The Calm Christmas Podcast with Beth Kempton

Winter can be a difficult time for any of us grieving, or experiencing feelings of sadness or loneliness. And yet there is always beauty to be found in amongst it all. This week’s episode, Midwinter Light: Holding joy and sadness in December, is about allowing ourselves all the feelings, and encouraging us to take some quiet time to think about those we love and miss as the world rushes all around us. So many of you have shared how you have been through difficult things this year. For some of you, I know that all you want this year is one more Christmas with a loved one. I want you to know that you are not alone in your experience of things being hard in this season, and I hope that together, we can honour the sadness and also look for the light.This is the week of the Winter Solstice, when the darkness begins to shift into light. We can lean into the darkest dark, or we can welcome the promise of that light. I find that we tend to hold both the dark and the light at this time of year, because memories come flooding back as Christmas moves in, and some of those are beautiful and some of those are painful.We might sense deep gratitude for those who are here and a bone deep ache for those who are not. We might, at the same time, be aware of all of our blessings and all of our longings. The thing is, we don’t need to resist any of it. The Winter Solstice is an ancient ritual event in the human calendar that invites us to simply sit with it, all the sadness and the joy, the darkness and the light. I hope Episode 6 is a balm for your soul.This episode includes:* Thoughtful words to comfort you when things feel hard* Some reflections on the symbolism of the Winter Solstice* Some love for sweet robins* Delicious, nourishing recipes for you and for your furry friends* Get ahead tips and an invitation to seek out shooting starsWith inspiration from Donna Ashworth, Machine Soul Collective, EC Krupp, Carolyn MacVicar Edwards, Charles Baudelaire, Elena Brower, Kim Krans, Charles Bertram Johnson, Fog Chaser, Hannah Langdon, Amber Guinness, Royal Museums Greenwich, Songbird Survival and the RSPCA.You can listen on iTunes/Spotify or here on Substack. I hope you absolutely love it.Wishing you many blessings in this final full week before Christmas.Beth XxLOVELY THINGS FOR YOU* This week’s giveaway @bethkempton on Instagram - You could win copies of The Country Commonplace Book by Miranda Mills, Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year by Beth Kempton, Hold Nothing by Elena Brower and The Gifts of Winter by Stephanie Fitzgerald plus a place on my gentle writing course Words Heal). Enter here.* Register for my Winter Writing Sanctuary here (it’s FREE!)* Gratitude sale on all my courses extended over Christmas - get support to do what you love at dowhatyouloveforlife.com (30% off courses, 50% off bundles!)BOOKS MENTIONED* Joy Chose You by Donna Ashworth * The Return of the Light by Carolyn MacVicar Edwards* Les Fleurs du Mal by Charles Baudelaire* Hold Nothing by Elena Brower * Christmas with the Princes by Hannah Langdon* Winter in Tuscany by Amber Guinness OTHER LINKS MENTIONED* Midwinter Light by Machine Soul Collective featuring Alexander Tennant* Research by EC Krupp quoted in The Winter Solstice by John Matthews* The Wild Unknown Alchemy Deck by Kim Krans* Snow by Charles Bertram Johnson on poets.org* A Simple Carol by Fog Chaser * National Robin Day* Songbird Survival’s tips for helping robins in winter* Merlin ID app* Winter by Walter de la Mare on poets.org* Ursids Meteor Shower (via Royal Museums Greenwich)* DIY Christmas Treats Recipes for dogs, cats, rabbits and guinea pigs via the RSPCAINGREDIENTS for Baked Fennel with Chilli and Parmesan (from Winter in Tuscany by Amber Guinness)You will need:* 2-3 fennel bulbs* 1 garlic clove, finely crushed or chopped* ½ teaspoon of chilli flakes* Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper* Olive oil* 1 tablespoon unsalted butter* A hunk of parmesanINGREDIENTS for DIY Christmas Treats for Dogs (from the RSPCA)You will need:* 1 cup whole wheat flour* Half a cup of creamy peanut butter (but make sure it doesn’t contain xylitol)* Quarter of a cup of mashed banana* Quarter of a cup of vegetable stockBlessing for those we love and miss, by Beth KemptonMay you have whatever kind of Christmas you want and need this year.May your loved one be present in your mind, in your heart,In whatever way you want them to be.May anything unsaid be as if it had been said.May anything that needs forgiving be forgiven.May anything that is complicated fall away.So you are left with the flickering light of an everlasting connection, which reaches back through time, across space, between hearts.May the depth of your loss be evidence for the vastness of your love.May it help you see into the heart of being,And remind you to celebrate wonder,and to stay aware that there is an imprint of your loved one on everything you do, if you invite it.May you honour those who have helped you through the darknessand recognise your own contributionto the world as the healer you are becoming.May you show compassion to yourself,and to others who are suffering,whether or not you know their names.May you continue to be interestedIn both the remarkable and unremarkablewhich make this life,and see beauty in the ordinaryevery single day.May you have whatever kind of Christmas you want and need this year. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit calmchristmas.substack.com

One of the most gorgeous carols in the world reminds us of how bleak midwinter can be, and yet how there is beauty and even comfort in it. This episode is all about taking care of ourselves in the dark season, finding ways to stay warm, inspired, healthy and connected. It includes lots of love for trees, and hedgehogs, and suggestions for wellbeing in winter from listeners and experts alike. This episode includes:* The single easiest step to radical self-care this winter* What to put into a Winter’s Evening Care Package* Ways to keep warm without spending a fortune* The tradition of Christmas trees including research and insights from Canada’s Christmas Tree Lab* The feeling of climbing a tree* How to contribute to the UK’s Ancient Tree Inventory* A fresh way of thinking about sleep* Some love for hedgehogs* A wonderful Citrus Miso recipe from Rachel de Thample* Nature observation advice from Tristan Gooley* A thoughtful writing prompt* Dates for your diary* Get ahead tipsWith inspiration from Christina Rossetti, Enya, Bernd Brunner, The Christmas Tree Lab, Henrik Dahle, The Woodland Trust, Dr Stephanie Fitzgerald, Hedgehog Street, the British Hedgehog Preservation Society, Rachel de Thample, @fogchaser and Tristan Gooley.Listen on iTunes | Spotify | SubstackMay this be a treat for you as the darkness moves in,Beth XxPS I’d love to hear about all the ways you take care of yourself in winter. Feel free to share in the comments!Lovely things for you* Free registration for my Winter Writing Sanctuary here* Lovely bundle of wintery goodies in this week’s giveaway on Instagram here* Cosy Reads for the Dark Season (podcast listener recommendations)* The Ultimate Gift Guide for Writers (affiliate link free, includes lots of free or close-to-free gift ideas)Books* Inventing the Christmas Tree by Bernd Brunner (translated by Benjamin A Smith)* Art of Climbing Trees by Henrik Dahle* The Hidden Seasons by Tristan Gooley* Winter Wellness by Rachel de Thample* The Gifts of Winter by Dr Stephanie Fitzgerald* Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year by Beth Kempton (99p on Kindle here or £3.99 on Audible here until Dec 23)Other links* In the Bleak Midwinter by Christina Rossetti, sung by the choir of Kings’ College Cambridge* And Winter Came album by Enya (includes song of the same name)* Christmas Tree Lab (here on Instagram)* The Ancient Tree Inventory (run by the Woodland Trust)* My Book Proposal Masterclass* Hedgehog Street* British Hedgehog Preservation Society* Carols by Candelight at St Martin in the Fields* A Simple Carol by Matt Evans Fog Chaser (journalling music)Ingredients for Rachel de Thample’s Citrus MisoTo make one bowl you will need:* 250ml shojin dashi, which you can buy or make using a recipe in Rachel’s book, Winter Wellness* 1 clementine or ½ orange* 1 tbsp miso* 2cm thumb of root ginger* 1 small garlic clove* 1 spring onion, ¼ leek or a handful of three-cornered leek* A dash of tamari or soy sauce to taste* 1 tsp seaweed flakes to servePhoto: Holly Bobbins This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit calmchristmas.substack.com

In our winter writing episode this week we are exploring the poetry of solitude and the solace of poetry. I hope you will listen somewhere quiet this week, notebook in hand, and love every moment of it.Episode 4 ‘On This Winter’s Night’ includes:* Some beautiful wintery poems* A writing invitation inspired by the moon* Some wonderful wintery words and their meanings* The tradition of Christmas cards* How to make a zine* A delicious gingerbread recipe* Some Christmas joy from English railway stations and the London Underground* This week’s Get Ahead TipsWith inspiration from Robert Frost, Lady A, David Whyte, Yosa Buson, Yuki Sawa, Edith Marcombe Shiffert, Paul Anthony Jones, Dianne Casey, the Academy of American Poets, Robert Hillyer, Matt Evans Fog Chaser, Kerri ní Dochartaigh, Mary Searle Chatterjee, the University of Birmingham Time for Letters project, John Julius Norwich, Charles Dickens, 42nd Street, Kate Trenchard, Helen Garcia, Barter Books, Morden Station, the London Underground, the staff of Axminster and Salisbury Stations and Alix Klingenberg.You can listen on Substack, Spotify or iTunes.I hope this episode offers moment of tranquility in a busy December,Beth XxLovely things for you* Alternative Advent Calendar on Instagram @bethkempton (free)* Winter Writing Sanctuary live writing class running December 29-Jan 4 online (free)* This week’s giveaway on Instagram @bethkempton (free)* SoulCircle (my private writing community on Substack) Books* A Winter Dictionary by Paul Anthony Jones* Haiku Master Buson translated by Yuki Sawa and Edith Markham Schiffert* Cacophony of Bone by Kerri ní Dochartaigh * The Ultimate Christmas Cracker by John Julius Norwich* Quietly Wild by Alix Klingenberg * Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year by Beth Kempton (hardback | audiobook just £3.99 in December | Kindle ebook just 99p until December 23)Other links (no affiliate links)* Good Hours by Robert Frost on poets.org* White Pine Press * Academy of American Poets * Winter Nocturne by Robert Hillyer on poets.org * A Simple Carol by Matt Evans @fogchaser * Christmas Cards and the Construction of Social Relations in Britain Today by Mary Searle-Chatterjee in Unwrapping Christmas edited by Daniel Miller p.176 * A Time for Letters project run by the University of Birmingham * How to make a zine via 42nd Street * Barter Books in Alnwick * Daily uplifting quotes on London Underground’s Morden Station on Instagram @MordenStation Ingredients for Kate’s gingerbread* 100 g butter* 3 tbs of golden syrup* 100 g dark muscovado sugar* half a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda* one tablespoon of ginger* one teaspoon of cinnamon* half a teaspoon of cloves* half a teaspoon of nutmeg* 225 g plain flourImage: Holly Bobbins This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit calmchristmas.substack.com

All we really need to make our homes cosy in winter, and to make any seasonal gathering special, is a little bit of care and attention, some light, some kindness, perhaps a twinkling tree or a scattering of greenery, and maybe a pretty tablecloth. But it doesn’t have to be fancy, and it definitely doesn’t have to be perfect or all matching. Episode 3: Holly, Ivy & Evergreen is all about simplifying, beautifying and cosifying our homes for the winter, making them welcoming for us and for others. It includes:* Birth month herbs (Which one are you, I wonder?)* The symbolism and uses of some of our favourite evergreens* Christmas dinner table musings* Tips for simplifying, beautifying and cosifying your home this holiday season* Decorating traditions from listeners around the world* Talk of advent candles* How to make a winter flower garland with Bex Partridge * A simply delicious recipe from Jess Elliot Dennison* A thoughtful journalling invitation* Get ahead tips and dates for your diary this weekWith inspiration from @homesandgardensofficial @shegrowsveg @countrylivinguk @danuforest @laura_weir @annes.universe @botanical_tales @rossandrossgifts @jess_elliot_dennison @fogchaser @sarahravenperchhill @danninichollsmusicYou can listen on Substack, Spotify or iTunes.Happy cosifying, friends!Beth XxGOOD THINGS FOR YOUThis week’s festive book giveaway is @bethkempton with a prize including:* How to Winter by Kari Leibowitz* The Joy of Wintering by Erin Niimi Longhurst* Joy Chose You by Donna Ashworth* Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year by Beth Kempton* A complimentary place on one of my writing courses, Excavate Your LifeAlso:* You can join the Winter Writing Sanctuary for FREE at dowhatyouloveforlife.com (runs Dec 29 – Jan 4)* You can get my book Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year for just £3.99 on Audible here (read by me) or just 99p on Kindle here (from Dec 1 - Dec 23)* You can get up to 50% off all my courses in my annual gratitude sale, on now at dowhatyouloveforlife.com including live writing and Substack immersion Ink + Flame, live writing + career development immersion Life+Time and the Book Proposal Masterclass.* You can join my beautiful private writing community SoulCircle at bethkempton.substack.com/subscribe (choose Monthly to try it out or Annual to get a lovely discount)BOOKS (no affiliate links)* The Magical Year by Danu Forest* Cosy by Laura Weir* Midweek Recipes by Jess Elliot DennisonOTHER LINKS (no affiliate links)* O Tannenbaum (O Christmas Tree) sung by Andrea Bocelli* Lola Houghton on birth month herbs in Homes & Gardens Magazine* Seed crackers from Shegrowsveg.com* Country Living Christmas Magazine* Buttermilk window pictures by Anne S Olson @annes.universe* The River sung by Danni Nicholls cowritten by Beth Kempton and Danni Nicholls * Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign for Making Moves by Danni NichollsINGREDIENTS for Jess Elliot Dennison’s Dill Scrambled Eggs on Toast with Lemon and Feta.(Serves 2)* 2 slices sourdough bread* 3 tbsp cold-pressed rapeseed or olive oil* 1 large handful dill (approx 15g)* 4 free-range eggs* Sea salt flakes* 50g feta cheese* 1 small lemon This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit calmchristmas.substack.com

In the old days, Christmas was much more about gathering and feasting after a long year than about gifts given and received, but in modern life Christmas shopping has become something of a frenzied affair for many, starting with the Black Friday sales and running all the way up to last minute panic buying on Christmas Eve. Not only is this stressful before Christmas, it make January harder when the credit card bill arrives.This week’s episode of the Calm Christmas Podcast - Season 5 Episode 2: The Christmas Present - is an invitation to consider how best to allocate not only money, but also your time and attention this year. It includes:* Reflections on how Christmas gifting has changed over the years* A few ideas unusual homemade items and children’s book gifts* A little bit of festive shopping humour ;-)* Cosy talk about the rain, and respect for honey bees* A mermaid adventure* Some lovely wrapping-related Christmas crafting ideas* The world’s simplest recipe for edible chocolate bark (makes a lovely homemade present)* Get ahead tips and dates for your diary this weekNote: In our ‘Get Ahead Tips’ section I mention a descendant of Charles Dickens performing A Christmas Carol as a one-man show. I made an error, saying that Gerald Dickens is the author’s Great Grandson when in fact he is his Great Great Grandson. Apologies for that!With inspiration from Clement Clarke Moore, @robbiewilliams @moneysavingexp @rhodri Judith Flanders, Maya Angelou, @freyanorth @auriolb Jill Barklem, CS Lewis, Ruth Simmons, @carolinarabei.illustration Josie George @porridgebrain @tomfletcher @sara.starling.voiceover Sir Peter Thornton, @leyla.kazim @mermaidexplorer @erinniimi Alan Connor, @kunze Laura Fleiter, @skyemcalpine @sibster @unicef @dickensshows @fogchaserYou can listen on Substack, Spotify or iTunes. You can also find more (specific!) mindful gift ideas in my book Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year, as well as in the following earlier podcast episodes:Series 4 Episode 2: Give Love This YearSeries 3 Episode 3: We Three Kings: For the Love of Mindful GiftingSeries 2 Episode 4: Love: Gratitude and GiftingSeries 1 Episode 6: Mindful GiftingPS You can also listen to the podcast on Spotify or iTunes.I hope you love it, and that it helps bring a little more calm to your holiday preparations this year.Beth XxLINKS TO LOVELY THINGSHead to @bethkempton on Instagram for the chance to win some lovely festive books in our second giveaway of the season!Register for the Winter Writing Sanctuary at dowhatyouloveforlife.com for free (runs Dec 29-Jan 4 Cosy Reads for the Dark Season (round up of Calm Christmas Podcast listeners’ winter reading recommendations) The Alternative Advent Calendar (free, daily from Dec 1) on Instagram @bethkemptonUp to 50% off writing and personal development courses in my annual gratitude sale now on at dowhatyouloveforlife.comRESOURCES AND OTHER LINKSMoneySavingExpert.comKarenGrayCoach.com (mermaid adventures!) / Karen KJ Gray (@mermaidexplorer on Instagram)Gerald Dickens (Charles Dickens’ Great Great Grandson) performing A Christmas Carol as a one-man showA Simple Carol by Matt Evans on Youtube / Substack @FogChaserBOOKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODECalm Christmas and a Happy New Year by Beth KemptonA Very British Christmas by Rhodri Marsden Christmas gift research by Russell Belk referenced in A Very British Christmas Christmas: A History by Judith Flanders Wabi Sabi: Japanese wisdom for a perfectly imperfect life by Beth Kempton Kokoro: Japanese wisdom for a life well lived by Beth Kempton Celebrations: Rituals of Peace and Prayer by Maya Angelou Christmas at Flora’s House by Freya North Chloe by Freya North An Anthology of Christmas by Auriol Bishop Winter Story by Jill Barklem The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe by CS Lewis Christmas Lights by Ruth Simmons and Carolina Rabei Letters from Wonderland by Josie George The Christmasaurus by Tom Fletcher The Night Before Christmas by Clement Clark Moore The Bubbling Toad by Sara Starling (and in person at Vogrie Country Park)The Later Years by Peter Thornton Pathways to Purposeful Living by Leyla KazimThe Joy of Wintering by Erin Niimi Longhurst 188 Words for Rain by Alan Connor Advent by Kirsten Niehoff and Laura Fleiter The Christmas Companion by Skye McAlpine Charming Woodland Crafts by Sybia Torres Padilla INGREDIENTS for chocolate bark (this is a very loose ‘recipe’…)One large bar of good quality cooking chocolate or eating chocolate (such as Cadbury’s Dairy Milk) – you can choose to go with one of milk / dark / plain or melt 2-3 different bars in different bowls and then swirl them togetherSome toppings of your choice (such as a handful of pistachios, crushed walnuts, candied orange peel, crushed candy canes or popping candy – just look at commercially available chocolate bars for inspiration!)If you would like to flavour the chocolate you could add a few drops of something like peppermint extract This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit calmchristmas.substack.com