Devotions

[greenstorm]

Luxuries:

Coffee substitute that removes the decision of caring for my emotional self vs my sensory self

Matching long underwear set: clothing that fits, is the same brand, and is the same colour. I couldn't afford these now but it's amazing to have them. Imagine having the money to buy two new items of fancy clothing that match at the same time like that! And good quality wool that doesn't mess with my skin. As a kid I would never have been able to imagine this happening to me.

A bounty of apples, and fancy spices from far away to enhance them (do folks say "elevate" nowadays if it's food?)

The ability to take a hot shower when I'm cold.

Sleeping in the room with its own thermostat.

Having five blankets on me anyways.

Snuggly animals.

The ability to keep my phone's ringer off.

Comments

[yarrowkat]

what's the coffee substitute you're using? do you like it? i got a mushroom blend from Rasa on Sooj's reccomendation and am going to try that instead of coffee (not mushroom coffee; this one has no coffee in it, though a little cacao, reishi, cordyceps, turkey tail.)

[greenstorm]

Is the one you're talking about mud water or something? They were relentlessly advertising to me for months.

I use the old-school hippie-era coffee substitutes, usually Akava, sometimes Bambu.

[greenstorm]

Oh, Rasa is probably the brand. The field seems to be exploding, maybe because mushrooms are more easily cultured indoors now. Let me know how yours is? I'm suspicious of the fancy-looking mushroom ones in part because they have been advertising to me SO HARD (thank goodness this is my work computer)

[yarrowkat]

rasa is the brand, yeah. mud wtr is more expensive but also looks interesting. i want the mood/energy lift without the caffeine - if i have coffee at 10am, i will still be awake at 2am and i can't live like that. but i love coffee, so something that provides the best part of that experience without the caffeine half-life is appealing. and then I've been reading more about the benefits of consuming these mushrooms - improved mental function, improved immunity, etc - and that's very interesting too.

I'll let you know how it goes!

[greenstorm]

I'd love to hear how the experiment goes.

I'm kinda envious and deeply curious about people who can take mood-altering substances regularly without it being a Big Thing (which is most people, I know!). Especially folks who can get a consistent and desired result. I've never had access to that experience and from the outside it is, I don't know. I can't imagine it.

Is there much western science to the mushroom thing, or is the information primarily driven through other sources?

[yarrowkat]

there are an increasing number of scientific studies on the value of various mushrooms. I've seen articles on reishi, cordyceps, and turkey tail - here's a collection of articles on reishi. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/biochemistry-genetics-and-molecular-biology/ganoderma-lucidum

that's part of what interests me - it's becoming clear that this isn't just wishful thinking or a trend, but actually really helpful.

i get a consistent result from black tea, mildly awake-inducing and mildly energizing. it's not always enough to make me feel like I can be on top of my day if i get 7 hours of sleep. coffee unfortunately comes with the consistent result of severe insomnia of a particularly mental sort, useless circling brain jitters, as well as the desired effects of speeding up my mind and body at the correct time of day.