Daria Kot - Reconnect with Nature

🌞 Serene Summer a body, mind and soul experience.

🥗 Healthy Refreshments, Collective Tarot Reading, Soul Food Advice, Group Reiki and Singing Bowls Meditation

📆 Saturday 1st August 6pm until 9pm

🎟 Tickets are £30 PP, to book email [email protected], or WhatsApp or PM us

In partnership with Get Crystal Clear, The Bohemian and Daria Kot - Reconnect with Nature

One of my favourite summer herbs - hedge woundwort. 🥰

I’ve been quiet on social media for quite a while. Firstly, I needed time for myself — to slow down, step back from everything I was doing, and avoid burning out. Secondly, I was rescuing a stray cat, bringing him into our home and helping him socialise with our cats and with Opal. That alone was quite a challenge. He is now in his new home, and although it’s stressful to think he has to go through another socialisation process, he truly couldn’t be in a better place. It’s just a matter of time.

Thirdly, the recent major events in Southampton and Belfast shocked me deeply. I needed time to process what happened and to get my emotions under control — which wasn’t easy at all.

I’ve never been into politics and never really understood it, but the word racism has been everywhere over the last few days. I decided to share my thoughts, because I feel that an enormous obsession around this topic has built up in this country. To the point where we are simply not allowed to express an opinion if we don’t like something — even though freedom of sp*ech should allow us to do so.

From the legal definition, race discrimination occurs when a person is treated less favourably because of their protected characteristics. Less favourably is the key for me here. I’ll explain how I understand this in relation to the Southampton case. If British citizens were allowed to carry bladed articles in public places for religious reasons, but Sikhs weren’t because of their protected characteristics — that, in my opinion, would be race discrimination. But instead, we have a situation where some groups are allowed to carry bladed articles for religious reasons, while for British citizens the same is illegal. If public safety is the priority and all bladed articles in public places are made illegal, then I don’t see any race discrimination. Everyone is treated the same.

At the same time, when we express an opinion that we don’t like certain religions, cultures, or countries, we risk being called racists — simply because someone might feel offended. But we all have the right to our opinions. We don’t have to like every culture, religion, or nation in the world. And we have the right to say we don’t like something. That is not racism — that is freedom of sp*ech.

I am absolutely fine with a multicultural society, but if someone’s behaviour, culture, or tradition affects my life, I should have the right to say I don’t like it. Being abusive to someone because of their skin colour or nationality is racism. But if someone’s life is affected by behaviour connected to tradition or religion, that should not automatically be labelled as racism.

We all know what has been happening in Telford for about 40 years. Unfortunately, the people committing these crimes often come from ethnic minorities. I personally know many people who hate them for what they did — and for what some are still doing. Is that racism? No. The anger comes from the crimes, not from nationality or skin colour. And the only group consistently treated less favourably has been the British victims.

I am a foreigner myself, coming from Poland in 2006. I came here fully aware that I was a guest and that I needed to accept British culture, law, and rules. I had to learn a completely different way of living — and I adapted. In my opinion, anyone who chooses to live in a foreign country should be willing to adapt. There can be some level of acceptance for different religions, but it should never override public safety. Supporting asylum seekers should not override public safety either, and it should not negatively affect the country’s residents.

To be honest, I feel that freedom of sp*ech is shrinking very quickly these days. As a herbalist, I can’t openly say that certain herbs help with specific health problems, because making medical claims is illegal. I can’t say I dislike certain behaviours connected to different traditions or religions without being called a racist. I’m not surprised by the riots in Southampton and Belfast — and I understand why people are angry, although I don’t think violence should ever take place.

But what shocked me even more were today’s court results for some of the people arrested after the Southampton riots. We’ve seen rapists, domestic abusers, and dangerous criminals receive lighter sentences than people who threw a can or pushed a bin towards the police. I genuinely don’t understand it. It shows that the justice system can be strict when it wants to be. Emotionally, it’s all very difficult to accept.

For now, I’m focusing on taking care of myself and my own energetics, so I may stay quiet on social media a little longer.

Just a little reminder that I’ll be hosting another herbal walk on 18 July.
This one will last 3 hours, giving us plenty of time to relax, unwind, and fully enjoy the beautiful scenery. Link in comments. 🥰

My first batch of chamomile picked today! 🥰

Elderflower is abundant this year. I’ve already picked a small batch to dry and store for later use. If you’re planning to forage and dry elderflower, be aware that it stinks like cat’s p*e during the drying process — completely normal, but definitely a surprise for first‑timers. 😄