I’m back and have so many great posts and interviews planned in the coming months. 2023 ended with some unexpected challenges and commitments which took up more time than planned so I had to postpone a few posts.
I wanted to start the new year with a little bit of sharing around what is inspiring me lately and encourage you all to think about what inspires you. Then do more of it. There is so much beauty all around and at times it gets hard to notice but I believe with conscious consumption (watching, listening, reading learning) we can balance being a consumer of beauty and also having more moments to simply take it in, and also equally if not more important to add to the pool of beauty and to give back.
I’ve always found Solstice through Epiphany (which was originally a celebration of the rebirth of the sun, a triumph of light over the long winter nights) a time of reflection and candlelight list making.
Fav: Candle:
-No2 Blood Orange and Saffron made by East York Street (while I make my own candles I do occasionally splurge and buy this one too)
Fav Journal:
Lined Moleskin (basic and classic)
Favorite Pen:
Pilot Precise V5RT (specifically for morning pages)
Reading:
-On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong (i’m late to the party on this one!)
-Little Stories of your life (find your voice, share your world, tell your story) by Laura Pashby
-Jane and May Morris (a biographical story 1839-1938) by Jan Marsh
Music:
-Hayley Reardon: Changes EP
-Allison Russell:The Returner
-Boy Genius:The Record
(**plus one bonus one at the bottom of this missive)
Podcasts:
Talk Art: Special Christmas Edition interview w. Boy George (my childhood hero!)
Coffee:
Daily Blend: Marrakesh Express by Deans Beans
-Rosemary Orange Latte from Familiars Coffee Northampton
-Cardamon Maple Latte from Catalpa Coffee
-Recent find: Vietnamese Coffee
New (visual) Artists:
-Barbie Kjar (Tasmanian artist)
Food:
-Blood Oranges
-Baked Brie with Pears
-Sauerkraut Fish GuanGuan Rice Noodle Soup (Fish fillet, pickled cabbage, day lily, black fungus, shredded kelp, garlic chives, beancurd sticks and mint) Deng Ji Restaurant Flushing, NY
Latest Obsessions: (well on going really)
-Seaweed (especially Victorian women collectors)
-Mycelial Connections (lichen and moss also)
-Curiosity Cabinets (and miniature worlds)
What are some of your current favorites?
Starting on the New Moon is February (the 9th) I will be offering my “The Art and Revolution of Self Care” a mini course, 30 days of self care prompts, recipes and inspiration offered daily to your inbox. It is an invitation to rest and re-set, to gather and grow together.
The offering is free to paid subscribers and a sliding scale of $33-66 to everyone else.
“Caring for myself is not self-indulgence.
It is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.”
Audre Lorde
Last month while thinking about my non negotiable, I reached out to my Facebook friends and asked them if they have any personal "rules to live by". I have really wise and kind friends!
-Always clean up the kitchen before bed because Future/Morning You will thank Past You for the work she already put in.
-Start mornings slow. Slow movements. Self care. Nourishment to take on the day ahead
-Progress not perfection
-There are many right ways to do something.
-Curiosity rules.
-Notice what you find beautiful and move in that direction.
-Only permit myself to think thoughts that feel good. Lovingly dismiss the ones that don’t serve me.
-Look for the good in everyone and everything.
-Be curious.
-Don't be afraid to try something you might not be good at.
-Dance. A lot!
-Listen more than you talk.
-Find something to be grateful for every day.
-No soap on my face.
-A glass of warm water upon waking.
-Accept gifts and compliments with joy & gratitude.
-Save one sacred free day for myself every week
-Try new ways and new things.
-Be a good ancestor.
-Practice random acts of kindness and pay it forward
-To quote the the Dead “let your life proceed by its own design”
-Live life to the fullest whilst you can
-Don't sweat the small stuff and try not to take things too seriously
-Don’t postpone
-Treat everyone like you would want other people to treat your mom or your kid. (Or anyone else whom you love the most of all.)
and of course Cats!
What are some of your personal "rules"?
I’ve been teaching herbalism and self care now for 25 years and my annual 30 days of self care begins again on Feb 9th 2024- Won’t you join us ? Often all we need is that one little action to shift our mindset/ the energy and to be able to take those small steps needed to start to feel more like ourselves. Something I have learnt during my 25 years in the Holistic Health Care field is that by creating reliable self-care habits we can be more present, make clearer decision, and begin to unlock the fullness of life.
Be prepared to start feeling very full :-)
Three of my favorite rules to live by
Start where you are, do what you can, use what you have
Practice makes progress
Complete the circle
When I teach I often like to “joke” that the correct way to end the day is with a cacao rose bath. Bring two gallons of water with 1/8 of a cup of powdered cacao and 1 cup of dried roses to a simmer. Sometimes, I also add some seaweed (wrack kelp or knotted wrack kelp seaweed). Then pour into filled bath tub. (check temp before entering). Won’t you try it? mmmmmm
(preview) 2024 Class Schedule
And here is a first look at my classes for 2024 (more will be added)
-Two webinars this week (the Herbs Work one is free and open to all!)
Saturday Jan 27th Arnold Arboretum at Harvard University, Boston
Intro to Botanical Cyanotypes (free)
Feb 9th “30 Days of Self Care” Free to my paid subscribers, $33-66 sliding scale
Friday Feb 23rd Opening of Art Show Curated by myself and Lilian Jackman
“Mind Memory Mycelium” at APE Gallery Northampton
Sat March 2nd Artist Book Fair at APE Gallery Northampton
Tue March 19th 30 days of Nettle Spring Challenge begins
Friday April 5th Botanical Art In Studio Program 2024 begins
Sat April 6th Arnold Arboretum at Harvard University, Boston
Intro to Botanical Cyanotypes (free)
Tuesday April 23rd 2024 Beginner/Intermediate Herbal Apprenticeship begins
Sat May 4th May Day Craft Fair at Blazing Star Herbal School
Sun May 5th New England Botanical Garden at Tower Hill Boyleston MA
Intro to Cyanotype workshop
Wed-Thurs May 15-16th Provincetown Art Museum
Fri May 17th Provincetown Art Museum
Intro to Cyanotype Photography: Printing from a Digital Negative
Sun May 19th-May 23rd Snow Farm, Williamsburg MA Guest teacher
Books in the Woods Retreat (Handmade Book Club event)
Wed June 12 Westborough, MA Library
Intro to Eco-printing(free)
Fri June 21 Shepherd Maudsleigh Studio, Newton MA
Daylong Eco-Printing Intensive
Sat June 22 Shepherd Maudsleigh Studio, Newton MA
Day long Artist Book Making w/ecoprinted papers
Sun June 30th New England Botanical Garden at Tower Hill
Intro to Eco Printing workshop
Wed July 10th Westborough, MA Library (Free)
Artist Book Making demo(free)
Sat Aug 24th Arnold Arboretum at Harvard University, Boston
Intro to Eco Printing (free)
(I will be back at the PAAM in the Fall but will announce those dates later)
Finally, a plug for my daughter Zoe Rinchen Lemos’ new song, give it a listen “Burn Out” (of course we all know how to avoid “Burn Out” by signing up for 30 days of “Self Care”!