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Elemental Insights : Imbolc
Our first newsletter of 2024 comes to you at the time of Imbolc. The first of the 8 festivals celebrated during the wheel of the year.  A festival of light, slap bang in the middle of winter and spring.  It’s an ancient celebration of times of more daylight, and the slowly approaching return of spring. It’s like Mother Nature requesting us to hit snooze on winter and get outside in search of tiny green shoots breaking through the soil.
Imbolc whispers to us, “Hey, check out these hardy snowdrops” while encouraging us to see if we can feel our own inner stirrings of spring.  For me, these stirrings tend to be repairing things, cleaning things, and clearing out clutter from drawers and cupboards. Not ready yet for proper spring cleaning, but just a gentle hint at getting a plan together.

Irish Reset

I took my binoculars and camera to The Innishowen Peninsula in Donegal, Ireland earlier this month. Experienced all weathers from crisp clear sunshine to sideways sleet and hailstones of biblical proportions. Very dramatic skies and lots of blustery walks.

Being away from all chaotic, depressing and usually fake influences and just spending time photographing, reading, sitting beside an open fire and practicing yoga is simply the best tonic for anyone’s soul.
As well as resetting my diet with a complete sugar and processed food detox, the trip provided the perfect opportunity to reflect on the past year and look forward to the year ahead. Deciding on my goals and reaffirming my “why”.  What’s my purpose? what do I want to achieve in 2024? A process that never fails to give renewed focus, faith, and motivation.
What has our jewellery brand Harmonite been up to?

Last year after many requests from our customers, we trialled a batch of our acorn pendants with tiny Oak leaves inside and have been so blown away by the response that we are keen to make some more this spring when the leaves reach the correct size and strength.
More Info
We also attended several local craft fairs as a way to trial new products and gauge reactions, not only was it a fun way to spend a few hours at the weekend, but we met many incredible makers and learned a lot about the importance of building a network of like-minded people. We hope to book many more events in 2024. Follow us on social media to keep up to date with our next event.
What have I been writing?

Energetic Herbalism for Beginners
Published last year, but is now also available on Audible.
This beginner’s guide helps to make sense of herbs in a way that means they work with your own constitution. After all, we are all different, our baselines are not the same, so herbs that work for one person may not work for another.  Find out how to choose correctly those herbs that will work for YOU!
Huge thank you to all those who already bought a copy and helped this book reach #7 in the Amazon Best Seller List!
Buy Now

New Manager with Imposter Syndrome?
For all those silently struggling women who don’t speak up for fear of sounding ungrateful (of which I was once one).  This book unveils the untold stories of trailblazing women battling imposter syndrome. Navigate the challenges, triumph over self-doubt, and master leadership techniques, and feel empowered.
Also available on Audible.
Buy Now
What have I been influenced by lately?

By Tristan Gooley.
A fascinating look at the signs we see around us every day to help determine the weather and its effects on the natural world.

By Peter Wohlleben.
Yet again Peter takes difficult scientific research and, through analogy and story-telling, turns it into an enjoyable yet educational read.  

The Incredible Human Journey
“Dr Alice Roberts travels the globe to discover the incredible story of how humans left Africa to colonise the world.”This 5 part documentary had me hooked. Alice takes a truly exhausting and brave journey following ancient clues, artifacts and DNA trails to show us her theories on how humans spread from Africa to the rest of the planet. No wonder Africa always feels like home.
One small business helping out another …

Nancy’s Barn – Ballyliffin
They deserve every award they have received… an unassuming-looking place, but the hospitality and the seafood chowder are out of this world. 
A final word from the woodland…
Soon the weather will warm and it will be time to switch from storm damage clearance, to counting butterflies, clearing streams and planting out saplings.  The magic of spring will soon be seen and heard.

So until the equinox in March, I wish you all a wonderful Imbolc, and fantastic season ahead. I’m off to make Bridgit’s crosses now!

Joanne
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If you are reading this and thinking who the hell is Joanne Hedger, then I sincerely apologize; your email address has reached my Google contacts list somewhere along the line and I have embarrassingly failed to keep in touch. For this I am very sorry and wish you all the best in life. (There is an unsubscribe link below).

If, however, you wish to continue receiving Elemental newsletters, be sure to whitelist my email address or mark me as an approved sender in your email inbox. This is to ensure that you will receive all updates and announcements and not have me sent to your spam box.   My email address is: joanne@elementalretail.com

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