A Solstice Poem by Lucy...

Plus a few thoughts on Light, Sleep and Deepening our Wellness 🌞

Dear Readers,

What a joy it is to bring to you this Solstice Poem today. Yes, I am a proud Mama for sure… there is no denying it! :-) I hope you enjoyed it as much as I do… Let me know what you think in the comments. If you’d like to share the poem, please share this newsletter (as the link is private it will work within the newsletter only). Scroll down past the poll if you’d like to read the poem…

Photo by Lucy Sutton

Although we are past that midway point in our calendar now, those of us in the Northern Hemisphere are still in that beautiful time of lingering evening light and bright sunlight that wakes us early (even those of us who are not naturally early risers).

I recommend blackout blinds.
Sleep is essential and we need at least 7.5 hours to feel adequately rested, and decades of sleep research prove over and over that those people who need less sleep than this are a rarity. In fact, it may be that perhaps they are not coping as well with less sleep as they like to believe. Mrs Thatcher comes to mind…
Sleep is our friend!

And light… well that mellow evening sunset and the cooling light of midsummer dusk is just fine. Equally firelight, candlelight and mellow, yellow bulbs or dimmed down lighting. But beware of the blue light of LED bulbs, fluorescent lighting, TVs, computers and phones!! Banish these from your evening pottering… I know it’s hard! I myself do enjoy the occasional bit of evening telly or midnight research on the internet.

However, I recommend do keep the blue light rays to an absolute minimum. In the evening we need that mellow, yellow, soft, soothing glow... Feeling the nourishment of deep rest is so healing… I urge you to give it a try! Sleep well, my friends!

A hyperaroused nervous system (most of us have this, such is the state of the world these days) is likely to make it harder to sleep. Yoga calms the nervous system into parasympathetic mode. This is the state of being in which we rest, and digest our food thoughts and feelings; this state enables us to build more white blood cells to fight off that latest Covid variant. Could it be we are all stressed and worried and that’s why we’re more susceptible to viral infection? I do wonder.

My partner is on day 8 of covid at the moment (the first time, so his immune system is working overtime). I am measuring my HRV every day. Heart Rate Variability is a biomarker for how quickly we recover from stress. On Friday, my Elite HRV app said “Rest today, today you might be fighting an infection.” I did indeed have a mild sore throat and a partner with Covid. How did the app know this!? Science really is awesome!

So rest I did. I reluctantly cancelled a lunch appointment with a friend and Zoomed instead, I walked instead of cycling. I rested. I am quite an expert at resting, as you may know.
And today I feel great! And my app agreed. So far, me and my immune system are outsmarting the virus. Aided by rest, my HRV app and some naturally nourishing foods (bone broth, raw garlic, lots of veg, berries, chia seeds) supplements and herbal remedies. I do believe this is the future of healthcare. Covid is teaching us that rest and proper nourishment are truly vital to our wellbeing.

If you’d like to learn to relax and nourish yourself at a deep cellular level… why not join a class? Monday 1:30pm in-person (in a huge space that feels very covid secure, I will do the class on Zoom if I am symptomatic or my HRV app says so); Tuesday 6:30pm online.
Or you can book a private class, just hit reply to this email…

And if you’d like another class at some other point in the week. Let me know!! Here is a little poll. I’d love to offer another online class. I appreciate the convenience and the uncomplicated nature of a Zoom class… You can attend from wherever you are in the world, it’s amazing! So, what time (BST) would suit you? If it’s not shown as an option below… let me know in the comments then other people can see if your preferred time, works for them too.
I always love to hear from you! If you reply in the comments rather than emailing back then we get a bit more of a sense of our community and our connections…

With love and good wishes, from Julia xxx 💖 xxx

Solstice Poem
Lucy Sutton

Hark, a henge upon the hill

Mist rolled over the looming scene

The eyes of druids and pagans gleamed

For though at present the air hung serene

The night held the promise of bursting light

In strength the summer sun was fizzing to fight

The gentle and muted darkness atween

And so our pilgrims trod the path

That many before had done in song and laugh

The cool night air brightened cheeks

And Hari Krishna lighted feet

The stones loomed mighty upon the knoll

Their majesty indisputable, clear and whole

And to stoney crevice the people danced

Along these ancient and winding paths

To watch this epic play

Between blessed night and beaming day

All the while the spirits gathered

Hauling together in mystical clamour

Pouring strength into these hallowed stones

Taking place in their rightful homes

The air crackles and hums

Anticipation is in the beat of each ancestral drum

And as this earth inches in celestial spin

So the vibrant light begins to seep in

She paints this sacred site  

In illustrious shades gentle and bright

A new dawn is realised by our ancient earth

As the dew begins to evaporate from this weighted turf

The pilgrims whisper of new ages to come

Thrumming in excitement of what has begun

All wear dazed smiles for the wander home

Down the winding paths that bring us to the end of this tome