S3 Ep2 CANDLELIGHT CAROL: nourishing mind, body and soul

The modern world calls us on us to be visible, to be sociable, to be ‘out there’ and tell everyone about it, not to mention to fill our days rushing from one thing to the next to keep up with everything society makes us feel we should be doing, nevermind the pressure from advertisers to create the perfect Christmas, and the knowledge that we are soon to be bombarded by visions of other people’s perfect Christmases online in the coming months, and it is a lot. 

This year I want to entertain the idea of giving ourselves permission to be less visible if we want to, less sociable if we want to, more ‘in here’ than ‘out there’ when that feels good, and to slow right down, and to do less, in a way which feels like more, without feeling guilty about it.

That’s why, before we dive into all the chaos of the festive season, and all the joyful themes coming up on the podcast, like gift giving, festive feasting, gathering and more, I wanted to take the time to do a whole episode on nourishing ourselves – mind, body and soul. 

This includes asking for, and receiving, what we need at this time of year, even if that isn’t what society wants us to want, because it does not fit the commercial agenda, or the plans of our loudest friends, or anyone’s expectations.

Welcome to The Calm Christmas Podcast. I am Beth Kempton and this is Episode 2: Candlelight Carol, which is all about radical winter wellbeing.

This episode includes:

·      Why retreating is a good idea 

·      Practical ways to nourish yourself in winter

·      Our regular nature corner

·      Christmas traditions from around the world (including several shared by listeners!)

·      A lovely simple crafting project that might even become a Christmas gift for someone

·      Two lovely recipes (hello nourishment!)

·      Get ahead tips and more!

With inspiration from @brie.doyle, @tracee_stanley, @davidjwhyte, @silverpebble2 (Emma Mitchell), @bonniesmithwhitehouse, @deliciouslyella, @ellamills__, @nancyhachisu, Fiona Danks, Jo Schofield, Elizabeth Jenner, and Emily Thomas. 

Lovely things for you:

·      GIVEAWAY - ! This week I am giving away a very special gift for YOU AND A FRIEND! It includes some beautiful solid skincare from my friends at SBTRCT along with a personalized, signed copy of my book Calm Christmas for EACH of you. Hop over to Instagram @bethkempton to enter. If you are listening to this after the giveaway deadline, don’t worry. I am going to be doing various lovely giveaways each week up to Christmas so there will be something waiting there for you!

·      CALM CHRISTMAS PLANNER – Download yours for free here (if link is broken go to dowhatyouloveforlife.com)

I hope this podcast will help you locate Christmas as an anchor in the stormy seas of winter in this world right now.

Take good care,

Beth

(@bethkempton on Instagram / bethkempton.substack.com / dowhatyouloveforlife.com)

All show notes with book and article references etc and ingredients for recipes can be found here.

Transcript

It's 5am. In the inky blackness outside my window, rain is pouring down. There is hot tea in my cup, a candle on my desk, and today, some gentle piano music in the background. I take a deep breath, inhale the scent of early morning, pick up my pen, and write. Ahh, the bliss of retreat, even just for a short while before the house and the world wakes up.

After several years of writing books, retreating, whether for several days away from home, or an hour wrapped in the cloak of early morning at my desk, comes easily when the aim is to write. As an author, writing is connected to work, so it’s justifiable to take the time. 

But retreating just because it’s wintertime? Just because my tiredness is bone-deep after a difficult year? Just because I know it’s what my animal body needs? Even when I know it’s good for me, and that it will ultimately be good for my family when I come back restored and rejuvenated? For some reason that kind of retreating is so much harder. I’m not sure why, but I know I’m not alone in feeling guilty about taking quiet time for myself. I wonder if you’re the same?

The modern world calls us on us to be visible, to be sociable, to be ‘out there’ and tell everyone about it, not to mention to fill our days rushing from one thing to the next to keep up with everything society makes us feel we should be doing, nevermind the pressure from advertisers to create the perfect Christmas, and the knowledge that we are soon to be bombarded by visions of other people’s perfect Christmases online in the coming months, and it is a lot. 

This year I want to entertain the idea of giving ourselves permission to be less visible if we want to, less sociable if we want to, more ‘in here’ than ‘out there’ when that feels good, and to slow right down, and to do less, in a way which feels like more, without feeling guilty about it.

That’s why, before we dive into all the chaos of the festive season, and all the joyful themes coming up on the podcast, like gift giving, festive feasting, gathering and more, I wanted to take the time to do a whole episode on nourishing ourselves – mind, body and soul. 

This includes asking for, and receiving, what we need at this time of year, even if that isn’t what society wants us to want, because it does not fit the commercial agenda, or the plans of our loudest friends, or anyone’s expectations. Welcome to The Calm Christmas Podcast. I am Beth Kempton and this is Episode 2: Candlelight Carol, which is all about radical winter wellbeing.

This episode will be a little bit longer than usual because it is full of all sorts of ideas for taking good care of yourself this winter. I know I need this one, and I hope you love it too.

This is not about shunning parties, together time, fun, laughter, noisy joy. Those can be some of the precious gifts of a festive season filled with love and connection. Rather, it’s about preparing our hearts and minds to be fully present when those things happen, by balancing the yang with some yin, so we can enjoy togethering and all the festive preparations, without sacrificing our wellbeing.

In a culture which celebrates striving, pushing, achieving, going going going, to give yourself permission to slow down, rest and even retreat is nothing short of radical.

According to Brie Doyle, author of You Should Leave Now, “Under the right circumstances, our retreats can inspire profound insights, help us find our true voice, increase our creativity, and connect us to our own divinity… You cannot know now what benefits, breakthroughs, personal understandings, or synchronicities await you… You need no fancy talismans, sites, or teachers, only yourself and a quiet space.”[1] When we think of going on a ‘retreat’ we might think of taking an extended break somewhere remote or exotic, and that can be powerful, but it is not the only way to retreat. We can create sacred retreating space in our daily lives, in our own homes, or within the container of time in nature.

So that is what I mean when I used the word ‘retreat’ in this episode. The word is thought to have been around since the 14th century and comes from the Latin retrahere meaning ‘draw back, withdraw, call back’[2]. I love that. Not just withdrawing from the noise and the rush, and stepping back from the pressures of the season for quiet contemplation, rejuvenation and inspiration, but also a calling back of the parts of ourselves that have been hidden, trodden down, ignored or simply not given any attention in a relentless year. In the context of this episode, ‘retreat’ can mean for a quiet few minutes, an hour, a day, a whole weekend or longer. It’s not the length of time but rather the intention that matters.

So this episode’s journaling question is this: What would radical winter wellness look like to you this year? And how will you make it central to your festive plans and preparations?

For me this looks like:

(1)   Journaling, reflecting, forgiving, letting go of all the things that I did not manage to get done, or do perfectly and making a note of all the things that I am grateful for.

(2)   Time in nature outdoors

(3)   And cosiness and health-giving nourishment indoors. 

(4)   It also looks like prioritizing my time, energy and attention differently, towards the things and people that energise and restore instead of exhaust and deplete, which is of course different for each of us. 

For me the radical part would be taking the time to do all of this often, daily even, without feeling guilty about it. That is my intention for this winter. How about you, I wonder?

Why not pick one day this week to focus on planning a more nurturing approach to winter? Here are some simple things to consider:

-       Now the dark days are here, how could you switch up your routines to support your mood?

-       What time is actually best for you to get up and go to sleep?

-       What is a go-to mood booster which actually makes you feel worse afterwards? What could you turn to instead?

-       Whose company lifts you up? Who brings you down? Plan accordingly

-       If the kindest, sweetest friend was in charge of you for a day, what would they plan for you?

Let’s talk a little about the practical ways we can nourish ourselves in winter. This is all about what we take into our bodies, minds and hearts, as well as what we choose not to take in. Today we are going to explore ideas for nourishment through each of the senses. Many of these are simple and some are obvious but sometimes we just need a little reminder. I know I do.

Some sounds of winter are crackling poetry. Wind in the trees. Rain on the roof. The strike of a match lighting a candle. Mulled apple poured steaming into a glass. The rhythm of the shipping forecast calmly announcing that the storms will rage on.

Other sounds of winter are like woodpeckers hammering on your brain – traffic noise, piped Christmas pop songs on repeat in shopping malls, yet more depressing news, always an emergency, arguments as a result of exhaustion and excess consumption of alcohol or suga, pinged notifications telling you of yet another sale. 

Noise – Take a moment to think of what sounds of winter are a delight, and which are just noise? What kinds of sounds uplift you? What kinds of sounds tire you? What is the noise level like on an average day for you? How does noise affect your health? Can you make any changes to your schedule, or to your work or home environment, to reduce agitating noise and bring in more soothing sounds? And what about the sound of joy? How could you invite that in today?

And what about the sound of a loved one’s voice? Whose voice would you like to hear this week? Can you make time for a real conversation, without distractions?

Of course we can’t talk about sound without talking about music.

Music – Music is a huge part of my writing life, such is its impact on how I feel. Sometimes I put on loud music and have a dance break, or shake out any stress or tension. Other times I use music to transport me to a particular place or time, or to soothe or inspire me. 

When I was writing my book Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year, I listened to Sarah McLachan’s album Wintersong on repeat. A few others I love at this time of year are Christmas Piano by Chris Snelling, Christmas Piano by Piano Hands, Happy Christmas My Dear by Passenger and Stu Larsen, and Apple’s Acoustic Christmas playlist.

Outside of writing, I am guilty of often listening to the same few favourites – mostly singer-songwriters in my case – but listening to something new can be a wonderful way of brightening your day. Apple and Spotify playlists are brilliant for that.

And then of course there is silence.

Silence – I am not sure whether it’s an age thing, a life stage thing, or simple a result of sharing a house with the bustling energy of two young girls, but for as much as I love music, and good conversation, these days I often crave silence, too. It’s like medicine for me. Of course meditation is one way to enter a quiet space, but actually when I say silence, I don’t mean a complete absence of noise – I love to be out in nature, listening to the birds and the sound of the river, or indoors listening to the rain on the window, or the wind in the chimney. Rather I mean an absence of external stimulation like TV, radio, podcasts, music, and talking. Perhaps it is because the heart often speaks quietly, and we have to really listen to hear it.

è SOMETHING TO TRY: Explore a meditation app like Insight Timer or Calm. As I have shared on the podcast, I love Jennifer Piercy’s yoga nidra meditations on Insight Timer. I also highly recommend Tracey Stanlee’s book Radiant Rest, which dives deep into the healing powers of a yoga nidra practice, recognizing how “Deep relaxation practices help us to relax systematically and to bring awareness to all the parts of ourselves that need loving attention… If we can create an opportunity in our yoga nidra practice to create more awareness and ease within ourselves, it will be reflected outward in our lives.”[3]

(1)   Sight

Our brains and behaviour are affected by what we see as much as by what we hear. At this time of year the days are shorter, and we take in less natural light, which can have a serious effect on our wellbeing, and tech is all-pervasive, so we often miss inspiring visual stimuli because we are so busy looking at our phones. So this week, I am reminding myself to look up. To get outside and soak in any winter sunlight I can find. And to follow my own tech guidelines which include:

Tech habits

-       Minimize screentime, especially in the two hours before bed

-       Only check email at set times in the day, and not in front of my children

-       Turn off notifications – of those I still have on, nearly all of them are on silent

-       Use it for soothing music and meditation

-       Change the wallpaper or screensaver on your phone or computer to something that reminds you of what kind of winter you are inviting in this year

-       Use nature apps to help you identify things when you are out and about

The darker it gets outside, the more attention I pay to lighting inside our home. We have a whole episode coming up on making your home festive and cosy, but for now I’ll just say fairy lights, firelight candlelight. Turning off overhead lights and using low lighting or lamp light instead can make a space cosier too. 

è SOMETHING TO TRY: Do one thing to change the lighting in your home to make it a little cosier. Try having breakfast by candlelight, string up some fairy lights, use those imitation candles to light a hallway instead of using an overhead light, to ease you gently into the morning.

(2)   Taste

As the nights draw in and the days get colder, my thoughts often turn to warming, nourishing food. I often batch cook at weekends, so we always have something good to eat, even on the busiest days.

Delicious, healthy food doesn’t have to be complicated. Bone broth is good for the soul as well as the body. Roast a chicken with garlic, lemon and thyme, slow-cook a soul-warming stew, rustle up a parsley risotto, simmer a spicy curry, pop a casserole in the oven and some greens in a steamer. 

Brassicas like cabbages, cauliflowers, Brussels sprouts and kale are in full flush in midwinter, flaunting their thick, green leaves and demanding inclusion in substantial soups. Root vegetables like turnips, parsnips, celeriac and swedes are abundant, too, as are winter salads. You might find rocket, lettuce, winter citrus for vitamin C and herbs for your teapot.

Cookery books are my guilty pleasure. I retreat to them when the wind is whirling around our house or the rain is pelting down, which is often the case in England in late autumn and winter. I’ll be sharing some of my favourites in an upcoming episode all about festive feasting. But there are also many great recipes online for free, and you can search by ingredients based on whatever you have in your fridge, or what you can find at the market or store.

Choose ingredients that will boost your immune system and stock up on warming spices like turmeric, black pepper and cardamom. Scientists at the University of Prague found that nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves and star anise all contain mood-enhancing chemicals, so get that mulled apple going on the stove.

Some friends swear by ‘golden milk’ to boost the immune system, help the digestive system and reduce inflammation. Made with cashew nuts, fresh turmeric root, ginger, cinnamon and honey, it is full of winter goodness and brings a gentle glow to the skin. I like to stew peeled and chopped cooking apples with cinnamon and orange juice, then add some natural yoghurt for a simple breakfast or a sprinkling of crushed gingernuts for a warming dessert. 

Nourish yourself with simple, good food, and feel the benefits all winter. Stay tuned for a couple of lovely recipes later in this episode.

(3)   Touch 

SKIN -> A few tips to help prevent dry, cracked skin, but also to take a moment for yourself and to take care of your body, which works so hard.

-       Moisturise your skin straight after a shower.

-       Apply lip balm and stay hydrated

-       Botanical oil face massage > I love British brands Floragy, Moksa and C. Atherley for their flower oils, like rose and geranium, and Sbtrct for its plastic free solid Vitamin C serum with rosehip oil and sea buckthorn oil. This is not an ad, I’m just sharing what I love to use in my winter skincare routine, and I am giving away some Sbtrct skincare later in the episode so stay tuned for that.

TEXTURE -> Take a moment when you are getting dressed to think about how things feel on your body. This is the time of year for soft, cosy fabrics – sweaters, scarves, cosy socks. The softest tights with a skirt and boots. And blankets thrown over the arm of a sofa or an armchair for a bit of extra comfort for anyone sitting there with a hot cuppa for a long chat.

è SOMETHING TO TRY: 

WEATHER -> Get dressed for the weather, then go outside and put yourself right in it. Feel the rain pour down your face, sense the cold on your skin, or do as Fiona Danks and Jo Schofield suggest in The Wild Weather Book, “On a wild windy day rush outside and find a big open space, or run to the top of a high hill. Can you feel the wind’s strength? …Lean into the wind: is it strong enough to support you? … Let the wind steal your screams as it gusts and blows all around you.”[4]

Let the weather remind you that you are alive.

(4)   Smell

What scents comfort you at this time of year? Scents which connect us to happy memories can be comforting, as can those that remind us of home, or root us in the season that is unfolding all around us.

For me late autumn and winter is woodsmoke and cinnamon, oranges and cloves, ginger and that indescribable scent of a clear starry night.

There are many ways to bring comforting scents into our homes, with essential oils, scented candles, cooking, herbal teas and so on, as well as getting out into nature for the natural scents in their environment – a pine forest, a bonfire, the promise of Christmas carried in the wind.

è SOMETHING TO TRY: This week think about which scents bring you comfort and either bring them into your home and into your morning or evening ritual, or go for a walk and drink in the scent of the season in the air.

(5)   Intuition

When we slow down and get quiet, we can hear more clearly what our heart is trying to say. 

As David Whyte said in his gorgeous poem Sweet Darkness,

Sometimes it takes darkness and the sweet 

confinement of your aloneness 

to learn 

anything or anyone 

that does not bring you alive 

is too small for you.

You can find the whole poem in David Whyte’s stunning anthology River Flow[5].

Meditation, yoga, gentle walking, and journaling are all ways to help tune in. And when we aren’t sure, pulling an oracle card can help amplify its message. 

SOMETHING TO TRY: Writing exercise

-       This week sees a New Moon on November 13. The new moon is a time of new beginnings, a time to connect with what really matters to you in life. Find somewhere quiet, light a candle, and ask your heart what it wants for you this winter. Write whatever wants to be written.

Crafting is always a lovely way to slow down too.

If you fancy some crafting this week, why not make a Gratitude jar. 

You will need: 

-       an empty jar

-       a pen 

-       some paper

-       a hole punch

-       a short length of ribbon 

-       some scissors

Fold an A4 piece of paper in half, in half again, and again, and again, to give you 16 pieces. Cut them up and on each piece of paper, write down one thing you are grateful for – think back over the year and write down anything, or anyone. Fold each one and pop it in the jar.

Then take another two pieces of paper and do the same again until you have 32 blank pieces, but this time hole punch them in one corner. Tie the stack of paper together with your ribbon and tie the ribbon around the neck of the jar. Then each day for the next 32 days, pull one piece of paper off the stack, write down one thing you are grateful for and pop it in the jar.

Come Christmas you will have a jar filled with gratitude. You can even focus on one person, decorate the jar and turn this into a thoughtful Christmas gift for them. 

And if you want a really big craft project, take inspiration from Polly M @biscuitandthecrumb on Instagram who told me ‘I buy some miniature dolls house furniture and create an imaginary scene that an elf could have just stepped out of (this year I have a tiny cast iron bed, a wood burning stove, a tiny axe for chopping his firewood, very tiny candy canes in a jar by his bed etc) and I glue it onto a wooden board from Hobbycraft). Then I place it in the hollow of a tree in our local woods (don’t worry - it’s too high for dogs to reach and everything is glued down so no animals can choke). I then tell the kids I stumbled across it and take them back to try and find it again. The joy on their faces when they discover an elf home is utterly magical. The past few years I’ve given directions to friends who have taken their little ones too and they say it’s the most magical part of their celebrations. Sometimes they send me videos of the kids reactions which is gorgeous. After a few days I collect it back in again, but the memories and magic live on. It’s tradition for the kids, but I have to admit I love the magic of it too.’

For more ideas get yourself a copy of my book Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year: A little book of festive joy[6].

Nature corner

What about going on a blustery walk this week, to see what is happening in nature?

-       My children have a lovely Ladybird book called What to look for in Winter by Elizabeth Jenner  which says “The winter woodland floor is the perfect place for fungi growth. The decaying bark, decomposing fallen leaves and wet winter weather creates a damp, musty environment where fungi can thrive. You can find anything from bright red toadstools, which look like there must be fairies nearby, through to long-stemmed yellow toadstools and low fat brown mushrooms. Remember lots of fungi are poisonous.” [7] Why not pay attention to moss too? According to The Wild Handbook by Emily Thomas, “Moss… has a beneficial effect on our senses and our emotional state. Colour therapy studies show that the colour green promotes feelings of good health, harmony and balance within us – no surprise then that the abundance of green in nature can transform our mood.”[8] I must say staring at the moss in Japanese temple gardens is one of my favourite meditative things to do, but it can have the same effect on a forest floor – there are whole tiny worlds hidden in dense woodland.

According to Bonnie Smith Whitehouse, author of the lovely mindful walking journal Afoot and Lighthearted, “…taking a short brisk walk – even for only twenty minutes per day – can reduce the risk of heart disease, Alzheimer’s, depression, diabetes, and several types of cancer. In addition, research has shown that expressive writing (especially about emotional experiences) can boost immune function and lower stress. So, compelling evidence suggests that combining regular walking with a consistent journaling practice can make us healthier, happier, and less stressed.”[9]

Here are a few tips of my own for a lovely walk:

-       Have a destination in mind for a coffee, or take a flask and a snack, perhaps something to sit on like a garden kneeler or a picnic blanket

-       When it gets really cold put a hot water bottle in back of rucksack

-       Turn it into a scavenger hunt – make a list of things to find and then go in search of them. My children love doing this.

-       Turn it into a photowalk and then make a mini book, perhaps mixing your photos with some autumnal musings or wintery haiku. Why not take photos of three things you notice as you go about your day? I recently learnt about an app called Wylder which offers a daily photo prompt – you might enjoy that. Thank you to lovely listener @mrslaurataylor for the recommendation.

-       Collect some colourful autumn leaves– Emma Mitchell explains how to preserve them in glycerine in her lovely book Making Winter. 

o   She says “In autumn and early winter, chlorophyll, the green pigment within leaves, is absorbed back into the plant, and the red and yellow pigments called anthocyanins and carotenoids that are present all year around are unmasked. The leaves of some species such as maples, Boston ivy and cherry are jewel-like and beautiful, and I always have a strong urge to gather them from the ground and bring them home.”[10]According to Emma, submerging the stems in a solution of 1 part glycerine to 2 parts water in a roasting tin and placing a baking tray on top to keep them submerged for at least two days, but no more than four, and then rinsing and blotting them dry with a kitchen towel will give you beautifully preserved leaves to use in craft projects, for sketching or on wreaths. Making Winter is full of beautiful projects like this to try and I highly recommend it. 

Recipe

Today I have two lovely recipes for you. Firstly, vegan Cacao & Almond Energy Balls from Deliciously Ella[11]. I remember when these first came out the recipe was included on the packaging so you could make them at home, and they are so simple and delicious. You can also buy them in supermarkets and on Amazon too, and founder Ella Mills and her husband Matt have a great health podcast The Deliciously Ella Podcast[12] which you might enjoy listening to while you make them.

Ingredients:

• 200g almonds
• 16 pitted Medjool date
• 4 tablespoons of cacao powder 
• 2 ½ tablespoons of almond butter
• 2 tablespoons coconut oil

Method:

1. Begin by placing the almonds into a food processor and pulsing until they are nicely crushed.
2. Add the medjool dates and coconut oil and pulse until it’s fully mixed.
3. Add the almond butter and cacao and then mix again in the food processor.
4. Take a tablespoon of the mixture and roll into a ball. Continue doing this until the mixture has finished.
5. Place the rolled balls into the freezer for around 1 hour, then remove and store in an airtight container in the fridge.

Secondly, I am delighted to share a recipe from one of my favourite books of recent years: Japan: The Vegetarian Cookbook, by Nancy Singleton Hachisu[13] one of the most authoritative voices in Japanese home cooking, whose recipes are a delight. Nancy lives in an old farmhouse in rural Saitama with her husband, a Japanese farmer. This cookbook has more than 250 plant-based recipes and the food styling is a work of art. 

This recipe is for Grated Daikon Soup. It’s not the simplest soup not make, not least because of the ingredients, but it’s the kind of food I dream of on cold days. Daikon is a huge white radish, sometimes known as mooli, and it is one of my favourite vegetables. I tried growing it in my garden but without success, but it is available in most Asian supermarkets and many chain supermarkets too these days. For any ingredients you can’t find, try a specialist Japanese food shop like the Japan Centre in London. The deliciousness and health-giving benefits will be worth it! This soup is warming in the cold months and the daikon aids digestion.

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time: 15 minutes

Serves 4

Vegan / dairy free / nut free

Ingredients:

-       20cm small daikon with tender leaves (about 350g)

-       2 small turnips with leaves (about 150g)

-       2 pieces of dried brown rice mochi – these are a wonderful addition but it’s still a delicious soup without them if you can’t get hold of them

-       3 1/3 cups of konbu dashi

-       100g shimeji mushrooms, ends trimmed off

-       1 teaspoon of flaky sea salt

-       2 tablespoons of shoyu, soy sauce

Method:

-       Bring a medium saucepan 2/3 full of water to the boil

-       Blanch the daikon leaves for 2 minutes, scoop out and refresh them under cold running water. Chop them crosswise into 5mm pieces and squeeze out any excess water.

-       Blanch the turnip leaves in the same pot for 2 minutes. Again, scoop them out, chop them crosswise into 5mm pieces and squeeze out any excess water.

-       Peel the daikon and grate it on a circular ceramic grater or a sharp-toothed metal grating plate. Drain in a fine mesh sieve set over a bowl to catch the drips.

-       Peel the turnips and halve through the top to the tail. Lay them cut side down on a cutting board and slice into half-moons 5mm thick.

-       Position a rack 10cm from the heat source and preheat the grill. Grill the mochi until they are puffed up and lightly browned on the top, about 3 minutes. Flip and repeat for the other side. Cut in half and place one piece in each of four rounded soup bowls.

-       While the mochi is grilling, in a medium saucepan, heat the dashi over medium heat. Once steaming, but not quite simmering, slide in the shimeji.

-       Add the turnip pieces and simmer gently until the turnip is just cooked but not falling apart, about 2 minutes.

-       Stir in the grated daikon, salt and soy sauce. Once the soup comes back to a simmer, scrape in the chopped daikon and turnip leaves and remove from the heat.

-       Ladle over the mochi in the soup bowls and serve immediately.

Christmas traditions

Before we go this week I want to share a few more Christmas traditions from around the world, sent in by you lovely listeners, to get you thinking about what kind of traditions you might want to maintain or start anew this year. 

@neonkittyquilts My Jewish husband and I have had the joy of celebrating both holidays since our marriage…so quite often the glow of the menorah candles matches the lights on the tree! 

@sewnbysuze The first Christmas I was with my partner I made him peppermint creams for his gift and he loved them! So much so that we have made them together every Christmas since for the past 12 years. 

Susie Bateman @susielandy We live on a farm and every Christmas morning, very early before it’s light, we take torches and search the hedgerows for a sprig of berried holly for the Christmas pudding. Sometimes, when it’s a hard winter and the birds have eaten most of the berries it can take a while but we’ve never failed to find some in the 40 years we have lived here. That absolutely magical moment when you hear a voice excitedly call “Found some” and we all gather round and marvel at our treasure.

Emily Bushman @rohansmami Growing up I didn’t like the holiday season as it was usually a chaotic time where expectations were high and tempers were quick. Over the past several years I’ve learned to enjoy Christmas by slowing down, keeping things simple, and being more intentional. It’s not always easy because there’s just so much to do, and sometimes so many people I feel like I have to please. However, my goal, no matter what, is to model for my kids finding joy and peace. I’ve gathered some traditions, like a new ornament every year, nativities, cookies for neighbors, etc. But especially this year while dad is serving in the military abroad, I’m going to scale back and intentionally decide what brings us closer to a joyful and peaceful Christmas, and do the rest next year if it still serves us. 

@bradyoung23856 I just discovered Calm Christmas a couple of months ago, on Audible,so this will be my first Christmas incorporating some of your advice on keeping Christmas calm, yet special. One tradition I plan on starting is an early morning walk (before the rest of my family wakes) with my two miniature Australian shepherds so we can watch the sunrise over the Missouri River valley as I sip coffee from my thermos and the puppies get a treat. Then we’ll head home and begin preparing our traditional Eggs Benedict breakfast for the family, before opening gifts.

è If you don’t yet have a copy of Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year, now is a great time to order it, or listen on Audible, because it is split into three parts – before, during and after Christmas, to help you make the most of the weeks ahead. I know that many of you take it out each year in late October or early November, and that it has become part of your festive preparations which just makes me happy.

-       Snow globe – one of my favourite traditions 

Apparently the Snow Globe was invented by Austrian surgical instrument maker Erwin Perzy who, in 1900, received a request from a doctor for a lightbulb that produced enough brightness for surgery. According to AtlasObscura.com,

“At first, Perzy thought he could solve the problem with a shoemakers’ lamp, a glass globe filled with water that, when placed in front of the lightbulb, amplified and focused the light on the work area. While helpful, the light was too focused on one small spot and thus, not practical for surgery. Perzy continued to experiment with ways to both amplify and spread the light by inserting metal flakes into the globe, but they quickly sank to the bottom. Perzy thought they looked a bit like falling snow. Inspired by that image, he tried filling the globe with semolina and, when he shook the globe, he saw the beauty of winter in Vienna. The snow globe—and Original Snow Globe Factory—was born.”[14]

One thing I love doing is unpacking the snow globe, and seeing my children shake it for the first time each year. It has a fox, and a forest, and snow of course. It’s a magical world – I can imagine a wonderful children’s story based inside a snow globe… And it also reminds me of a favourite visualization which helps keep me calm when the world is a lot. I shared this in my book Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year, along with lots of other tips for calm:

 | <BH>The snow globe  <P1>If you ever feel anxious or stressed in the middle of a crowd, or even in a small group of people, imagine you are in a snow globe. There is a sphere of protection all around you, and inside snow is gently falling. You can see what is happening outside, but the noise is muffled, and you can rest in stillness as the Christmas whirlwind spins. <P2>Practise mindfulness in the midst of the rush. Focus on the specific sensory details of your immediate environment – the feel of a cup in your hand, the temperature of the air – and allow the dome of the snow globe to insulate you from the sensory overload outside.

I have some get ahead tips coming up for you in a moment before we wrap up today, but first up, we have a festive giveaway!

Giveaway

FESTIVE GIVEAWAY! This week I am giving away a very special gift for YOU AND A FRIEND! It includes some beautiful solid skincare from my friends at SBTRCT along with a personalized, signed copy of my book Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year for EACH of you. (The @SBTRCTskincare goodies, which are plastic free, vegan, cruelty free, palm oil free) include A geranium, rose and tonka been gentle foaming cleanser with diatomite dish and a moisturizing facial balm with a bamboo pot, donated by SBTRCT. 

This is #notanad. The founder of SBTRCT, Ben Grace, is a friend of mine and I have loved watching him grow his business - I love their skincare so much I agreed to let my words – a quote from my book Wabi Sabi - be used on their packaging, which is a tiny joy for me.) Anyway, to enter the giveaway to win some lovely solid skincare along with a personalized signed copy of Calm Christmas for you and a friend, hop over to Instagram @bethkempton to enter. If you are listening to this after the giveaway deadline, don’t worry. I am going to be doing various lovely giveaways each week up to Christmas so there will be something waiting there for you!

Promo

-       With all this talk of retreating it would be remiss of me not to mention that I have just released a brand new virtual writing retreat, called Breathe Write Repeat, and you can register for it at dowhatyouloveforlife.com. And for a limited time you can book on at a 30% discount, just sayin’. So if you dream of taking yourself on a writing retreat this winter, don’t miss it. 

-       Breathe. Write. Repeat. is my mantra for writing. It sounds simple, and it is, but it can be challenging when our days are flooded with noise from the everyday world. Carving out time and space to dive deep in our writing, can have a profound effect on what we write, and how we write as well as how we feel about our writing, and that’s what this virtual writing retreat is for.

-       Designed to be flexible around your schedule – this virtual writing retreat works for a two-day experience, for a long weekend or even a full week. You just book the time away anywhere you choose - or the time at home with an empty house – and I bring everything else through the virtual classroom. 

-       Breathe Write Repeat includes everything you need to prepare before you go, and a flexible and varied programme of inspiring writing guidance from me – all sorts of writing prompts and inspiration, pep talks, tea time chats, visualisations and more, as well as some gorgeous contributions from guest teachers including yoga with Amy Williams, meditations with Joey Hulin and a sound bath with Janie Everett of Silence & Noise. It’s really gorgeous.

-       No more procrastination. Just hours of blissful writing. 

-       This virtual writing retreat will support your practice whether you want to go deep on a particular project, or just show up and see what comes. All you need to do is commit the time, book somewhere you’d like to stay, and then sign up for this virtual retreat, pack your bags and breathe, write, repeat – completely to your own schedule. You’ll be astonished at what spills out onto the page.

-       You can find all the details and a 30% discount at dowhatyouloveforlife.com. There are also gift vouchers available, so you could ask for it as a dreamy Christmas gift, and perhaps plan to take yourself on retreat in the new year. If you have any questions about it feel free to DM me on Instagram @bethkempton. Having been on countless solo retreats to get my six books written, I poured everything I know about effective retreating into Breathe Write Repeat and I hope you will love it!

Get ahead tips

è Start thinking about how you feel about gatherings this year. Depending on what kind of year you have had, you might feel called to host a large gathering, or you may want to stay away from crowds. You might want to do something more intimate this year, or perhaps see lots of people but only one or two at a time, spread throughout December. Perhaps you want a year off hosting this year, and might want to consider meeting up with others outside your home, or accepting their invitation and taking something along for a gathering there instead. We will be diving into this in about ten days’ time, in Episode 4, so in the meantime, why not have an honest conversation with yourself, and your loved ones, about what kind of gatherings you would like to attend, host or create together with others this year.

è Now is also a good time to do an inventory of your kitchen, to see if there’s anything you might need for hosting – a new pan, or some plates or whatever – make a list ahead of the Black Friday Sales coming up in the second half of November.

è If you haven’t already, download my Calm Christmas planner from dowhatyouloveforlife.com to map out the weeks ahead and ensure a stress-free, cosy season

è And don’t forget, November 13 is World Kindness Day. That includes being kind to yourself, you know. 

I hope this bumper episode has inspired some new ideas for taking care of yourself this season – or at least reminded you about some things you usually do but have forgotten about in the rush of life. Remember, how you look after yourself in the coming weeks will make all the difference to how you feel when the new year arrives.

Go gently into each winter morning my friend. On waking, set aside a moment to check in with yourself, greet the day, take a deep breath and smile. Tiptoe into the kitchen. Light a candle. Meditate or write in your journal. Potter around in the half-light. Stretch. Listen to some calming music. Put your on wellies and step outside. Give yourself the gift of a winter sunrise. Breathe in the day. It’s going to be a beauty.

Coming up, Episode 3 WE THREE KINGS is all about mindful gifting. It will be packed with ideas for lovely thoughtful gifts that don’t cost a fortune, including ideas for things you can make yourself. See you soon.

You have been listening to The Calm Christmas Podcast with me, Beth Kempton, produced by Untapped Talent. Don’t forget to subscribe, and please tell your friends.

If you have enjoyed the show, you might just love my book Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year: A Little Book of Festive Joy, which is out now from all good booksellers. 

For a peek into my perfectly imperfect Christmas preparations, come and find me on Instagram @bethkempton or on Substack @bethkempton where I also write about midlife, fearless writing, and my favourite ways to travel in Japan.

Stay warm and cosy my friend, and I’ll see you next week.

TITLE INFO FOR BUZZSPROUT

Title for Buzzsprout: S3 Ep2: CANDLELIGHT CAROL: Nourishing mind, body and soul 

Season: 3

Episode: 2

 | UPDATE FOR EPISODE 2 (From Ep 1) Come on in out of the wind, my friend. I am so glad you found this old cottage, hidden away as it is in a small village in the South West of England. Come on through to the kitchen, pull up a chair. There are gingerbread stars fresh out of the oven and steaming tea in the pot. How have you been, my friend? I am so glad you are here and I’ve got so much to share with you. What a joy it is to welcome you to a third season of The Calm Christmas Podcast, timed just as autumn turns to leave and in its shadow offers us a glimpse of winter. Here on the podcast we trace the turning of the seasons in nature and in our minds and hearts, we seek out ways to be more mindful about the approaching holidays, and I offer inspiration and tips for using this time to rest and restore after another full year. This third season is all about seeking slow. This episode includes: ·      The importance of slowing down for making the most of the holidays and for taking care of ourselves ·      Tips for slowing down ·      Allotment chit chat and our regular nature corner ·      Christmas traditions from around the world (including several shared by listeners!) ·      An autumnal crafting project ·      Two lovely autumnal recipes ·      Get ahead tips and more! Lovely things for you: ·      GIVEAWAY - To be in with the chance of winning a copy of Rosie Steer’s gorgeous new book Slow Seasons and a personalised, signed copy of Calm Christmas by me, Beth Kempton, enter on Instagram @bethkempton (deadline 4pm UK time on Sunday 12 November) ·      CALM CHRISTMAS PLANNER – Download yours for free here I hope this podcast will help you locate Christmas as an anchor in the stormy seas of winter in this world right now. For more details of my book Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year go to bethkempton.com/christmas or buy a copy from Amazon or any good bookshop. Or why not get the audiobook and listen to one chapter a week up to and through the holiday season?

Take good care,
Beth
(@bethkempton on Instagram / bethkempton.substack.com / dowhatyouloveforlife.com)  Featured in this episode: ·      Reading from Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year: A little book of festive joy by Beth Kempton (Piatkus)p.15 / US edition here (Scribner)  ·      Research about the health benefits of bananas here
Ingredients for recipes shared: (1) Kempton Family Banana Bread You need: ·      85g butter ·      225g plain flour ·      2 eggs, beaten ·      3 teaspoons baking powder ·      ¼ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda ·      Large pinch of salt ·      2 large well ripe bananas ·      110g caster sugar ·      100g bar milk or dark chocolate (not cooking chocolate), chopped into small pieces It’s easy to make, delicious and it is perfect for a special breakfast, as an energy-boosting snack (which helps get little ones out on a long walk), and as a tasty dessert.  (2) Roasted Chestnuts You only need: ·      Around 16 large shiny chestnuts  Source of this nostalgia-inducing recipe: BBC Good Food (thank you!)  

 |  Newsletter Subject: Nourishing mind, body and soul To send:  DRAFT  

 |  Insta 1 (Fri - giveaway) DRAFT  

 |  Insta 2 (Sat) DRAFT  

 |  Insta 3 (Wed) DRAFT  

[1] You Should Leave Now: Going on retreat to find your way back to yourself by Brie Doyle (Broadleaf). xiii
[2] https://www.etymonline.com/word/retreat
[3] Radiant Rest: Yoga nidra for deep relaxation & awakened clarity by Tracey Stanlee (Shambhala) p.52
[4] The Wild Weather Book by Fiona Danks and Jo Schofield (LL) p.66
[5] River Flow: New & selected poems by David Whyte (Many Rivers Press) p.346
[6] Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year: A little book of festive joy by Beth Kempton (Piatkus)
[7] What to look for in Winter by Elizabeth Jenner (Ladybird)
[8] The Wild Handbook: Seasonal activities to help you reconnect with nature by Emily Thomas (Studio Press) https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wild-Handbook-Seasonal-activities-reconnect/dp/1787419436
[9] Afoot and Lighthearted: A mindful walking journal by Bonnie Smith Whitehouse (Potter) p.46
[10] Making Winter: A creative guide for surviving the winter months by Emma Mitchell (LOM Art) p.17
[11] https://www.deliciouslyella.com/recipes/cacao-almond-energy-ball/
[12] https://www.deliciouslyella.com/podcast/
[13] Japan: The Vegetarian Cookbook, by Nancy Singleton Hachisu (Phaidon) p.256
[14] https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/who-invented-snow-globe