England has been unusually hot this year — weeks of uninterrupted sunshine since Spring, beautifully long, stretched-out days, drenching us in sunlight. So much so that the odd overcast day feels like an abrupt shock to the system and our new rhythm.
A friend recently reminded me of something deceptively simple: “Darkness is merely the absence of light.” I’ve been turning this over in my mind. If darkness is only absence, then light must be more than presence. The sunny days alone prove that light is energy, rhythm and healing. It governs our bodies, soothes our minds, and awakens our skin. It pulls us into alignment with ourselves.
Over the past year, light has been central to my own healing journey. I’ve turned to different forms of it — red light to support my hair, infrared to restore my body and open detox pathways, sunlight for my skin and circadian rhythm. It has become both a physical and emotional resource for me and an integral part of my day, in many different ways.
In life discussions, light has taken on an even deeper meaning. We've spoken of light as something sacred within each of us — a kind of inner radiance that requires protection. We can lose it when we allow it to leak out — through overextending ourselves, through neglect, through giving too much of our energy away, or by allowing others to dim it. Light, in this sense, becomes synonymous with love; our love for ourselves, our love for others, our love for life. It is what we give and what we must guard.
So as these sun-soaked days continue, this is my gentle reminder: protect your light. Seek it in the natural world, but also tend to it within yourself. Be mindful of where your energy flows and where it quietly escapes. Light is not infinite unless we care for it.
Olivia x
BTS
We've gone to print! Two weeks today we will have our new packaging to hand. In the meantime, I will be getting to work clearing out the old from my studio and creating a clean canvas from which we can build and grow.
Roots
This week, I found myself captivated by an article about fireflies. These small, flickering insects — symbols of summer evenings — are quietly disappearing. Excessive artificial light, especially in our towns and gardens, is disrupting their mating rituals and survival. As light pollution rises by nearly 10% each year, we are unintentionally drowning out one of nature’s most delicate sources of light.
But why do fireflies matter?Fireflies, or lightning bugs, produce their light through bioluminescence.For fireflies, light is life. It’s how they attract mates, how they communicate, and in some species, how they ward off predators. Their gentle pulses form a living language in the dark. When artificial lights flood their habitats, this language is drowned out, causing their numbers to decline.
Fireflies aren’t alone. In nature, bioluminescence is shared by other incredible creatures: deep-sea fish, plankton that light up the ocean at night, certain fungi that make forest floors faintly glow. These organisms use light for survival, for connection, and for beauty.
It’s a reminder that not all light is ours to control. By reducing unnecessary artificial light at night, we can give fireflies and countless other nocturnal creatures the darkness back they need for their own life-giving light.
Body
For the past six months, I’ve been using the Current Body Red Light Helmet daily. Red light works by gently stimulating cellular energy and improving blood flow, helping to nourish and reactivate hair follicles from within. There's no doubt this device looks completely ridiculous, but I quickly came to realise that that in itself also worked in my favour: I could unapologetically shut myself off away from the kids for the full 10 minute treatment time. What's more, the gentle red light encourages me to close my eyes, so I'm forced to totally relax for a brief window in the day, while the red light works its healing magic
Long Haul
One of the most powerful tools in my healing journey has been the Sunlighten Infrared Sauna — truly my A1 recovery hack. Infrared saunas use light waves to heat the body directly, unlike traditional saunas that simply heat the air. This deep, gentle heat penetrates tissues, increases circulation, supports detoxification and activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which helps the body reset.
It’s been instrumental in my recovery from Long Covid — helping me rebuild energy, regulate my system after long flights and even rescue me on days after poor sleep. Each session leaves me with the feeling of having just finished a great workout, without the physical exertion.
I usually do 40 minutes in the evening, reading or listening to music, and I always follow with electrolytes to stay balanced and hydrated. It’s a ritual I now rely on and one which I credit for rebuilding my resilience.
Mind
I’m still readingThe End of Timeby Julian Barbour that I mentioned in last week's newsletter, but this week I’ve also been absorbed byThe Rich Roll Podcast, particularly his conversation with Craig Mod: Walking As Medicine.Craig speaks openly about his childhood, describing it as a time shadowed by the absence of light— warmth, connection, and safety. His story is about his deliberate pursuit of light: moving to Japan, creating mindful rituals, walking as daily medicine, and building brightness into his life where it didn’t naturally exist.It’s a powerful reminder that light isn’t always something we inherit; it’s something we can choose to seek and consciously create.
