Moving into Winter...

And so the last of the Summer flowers bloom alongside over ripe fruit waiting to be picked. Amongst the fallen leaves decay begins and as if by magic the homes of fairies appear overnight. Crisp Mornings, dewy grass, diamante webs and hazy sunshine… The seeds have fallen… What intentions are you sowing? What plans are you developing? Which ones have fruited? Can you nurture them to bloom fully for next Spring or will you allow them to germinate now? Look to Nature and you will see it's all about letting go of all that no longer serves you. The trees shed their leaves so they can hold more energy in their roots over winter, the seeds that fall find their resting place to burst into life in Spring. The days get shorter and the sunlight wanes, a time to go inwards, to restore and recharge, strengthening ourselves for the winter months ahead. See the animals storing food for lean times ahead…are you stocking up your store cupboard too, collecting the fire wood and building yourself up for the colder months ahead? Adjust your home accordingly… cooler evenings means throws, extra blankets, woolly jumpers and socks! Create cosyness with candles and incense. The falling leaves are every shade of red, oranges, brown, golds and yellows grounding us to the earth, reminding us to pay attention to our lower chakras and to nurture ourselves daily. The foods we eat also nourish and ground us to the Earth, broccoli, chard, root vegetables, pumpkins and squashes ground our energies and are comforting and sustaining, apples, pears, blackberries and elderberries packed with vitamin C and antioxidants to strengthen the immune system. We are so blessed to experience the changing seasons and the magic they can bring! We love this time of year! Enjoy!

Moving in to summer… Summer is the season of abundance, trees are in full leaf and hedgerows and shrubs are all a vast array of green…the colour of the heart chakra no less! T he heart chakra is associated with compassion, affection, and love. So summer is truly a time to nourish your heart, what makes your heart sing? Go do that. Summer and its fire element signal a time for communication. The long daylight hours allows us time to enjoy extra time outdoors, a dusk walk by the river, evenings in the garden with friends. Dress up the table outside for a supper club style evening, gather around a fire pit, barbeques and games, festivals and outdoor concerts, sleeping under the stars. This summer take your exercise regime outdoors; take your workout into the back garden or Local Park. The benefits of exercising in nature show a clear connection between spending time outdoors and a reduction in stress. Plus, fresh air and increased oxygen helps release the feel-good brain chemical, serotonin – meaning your outdoor training sessions not only help keep you fit and healthy, they put you in a fantastic mood too! Kick off your shoes and make contact with the Earth by walking barefoot on the grass a grounding technique that actually balances the electrical energies of your body and eliminates the symptoms of many inflammation related disorders. It also helps to promote a deeper sleep. In the summer we naturally crave lighter meals. Incorporate more fresh raw foods into your day. Sprout nutritionally dense seeds like broccoli or alfalfa; we have some great seed mixes for sprouting in store. We like the Bio Snacky seed mixes and germinators. Hydration is key in the summer, keep a water bottle to hand and sip throughout the day. Eat cool water rich foods like Cucumber, Watermelon, Cantaloupe, Celery these will help keep your body cool inside when it’s hot on the outside, they can also work as natural diuretics getting rid of excess water and toxins. We like to drink coconut water too as a natural isotonic. If you suffer from Photosensitivity or Prickly heat enhance your anti-aging sun defence from the inside with UV-protective carotenoids like carrots, peppers, tomatoes, watermelon, apricots and greens that contain Beta carotene, Lycopene, Astaxanthin and phytochemicals that help prepare the skin for the sun, alternatively take a Beta Carotene or Astaxanthin Supplement. When it’s hot we sweat! Sweating r egulates your body's temperature by allowing heat loss through evaporation so make sure you are sweating better!! Find a Natural deodorant that allows you to perspire but keeps you feeling fresh. Conventional antiperspirant deodorant formulas block your natural detox and usually bung your pours and glands full of toxic chemicals. We love Weleda’s 24hour deodorant and Ben And Anna’s natural soda deodorant. Flowers are in abundance everywhere, so hay fever might be troubling for some. Struggling with Itchy eyes and throat, sneezing, blocked or runny nose? Conventional antihistamines can make you feel tired and drowsy so why not try a herbal remedy for your hay fever? A.Vogel’s Pollinosan tablets and Nasal Spray are our best sellers in store for hay fever and allergic rhinitis. Taking local honey can be really useful to combat hay fever symptoms, the earlier in the year you start taking it the more effective it will. Summer is such a wonderful time of the year! Enjoy!