Feeling Earth's Energy

Energy. Perhaps something you would like more of?

We require energy to live and function. We are not the only ones: everything requires energy.

How about our planet Gaia or the Earth?

Most of the energy comes from the Sun, and the rest comes from internal heating.

In short, energy is the power to do or produce change, know something and elaborate. It is a necessary and very basic block to getting started with anything.

Interestingly, potential energy is energy that is stored, it can be accessed anytime and used later. That is the type of energy we want to tap into as it is often charged with data.

It is said that energy cannot be created nor destroyed, only transmuted.

So, how can we start connecting and feeling the link with the Earth? And get more energetic?

Nothing could be simpler and I am sure you are already doing it:

• Be fully present;

• Feel connected to the Earth through your body;

• Follow your instinct.

Let me give you six ideas to explore more mindfully this life-supportive practice:

1) The easiest and most obvious idea is staying out in the sun. Enjoying natural sunlight, without excessive sun exposure, has many benefits for our body, not only it re-energizes us but also provides vitamin D, boosts the feel-good hormone serotonin, relieves stress, and many more.

2) Walking barefoot on the Earth is healing, grounding, reduces stress and inflammation, and will help increase our sensitivity. You will learn to experience the electromagnetic energy the Earth emits and be more in tune with it easily.

3) Rolling around on the Earth is a feel-good and fun activity to do. This will ground you and at the same time discharge negative energy. In short, this is not only playing, but it does help the physical body get rid of unhealthy energies.

4) Having fresh flowers and/or grow plants, both outside and indoor, to have Nature close by. Tending the garden is a wonderful and refreshing experience. Creating a window box is also exciting. Not to mention how lovely it is to receive a bouquet of flowers.

Watching a plant grow and bloom is akin to feeling like a proud parent.

5) If you have the chance, watching the wildlife in your area, safely, is also a great way to connect with Nature. Simply being present and paying attention to the needs and life rhythms of a squirrel, for instance, can renew purpose and relieve stress.

Studies proved that even watching wildlife documentaries produce the same effect.

6) Tree hugging or sitting against the trunk of a tree, are wonderful ways to slow down and connect deeply with our planet. Take your time to feel the tree and how it welcomes you. To fully benefit, you will need to spend more time with the tree as their life energy is ‘slower’ than ours.

When dealing with Gaia treat her like a good friend - showing love, respect, and care - and she will do likewise. Her wellbeing is closely related to ours.

#FridaywithFreya #blog #EarthEnergy #energy #Earth #Gaia #dowsing #divining #dowser #diviner

How to store tea properly

Do you love tea?

You are in good company here. We love loose leaf tea!

You know your favourite and you know where to get it, but do you know how to best store it to enjoy it for longer?

First things first, purchase fresh tea, which is the current year’s harvest to ensure you have the freshness and the full shelf life available to you. This obviously is not applicable to Pu’er or other fermented teas.

Buy the right quantity for you. Whether you are an avid tea drinker or an occasional consumer, buy the right amount or whereabouts. This is because you don’t want to run out of space and then have to throw away old tea which ended up at the back or forgotten.

Antique tea caddies

Choose a suitable tea caddy, meaning a pleasant, airtight, opaque, new container. Tea leaves absorb aromas, flavours, and humidity, so always store separately and in an airtight tea caddy. A previously used container with a lingering smell, or not, could ruin your batch. Disappointingly, glass jar displaying the beauty of the leaves are a no-no. An aluminium canister is currently considered one of the very best options.

Keep your tea caddy in a cool and dry area. This should be far from the cooker, toaster, oven, or radiators to prevent the heat to ruin the flavour. In the same way, avoid placing the tea caddy in the fridge or in a very cold pantry, as it would absorb moisture and spoil.

If your tea is in an air-tight, foil-lined, and resealable pouch, you can choose to keep it in there. Only ensure you resealed it properly after each use, pressing the air out firmly sliding your palm toward the opening and sealing it anew.

It is always advisable to label the container or the pouch with the name of the tea, its origin, flush or harvest season, and date of purchase. If you have a bit of a collection and are a tea lover, this will help you greatly in knowing what you have tasted and plan future purchases.

Consider the natural longevity of your teas. The less oxidised the shorter the shelf life. Green tea should be consumed within a maximum of eight-month, while black tea can keep well for up to two years. Whole leaves will last longer since the surface in contact with air is less than broken ones.

Teas with added ingredients or flavoured tend to degrade more quickly.

Lastly, never ever leave a tea measuring spoon or a scoop inside your tea, no matter the material it is made of. Nothing should be stored with tea. Avoid using an elastic band or a peg to secure a bag in your tea caddy for the same reason.

In short, remember to keep away from air, light, moisture, heat, and other smells to preserve tea original aroma, taste, colour, antioxidants, and vitamins.

Now you can put your kettle on and enjoy a delicious cuppa.

If you are cold, tea will warm you;

if you are too heated, it will cool you;

If you are depressed, it will cheer you;

If you are excited, it will calm you.

William Ewart Gladstone

#tea #teacaddy #teatrade #diviner #tealeafreader #FridaywithFreya #tealeafreading #diviner #article #blog

Tea etiquette: A lesson in table napkins

This seemingly modest piece of cloth can speak volumes about you as soon as you sit at the table.

We will explore together how a British afternoon tea table napkin should be and how you should use it appropriately. Sit comfortably, with good posture and a straight back, hands on the lap, ready to learn.

The English word napkin originates from the Latin mappa, who turned into nappe, or tablecloth in old French, with the added suffix kin, a diminutive used in late Middle English.

The napkin uses and sizes have changed enormously through time, from a huge roll to clean the mouth, teeth and face in ancient times to a wrapping cloth for delicacies to be taken away. Its history is long and frankly astonishing, but here I set out only to give you some practical guidance for your quintessentially British afternoon tea.

Afternoon tea napkins are perfect cloth squares, sized between 12 to 15 inches (30.5cm to 38 cm). 

The clean and crisp square is usually made of cotton, linen or mixed fibre.

Traditionally, they are light in colour. However, depending on the occasion or the decor stronger colours may be used, particularly for a themed afternoon tea or a special celebration where hues could be significant.

A table napkin should be placed on your lap, folded in half with the hem inside, and with the crease folded towards you if you are a gentleman.

However, if you are lady, you want to place your folded napkin with the crease away from you. 

The benefit of the different placement will become apparent in a second. 

Dab your mouth with the napkin, never wipe, bringing the napkin to your mouth. Do not bend down to meet the table napkin, sit comfortably and upright.

The gentleman can gently dab using the inconspicuous side by the crease.

The lady can simply reach for the nearest corner, open it slightly, dabbing with the inside of the napkin. She then closes the napkin again and places it back on her lap. The napkin still looks pristine as the stains are inside.

If you need to take a break, excuse yourself from the table, and leave your napkin on your chair. This signals that you are coming back. Depending on the setting, gently push the chair under the table. 

When you sit down again, place your napkin on your lap as before.

The end of the afternoon tea will be prompted by the host/ess picking their napkin and placing it on the table to their left.

As soon as you are ready, pinch the napkin in the middle and place it on the table to your left too, with the seams toward you. 

The napkin is crumpled but in a somewhat neat way. Note that it touches the table only at the end of the afternoon tea.

I very much work in the traditional British way and proudly host afternoon teas with tea leaf reading. I enjoy it tremendously.

Get in touch to book your full afternoon tea experience!

#teaetiquette #tea #etiquette #afternoontea #tealeafreader #FridaywithFreya #blog #diviner