August: Vino, Verse, & Vinyl
Vino: Rosé
Isn't is fascinating the polarizing popularity Rosé has experienced in the last decade? On the heels of it becoming the "it" wine, I was studying in Ireland and spent a bit of time in the South of France. This is where I first tried Rosé, just barley pink and deeply chilled, at a cafe facing the Atlantic Ocean. Of course, this was a recipe for love regardless of the popularity, how could I not fall in love with this wine in that particular setting?
This wine is both like red and white wine, in that it is made with red/purple grapes like red wine and it is made with minimal contact with the grape skin like white wine. Dare I say, this is a liminal wine? Most grapes to make Rosé come from Grenache grapes. The central hub of Rosé heralds from Provence, France, but there is no limitation to 'where' the wine can be made. The hue can vary from a light blush to a deep pink. The tasting notes range from fruity, to floral, to citrus (I even read someone describe a particular varietal as "celery-ish" and that makes sense to me, its one of those iykyk).
I would say the best way to have a Rosé tasting would be to all coordinate colors and varietals, so you can really explore the range of this wine. And keep it in the fridge, please keep it chilled. In an ideal world, I would also suggest to have a blow up pool to put your feet in and some bug-repellant tiki torches. Enjoy Rosé with the least amount of cooking possible, lots of salads, crudites and dips, at most do some grilling (and it pairs well with BBQ sauce). Enjoy these last nights of summer, who gives a damn how cliché Rosé may be.
Verse: the poems of our mystic guides
Who did you explore? Hadewijch of Antwerp, Rumi, Li Po, Dogen, Dante, Kabir, Basho, William Blake, Emily Dickinson, Mahadeviyakka, Mirabai, Owl Woman, Sor Juana Inés de La Cruz?
Don't you just feel "done with the compass", "done with the chart" at times? Ready to throw the papers to the winds, too confined by a life of "shoulds"? This is where these mystics are so wise, their WILD abandon for passion--all defining the divine, love, passion, in different ways, but somehow always the same. Their deep battle cry that life must deeply lived, felt, enraptured by: WILD NIGHTS! These mystics point to a life that is fully alive with transcendent passions–defying cultural norms for deep desire and abundant grace. Emily writes the speaker has Eden, the entire sea, but the only desire is to moor in "thee." A poem of the night, of the body, of love, of fully devoting oneself to passion. How powerful. Chat about the mystics:
Vinyl: “Music to Elevate my Consciousness"
What music feels sacred or holy to you? It can be obvious or very specific to you, literal or not. For me, there are some literal takes with hymns and Vedic chanting, but also I feel transcendent listening to Stevie Nick's sing "Rhiannon" live and Irish folk makes me nostalgic in a way that nothing else can. Research shows that music has profound impact over our mood and mindsets, like when a song gives you chills, your brain gives you a dopamine hit (feel good chemicals). It is no wonder that mystics and laypeople alike seek out music to uplift and enliven them.
Be good, Amanda
P.S. Registration open for the limited enrollment group course "Once Upon a Time: Awakening Heroic Consciousness” & as always book your free 1:1 Wellness Consult for support for wherever you are on your healing journey.
