October 2023 – Energy

Inspirations: September has flown by and it's been a full month since we were on holiday. Since my return I've felt a kind of stagnancy in my body, so I decided to flush my system.

Energy in the Food We Eat:

I've had a great experience doing a (remote) 2-week colon cleanse with David 'Advocado' Wolfe ('Avo' for short). The first week consisted of consuming mainly liquids (water, smoothies, soups) and one light meal a day. The second week was all liquid. I took charcoal with salt and lemon - what Avo calls a "charcoal lemonade" - and some vitamins, minerals and herbal supplements to help with the elimination. I have to say, it was very potent and amazing to give up grains, dairy, sugar, coffee and alcohol. I also tried wonderful teas like tulsi, schizandra and goji berry!

I really did feel a shift! First in weight, as I lost the 3 kilos I wanted to... but also energetically I experienced clarity and a surge of lightness coming my way! It's a great thing to do (even for only 5 days for example) to prepare oneself for the seasonal change, with its shorter days, it's dips and some winter blues that can test the immune system of the most hardy of us.

Thinking of fermentation! I'm always thinking of fermentation! Aren't you? ; ) This is also a great time to bring in this energy into your diet. Did you know that the Latin word for 'fermented' is Fervere - which means to boil. Imagine the energy that is generated in fermented foods and drinks; an energy that not only naturally heats up the foods to preserve it but provides the perfect home for those wonderfully nutritious live bacteria that are so central to our gut health! I love the idea of picking a cabbage you have grown and turning it into a raw kraut that you can have ready for the winter, when those vegetable are becoming scarce! Why not start YOUR OWN JOURNEY into this world?

Astrological, Spiritual and Universal Energy

The energies are strong in October with the aftermath of the last super moon on 29th of September being at its closest to the earth. They are here to help us see more clearly and choose between two types of powers: fear & compliance or empowerment & consciousness. It is important to stay on track with your vision and not to be taken by the chaos around you. As we approach the eclipse season, with the first one on the 14th, we can lean towards a clearer sense of purpose and passion, finding a strong sense of self and being clear about our boundaries.

On a collective level, it's important to meditate regularly to bring in those loving visions and create healing energies to send around the planet as an act of 'oneness' as opposed to selfish individualism or acting from a position of polarity. You could look at the work of Lynne McTaggart and the intention experiment.

The Energy of Music:

Music is one of the highest powers of energy. Around the Equinox I have been so lucky to enjoy some sound baths with gongs and crystal bowls, as well as group meditations and ecstatic dance. It is an amazing way to get connected to that 'energy body' and feel that sense of oneness and love.

I also recently saw this amazing Kora player from Gambia, Sona Jobarteh. Her music and lyrics are so inspiring. Among her wise words he talks about the responsibility we all have to raise the next generation into a different way, showing love, respect and harmony to all beings on this planet.

This is a recipe that Becky @onlylovekitchen (currently in Normandy, catering for a retreat) loves and it incorporates fermentation, so it’s a perfect recipe for this newsletter! Fermented split yellow pea pancakes which can be served with your favourite hummus!

My mantra for this month:

I choose to be in my own power

I am energy

GOOD TO KNOW:

> South Wales Fermentation Revolution:

The WhatsApp group for fans of fermentation is growing with more fermenters being added at each market and event I attend. If you are keen to learn and up for sharing your fermenting experiences, text me your phone number and you'll soon be on the journey with us! (07515493402).

> Talks to Spread the Health:

Our demos and workshops in September have been a real joy; at St Fagans Food Festival and with the chefs from Bacareto at Spit & Sawdust (off Newport Road)! I can't wait to meet more and more people sharing their new ferments!

If you know of any people or places who want to know more about fermentation, please get in touch. We can offer talks, demos and workshops, and run tasting sessions of water kefir and sauerkraut.

> Food & Drink Festivals :

OCTOBER 14th: Our last festival this year will be Newport Food Festival.

NOVEMBER 4TH: Coed Cauldron in Coed Hills, running workshops around the land. More info TBC.

> Absorb T- Shirts: The T-Shirts are bursting with colour and available at markets or online. The design is from an original watercolour by my cousin Brigitte, in France. The organic cotton makes them super lovely to wear!

> Salt: Our salt comes from the marshland area of l'Ile d'Olonne in the Vendee - there are now only 3 producers that harvest the salt in this area. It is so unspoilt and the salt is full of minerals and iodine. We use it for our krauts and gomazio (sesame salt)

> 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 Ystradgynlais: Next runs are Tues 10.10 - 13.11
Newport, Monmouthshire and Bristol: Thurs 26.10 - 30.11

WORKSHOPS and Talks:

Workshops on Fermentation and Digestive Health

Sat 31st OCT 23 Workshop in Roath - 9.30 to 12.30 AM 52 Glenroy Street Cardiff - A lovely arty house in the centre of Roath!
Tuesday 14th Nov 23 - Karry's Deli - 18.30 to 20.30 PM Barry

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:

Pear & Sage is a subtle flavour for this season. Gentle on the colon and hormone balancing from the sage - all supplied by Paul's Organic Veg.

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