Happy New Year πŸ€

Good morning, it’s Wednesday, 1st January. It’s the Year of the Wood Snake so make sure to read your astrology guide, people are crying in Taiwan, emotional showers are a thing and the CBD market is growing in India 🌿 Also, the Carnival in St. Kitts & Nevis is coming to an end so scroll to the end for the update πŸšπŸπŸΉπŸ–οΈ

  • Year of the Wood Snake: Your astrological guide to 2025 where you shed what no longer serves you like a snake shedding its skin to embrace new opportunities.

  • Sea Goddess Prayers: Followers of Afro-Brazilian religions such as Candomble and Umbanda have taken to Copacabana beach to pay tribute to sea goddess Yemanja.

  • Tears in Taiwan: What started in 2023 as a joke for people to weep in a park in downtown Taipei has quickly evolved into over 33,000 people gathering to decompress their emotions at Harry Li’s new year’s crying event.

  • Local Activism: Tayshan Hayden-Smith creates a community garden in London and a non-profit called Grow to Know inspired by Grenfell tragedy.

  • Cannabis in India: Farmers are risking jail to grow cannabis as its more profitable than other crops while the legal CBD market (grown by gvt approved farms) is growing.

  • Brain Health: Turning attention away from body to mind, people are obsessed with slowing down aging of the mind and keeping their brain razor sharp.

  • Emotional Showers: A sort of sensory shower with different pressure modes (hard rainfall to fine mist) with different colours to engineer you into an emotional state like being invigorated and serene.

  • Fertility Enhancement: Ananda in the Himalayas has launched Fertility Enhancement programs based on Vajikarna (the branch of Ayurveda that deals with fertility), Yoga, Chinese Medicine and Transpersonal Psychology.

  • Menopause Health: Oprah hosted a Menopause Talk and products for menopause like Lets’ Spin Intimacy Gel from Halle Berry’s menopause-focused brand RESPIN are on the rise.

  • Longevity Hacking: We’re all trying to live longer and making friends is key to this. Try Goalr to connect online, Nio’s The Yoga Affair Space in Ibadan, Love.Life in Cali or Layan Life in Phuket, Thailand.

  • Silent Book Clubs: Silent travel is all the rage and Silent Book Clubs are no exception and are seeing a rise across the world.

  • Inside Meagan Good’s Home: The β€˜Harlem’ actress has opened the doors to her stunning, nostalgic California sanctuary in an intimate home tour, and the views, courtyard, and the interior are to die for.Β 

  • Toronto Apartment Reno: Abhishek Dekate is a Toronto-based creative his apartment is a must-see if you’re looking for affordable & practical reno tips.

  • Inside a Modern Three-Generation Home in India: Enter the Nandi Aalayam, a home for a family spanning three generations built with both modern and traditional Indian design principles including reclaimed wood & local artworks.Β 

  • Making The Most Out of Costa Rica: Karen Francis recounts her funnily heartwarming experience embracing a series of travel setbacks and being disconnected from the internet on her trip to Costa Rica.

  • A Fashion Insider’s Guide to Shanghai: See and shop in the fashion capital of China through the eyes of Angie Marqueton, a French-Chinese model who’s been anywhere and everywhere for a good find.Β 

  • A Sanctuary of Rest for Busy Professionals: Equinox Hotel New York is providing a wellness sanctuary for the burnt out with its various treatment and rest programs, including a science of sleep program and a spa wave table.

  • Build The Damn Thing: Kathryn Finney is sharing her years of experience in the startup sector in her Wall Street Journal Bestseller Build The Damn Thing, and she’s telling you everything you need to know about starting a business as a non-white, non-rich entrepreneur.Β 

  • 1cm+: If you’re looking to make a change in your fitness, health, or business, Psychologist Kim Eun-joo’s book on the 1cm difference is what you need. Because you do not need big resolutions: you need small changes every day.

  • Why Should I Worry When I Can Face The World?: Shibu Nair’s book on facing your fears and future is the perfect homebody read to get ready for all your big dreams and goals in 2025.

The St.Kitts & Nevis (SKN) Carnival is a three-week long festival with a lineup of activities, competitions and celebrations, and it's all ending tomorrow, on January 2nd. In case you missed the carnival, here’s your much needed roundup to everything that has taken place so far.

  • The J’ouvert Dances: The J’ouvert is the high-energy street party and parade used to mark the beginning of the carnival season. The J’ouvert in St.Kitts & Nevis this year featured competitions for the best dance troupesβ€”both small and large groupsβ€”and the best road marching bands.Β 

  • Sugar Mas 53: The Sugar Mas carnival is the part of the celebrations that happen on the first two days of the new year, and it includes competitions where the junior monarchs of the parade are crowned, pageant ambassadors are announced and the first round of eliminations for the senior monarchs take place.

  • Listen to Carnival Music from Local Contenders: From T Bone’s β€˜Carnival Whine’ to Luck Boss β€˜Party’, listen to music from the grassroots of carnival life with this elimination contender playlist.