by Phoebe Preuss | Apr 9, 2024 | Chocolate manufacturers Melbourne, Events, Wellness Blogs, Wholesale Chocolate
For each of us, Mothers’ Day holds different significance and can bring up mixed emotions – positive and negative. The day can be used as an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the many different kinds of mother figures in our lives, whether they be biological mothers, surrogates, aunties, friends, sisters, mentors, fathers, or the untapped mother within each of us.
Positive mother figures embody the values of nurturing, caring, loving, protecting, teaching, holding, guiding, and giving life. Largely, these values involve one’s energy being given out to other people, which, while virtuous and caring, can be exhausting and strenuous on body, mind and soul. I often think of all the times I did not support my mother in ways she needed. Being without life experience and awareness I didn’t recognise the selflessness she portrayed and the expectations I held on her. Sometimes I feel that a lot of the gift packs and practises I create and share is what I would have loved to have offered my mother and my mother friends during their time of exhaustion and need.
A beautiful way to honour and thank the mother figures around you – and even the quiet motherly voice within yourself – is through healing and restorative self-care practices.
Far from being an indulgence, self-care is essential for each of us to be able to function properly day-to-day, particularly when we’re faced with stressful situations or are caring for other people.
A self-care practice is different for each individual, and it’s about more than having a nice bubble bath and a glass of wine. Genuine and nurturing self-care is holistic and is about taking the time to reflect within and listen to what your body, mind and soul needs to calm, centre and reenergise.
It doesn’t have to be complicated or onerous, it can be made up of little activities that help us replenish our physical, emotional, mental and spiritual energy. Here are just a few ideas that can help unwind and recharge, so we can show up as our best selves in our daily lives.
- Start your day right with a simple morning ritual. Rise half an hour earlier than usual and pick a couple of things to spend some mindful time with. Brew yourself a cup of something delicious whether it be tea, coffee…or of course our favourite, koko! Use your favourite cup or mug and take a few moments to inhale the scent of the brew, feel the warmth in the cup and the sensation of the liquid in your body. Take some deep cleansing breaths and set some intentions for your day, or even do some journaling.
- Nourish your body. While cooking dinner every night can be calming and fun for some, if it’s not your idea of self-care then make it easy for yourself. Meal-prep some healthy meals for the week when you have some time, or order some meal kits. Focus on eating whole foods high in nutrition, without denying yourself your favourite treats. Eating high quality dark chocolate is a perfect example – savour every bite and know that you’re getting the health benefits of antioxidants, iron and magnesium, all in one delicious package!
- Slow your brain down throughout the day. Meditation can be a challenge and it’s not for everyone, but taking a few moments to sit quietly and focus on one calming thing can be so energising. Focus on your breath, a mantra or calming phrase, or silently give thanks and appreciation to your body, the earth and the mana – the spirit of life and energy. The ancient practice of giving gratitude combined with deep breathing and quieting your mind has played a central role in many cultures for eons for good reason – it works.
- Turn your bathroom into your own private day spa…even if it’s just for a short time. Whether you have an hour or just a few minutes, you can make the simple process of having a shower a more relaxing task to reset your body and mind. Light a candle or scent diffuser, grab your favourite body products and make your shower a mindful and present experience. Notice the different scents, textures and sensations and use the time to ground yourself and reset. Packed with organic, natural ingredients, our Koko Smooth range of body and face scrubs, masks and serums are the ideal way to give yourself a mini escape from the outside world, while giving your skin some alofa– love.
Incorporating restorative self-care practices into our daily routines can have a significant impact on our overall well-being, and these are just a few easy ideas. So, take some time for yourself and try out these practices, or gently suggest (or gift!) some of them to someone in your life who might need some nurturing.
by Phoebe Preuss | Mar 27, 2024 | Events, Uncategorized, Wellness Blogs, Wellness Event
Pasifika Movement & Cacao – $25 + BF – Tickets here
“April brings a powerful alignment of planets and energy. How to navigate this cosmic terrain? Control what’s in your hands, and let the universe do the rest.”
Can you give 2hrs of your month to help ground your energy and realign you. To help remind you of the best version of yourself?
We invite all women, men, non-binary peoples and those connecting to feminime energy to join us in an evening of Pasifika Movement & Intentional Cacao. Pasifika Indigenous Dance movements help to nurture us at a fundamentally grounding level.
In Samoa, Koko (Cacao ) is offered to deepen social connection.
We invite you to come experience:
🤍 Koko reflections on gafa (genealogy) and malaga (journey)
🤍 Understanding le masina (the full moon)
🤍 Te ha ~ Breath work
🤍 Collective story telling through movement
Moving together as one recognising our position within an eco-system and opening ourselves to kincentric ecologies and cyclical rhythms of our moon.
(Pasifika movements, language and frameworks drawn from different parts of Polynesia; Ori Tahiti, Hawaii & Samoa)
This is an outdoor event, if there is heavy rain it will be cancelled and full refunds distributed.
Light rain we will still go ahead.
Bring water bottle, pareo (sarong), and cup for cacao drink after clas
by Phoebe Preuss | Mar 27, 2024 | Events, Wellness Blogs, Wellness Event
Easter holds diverse meanings for people around the world, deeply rooted in religious, cultural, and personal significance. It symbolizes hope, redemption, and the promise of new beginnings.
Beyond its religious connotations, Easter has evolved into a celebration of rebirth and renewal in many cultures. It marks the arrival of spring, a time of growth and rejuvenation in nature, signifying the end of winter’s dormancy and the start of brighter days. This aspect of Easter is often associated with themes of fertility, abundance, and the cycles of life. (hence the eggs and bunnies)
Many are unaware that the word “Easter” is derived from the Old English word “Ēastre” or “Ēostre,” which itself originates from the Proto-Germanic “Austrǭ,” meaning “dawn” or “east.” This term was associated with a pagan festival dedicated to Eostre, a Germanic goddess of spring and fertility. The Easter festival was held after the Paschal Moon (aka the egg moon) The full moon which occurs on the 14th day of the lunar month that occurs on or after March 21, its not in the shape of an egg (it would be cool if it was) but Its name is to acknowledge again the Northern Hemisphere themes of spring and fertility.
Interesting all this information for those of us who live in the Southern hemisphere – moving into slower, colder months – watching the other side of the life cycle. Leaves turning brown, the cooler days and losing the light of day earlier.
This is always a good time to share and connect with those you love. To intentionally call out how you want to move through these cooler months. I want to tune into the slowness of my system and really honour my body.
I have learnt that when we ignore the rest our body craves we can become reactive, and have an unstable mind. One that easily descends into a place of judgement and darkness.
Be mindful on what you are feeding your mind and who (or what) you are bringing into your sphere. There is a beautiful quote from Lao Tzu which sums up this mindfulness – to ensure what we resurrect is of good substance and not of unhealed pain.
“Watch your thoughts, they become your words; watch your words, they become your actions; watch your actions, they become your habits; watch your habits, they become your character; watch your character, it becomes your destiny.”
Alofa Atu
Lolopo Fipe Preuss x
by Phoebe Preuss | Jan 20, 2024 | Artisan Chocolate, Cacao Body Scrub Products, Chocolate manufacturers Melbourne, Drinking Cacao Shop, Drinking Chocolate, Events, Organic Chocolate Shop, Wellness Blogs, Wellness Event
Click here for link to tickets,
Feb 23rd 6.30pm – 8.00pm with cacao drinks to end.
$20+BF
We invite all women, men and non-binary peoples to join us in an evening of Pasifika Movement & Intentional Cacao. Pasifika Indigenous Dance movements help to nurture us at a fundamentally grounding level. In Samoa, Koko (Cacao ) is offered to deepen social connection. We invite you to come experience:
🌱 Koko reflections on gafa (genealogy) and malaga (journey)
🌱 Understanding le masina (the full moon)
🌱 Te ha ~ Breath work
🌱 Collective story telling through movement
Moving together as one recognising our position within an eco-system and opening ourselves to kincentric ecologies and cyclical rhythms of our moon. (Pasifika movements, language and frameworks drawn from different parts of Polynesia; Ori Tahiti, Hawaii & Samoa)
This is an outdoor event, if there is heavy rain it will be cancelled and full refunds distributed. Light rain we will still go ahead. Bring water bottle, pareo (sarong), and cup for cacao drink after class
by Phoebe Preuss | Jan 20, 2024 | Chocolate manufacturers Melbourne, Events, Wellness Blogs, Wellness Event, Wholesale Chocolate
Fipe Preuss: Living Koko co-founder, Pasifika movement guide, Space Holder and Cacao Creative. – (Wahine Toa o te Po offerings details here)
Living Koko is honoured to offer wellness practices that go beyond engaging with our beautiful koko plant medicine products. Our Wahine Toa (“wah-hee-ne toh-ah”) workshop is a sacred and intensive experience that we offer to those looking to deepen their connection to themselves and sisterhood. Taking its name from a Pasifika phrase meaning a woman’s strength, Wahine Toa is a gender and non-binary inclusive event to support and guide those who connect with feminine energy. Our most recent workshop was held on Saturday 19 August, with 16 women joining us for what was a powerful and moving day of reflection, movement, breathwork, ceremony and connection.
Drawing on revered indigenous practices and traditions from the Pacific Islands and Aotearoa New Zealand, and honouring the divine feminine energy, Wahine Toa is a full day experience and takes participants on their own unique inner journey whilst supported by sisterhood in a nurturing space. With an intent to replenish the self and soul and re-ignite the fire within, we commence the session by sipping traditional Pasifika plant medicine elixirs of kava Kava Kuo Heka from Tonga, and cacao Koko Samoa from Samoa. These are brought forward in ceremony through movement and chant and help set the awareness and intention for the day, with the heart-opening qualities of koko deepening our connection to ourselves and each other.
Through ceremony Pasifika movement, meditation and focused breathwork, our wahine sisters are encouraged to move energies and emotions through their bodies to help heal and resolve deeply held emotions, release painful forgotten stored memories, and erase unhelpful narratives. With compassion, gentleness and respect, we support our sisters through this journey, allowing them to truly feel their emotions and unburden their bodies, within a sacred space where everyone feels secure to share their story. Towards the end of the session, we sit as a group and share a meal and koko, reflect gently, connect and hold space for anyone to talk about what they have experienced.
Witnessing these incredible women work through this process is such an honour, and I love seeing the positive impact it has on them. They walk away feeling lighter, many of them journal for days afterwards and are able to let certain memories go, reframe situations and give themselves a much more gentle narrative about it. Wahine Toa is such an incredibly powerful and fulfilling experience, and a beautiful way to honour and nurture yourself if you are looking to go deeper into your self-care and breathwork practice.
We look forward to holding our new activation this February “Wahine Toa O Te Pomore” Strong women of the night – an evening half day retreat which focuses on the shadow deep inner work we all need to do. If this feels right for you, if you have heard of doing inner work but unsure how to create big shifts then this is for you. We ask that you attend with an open mind, heart and a gentl ear for your sisters.
by Phoebe Preuss | Jan 16, 2024 | Events, Wellness Blogs, Wellness Event
“In any direct light we can cast a shadow.”
Talofa lava beautiful Wahine! (**womxn)
Welcome to Wahine Toa o te Po – Strong Women of the night (SECURE YOUR PLACE HERE)
Wahine Toa is an evening into night retreat, to journey through the illumination of our shadows. Shadow work helps us have a deeper and more authentic relationship with ourselves and the world.
This year 2024 is about stepping into your true power, with grace and alofa for yourself. To truly love yourself you must grow your self-awareness and understanding.
Wahine Toa o te Po brings us together to help reflect on what is hidden in our shadows – reflecting safely and without judgement. To make room for us to grow.
Our ‘ava (kava) ceremony will help bring our minds and bodies into a grounded space. This medicine that can help soften our lens on self and community.
Together we will also create our own koko samoa ceremonial cacao, from roasting and pounding to create the paste to drink. Each step brought forward in ceremony with collective movements and chant.
Lalaga (the weaving space)
In this evening event we will be creating a weaving of indigenous practises and ceremony.
We use breathwork techniques help us face unexpressed emotions, to move through the resistance and ground ourselves. Making more room for who we truly want to be. Taking radical responsibly for the path we want to create.
* *womxn is a gender and non binary inclusive event activated to support and guide those that connect with feminine energy.
NB: Dinner and refreshments are included in this event.
Facilitators:
ALEESHA – (MAORI) – FOUNDER OF EARTH WAHINE – Soul coach, focuses on womens empowerment, Reiki and Breathwork facilitator, Space Holder, womens circle faciliator
FIPE – (SAMOA) – CO FOUNDER OF LIVING KOKO – Community Cultural Development Practitioner, Polynesian Dancer, Fire Performer, Space Holder and Koko creative with family deep rooted connections to cacao.
