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BLUE MIND x HOLD FAST — using water during winter & spring
If you're here, I trust it's because you love nature. If you've clicked into this post, you're likely looking for ways to strengthen your connection to water, or learn more about how others do that. Great, we'll go there.
Blue Mind has been, unknowingly, very much a foundation of my life. When I first read the words by Wallace J. Nichols in his book, I felt so seen. So many water-inspired decisions had felt confusing until that point — "oh, I've just been trusting my mind, body, and soul needs."
BLUE MIND DURING THE WINTER — COLD WATER EXPOSURE
In this season of life, I've found that I need to get a bit more creative with my water tools in order to lean into the conditions. There are winter lovers and then there are the rest of us. I want to love it, and I do for little moments here and there, but I need sunlight, I need bare feet. I need to connect my body to the planet. Or so I told myself...until I realized that, too, was just a mind's choice.
In the middle of the winter, I started a cold shower challenge. I went 62 days in a row with cold exposure. When I grew tired of realizing how much water I was wasting trying to get the water colder, I bought a cold plunge tank. SWEET SPOT. This has been a huge pillar of my routines in the last month+, and as we hit 50s yesterday and the water was likely in the 40s, I started to get a bit bummed realizing that I'd now have to work on bringing these temps down by making or buying ice. THE POINT with this, I found a way to connect with the earth again. Before and after a cold swim, I'd walk around barefoot because my body is zoned into its immunity from extremes. I dry off in my swimsuit in the sun, even if it's below freezing. Conditions feel less intense.
You can buy my tank here, with a code for 15% off — make sure you also get the mat and cover though — KATHERINE18216
I go a LOT more into this on my Substack post here: Cold — Doorway to the Soul
What are some other Spring focused ways to work with water?
Pay attention to the rain. Play in the rain. Watch earth re-green (that's water + sun, you realize). Water your plants. Plant a garden. Clean your home. Go dip your hands or feet in a new body of water. Learn a new water sport / hobby. Get a bird bath.
Ok, so now, the NEW Blue Mind products. Please also note that this is less about Lake Effect Co and more about getting Blue Mind, the concept and the book, into the hands of those who need to know about it. 50% of sales after costs will go towards the purchase and donation of Blue Mind books. If you know an organization or individual in need, please email us.
Inspired by the HOLD FAST knuckle tattoos, BLUE MIND on the knuckles is an ode to the water, an acknowledgement of connection to the concept of Blue Mind and all that it unlocks for us. As J often says, "When we undervalue anyone, or anything, bad things happen," so lean into all the ways that water supports your life and naturally watch your lifestyle change in a way that supports the water you love — the water is counting on you to care.
“Hold Fast” written across the knuckles indicate a sailor’s career as a deckhand. It’s said that having “Hold Fast” on each of a deckhand’s fingers would give them the grip they needed to work with the ship’s lines and rigging. –Julia Triezenberg, Columbia River Maritime Museum
Buy Blue Mind for yourself or a water lover, here.
Available on sticker, organic beanie and eco tee here.
Check out our other BLUE MIND posts here and here and here.
Water Meditation here.
When J visited the Pewaukee shop in March 2020 :)
