Table of contents for Issue 13 in Planet Mindful

YOU’RE SITTING WHERE sunlight falls in strips between trees, warming your face and your arms. You can hear peeping birdsong, the occasional caw of a raven and a quiet trickle of water. You open your eyes. Oaks, larches, rowan, sweet chestnuts and beech trees surround you with outspread branches, reaching towards the sky above. As you stand, take a moment to lift your face and perhaps your arms, hands held with palms upwards as you stretch luxuriantly. Breathe in the scent of green leaves, moss and rich loam, noticing a subtle thread of chill in the air. On a nearby oak tree, a tiny nuthatch runs up and down the trunk, its bluish feathers shining. You reach out and run one finger over the rough bark several feet below where…

THERE ARE PEOPLE who are energising, and there are people who are draining. And sometimes people who you used to find energising now drain you. It doesn’t mean they’re bad. It doesn’t mean you’re bad. It just means the relationship isn’t serving you anymore or that the way you’re engaging in the relationship isn’t serving you. If you want to have more energy for the things that truly matter in your life, you have to stop donating it to people who are using it as their life force. They need to figure out how to cultivate their own life force and stop siphoning yours. I understand that letting a relationship go is easier said than done, and sometimes it seems impossible, especially when the one draining your energy is your…

Health & Beauty Botanical Handbook by Pip Waller (Quarto, £12.99) This beautifully illustrated new book shows you how to grow your own herbs and make your own teas, tinctures, toothpastes, serums and soaps from scratch. The ‘herb directory’ also explains the benefits of each herb in detail, so you can start to create your own health and beauty staples using home-grown ingredients and zero packaging. Mindful Thoughts for the Home by Kate Peers (Leaping Hare Press, £7.50) As we come into the autumn and winter months, our homes start to take centre stage again. This book is designed to help us look at the spaces we inhabit and shares tips for creating calm, energy, creativity and solitude. It also covers mindful cooking, finding enjoyment in cleaning and how plants and…

NATURE IS AMAZING. It can provide our skin with all the nutrients it needs and matcha, which is made from finely ground green tea leaves often grown in East Asia, is one of the most powerful natural skin foods you can find. Matcha contains rutin, polyphenols and vitamins A, B-complex, C, E and K. Some of them are powerful antioxidants and research has revealed countless benefits when they are used topically, especially for inflammatory conditions. Another compound found in matcha is epigallocatechin-3-gallate, or EGCG for short. It gives matcha its antibacterial and antibiotic properties that can help acne-prone skin. Aside from helping with blemishes, EGCG promotes smoother and more supple skin due to its ability to support skin structure and rejuvenate skin cells. This superfood powder can also help fight…

EARTHWORMS ARE QUITE possibly one of the most overlooked species on the planet, despite our very existence being dependent upon them. Earthworms are makers of the earth, hence the name, but for too long our farming practices have neglected (or conveniently ignored) to recognise their role in soil health and vital importance to our ecosystems. The advent of industrial chemical dependant agriculture has not been so kind to earthworms or the beneficial microbial populations in our soil. Since the 1850s, the use of synthetic fertilisers, pesticides, fungicides and insecticides have destroyed the life in the soil and consequently the health of our food and natural systems. According to the United Nations, we have less than 60 years of global top soil left if we continue to disregard the life in…

If you dried out some of your summer flowers, this is the perfect way to display them. Of course, you don’t have to use the varieties below – choose whatever takes your fancy. FLOWERS 3 bunches of yellow immortelles5 sunflowers20 hare’s tails15 orphan maidenhair or European feather grass stems20 wild oat stems5 poppy heads10 scabious seed heads10 stems of white statice YOU WILL NEED A branch – 70cm (27½in) in length (such as beech)RaffiaSecateursString This is an extract from Dried Flowers by Morgane Illes. Published by David & Charles. © Hachette Livre (Marabout) 2019. Photography by Hervé Goluza…

STEPPING INTO WOODLAND is a feeling like no other. That sense of history, the deep connection with nature and the power of being surrounded by living things that help keep us alive – walking among trees is both grounding and therapeutic. Calming, mystical, majestic and nourishing, trees speak to the human soul – and there has never been a moment in living memory where that desire to immerse ourselves in nature has been stronger. The history of our bond with trees goes back centuries, where traditionally, livelihood, nourishment, safety and shelter have all been provided by our native forests. No other natural habitat has offered so much to humans, but we’ve not always treated it with the respect it deserves. Throughout history, England’s ancient forests have been depleted to provide…

NOTHING REVS YOU UP quite like your kids. You can be the calmest person on earth who just glides through life, sipping green tea and practising your downward dog without a care in the world until you have kids. I wouldn’t say I was exactly calm before kids, but I have since reached new levels of rage I never knew were possible. Anger has always been a part of my life, but for me it was just an act to get my point across or to give myself a dramatic moment. I would say I never got properly angry until my children came along. Mike and I would stay up for hours trying to get my eldest to sleep. We were new parents, utterly clueless and exhausted to the bone.…

Clean conscience With a mantra of ‘better skin, better planet’, Skin Sapiens is a new clean beauty brand that offers products with minimal ingredients. The whole range is certified Ecocert COSMOS Natural, which means the sustainability of the whole supply chain can be guaranteed. The range is now available at Selfridges as part of its Project Earth range. skinsapiens.com Good scents If you’ve been looking for a natural deodorant that actually works, try Deliciously Ella’s favourite brand – The Natural Deodorant Co. We love the soothing scent of the Lavender variety, but you can also choose Orange & Bergamot or Mint & Eucalyptus. £12.50 at naturaldeoco.com Raise the bar These new award-winning shampoo and conditioner bars from Biovène Barcelona are free from sulfates, parabens and palm oil. They’re also cruelty…

OUR HOMES HAVE taken an even bigger role in all of our lives this year; the environment within which we have spent the ups and downs of lockdown. With so much time surrounded by the same walls, many of us will have had the chance to think about how our personal space contributes to our state of mind. If you suspect that the dark walls in your lounge have been making you feel a little gloomy, then you’re onto something. Colour, it seems, has an intrinsic role in our physiological and psychological health, and its effect on our wellbeing is at its best when we surround ourselves with colours that are personal to us. The human connection to colour was revolutionised in the 1990s with the discovery of special cells…

IN OCTOBER 2015 our daughter Betty was stillborn at full term. We never found out why it happened to her, her cause of death was ‘unknown’. At the time we were living in Bournemouth and our son Archie was four. Life since the day she died most certainly hasn’t been easy. Grief is a never-ending journey; one that constantly changes and evolves. There is no cure for grief, you have to navigate a new path for yourself and this is what we have had to do as a family. We’ve had some heartbreaking lows and incredible highs. One year on, I gave birth to Vinnie, who is now three. He was born five days before his sister’s first birthday. Shortly after this, we moved to the Isle of Wight to…

There’s something so therapeutic about working with rope and this beautiful decoration is a labour of love. Start it now and give as a gift at Christmas, or keep it and give it pride of place in your own home. Information Final size: 13 x 25cm approxTime : 40-60 hoursLevel: Beginners Equipment Measuring tapeMasking tapeScissorsComb or pet brush Material 1 x 20-25cm wooden stick or dowel13-14 metres of 3 or 4mm string (single twist or 3-ply, both suitable)6 x 80/100cm string3 x 100cm string Know your knots For this tutorial you’ll need to know how to tie the following knots: Lark’s Head, Square and Double Half Hitch. Find the walkthroughs for these at twome.co.uk/macrame-knots This is an extract from Macramé for the Modern Home by Isabella Strambio (£12.99, searchpress.com). ISBN: 9781782218364…

We live in a world where we are consistently bombarded with information, visual stimulation and noise. Taking time in your day for meditation gives you an opportunity to clear your mind, bring awareness to your thoughts and in doing so achieve mental clarity and a sense of calm. When we think about the concept of meditation, we often visualise a fixed session of practise, but this doesn’t have to be the case. Taking just a few minutes to sit quietly and focus on your breathing is enough to lower your stress levels, focus your mind and bring you ‘into the moment’, free from distracting or unhelpful thoughts. If you have a very noisy inner voice, it may help to listen to a guided meditation to help you relax into it…

Kielder Forest, Northumberland England’s largest forest, Kielder, stretches over 250 square miles. This vast, beautiful woodland is home to a huge variety of native wildlife, including roe deer, otter, red squirrels and badgers. New Forest, Hampshire Atmospheric and breath-taking, this ancient woodland – once a royal hunting preserve and now a thriving working forest, teaming with wildlife – has so much to explore, and fall in love with. Tollymore Forest Park, Co Down With the River Shimna flowing through the forest, this woodland is as beautiful as it is calming. If it looks familiar, that might be because it’s been a regular filming location for Game of Thrones. Glen Finglas, Stirling Home to some of Scotland’s oldest trees, Glen Finglas also boasts stunning waterfalls, lochs and heathland. Best of all,…

Hidden: Young, Single, Cancer by Annabel Chown (Blue Door Press, £8.99) At the age of 31, Annabel Chown was a successful architect in London, enjoying a carefree life. Then she found a lump in her breast and everything changed. After surgery and treatment she began yoga classes and – finding them wonderfully restorative – gave up her job to train in Ashtanga yoga. This book is a real page turner as Annabel recounts her journey with honesty and humour. Good Vibes, Good Life Gift Edition by Vex King (Hay House, £14.99) In this Sunday Times bestseller, British Indian author Vex King shares his intuitive wisdom to inspire you to practise self-care, overcome toxic energy, prioritise your wellbeing, manifest your goals and cultivate positive lifestyle habits. Vex recently appeared on Fearne…

TALK TO EACH OTHER Communication is the key to any relationship, so it’s important to give each other the space and time to express thoughts, feelings and experiences. It’s important to share interesting details about your everyday experiences, as well as being open and honest about the big stuff as well as the smaller stuff. Do you share stories from your life? Do you tell each other anecdotes? New or old, it doesn’t matter. Do you know the broad picture of what’s going on in each other’s lives? It’s less important how often you talk – you might see some people every day and others maybe only once a year – it’s more important what you talk about. You need to be in touch with yourself to do this –…

WE OFTEN TAKE great care in choosing what we put into our bodies, but sometimes we spend less time considering what we’re putting onto our bodies through our skincare regime. From moisturisers and toners to deodorant and make-up, many of us have an arsenal of products that we use daily. In fact, a recent study showed that we use up to 18 products a day per person. Whilst we might choose to avoid products tested on animals or those packaged in plastic, how often do we stop and consider what ingredients are inside or where they came from? What’s in your bottle? Non-organic skincare can be harmful for us as well as the planet. According to the Soil Association, 90 per cent of non-organic products contain parabens – a petrochemical…

Red Qualities Energising, stimulating, promotes feelings of warmth Suggested uses Rugs, throws, chairs, flowers and ornaments Orange Qualities Enthuses, nurtures creativity, liberating Suggested uses Vases, home office accessories, wall prints, crockery, towels and fruit bowls Yellow Qualities Boosts self confidence, helps mental focus and nurtures empathy Suggested uses Wardrobes, mirror surrounds, home office Green Qualities Harmony, compassion, relaxing, promotes creative thought Suggested uses Entrance rooms, bedrooms, busy family rooms Blue Qualities Serenity, generates new ideas, encourages emotional openness Suggested uses Shelving, bedrooms, lampshades, communal areas Violet Qualities Cleansing and relaxing Suggested uses Bedrooms, bathrooms, entrance rooms, bed linen; and sofa cushions Pink Qualities Healing, resilience Suggested uses Picture frames, flowers, vases and textiles Black Qualities Mysterious, healing Suggested uses Chairs and mood walls. Pair with white for a strong look…

PINK HUMMUS Smother this beautifully bright hummus over sourdough bread for the perfect starter, or serve as a dip with freshly sliced salad vegetables. Serves 4 160g dried chickpeas1 tbsp olive oil1 tbsp lemon juice80g tahini1 tbsp beetroot juiceSalt To serve: 1 tsp of black sesame seeds or1 handful of cooked chickpeas 1 Soak the chickpeas in a bowl of cold water for 12 hours or overnight. Rinse and drain well. Cook the chickpeas in a large saucepan of boiling, salted water for about 40 minutes until they are tender. Once soft, drain the chickpeas, reserving a small amount of the cooking liquid. 2 Place the chickpeas with a little of the reserved cooking liquid, olive oil, lemon juice, and tahini in a food processor and season with salt. Process…

This basic mask can be made just by sewing straight lines. When selecting fabrics, try quilting cotton or use old clothing or linens. Dimensions of materials (including seam allowance) This is an extract from Easy Masks to Sew by Boutique-sha (World Book Media, £10.99)…

Run for joy Throughout my life, running has been about many different things – a way of dealing with chronic asthma as a child, something that gave me my identity in my teens and a way to burn calories in my disordered eating twenties. I’ve come to realise that running is the human body’s rawest form of freedom; we were quite literally born to run. Maybe not that fast, maybe not that far – but getting up and moving our bodies is what we were born to do. This knowledge gives me a sense of freedom when I run now that is so liberating. Be fearless One of the things that holds so many of us back when it comes to exercise is the fear that we’re not as fast…