The Calm Christmas Podcast with Beth Kempton

This week’s episode is called Give Love This Year, gratitude and gifting, and I'm sending it out to you from my kitchen table, which is currently covered in wrapping paper, ribbon, my fabric stash, the good scissors, the silver pens, stickers, tape, stamps and ink. Let me get you a cuppa. We're going to be here for a while.This episode is full of probing questions that will help you come up with unusual, thoughtful gifts for your loved ones, as well as ideas for wrapping mindfully.It also includes:- Some fascinating facts about the history of gift giving, including a brilliant idea for topsy turvy gift giving from Roman times - An invitation to seek out winter sunshine and other gifts from nature- Gorgeous recipes for Rachel de Thample’s Rise & Shine Tisane and Gemma Ogston’s immunity protection dressing- A lovely craft project which can also help us deal with overwhelm- Thoughts on dealing with loneliness- Help with coming up with inspired gift ideas for your loved ones including some beautiful gifting ideas from listeners around the world (You can find my FREE Ultimate Gift Guide for Writers here and download my free printable planner to keep track of your gift lists here)- Our usual get ahead dates and key dates for the week aheadTell me: What is the one thing you most want to experience for yourself this winter? What will you gift yourself this year?Beth XxPS If you enjoyed this episode, please do tell your friends about it!Lovely things for you* Head to @bethkempton on Instagram for the chance to win The Soul of Gift Wrapping by Megumi Lorna Inouye and a personalised, signed copy of my book Calm Christmas along with a complementary place on my flagship course Do What You Love.* Join the Winter Writing Sanctuary for free HERE. https://dowhatyouloveforlife.com/product/winter-writing-sanctuary-live-oct2026/* Get my brand new Ultimate Gift Guide for Writers here (it’s free)* Download a printable Calm Christmas Planner here (also free).* Give someone (or yourself) the life-changing gift of a trajectory-shifting online course with up to 50% off all my courses (which can be given as gift vouchers!) at dowhatyouloveforlife.comIngredients for Rachel de Thample’s Rise & Shine Tisane* Half a lemon* Half a teaspoon of fennel seeds* One or two bay leaves, fresh or dried* 250 ml of freshly boiled waterIngredients for Gemma Ogston‘s immunity-protection dressing* 180 ml olive oil* 120 ml apple cider vinegar* 60 ml of water* Three tablespoons of runny honey* Three garlic cloves chopped* 5cm fresh ginger, peeled and chopped* Quarter of a teaspoon of ground turmericFor the Snow Globe* A clean jam jar* Waterproof glue, like the glue in a hot glue gun* Eco glitter* A small figure* Glycerine* Some waterReferences + recommendations* Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year by Beth Kempton* The Soul of Gift Wrapping by Megumi Lorna Inouye* Winter Wellness by Rachel de Thample* The Yogic Kitchen by Jody Vassallo* Japan The Vegetarian Cookbook by Nancy Singleton Hachisu* The Healing Cookbook by Gemma Ogston* Deliciously Ella Quick & Easy by Ella Mills* Everyday Super Food by Jamie Oliver* The Self-Care Year by Alison Davies (Quadrille)Charities that can support you if you are feeling lonely* Mind* The Silver Line* Samaritans* ShoutPrevious Calm Christmas episodes on gifting for even more ideas* Season 1 Episode 6 Mindful Gifting* Season 2 Episode 4 Love* Season 3 Episode 3 We Three KingsOther links:* Give Love This Year by Fitz and the Tantrums* Why do we give gifts at Christmas? Andrew Hann, English Heritage* Mixbook (for printing photo books)Photos: 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

Here in Episode 1 Hear the Bells, we begin this new season of the Calm Christmas Podcast by the sea, listening to the sound of the waves and contemplating what it really means to rest. We will share a hot cuppa and conversations about longing and joy, and much more including:·      A new Light Corner·      Our old favourites – Nature and Wellbeing Corners·      A lovely hot drink recipe·      Traditions from around the world·      Get ahead tips·      Some lovely goodies for youWith inspiration from @KerriniDochartaigh @botanical_tales @nigelslater @francescaamber @rspca_official @bbc @leigh.standley @mudnbloom and Sam Kamkanamge.Enjoy!Beth XxLovely things·Head to @bethkempton on Instagram for the chance to win our first festive book giveaway of the season!· Join the Winter Writing Sanctuary for free HERE.· Download a printable Calm Christmas Planner for free HERE. What you need for the Mud & Bloom leaf lanterns:- Autumn leaves- Jam jars- PVA glue- A paint brush- Cotton thread in autumnal colours- Tea lights Hot apple recipe ingredients:- Apple juice (we use clear but cloudy would be fine)- The peel of a satsuma or clementine, artfully twisty if you have that skill-  A cinnamon stick-  A little bit of ginger- Other spices like cloves or star anise, if you like them- Some honey or sugar References:·      Cacophony of Bone by Kerri ni Dochartaigh (Canongate)·      Kokoro: Japanese wisdom for a life well lived by Beth Kempton (Piatkus)·      The Christmas Chronicles by Nigel Slater (Fourth Estate)·      Joy. Boats. Time. On longing, choices and the tyranny of ‘just’ essay on Substack·      Shakti mat (no affiliation)·      How you can help garden wildlife this winter (BBC Newsround)·      Leigh Standley’s spell pot·      Autumn Leaf Lanterns how-to (Mud + Bloom)·      Hear the Bells by Calexico video·      Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year by Beth Kempton (Piatkus)·      Sen Wellness 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

Welcome back friends! This is the trailer for the new season of Calm Christmas, the UK’s favourite festive podcast. Today I have a simple yet profound question for you to ponder in the week ahead, before Episode 1 ‘Hear the Bells’ is released on November 14.Winter is wilder than autumn. The darkness sets in long with the cold and the wet. We want to make fire light candles, huddle up, gather to eat, count our blessings. Our ancient longing for connection, warmth, joy and magic is the song of winter. We hear it in the howling of the wind and the creaking of the trees in the traditional carols and jaunty pop songs, in the laughter that rings out as we don a Christmas hat, in the memories that we turn as we unbox the decorations and hang them once again on the tree. May this podcast help us tune into the nourishing parts, minimize the exhausting parts, acknowledge the darkness and seek out the light.Season Four will carry us from early November through to January 1, offering a weekly calling back towards slowness and calm. There will be seasonal stories and recipes, memories and journalling invitations, craft ideas, get ahead tips, wintery words and the sharing of traditions from listeners all around the world. Most of all, there will be companionship, as we, the Keepers of Christmas, settle in each week for a moment of pause and a little bit of festive magic. As the darkness begins to inhale the light, may our gathering be a lantern to guide us through the season and into the new year. Beth XxPS Be sure to subscribe to calmchristmas.substack.com where you will find all of the podcast archives, free wintry essays into your inbox and some lovely festive goodies (including my FREE printable Calm Christmas planner) waiting for you.Find me on Instagram @bethkempton or on Substack @bethkempton 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

The UK’s #1 favourite Christmas podcast is back for a one-off special to mark the turning of the season and the gift of a leap day as winter gives way to spring. This bonus episode ‘FAREWELL WINTER’ includes:-       A beautiful ritual for bidding farewell to winter-       An insight into the tradition of ‘leap day’-       Ideas for celebrating the arrival of spring-       A peek into Japanese microseasons-       Some gorgeous words capturing the feeling of the season turning-       Our wellbeing and nature corners-       A peek into my brand new book KOKORO (which is out on April 4)-       An inspiring writing prompt and moreWith inspiration from Mary Webb, Masaoka Shiki, Alan Watts, Lin Yutang, Madoka Mayuzumi, Tadashi Terashima, Yosa Buson and Christina Georgia Rossetti.Why not take a walk this week, and have a listen while looking out for signs of spring where you are? (And for those of you in the southern hemisphere, may it be an invitation for you to notice signs of autumn).Beth XxHandy links:·      My new book KOKORO: Japanese wisdom for a life well lived (Piatkus) (or free international shipping when you order via Blackwells here)·      Get FREE access to my new seasonal writing sanctuary Spring Light when you pre-order  KOKORO from any retailer (Here’s the link for Blackwells who are offering free international shipping). Once you have ordered it in any format from any retailer, go to bethkempton.com/kokoro and pop your receipt details in the short form there. ·      My haiku essay: The Life-Changing Magic of Writing Haiku: finding beauty and solace in a heartbeat sized poem For all show notes including book and article reference links please click here. 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