Postcard from Ibiza

The latest from Sascha Kaus

No. 3 - Ibiza, 03.04.2024

Clean your cup…

Spring is here

March is over, spring has arrived, and the clock has been set to summer-time again. Time to say goodbye to the winter and let a fresh breeze in.

Well, Ibiza has had some spring already for a while. We actually have been missing the winter here, or at least more rain. In 2023, Ibiza had the driest year since the recording of weather here on the island. The winter didn’t bring the long-awaited rain, and it looks like we have to go into the summer without replenishing the natural resources. In March, the island is usually already a sea of flowers, but nowadays, it still looks very dry and barren. I hope that April will still bring some of the rain that will nourish the soil and the wildlife.

But first, a look back at March and what has been keeping me busy and inspired.

• Men’s Work in Ibiza

• Spring Detox

• Coffee - Caffeine - Decaf

• The Creative Act

Brothers of Ibiza

Men’s Work in Ibiza

I have been holding men’s circles here in Ibiza since the end of 2022. When I joined a men's circle in Bali in 2019, I knew I wanted to connect with other men in the same way in Ibiza. After asking around for some time, I couldn’t find anyone offering what I was looking for. So I had to create it myself. 

The circles allowed me to see men differently. It is a powerful tool to come together with a group of men outside of regular friends spaces, bars, or events and share mindfully and intentionally. It can enable deep and meaningful conversations free from fear of judgment or competition. Circles can be a space for inspiration, help with the release of emotions, overcome false beliefs or provide guidance in life. 
Men (and women) in many cultures have been coming together for millennia to sit together and share what’s important to them. In a world where so many people are just shooting and screaming into the ether, circles are a space of mindful exchange. They are a great way to deepen connection, and with a clear frame and some guidance, it can be an entirely different experience from everything you might normally experience when coming together with others. I've seen men come to the circles and become better versions of themselves over time. 

If you have a circle in your area or come to Ibiza one day, I suggest giving it a try.

A reset for your body

Spring Detox

Shortly before the Easter holidays, I embarked on a 9-day liver detox. Doing a cleanse two or three times per year has become a regular way of giving my system a rest for a couple of years now. And with the experience, I have learned to listen to my body and be gentle with myself. 

A protocol that I like to follow, and that was the outline for this spring cleanse, is the 3-6-9 Liver cleanse from Anthony William. I have learned to adapt it to my needs in such a way that it gives me plenty of nourishment, enough fuel to keep up with my schedule, and lots of fresh and delicious stuff that makes it enjoyable. It allows me to cut back on sweets, avoid coffee for a while, and serves as a great transition between the seasons when there is also a change in what’s available in shops and on the markets. 

What’s also helpful is that I had a detox partner by my side. Doing a cleanse with a buddy is another great way to stick to a program and share the journey. If you would like to know more about the cleanse, and its effects, feel free to reach out. I am excited to share more of my experience with you. 

A mouth full of flavor

Coffee — Caffeine — Decaf

Didn’t I just write about avoiding coffee for a while during detox? Yes, I did. 
But hear me out. I just love a good cup of coffee, and I also love when I manage to be off it for a while and can go about my days without the quick fix it gives me. 

But I just enjoy the taste too much. And while my favorite way to have a coffee is a long black made with my Aeropress, I also enjoy tasting other varieties and brewing methods. 

A specialty I got to rediscover in March was Turkish Coffee. My friend Aysun invited me to a Turkish Breakfast that she had prepared, and she served traditional Turkish Coffee. The dark, strong brew that comes with intense flavors and the typical residue at the bottom that serves for the coffee cup reading after enjoying the brew. According to another guest who read my cup, I might be going to Canada sometime soon. 

I’ll keep you posted on how that turns out. 

Coffee also came into my life in March in the form of “Caffeine” an audiobook by Michael Pollan. In this short, fun reflection, he dives into the history of Caffeine and how it managed to become the most widely spread mind-altering substance in the world. It’s interesting to get to the bottom of the cup and get to know why and how coffee became such a widespread commodity and a beverage that so many people in the world enjoy. 

The German Zeit-Magazin had a story on decaf in March. I haven’t read it because it is behind a paywall, but I have to say that I have been enjoying some pretty good Decaf recently. There are varieties that give me the full flavor, especially when grinding the beans myself, without the high. With newer methods like the sugar cane process, decaf is produced without using chemicals, which is mostly done in highly industrialized productions. So if you are into coffee and want to get a bit of the caffeine fix, I can only recommend trying decaf—especially when you get it from your local coffee shop or your favorite little roastery.

A book I am currently enjoying

The Creative Act

Among the several books I have started in March, there is one in particular that feels like a fresh breeze of air. Rick Rubin’s - The Creative Act: A Way of Being.

I have been wanting to read this book for quite some time. Rick Rubin is one of the most influential people in the music industry of the last 20 years, and you can read more about him here. At first, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to read the book or listen to the audiobook. I finally decided on the latter. 
Rick Rubin is a philosopher. His book is not about his career or the people he worked with. It’s also not a self-help book on how to produce top hits. 

His book feels more like a sacred, spiritual text. A reflection of his profound insights into the art of being immersed in your creativity. It’s a meditation on our ability to bring beauty into this world by expressing our souls and our deepest feelings, and finding joy and love in that expression. 

Listening to Rubin reading his book transmutes his gentle way of bringing his wisdom into the world. At times, you can feel what it must be like to work with a man so deeply connected to his inner workings and the ability to put beauty, feelings and artistic expression into words. 

I’m not finished yet, but it feels like a book that I might return to over and over again. Inspirational.

Once again, thank you for your attention and your time.

Let April not fool you…

Enjoy the arrival of spring and let some fresh air into your life.

Sunny wishes from Ibiza… 💛

Sascha