A Note From The Quiet Season..

I’ve been quiet this season. I can feel myself doing it.

Everything within me has turned inward, for the good and for the uncomfortable.

And even though there’s been a part of me that has wanted to push: to work on the business, to get information out, to create presence outside of myself… I just haven’t had it in me.

And I think that that is the point of winter.

The winter solstice on December 21st technically marks the first day of winter.

And yet, from that moment on, we begin receiving more light each day. Until that marking point, each day has been darker; and introspection and return inward reflect that darkness.

This time of year has always been difficult for me.

Every year I hope that it won’t be, but it is.

This is our yearly dark night of the soul.

Our bodies, minds, and souls reflect the seasons. As the light wanes and the nights grow longer, it is in our nature to turn inward toward our own depths.

Last Sunday, I told my husband that it was the solstice, and he said,

“Really? This year hasn’t even been that bad.”

For us, we usually start feeling the lack of sunshine as soon as fall hits. Our bodies get restless. We get stir-crazy from the hours spent inside, trying to beat the cold.

This year, though, we’ve been more intentional about everything, and it has made all the difference. I believe our food has been a huge contributor. Even when we’re cooped up inside and missing sunshine, we’re still giving our bodies the vitamins and minerals they need.

I realized the other day that the bone broth I make is very similar to the “fire cider” or immune-supporting brews people turn to this time of year to ward off colds and viruses.

The difference is that the bones themselves are giving us a deep mineral foundation. Then I add herbs like thyme, oregano, stinging nettle, turmeric, garlic, and onion.

We’re constantly buffering our bodies and immune systems from the inside out.

Another important thing I’ve noticed this year, maybe for the first time, is that we are truly listening.

If our bodies ask for movement and sunshine, it doesn’t matter if it’s 30° outside, we go out. And if our bodies are asking for rest and stillness, and the Colorado weather blesses us with a 70° day, we might just sunbathe in the backyard.

There’s no story about what we should be doing. We simply do what the body asks.

It would be a fallacy to pretend that just because this dark cycle has been a little easier for us, it has been easy for everyone.

If you’re still in it—moving through grief, anger, or layers that feel heavy—my hope for you is ease and grace.

It hit me recently that outside of the expectations of Christmas, the point of this season is to bring cheer to the darkest time.

Twinkling lights have been shown to reduce depressive symptoms.

Singing is a form of throat chakra activation and release.

Gathering with those you love creates community and reminds the nervous system that you are not alone.

The other side of Christmas, unfortunately, is expectation and obligation. We live in a capitalist culture, and somewhere along the way, the meaning of Christmas became skewed. So as you read this, I invite you into stillness and ease. Even if you don’t feel able to make changes this year, notice what is working and what isn’t. When next year rolls around, you’ll have clarity.

Traditions only need to be carried forward if they are good for the soul. Anything else can go.

This past year, everything that hasn’t been working has been uncovered—and we’ve seen how uncomfortable that can be.

But as we move into a new year, we have the opportunity to decide that we will only continue with traditions and activities that truly fill our buckets.

I’ve been quiet, and I can’t promise that I’m completely done turning inward. If the page or the emails go silent for a little while, know that I’m still here, cheering for you, and wishing you the happiest of holidays.

I want to leave you with a simple recipe that have felt like pure life force this past month. Before sharing, I want to bring across one final message: food is medicine.

Somewhere along the way, the purpose of food became skewed. We were told not to use food for comfort. But if the body is asking for comfort, that is the medicine it needs. And when chosen intentionally, even sweetness can nourish more than just the pleasure centers of the brain.

The most important thing is to listen to what your body is asking for.

Peppermint Mocha:

This is my reminder that comfort doesn’t have to be empty. Warm, gently stimulating, and deeply satisfying, this drink has been my way of meeting the body’s request for sweetness, ritual, and warmth; without disconnecting from nourishment.

When it comes to sharing recipes, I should warn you that I am more of a "let the ancestors tell me to stop" kinda gal than a "measure everything perfectly" girl. So this recipe should be the spark for your own creation that you can alter as you go.

Ingredients:

• 1 tsp of sugar

• 1 tsp of raw cacao powder (rich in magnesium and other essential nutrients)

• 1 shot of brewed coffee, hot (gentle liver supporter)

• 1 cup of low-temp pasteurized A2 milk, warmed and frothy (easier to digest than regular milk, rich in omega 3s, and K & D vitamins)

• homemade A2 whipped cream (super easy to make in the mixer: heavy whipping cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla)

• dye free peppermint candies (peppermint extract works well too)

Mix sugar and raw cacao powder in your cup. Brew your shot of coffee directly onto the mixture and make sure you stir it in well. Add your frothed milk. Dollop a scoop of homemade whipped cream (I say the more the merrier, it's a great fat to help regulate hormones and feed your brain!). And finally add your peppermint candies on top, they will melt directly into the drink flavoring the whole thing!

This is the kind of nourishment that belongs to the quiet season — slow, warm, and made by listening rather than measuring.

I would love to hear about your favorite nourishing recipes to get you through the dark season! And be on the lookout for a bone broth recipe/blog in the future.

Responding to what the body is asking for with nourishing, comforting foods is the fastest way to tell your body that it is safe and you are listening.