People: Lotte James Barnes
Name: Lotte James Barnes
Occupation/Business/Creative Outlet: Creative Director/Co-Owner Worn Store + Vedic Meditation Teacher in-training.
Starsign: Cancer - very Cancer.
Favourite Number: 11
First thing you did this morning? Scrapped my tongue with my copper scrapper. It's an Ayurvedic ritual that should be done every morning within 3 minutes of waking. The reason behind this is to avoid re-digesting and absorbing the Ama 'digestive residue' that builds up in our mouth while sleeping and throughout the day. It also enhances our sense of taste, stimulates and cleanses associated organs and deep tissue and improves proper digestion, which all connect to our state of consciousness in Ayurvedic beliefs.
What does 'wellness' mean to you? Over the years as I've placed a greater awareness into my own self-practices, wellness has become well, a way of living. Every decision that is made within our little family, circles around how does this make us feel? Does this support and create the best possible life we want to be living. For us, it means we are constantly observing and placing our awareness into our wellness of life. Not only in the foods, products or rituals we engage in, but what environment surrounds us and how that environment makes us feel.
Simply, wellness to me means placing more time and energy to listen inwards than outwards.
Products found in your shower/by your bath? Chandrika Ayurvedic soap / Mario Badescu Enzyme Cleansing Gel / Epson bath salt / Gaia Natural Baby wash
Three things that can always be found in your kitchen cupboard? T2 Earl Grey Tea (and they've just launched an Organic Earl Grey!!), Local Bush Honey, Maca power
Favourite kitchen utensil? My brass teaspoon. I purchased this with such care, as I wanted a beautiful spoon to make tea with, to add in the honey and stir the milk. As I was taught that how you make tea completely affects the taste, make it with love and it will always taste good, made in a rush without thought, the flavour will tell you. I used to make Lia my wife a cup of tea every morning (Sans Baby - Now coffee). Her Mum asked her early on in our relationship, how do you know Lotte loves you. And Lia said, "every morning when Lotte makes me a cup of tea in bed, she sits next to me and asks how does it taste? Always wanting it to be the best tasting cup possible. The love and care placed into those cups of tea, reflects the love and care she places in me".
Currently reading? Transcendence by Norman E. Rosenthal, M.D & Wabi Sabi for Artist, Designers, Poets & Philosophers & Letting Go by David R Hawkins
Currently browsing (.com)?
https://mrkitly.com.au/ after clicking through from Self Practice!
https://www.odetothings.com/
http://www.anyonegirl.com/
https://www.studionicholson.com/
https://www.blinkist.com/
Favourite breakfast food? I love Breakfast full stop. But hero is Corn Fritters - the crispy kind not the soft kind - that's the biggest mistake most cafes make...
An album/mix that calms your nervous system? Francoise Hardy - La Question 1971
An album/mix that hypes you up? Blood orange - Cupid Deluxe
Most commonly used apps on your phone? Insight Timer, Instagram, Whatsapp, Maharishi Veda, Coastal Watch Surf Check
Favourite form of movement/exercise? Surfing, Running, Hot / Power Yoga & Rounding
One thing you'd like to incorporate into your day/week that you're currently yet to? Daily scheduled reading time - I started this morning actually...
Nighttime rituals? Kissing our daughter goodnight, lighting our Bodha Modern Wellness Oil burner kit. Moving furniture around the home, as Lia is inspired with a 'new interior' direction....ha!
I feel most creatively fulfilled when... I'm traveling and exploring the world, or the complete opposite, when I am in our beautiful, calm, light-soaked and energic home, surrounded by nature and the things I love most.
I'm currently working on... Perfecting the art of foaming milk from Lia's beautiful Atomic coffee machine, so I can make her the perfect morning coffee. And a new collection of furniture and objects for Worn.
This time last year, I wish I knew... How to stop time. This time last year our daughter Ophelia was just over 1 week old and life was complete bliss in our Yugen Farm. Our hearts had expanded to soaring new depths and the admiration felt for my wife, my daughter, my dog, my life was unparalleled.
I'm grateful for... Being a parent, a wife 'legally!', my meditation practice, owning a beautiful conscious business, living in the Byron Hinterlands and having the opportunity to share all this here.
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