December the Season of Good Will

December the Season of Good Will.

We say it every year as December arrives, its the last month of the year and we cannot believe its here so quickly. Its a time for us to shift our focus onto the celebrations, which start in my opinion far too soon, but it gives the retailers an opportunity to make the most of persuading us all to buy more goods.

Preparing & Planning 

December brings about our mid-winter festival and breaks up the dark months, the cold and frosty weather.

If we can be mindful of the chaos that leads up to Christmas by carefully planning our time, the holiday will be more of a pleasure than a chore. My dear old mum used to plan as early as the end of Summer, and whilst I wouldn't want to start that early, she was certainly without stress when everyone else was rushing around.

This month always encourages us to be closer to family and friends and there are many who do not have this expectation, many people are lonely and grieving at Christmas, so it would make sense to put time into planning that yours will be one of joy and love. You may even consider volunteering to help a charity or visit older people in your neighbourhood and offer to do some shopping or just sit and share a homemade mince pie.

In advance, you can prepare lots of your foods choices, even if it's only sorting out your meal plans and recipes. I have some wonderful recipes for you to try throughout December and some ideas for Christmas Vegetarian ones.

Consideration 

Consider what kind of Christmas you want, spend some time in reflection and make some time to plan how this is possible. maybe you would prefer to have time alone, quiet and cosy, plan to fit at least an afternoon or evening where this is possible. Wrapped up in a cosy blanket with a mug of hot chocolate and a book that you have wanted to catch up with.

Consider ways that you can lessen the burden of cooking and prepare by planning and asking for help in advance

Take out time to consider your spending budget and if finances are tight considering how you can make some simpler gifts. I love homemade presents and I know lots of my friends and family feel the same, there is so much more goes into the personal creation of a jar of biscuits or a natural aromatherapy oil.

Consider what would bring pleasure to the person you are giving to, I had a friend who always bought me what he wanted someone to buy for him! I suggested that we go shopping together for the day and share our ideas of what we would like people to buy for each of us.

Christmas brings stress to most people, as we try to fit everything in, try to consider that it's simply a time of joyfulness, not just a time of doing, it's also a time to be with the auspicious time that Christmas offers us. Its a time for you.

It seems that the whole of Christmas can be just one rollercoaster ride of activity, remember it is also a time to remember those we have lost, or who are far away. take time out with your thoughts and a journal and write about your feelings. So often we have a pile of Christmas cards to sign and don't take the time to consider what we are saying. Send out meaningful words rather than quantity of cards.

Dosha Specifics

As we continue to move through early winter season Vata continues to be aggravated and the colder months can be uncomfortable for Vata. If Vata has undergone a seasonal cleansing during the 'Rainy Season' they will be more equipped for the early and later winter.

Pitta is alleviated during the early winter and feels less aggravated with a calmer clearer mindset. Kapha accumulation follows the rainy season and continues during early winter and so care and attention needs to be considered.

Tastes

The December Tastes which run through the whole of the early winter is 'sweet'  this is particularly aggravating for Kapha and can create further months of difficulty for the body and mind. Its an unfortunate time for Kapha problems as Christmas is full of overindulging, chocolates and foods high in the sweet taste.

Attempt to be mindful of this and if you are a Kaha type at least reduce the sweet taste as much as you are able.

Like everything in Ayurveda, the Seasons and our bodies are one. Maya Tiwari puts it ‘The doshas are to the body what the seasons are to the earth’. We are made from the same energetics and the seasons will affect our health and wellbeing. Understanding this important connection will enable you to make better judgements about which food to eat.

The tastes we should be favouring and reducing during this season are –

Vata to favour–
Salty & Bitter 
And although we can have these we should keep them to a minimum
Pungent & Sweet 

Pitta to favour –
Bitter & Astringent
And although we can have these we should keep them to a minimum
Sweet

Kapha to favour –
Pungent, Astringent & Bitter
And although we can have these we should keep them to a minimum
Salty