Our February Rituals & Rhythms

In some European traditions, the weeks after Christmas are marked by a 40 day period of rest, renewal and celebration ending with Imbolc (the start of Spring in the Northern Hemisphere) or Lammas (harvest festival for the Summer crops). There’s often a subtle internalised pressure to start the New Year with a bang (‘new year, new me’ and all that), which is quickly replaced by shock and dismay that January has suddenly disappeared. So, let’s approach this year a bit more gently, and see the 40 days after Christmas as a slow return after a period of Summer holiday rest. In Australia this year, Lammas will be celebrated on 4 February, so take a moment to mark the turning of the seasons and the sun, setting your intentions for your year ahead.

What we’re doing: 

• In the spirit of seeing the 40 days after Christmas as almost a quiet postpartum (and because we haven’t gotten around to setting intentions for the new year yet), we’re pausing to reflect on the year that has been and what we want more of in life going forward. We loved these end-of-year reflection questions by Katherine Johnson Martinko (inspired by questions by Courtney Martin). Some of our favourites:

What is something that has grown “normal” to you that you would like to see with new eyes in 2025?

What was one of the best conversations you had this year? What made it so memorable?

Whose relationship to time do you admire most? How can you apply their mentality to your own life in the coming year? 

• If you didn’t catch it in January, make sure you head down to Liv Enqvist’s solo exhibition String Theory at Lone Goat Gallery in Byron Bay until 15 February.
  
  

Liv Enqvist for our From The Heart Series.

• There’s obviously no shortage of places to swim in the Byron Shire, both saltwater and freshwater, but sometimes we like to treat ourselves a little – so we’re booking a day pass at the Sun Ranch Pool Club. Perfect if you’re visiting (or if you’re local, like us).
  
  

The idyllic setting of The Sun Ranch Pool.

• This Valentine’s Day, start your day with the annual V-Day Byron Bay event to protest global violence against women and children. Wear red and meet at Main Beach at 6.30am for a 7am flashmob dance action. Run by local women, this event is an annual community tradition.
  
  

V-Day Byron Bay Protest.

• If you’re looking for a lighter lunch option, we love the yum cha selection at Red Ginger in Byron and Bangalow. Settle in at either the back courtyard at the Byron store or along the leafy terrace in Bangalow for steamed dumplings, buns and sticky rice.
  
  

Red Ginger's entrance in Bangalow.

• We’ll also be making time this month to visit Tweed Regional Gallery for regional artist Meli Axford’s exhibition Portraits of Love: A Mother’s Perspective.Painted from a mother’s perspective of her daughters’ growing up into adulthood, these vibrant paintings capture the tiny moments of love and family.
  
  

Portraits of Love by Meli Axford.

• And to finish off the last month of Australian summer, we’ll be giving this no churn Black Sesame Icecream recipe a try. If you haven’t tried black sesame icecream yet, then you are definitely missing out.

What we’re reading:

Is it terrible that we had no idea that the 90s iconic film series I Know What You Did Last Summer was based on a 1973 novel of the same name by Lois Duncan? There’s a remake of the movie coming out this year, so we’ve got the original novel on our TBR list.

And as a sustainable independent beauty brand, we couldn’t resist the latest novel by Zoë Foster Blake. Things Will Calm Down Soon follows hair stylist and single mum, Kit, as she launches her own highly successful hair-care company, while juggling everything else that life throws at her.

Things Will Calm Down Soon, the latest novel by Zoë Foster Blake.

What we’re listening to: 

We’ve been enthralled by the podcast series, The Telepathy Tapes. A groundbreaking series that challenges what we think about communication and those who are non-verbal. As the name suggests, tune in and prepare to be wow’ed by true stories of telepathy.

Happy Lammas, 

The Sienna team

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