Last week one of my colleagues used the word ‘Apricity’. I’d never heard this word before and it turns out it is a rare old English noun defining the ‘warmth of the sun in winter’. Reading more I sensed it has a deeper meaning around the sensations of hope and joy that are elicited by being ‘warmed’ by the surprising light of winter sun on a freezing day. Delicious.
We’ve all felt it, but maybe not known there was a beautiful word to describe this etheric experience. It got me thinking about those soothing, simple moments where the world seems to stop and a feeling of rejuvenation seeps quietly into our bones and heart. Nature’s comforting warmth.
There have been many moments this month where the insistence on finding some space away from the bombarding stimulation of our modern lives has shown up. A biohacker I follow was talking about how the human body heals twice as fast in places where there is total acoustic and sensory deprivation. He was using old monasteries and natural salt caves as examples, but obviously we don’t all live where such places are part of our walk to work!
It got me thinking about sensory overload and when researching the tools and techniques used by those avoiding sensory overstimulation, guess what popped up….
Obviously all roads lead us back to tea!
It turns out that a warming cup of tea provides significant comfort for sensory avoiders by acting as a grounding, multi-sensory experience that reduces anxiety and regulates the nervous system. The warmth of the cup provides a soothing tactile input, while the ritual of preparing the tea acts to calm us and reduce stress and hyper-reactivity.
I realise in these newsletters I focus a lot on the impact of these special teas on our brain chemistry and how helpful that is in encouraging a ‘clearing of the clutter’ and allowing us to interface with the world outside with more ease. But that focus is on our minds and how our thoughts and feelings impact our nervous system.
Until now I have sidelined the beneficial bodily impact of the ritual of brewing and the sitting and holding that warming cup. It turns out that it has a profoundly healing and nourishing effect by regulating our nervous system through a gentle soothing sensory experience rather than the usual hectic, steel-yourself ones as we rush to get out the door.
I decided to try this new aspect of my tea drinking, focusing on the bit before the drinking even happens, as I was feeling a little sorry for myself since I’ve had a bad ‘swimmer’s ear’ infection and it was making me grumpy. I just focused on the joy of holding the warm cup, of the heat, of the shape of the mug in my hands, of the smell of the hot tea and noticed how my eyes automatically sought out the horizon (the benefits of horizon gazing are for another newsletter!) and automatically felt my internal frown become a smile.
And so I felt it, Apricity, or as I will now term it when the heat source is tea not sun, ‘Teapricity’. Nature’s comforting warmth.
Wishing you a wonderful Spring, the magnificent magnolias have led the way. Enjoy moments of apricity and teapricity and we look forward to speaking to you again in May.
Anne x