Calm Christmas

Letterbox and digital retreats LIVE!

Christmas

How does reading that word make you feel? Pause for a breath and notice what it stirs within you. How does your body respond? What are the words or images that spring to mind?

I wonder how you usually prepare for Christmas. Do you start with shopping or decorating or cards? Perhaps you begin by making plans with family or flicking through recipe books or watching your favourite films.

I wonder if your preparations involve any time to pause, rest and notice how things really are with you - body, mind and soul. I wonder if you give yourself space to explore what you value and believe about Christmas. I wonder if you allow yourself permission to imagine what Christmas would look like if you prioritised what you truly want and need. 

Last year, in late December, I came across Beth Kempton’s book Calm Christmas. Her overall message is that Christmas doesn’t have to be the stressful, overwhelming, triggering, expensive time of year it often is and we don’t have to limp into January feeling depleted. If we can become present to how we truly feel and what really matters to us about Christmas, we can begin to set intentions, make plans and put in place boundaries that align with our deepest knowings.

Inspired by Beth’s book and buoyed by the thought that the thing we long to see in existence is often the thing we are called to created, I decided to host a mini retreat centred on the question:

What are you being invited to centre or prioritise this Christmas?

I’ve been hosting these mini retreats in my home for a couple of years now and they have become a cherished rhythm in my year. I love sharing my home in this way. Having spent countless hours making it as cosy and calm as possible (placemaking is my love language), retreats are what it’s made for. Even before I started this rhythm of hosting, my sister’s pet name for the house was “The Retreat”. Over the years I’ve realised that, although each retreat has a theme and a gentle structure, what people value most is the space. Space to rest. Space to exhale. Space to be. As we sip tea and savour slices of cake, a comfortable hush descends and, for a while, time slows. 

When I share about these retreats via social media, people express that they wish they lived closer so they could attend. Although I’m not convinced that bigger is better and I haven’t felt compelled to “grow” these retreats by offering them in larger venues further afield, I do believe in the importance of regular retreating and deeply long to support people in finding a rhythm of rest that is both nourishing and sustainable. As a compromise, I started Seasonal Retreats by Mail and, last year, sent out four seasonal care packages to my paid Substack community. 

As you may know, my paid Substack community has since evolved into Soulmanac (you can read about that transition here) and I wasn’t sure if or how I’d continue to share digital seasonal retreats with my online community. But, as I tidied up after Saturday’s retreat and reflected on how meaningful and special the afternoon had been, I noticed that I still had a lot of resources leftover. In my hands were poems, cards printed with journal prompts and snippings for creating collages and found poems. “I wonder if anyone might want these,” I thought to myself. 

Fast forward almost a week and I’ve created 10 letterbox care packages (half of which have already sold! How thrilling!). These are available to UK residents and each one contains a welcome letter, two parcels of resources tied up with string, a tealight, teabags, a chocolate bar and (mysteriously) a stone and a sharpie; everything you need to curate a mini retreat experience in your own space. They are £12 each plus p&p.

I’ve also created a digital version for those not in the UK (or if the letterbox ones run out). These contain a welcome letter, reflection questions, journaling prompts and a gently guided closing practice. I’ve also included a selection of images and poems with suggestions for how you might like to play with these during your retreat. These digital care packages are £6 each.

Advent begins next Sunday and I’ve been reflecting on how, in years past, I’ve spent most of Advent trying - and mostly failing - to find an Advent practice that “fits”. I think part of my struggle has been that, until this year, I have never really paused in advance of Advent to reflect on what feels meaningful about Christmas this particular year or to notice my longings. This year, I have a better sense of the direction I’m being nudged to go and I feel more confident about what I want to create room for during Advent’s weeks of preparation. My hope is that the care-packages I’ve created might help you to do the same. 

If you feel overwhelmed at the prospect of Christmas, unsure what to prioritise this Advent or are simply curious to find out what might shift if you centred your planning on your wisest knowings, these care-packages are for you.

You can find out more or order one by heading to my website. If you order one, I’d love to hear what you think.