new moon in aquarius + the best fish & chips in town + gluten-free restaurant + florentine trattoria + the best side of queen’s park + the bless of #1 + detachment + saying goodbye to our other decades + the joy of not busy as usual
“The family is the humanity. When you finally understand this, you will realise that all tribes are yours and none of them fits the entirety of your soul. Only with the vastness of the infinity do you identify yourself.” - Personare about Uranus on the 4th house
“I have seen in my wanderings great temples and shrines, but none are as blissful as my own body.’ - Mahãsiddha Saraha, 8th century
“What’s going on that you’re not sharing anything on Instagram for days? Did you block me from seeing your stories?!”, I woke up with this message in mid-January with one of my best friends asking what was going on that I was not sharing anything on Stories. Funny. Apparently, to be is to share in 2022.
Naturally, I appreciated this concern but was not even on purpose. I moved flat - nothing big - and couldn’t have chosen a better month: January can be cold, but blesses us with the number 1, the first month of the year, the number of beginning, a breath of fresh air. And on top of it, it’s been sunnier than usual, warmer than usual and emptier than usual.
How I missed going to Borough Market and having no queues on my favourite places there: Monmouth Coffee, Padella, Bread Ahead. Humm. The local bakeries are still busy, but there is a quietness during winter that brings joy. It’s like visiting Rome in November. Or going to the beach during winter. Summarising: there is a happy space between the business as usual and the less busy than usual. Yes, I’m maybe more in peace with colder months and embracing the dark too.
But back to my moving, I wasn’t expecting the energetic cleansing that would happen. I didn’t even realise that I was keeping so many clothes - after many donations during the years I must add - from my 20’s decade. It’s not that I don’t like them or don’t use them. No, actually I don’t use them anymore. Change of sizes maybe, but mainly change of decade. Suddenly I just realised that I was not identifying myself with the old clothes from when I was in my twenties. Even dresses that were perfectly fitting didn’t fit my energy.
I was realising that I was, literally, saying goodbye to my 20’s self. And sometimes only with physical items being released, we finally move on from one phase to another. How many times do we think we moved on and, in reality, we just thought that we did? In the end, was symbolic. 15 boxes of clothes. I could have sold them. But my change of identity was not for sale. There is something about the charity that reminds us of our humanity. There is something about giving that literally has no price. Think about something you have that you can give.
In the end, January brought detachment. My room and my place are more aligned to my present self. Maybe I’ve been on a greater spiritual path and this cleansing was only manifesting itself in the material spectrum. But oh, the old pictures, the sweet messages from friends, the diaries? These must be kept. We all need a box of little secrets and memories to look to our past selves from time to time and always remember who we are and who we were and the people in our journey.
Was not easy to let go, and it’s a conflict to think about the reasons we resist donating. The exes, the trip, something good that happened whilst you were wearing that, a good phase, that good brand, that dress model you will never find again. But every choice to end comes with an opportunity to begin. If you focus on that, things get a little easier. And how beautiful it is to realise that something that does not serve you anymore can be of good value for someone else? The cycle of life of new endings and new beginnings. Recycling. Isn’t this the whole story of humanity? Think about the Romans, the Greeks. Where we are. The cities we occupy. Were built in someone else’s past. It’s beautiful. That we may be in this mood in 2022.
P.S.: we have a New Moon in Aquarius today. And it’s Lunar New Year! If you have a chance, practice some journaling today sharing with the universe your intentions for the next months. I’m sure it will help! And ah, Venus is not retrograde anymore too. Woohoo!
Aries
The world of Stonehenge is the next promising exhibition at the British Museum starting on the 17th February. Following the story of Britain and Europe from 4000 to 1000 BC, you'll learn about the restless and highly connected age of Stonehenge – a period of immense transformation and radical ideas that changed society forever. Not to miss!
Taurus
As an earth sign, The Light Festival at Battersea Power Station is a must-go for the winter season. Brightening up the dark nights until 27th February 2022, six spectacular installations are now on display across one of London’s most exciting riverside neighbourhoods.
Gemini
Taking inspiration from airy Moroccan courtyards to backstreet Andalusian bars, The Barbary Next Door, the little sister to The Barbary, is a relaxed neighbourhood restaurant and wine bar in Covent Garden, literally next door to The Barbary itself. I don’t even doubt how stunning is the cuisine as the place is always high on my recommendation list to people who love good food in the town.
Cancer
One of the rituals I love the most in London is going to Borough Market during the week. I don’t know, but the stalls and the locals grabbing a bite here and there makes me proud to live here. One of those days, I decided to try fish!, where since 1999 the fish is delivered daily from their very own fishmonger, Jarvis, which is renowned for its extensive range of the freshest fish and seafood in the market. Go for the pan-fried haddock (yes, the fish&chips!) because it’s definitely one of the best! Next door, they have their takeaway stall, a very traditional way of eating this typical British dish, just the way Cancers appreciate.
Leo
Last month, I visited the Harrods Tea Rooms for an afternoon tea full of scones, tea, coffee and champagne, a lovely gift from a friend that I highly recommend it. Yes, it’s very touristic but also has a British accent like no other. The atmosphere is full of classic glamour and sometimes you just have to be a tourist in your own town to appreciate the reasons people love to come back to London and to this temple of fashion.
Virgo
Did you ever wonder if London hosts a gluten-free restaurant? The answer is yes. Located in Angel, Niche offers a 100% gluten, nut and sesame-free menu where everything is prepared and cooked on-site, making use of local suppliers and seasonal ingredients.
Libra
Libras will love the West London atmosphere of Sunday in Brooklyn. As the name suggests, it will transport you to NYC in simple steps: honest pancakes, egg sandwiches and smash burgers.
Scorpio
Clerkenwell is really shaping the new London dining scene. As a Scorpio, I know I love places like Trattoria Brutto, bringing Florentine cuisine and special dishes like the steak alla Fiorentina. If you have ever been to Florence, you probably know their cuisine is truly special and one of the best in Italy. So having this almost next door seems a very comforting and happy addition to the mood. Reservation slots are released every day at 9h30.
Sagittarius
Adventurous Sagittarius will love the guided walks provided by the Museum of London. From themed walking tours beyond the museum walls, focusing on fascinating aspects of London's history to behind-the-scenes visits to the world's largest archaeological archive, it’s your chance to see London beyond the obvious. Special shout to In & Around Smithfield, a stroll through medieval and Tudor Smithfield visiting scenes of executions, plague and body-snatching and the Women’s movement, to discover what life was like for women at the dawn of the 20th century.
Capricorn
The City of London is one of my favourite boroughs, it’s probably not even new to you. It’s not by chance that I always connect Capricornians to the financial district. There is a hidden gem there called Sweetings, a must-go of chefs like Fergus Henderson, the owner of fabulous St. John’s Bakery. Those places where you can order scallops in the afternoon in a very traditional atmosphere going against the modern decoration of the more recent restaurants in the area.
Aquarius
I’ve been vising North West London recently and Carmel instantly caught my attention and it’s worth the trek. And I MEAN IT! Managed by the same owners of Berber & Q Grill House, one of the capital’s long-standing favourite foodie teams, the restaurant is a relaxed all-day restaurant and bar in the heart of the Queen’s Park, which takes inspiration from the cuisines across the Eastern Mediterranean, creating an accessible, refined menu that seamlessly evolves from morning through evening with plates of shakshuka and turmeric-fried eggs. Soon they will launch a breakfast menu with creative french toast. The food is de-li-ci-ous!
Pisces
Don’t you cherish emotional food, my dear Pisces? East Finchley is home to Margot Bakery, where they bake with organic, free-range eggs from Rookery farm which are delivered fresh every week. The cakes are baked with fair trade sugar, organic flour, Estate Dairy butter and ethical and delicious chocolate made by Original Beans. They will soon open a branch in Holloway, a happy announcement for Islingtoners.
Enjoy this new month’s cycle and see you in March, celebrating one year of this beloved newsletter. Take good care, my dear reader. Thank you. x, NB