A Crunchy Life - December 2024 Newsletter
A deeper look into this month's post. I share more thoughts and resources for tapping into a simple, intentional life filled with Earth-based practices.
Hello friends!
The December post is up and it is all about keeping the magic of December alive in the new year.
December is the month when the opportunity and support to believe in magic is present—not the magic of witches, wizards, grimoires, and covens, but the magic of flying reindeer, talking snow people, flying sleighs, enchanted hats, magical snowfalls, talking animals, talking objects, North Pole mysticism, and magical guidance, portals, visitors, and spirits. All leading to wonder, belief, energy, celebration, and joy.
The freedom to believe in magic fosters optimism, possibility, and the extraordinary. It inspires creativity, wonder, new ideas, and strengthens connection, community, warmth. It builds resilience, transformation, overcoming the impossible, and renews our sense of play and joy.
As I move towards the new year, I will be carrying with me the magic of December. The magic of believing that if we just, “Put one foot in front of the other and soon you’ll be walking cross the floor. Put one foot in front of the other and soon you’ll be walking out the door” (Santa Claus is Coming to Town, 1970). The magic of believing in peace on Earth and goodwill to all. The magic of wonder, creativity, connection, resilience, love, and joy. Far from being supernatural, it’s deeply natural. It’s finding the extraordinary in everyday life.
The magic of a homemade blueberry muffin.
The magic of the first snow fall of the winter.
The magic of the sunrise over the ocean.
The magic of the geese returning in early spring.
By the way, muffins. With all of the talk of homemade blueberry muffins in this month’s post I thought I’d share our go-to vegan recipe.
Berry Muffins
2 cups all-purpose flour (or 1⁄2 all-purpose and 1⁄2 spelt or 1/2 whole wheat and 1/2 spelt)
3⁄4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1⁄2 teaspoon salt
1⁄2 cup non-dairy yogurt
1⁄2 cup non-dairy milk
1⁄2 cup light flavored oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1.5 cups frozen berries (blueberry, strawberry, raspberry, mixed berries, etc.)
Preheat oven to 375°F. Sift together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Make a well in the center and add the yogurt, milk, canola oil, and vanilla. Stir to combine. Fold in the berries. Scoop the batter into the muffin tins. Bake for 26 to 30 minutes. At the end of this newsletter there is information about a sale and a giveaway at The Herbal Academy. (Feel free to scroll to the end right now so you don’t forget to check it out).
Here’s how I'm using my hand, head, and heart this month
Here’s how I'm using my hand, head, and heart this month to tap into the extraordinary in everyday life and the wonder, creativity, connection, resilience, love, and joy that comes with it.
Hand: Advent
The winter holiday season begins for us on December 1st and lasts until January 6th. During this time we thread together the traditions of our German, Irish, and Kaschubian ancestors to create our path through the season.
Last week, Week 2, we finished decorating the house with garland, wreaths, and lights. St. Barbara’s Day was on December 4th but we waited until last week to work with our plant (pussy willow) because of Week 2’s Advent verse: The Light of Love. The second light of Advent is the light of plants. Plants that reach up to the sun, and in the breezes dance.
Barbara lived in Asia minor in the 4th Century. According to legend, Barbara’s father shut her away in a tower, hoping that isolation would make his daughter see sense. On her way to her tower prison, she supposedly caught her robe on a cherry branch. She broke off the branch and took it with her. She watered it daily with a few drops from her drinking water. She was greatly consoled by the beautiful cherry blossoms that appeared. It is a symbol of good luck for the next year if the buds on our Barbarazweige blossom by Christmas Eve.
Here’s how to do it: Choose a branch from a flowering tree. Cherry is traditional but any flowering branch such as an apple, plum, almond, jasmine, forsythia, lilac, or blackthorn should work. Cut the branch at a long slant and stand it in water in a cool room for two to three days, then bring it into a warm room. Change the water every two days. Spray the branches with a water mister every few days.
This week, Week 3, is all about baking! Cookies, muffins, and other sweets. We may even make treats for our dog, cat, and wildlife friends since Week 3’s verse is all about animals: The Light of Joy. The third light of Advent is the light of animals. It shines in the greatest, it shines in the least.
Head: Winter Stories
I finished up The Little Book of Hidden People just in time for the St. Nicholas Stories. If you enjoy this book, Alda has lots of others at Little Books Publishing. I have a feeling The Little Book of Days in Iceland and Icelandic Folk Legends may be on my to-read list in 2025.
The St. Nicholas stories are the December stories we have been reading with the kids the longest. These are seven gentle stories for children written by Christine Natale, a Waldorf kindergarten teacher. St. Nicholas and the Mouse is one of my favorites. Christine also has a series of fairy tale books that are linked to the seasons:
After reading the St. Nicholas stories, our kids place their shoes out on December 5th, St. Nicholas Eve, in the hopes that St. Nicholas will visit. Yes, they still do this at age 19 and age 16. St. Nicholas leaves the following in their shoes:
Clementine/Orange - reminder of the warmth and joy felt when the sun shines on everyone, and to be like the sun by giving love to everyone.
Walnut - a reminder about the importance of listening to and learning from one’s elders.
Gold chocolate coins - reminder of the coins that St. Nicholas gave to those in need.
Candy canes - a sweet treat that is a reminder of the staff St. Nicholas carried.
One special gift.
On December 13, Santa Lucia Day, we read, A Gentle Santa Lucia Story by Tiziana Boccaletti. There are several versions of Lucia’s story and how it is celebrated has changed over time. We tend towards this gentle version that focuses on light, warmth, and hope during times of darkness.
We also focus on the folk beliefs around Santa Lucia night. In folk belief, Santa Lucia night was a magical time:
Enchantments and dangerous powers are in the dark
The boundary between the human world and the spiritual world is tenuous
Animals speak as humans do
Trolls, malevolent witches, and water spirits are out and about
Santa Lucia night was a time to be still and to rest, so as not to garner the attention of supernatural beings. Or, if you did have to be out and about, do so in a disguise, such as frightening masks. In Malung, Dalarna, people dressed up “as lussiner figures with a goatskin over their backs, straw tied around their necks and a long red hat on their heads.” In Skåne, people dressed as Yule ghosts. (Tora Wall, 2023)
It’s a good time for charms, saining, and prayers/innvocations over the house for protection. Another option is to spill seeds at the front door of the house so that a supernatural being is too busy counting the seeds until morning to mess with those in the house.
In the morning before the kids wake up, I make Santa Lucia Buns (Lussekatter), sweet saffron buns. The recipe I use is from The Vegan Swedes. It’s easy and fun to make. Below is the best image I have found of the variety of shapes for Santa Lucia Buns. The one shaped like a single backwards S is the one we make the most.
Heart: Winter Solstice, December 21st
As I shared in the December post, Solstice touches me deeply - its a time of rest, reflection, reconnecting, relearning, and renewal with our deep inner self and our place in the web of life. It’s a day filled with water, fire, and nature.
Our incense for the day is a combination of calendula flowers, chamomile flowers, cinnamon chips, and saffron threads. Warm, comforting foods are prepared for dinner, alongside lots of candles and a warm fire. If all goes as planned, my evening will culminate with Winter Solstice Tea and a long Solstice Milk and Herb Bath.
Winter Solstice Tea
1 tablespoon dried Hawthorn berries (Crataegus laevigata) 1 tablespoon dried St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum) 1 teaspoon dried Oatstraw (Avena sativa) 1 teaspoon dried Lemonbalm (Melissa officinalis) 1/2 teaspoon dried Spearmint leaf (Mentha spicata) 1/2 teaspoon dried Rose petals (Rosa damascena) Place the hawthorn berries into a pot with 2 cups water and cover. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 15 - 20 minutes, covered. Place the remaining herbs into a teapot, cup, or jar and pour the hawthorn berries and water over them. Cover and steep for 10 minutes. Strain and enjoy. (Gentle reminder: Always consult with a healthcare professional before trying any herbal teas, supplements, or preparations.)
In last year’s December newsletter, I shared:
How we decorate our favorite outside tree with edible treats for our more than human (wild animal) friends
How we make fire bundles with dried rosemary, dried orange peel, and cinnamon sticks for our fires throughout the winter
A recipe for a milk and herb bath I blend just for Winter Solstice
Follow this link if you are interested in those directions.
Final thought for this month:
Dedication - A Drop of Good, from Tiffany’s Spellbook, by Evan Snyder, 2022
Magick is unique to each individual who invokes it. It’s my hope that each person here today Felt at some point the Magick inscribed in my tome, But if that’s not the case for you… Don’t let that be cause for disbelief. Magick comes in countless forms; It offers perfect design for each individual experience. And even if it’s often sensationalized, Its depictions outright fictitious, That doesn’t negate the truth behind them. There is a power in human will And that is Magick. So as we reach my final spell, I hope only that you might lend me your will… And see my words become truth: “A single goal, through all my penning, is that this work, bears this one meaning: That through a smile, a laugh, or tear, I gift some good, to all those here. A drop of good, at first alone, but then you add a drop your own. And as combine those drops of good, our drops become a tide, a flood. Primeval force, all overwhelming, our waters wash out, healing, helping! And then unveiled, both new and strange, as through our will, our world is changed. When words cause change, through naught but will, then that, for me, makes Magick real. But, as we’ve reached my work’s conclusion, I now must end this fair illusion… And yet… If ever Magick you would seek, Or if some spellwork you would do, Just turn these pages, read these words, And let this book sing out through you.”
This month my hand, head, and heart practices provide an opportunity for me to tap into the extraordinary in everyday life and the wonder, creativity, connection, resilience, love, and joy that comes with it. There are so many opportunities! By finding the extraordinary in everyday life, magic will not only live beyond the holiday season, it will thrive.
My plan to sustain magic every day throughout the new year is to continue to share how I approach the seasons and rituals, and to also share a View from My Writing Table, photos of the magic of each season. I hope you will keep coming back to A Crunchy Life to see what unfolds.
Happy Holidays to each of you!
Love,
Karen
P.S. Are you still in search of holiday or birthday presents? HERBAL ACADEMY has a Botanical Recipe Collection Bundle - a book and course bundle - on sale until December 20th! Choose your perfect bundle: The Books Only Bundle or the The Complete Bundle, the three recipe books plus their paired online courses.
After that, there is an Herbal Academy Winter Solstice Giveaway until December 24th — they are giving one lucky winner the chance to win a $500 course scholarship to the Herbal Academy and a $79 The Herbarium membership! Just as the solstice marks a moment of pause and renewal, this giveaway is an opportunity to root in the wisdom of the natural world and grow your herbal journey in the seasons ahead.