Inspirations:
Happy New Year to you all and I hope you were able to make the most of the last weeks of 2022. For me, it was a time for family reconnections in France, which were greatly appreciated after 2 years of being disallowed from travelling home for Christmas. Now I feel really energised but nevertheless still in an "inner time" frame of mind...
In effect, as I feel more in tune with the lunar and season cycles, I notice a particular emptiness at the turn of this new year in that my mind is not quite feeling ready for a fresh new start.
It is no coincidence that from the Winter Solstice we are still in a mode of hibernation, where ideas and creativity are still buried in the cold earth and our bodies are struggling to get out of the slow pace and warm glow of the festive break.
Still, we can reflect on the past year and slowly let new ideas germinate for our 2023 plans. This Year Compass is a great tool for guiding us, particularly in what we could let go of in order to aid us in becoming more connected to who we really are. For me, to start with, I know going to bed earlier and avoiding screens before bedtime will help with my daily energy levels and focus for the year!
I also want a year where I feel I'm living in tune with my soul purpose. This is not necessarily an easy task! We need to let go of any judgement and conditioning of the mind and really connect with our heart. For that a lot of inner work is required, particularly meditation. I have been using the book "Living in tune" from Liz Roberta to guide me through this.
Astrologically, 2023 is really going to be a year for inner inspection, finding our soul purpose and reconnecting with our hearts. Letting our intuition guide us. It is very much about letting go of the chattering mind and the materialistic world. Connecting with our own feelings and our heart, trusting our inner wisdom, being empowered and knowing who we are. Check out the work from Elisabeth Peru as she guides us through the astrological changes and their effects on us.
Of course supporting ourselves nutritionally is always very important during this Winter Season (and any other season!): keeping our levels of hydration, vitamin D, magnesium and fresh air high! Sleep is crucial as well as having more comforting foods like soups, stews and root veg!
This time of year soups are the most comforting food you can have and you can get rid of the old veg you've had for a while in your fridge! I always start with chopping and frying leeks, onions, garlic and ginger in a deep pan. Then I add chunks of root veg, my favourite is pumpkin and sweet potato, and a handful of red lentils, top up with boiling water and a cube of veg stock, add a tin of coconut milk, a pinch of cayenne pepper and a drop of lemongrass essential oil for an little "Thai" flavour. Simmer for 20 minutes and blend! Enjoy with some crusty sourdough bread.
My mantras for this month:
I am connected to my heart
I am at peace with myself and the decisions I make
GOOD TO KNOW:
> New Absorb T- shirts: our new T-shirts (subtly branded!) are bursting with colour and available at markets or online. The design is from an original watercolour made by my cousin, Brigitte back in France.
> Drinking Water Kefir for better health: If you feel Water kefir really benefits you and you want to drink it regularly to support your health journey, there are 2 money-saving options available to you:
Join our subscription scheme by filling in this document and emailing it back to us completed (absorbhealth@outlook.com) *.
Learn how to make it yourself and acquire some grains - we can teach you all you need to know and provide a recipe!
*We deliver all around Cardiff and surrounding area - and further afield (see below).
> South Wales Fermentation Revolution: this year I am starting a WhatsApp group for the fans of fermentation, so we can share skills, recipes and experiences of preserving and fermenting foods. Do text me your phone number if you want to join me in this new journey (07515493402).
> Workshops and Talks to Spread the Health: Our Cardiff Workshop, on January 21st 2023 (moved to Rhiwbina) is filling up quickly - book in advance as these workshops are designed for small numbers of people.
We are looking for spaces to run 1 hour free talks about Health around South Wales and welcome collaborations with retreats, foodies, chefs, yoga centres, hubs, communities...to share knowledge for better natural health... and to play a part in reducing the strain on the NHS.
If you know of any people or places interested, please do get in touch.
> Grouped Deliveries outside of Cardiff: We have 2 separate 'grouped deliveries' a month. Please get in touch if you live in the areas detailed below and want a Water Kefir delivery:
Mumbles, Swansea, Swansea Valleys to Ystradgynlais: second Wednesday of the month. This month is 11.01.
Newport, Monmouthshire and Bristol: last Wednesday of the month. This month is 25.01.
WORKSHOPS:
Workshops on Fermentation and Health are being planned throughout the year; the 2 below are specifically about digestive health, but there will be more themes coming up:
Cardiff, At One, Rhiwbina - Saturday 21.01.23 (venue change!)
Cowbridge, St Hilary, Coed Hills, The Dove Love Ceramics - Saturday 18.02.23
Please check my calendar for the latest updates on which markets I'll be attending in the next couple of months!
WATER KEFIR
Immune Boosting Flavour of the Month:
Elderberry & Hibiscus: a velvet, burgundy colour with deep flavours with the high anti-Oxidant levels of Elderberries and Hibiscus flowers. It's also a great alternative to red wine if you are trying a dry January!
Happy Water Season!
Looking for Absorb products?
Local markets and where to collect, check out my calendar: https://www.absorbhealth.org/calendar
Or stockists: https://www.absorbhealth.org/stockists