I’m a very poor candidate for hypnosis, as several of my psychologist colleagues have discovered in trying their techniques on me. On the other hand, I find that I am very auto-suggestive in that once I start thinking about something I also usually start acting on it even if I say I don’t want to (maybe I’m just compulsive?). So, the last week’s discussion of Zen shaving already has me trimming down my routine into a simple ritual that I can master without “thinking” too much.

Today it was a fresh Treet Blue Special blade in the E.J Chatsworth; a mono-lather from Mitchell’s Wool Fat soap (the most earthy, natural, smell ever!) built up with the Muehle-Pinsel bog-oak handled brush. A totally zing-free pass with the alum block told the tale….a perfect EHM shave, maybe 9.6 on the scale. And a little Jade East for that Asian feel!

BTW, the M-P Bog-oak brush is a natural work of art. Imagine fallen trees close to 5,000 years old lying buried in peat bogs….rediscovered after all those years almost intact, and used to shape exotic wooden products from furniture to shaving brush handles. The picture above doesn’t fully capture the gorgeous grain and color of the wood.