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 tips

With 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 | Substack

May this be a treat for you as the darkness moves in,

Beth Xx

PS 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 Miso

To 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 serve

Photo: 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