FESTIVE SEASON AND 2021
BACK TO BASICS
Unwrap the best gift this year!
Bees
need our help!
WORDS MANDY HARGREAVES
H U
ave you ever stopped to think about what the world would be like ifthreat everyfrom single woman onand nder insecticides this Earth believed hermagical own power? habitat loss,inour bee Go ahead, few minutes and friends take are ina decline the world over. It’satime to full show some Kahlos… love to our imagine world of Frida favourite littlesimply pollinators, whether women who embrace. Who by installingthemselves, a hive in your embrace their bodies and garden or onWomen your rooftop, or simply their power. with passion, whoby adding more bee-friendly trust their mission, and show up in their plants to your patch. ‘Backyard Bees’ business SEEN and HEARD in their is the bestselling Australian bee truth. Being present and embracing guide and was first published seven SELF is truly a gift in all directions. years ago, and there has been a recent But most women don’t embrace release of the fully revised and updated themselves, and certainly don’t embrace version to coincide with substantial their bodies, as they are told story that growth in the bee communitya across has them questioning their very own Australia. reflection. The story that is so deeply Author Doug Purdie, runs ‘The ingrained into females all overmore the Urban Beehive’ maintaining than 100 on city rooftops world; the beehives one that tells them that their balconies, backyardswith andhow in community worth is intertwined they look. gardens around Sydney. is a For centuries, females He have been subject to ideals created by a patriarchal
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OCTOBER 2021
Holistic Bliss
society. These ideals are used to suppress the raw, divine power of beekeeping teacher andindoctrinated speaker, a past women. Young girls are president of thethinking Amateur Beekeepers’ and kept busy about what they Association and is featured lack; and kept distracted from their true regularly a bee expert for the media. worth andaspower. In ‘Backyard Bees’, Doug Purdie The mirror has become the narrator offers friendly, expert advice on of this story activating the critical voice keeping happy, healthy bees and in women’sthe heads. The voice of doubt, harvesting liquid gold, including the voice of judgment, the voice of tips on choosing a hive and equipment, comparison. Thechapter voice of and an all-new onthe theinner Flow hive; the innovative beehive critic. design hascritic taken beekeeping Yourthat inner joins you at theby storm. His book also includes mirror pointing out your faults,case and so studies andforanecdotes fromup, beekeepers you reach style to cover to edit, from all walks of life and 20 delicious to deliver a version of you. recipes for all that honey collected. You stand at mirror your Not ready to the keep bees?and This first thought is, “I need to cover my… edition also includes new chapters on tuckshop arms, jelly belly, thunder supporting your local bee population thighs, butt, with fat knees, saggy bust,” withoutbig a hive, tips on planting bee-friendly gardens andon! creating and the list goes on and Here’s the kicker… if you hide your
body, you hide yourself, you hide your magic. It is time tame for your inner critic habitats andtohomes and claim the mirror as a place for solitary bees. celebration, for honoring, owning The Australian honey bee industry and embracing your truth. 30k Recognise consists of approximately registered beekeepers who own a total your own divine beauty, your unique of around beehives. Only 6 scent, smile668k and energy! And cultivate per cent of beekeepers gratitude forregistered your divine body andhave the more thanyou. 50 hives and produce life it gifts 80 “It periscent honey for the food timeoftothe stop abandoning our market. The remaining 28k plus bodies. To come home to them and are recreational beekeepers wear them like the perfect fitand that there they has been about a 30% increase in are! To allow our hearts, souls, passions the interest of urban beekeeping across and love to be expressed and seen. For Australia and it’s continuing this – this is the true beauty of you.” to grow. – Mandy Hargreaves MANDY HARGREAVES is a Speaker, Mentor, Stylist and Self-love Activist. To discover Mandy’s tips to tame your inner For more information please visit: critic and give yourself the ultimate gift https://theurbanbeehive.com.au this festive season and beyond, visit: www.mandyhargreaves.com
Holistic Bliss | DECEMBER 2020-JANUARY 2021 | 13 www.holisticblissmagazine.com