September 2024 – Fearlessness

Inspirations:

August was a short month in terms of work activities with no workshops and a reduced number of markets. We focused on filling up the shops before our end-of-summer little break to France! During our stay at the family holiday house in the Vendée region, I had the opportunity to reconnect with my family and engage in deep and meaningful discussions with my two sons. These conversations revolved around the importance of positivity and creating a space filled with joy and love rather than fear. Reflecting on this, I wish I had been able to have similar conversations with my own parents when I was in my twenties. Today's youth are bombarded with a huge amount of information and choices, making it daunting and complex to navigate the decision-making process regarding their future paths. They are constantly lured by various distractions, leaving little room to introspect and follow their hearts and intuition. The fear of missing out is constantly present, leading them to pursue superficial desires driven by the ego, ultimately leaving them unsatisfied.

While on holiday, I took Kimberley Snyder's book "You are more than you think you are" with me, and the opening chapter explores the theme of Fearlessness. Fearlessness is seen as the foundation of freedom. The book stresses that our greatest dreams lie beyond our fears. It urges us to embrace the present moment, align our inner selves with life's unfolding events.

Gelong Thubten (from "A Monk's guide to Happiness, Fearless Living & Thriving in Hard Times"), in his interview with Dr. Chatterjee on the Feel Better, Live More podcasts explains that in Buddhism, fear is considered one of the most fundamental and genuine emotions alongside anger and desire. Many mental issues like anxiety, depression and ADHD can actually stem from this deep emotion.

Both authors suggest that meditation is a powerful tool for confronting fear. Begin by focusing on your breath, then try to identify where the fear or pain resides in your body, truly experiencing and feeling it as "what you resist persists." Allocating at least 10 minutes each day to create that space is an effective method to conquer fear and make room for your aspirations. You may notice certain thoughts arising and initiating a cycle, but by simply observing them, acknowledging them, and returning to your breath, you are training your brain, much like a muscle, to avoid getting entangled in emotions. The Monk provides a vivid analogy of releasing these thoughts, similar to compost that is then utilised to nurture new seeds!

With the New Moon marking the beginning of September and everyone settling back into their work and school routines, there is a sense of renewal and rejuvenation in the air. Changes may occur swiftly, including the body naturally detoxifying itself during this lunar phase, which could manifest itself with headaches, picking up a cold or virus or feeling very emotional. The remainder of the month holds significance as we approach the Equinox on the 21st of September, along with two eclipses during the full moon in September and the New Moon in October. It becomes crucial to prioritize our health, especially our digestive system, as we transition from Late Summer (Earth element) to Autumn (metal element). September presents an ideal opportunity to cleanse our digestive systems and eliminate toxins. Consider exploring David Wolfe's Colon Cleanse 5-step plan for guidance. Personally, I felt compelled to begin a cleanse immediately upon returning from my recent vacation.

Running out of ideas for cooking courgettes in September? These green wonders are packed with fibre, vitamin C, and antioxidants. Have you tried the divine Courgette ribbon salad with green olives, basil & chilli? It's a raw courgette extravaganza that Becky @onlylovekitchen, whipped up for me last year and is great to be part of your detox menu!

But when the days get gloomy and chilly, and the courgettes keep coming, what's a desperate cook to do? Whip up a simple soup, of course! Just toss in garlic, onion, herbs, water, and a stock cube. And here's the secret ingredient: a dollop of Boursin cheese to make it all frothy and fabulous before blending!

And for those with a sweet tooth, why not indulge in a chocolate cake recipe with a sneaky courgette twist? It's a veggie delight in every bite!

My mantra for this month:

I trust the flow of life

I am fearless

GOOD TO KNOW:

> Great Taste Awards Latest News and flavours updates:

Our Ginger & Lemon won a star again for 2024 but also our Lavender YAY!!!

We are updating some of our flavours and are hoping to launch them towards the end of the month. Our Blackcurrant will become Blackcurrant and Hibiscus and our peppermint will become Lime and Mint. These should be fully available from October

> A few more festivals:

St Fagan’s food festival: talk and demo on Sunday 08.09…bring a friend!

Newport Food festival (Oct 14th)

> 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 soon! (07515493402) Please note that residing in the South to West Wales region is necessary.

We are planning a Gathering on Tuesday 26th of November! Please pencil it in your calendars!

> Salt from the Vendee: We have now stocked up with our salt from the Vendee! The best you can find!

> Initiatives for Promoting Wellness: Our exciting 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 venues, 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: Our production pace has been reduced as we focus on expanding our product offerings to more independent shops and fewer markets. We have acquired a 2-head filling machine and have now invested in a labelling machine (manual), as well as introduce new flavour variations in the Autumn! We are looking to expand our team, so if you are interested in being part of our exciting journey, please contact Laure or Alan!

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

> Accessories: Absorb Glasses and T-Shirts: 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 12.09/ 10.10 . Newport, Monmouthshire and Bristol: Thurs 26.09/ 24/10

WORKSHOPS and TALKS on Fermentation and Digestive Health:

Our last workshops have really been amazing and I have such so much lovely feedback, I am so grateful and happy to have inspired you a bit more in your Journey! Here are the next workshops due after the Summer holiday:

Saturday September 21st, Coed Hills - 10.30 to 12.30 AM
Saturday October 26th, Global gardens – Check their website for more info!
Saturday November 2nd , Insole court– 10.30 to 12.30 AM

ABSORBHEALTH presents *The GREAT GUT GATHERING*, Tuesday November 26th: an evening at Coed Hills for fermentation enthusiasts: includes a discussion panel with foraging, wild fermenting & cooking experts, a buffet featuring fermented foods (by Chef Becky of @onlylovekitchen), sharing our ferments (please bring your latest fermentation creation) and some great music! Tickets will be issued imminently, keep an eye on social media and in my newsletters!

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:

We will keep our late summer bright yellow kefir for this month, infused with the vibrant flavours of Turmeric and Elderflower.

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

Happy Eclipse season! Thank you for following Absorb!