special festive flavour is back in December only: Spiced Apple & Blackberry.

Do your bit for the environment and remember to return your empty bottles and sauerkraut jars - reusing is much better than recycling!

Happy Solstice season! Thank you for following Absorb!