Welcome to Hibernate, lovely. I’m so glad you’re here!
This gentle 5-part series invites you to slow down and find a moment of retreat in deepest Winter with me, Lisa Mabberley, from Mother Nurture & Wild
These Hibernate voicenotes, landing every couple of days over the next week, are for you to dip into and take what you need.
I hope they’ll support you as you weave your own version of a wintry hibernation, calling in the magic of this quiet season to nourish you in all the ways you crave.
Hit play above & listen in for:
In this instalment of Hibernate we explore all things nourishing and tending - body and soul - and consider all the ways we might re-fill our reserves after the busy-ness of December.
I share some of the small daily tweaks I’ve been making that I’m beginning to feel the nourishing effects of, albeit with plenty more hibernation needed before I consider myself full!
Episode length: 15 minutes 16 seconds
Nourish & replenish reflection prompts:
If you’ve been using your body as a taxi to carry your head around (oh yes, I’ve been here many times too) and you could use a check-in, read these prompts and then find a moment to place your hand over your heart and ask those questions within.
How do I feel in my body?
What are my energy levels like?
How are my reserves?
What do I need?
Important: If you’re feeling less than ideal in yourself, please bring so much compassion here. The last thing a tired body and/or flagging spirit needs is another stick to whack yourself with.
Consider that how you feel makes complete sense given all you’ve been doing, weathering and/or holding. You get to feel how you feel. Listening and acknowledging is a brave and beautiful step into a journey towards feeling better.
Hugs in bowls and cups:
As I share in today’s voicenote, I’m reaching for all the warming and nutritious things I can find. And I’m right-sizing these to the capacity I have on a given day.
Here’s a short edit of some of the things I’ve reached for lately. Some I’ve made. Some I’ve bought in. Let’s go with whatever works for us here.
A soup that warms my entire body and feels like medicine - recipe from My New Roots (I use chicken broth for gut health properties). Alas, my children think this is the food of the devil - can’t win them all!
Fresh ginger shots - we use this grater picked up at Hay-on-Wye market to make ours, squeezing the pulp against the dish and adding it to a shot glass of apple juice. Any method of grating and then squeezing the ginger pulp would work. Or most supermarkets are carrying them readymade, even in larger bottles.
Current favourite warming teas - Winter Warmer (Pukka), Cape Malay Chai (Dragonfly Tea) and Himalaya or Classic from Yogi Teas
Mulled juice - my kids call this Christmas Juice but we’ve been having it a lot this month so perhaps it’s now January Juice! We mix apple juice with either cranberry or blood orange juice, gently heat with mulling spices and leave to steep awhile before straining into cups. I buy my mulling spices in a mix from Neal’s Yard and they contain things like cinnamon, cardamom, star anise, cloves, elderberries and orange peel. You could easily raid your spice rack and use what you have.
I feel I need to experiment with making my own chai tea like this
Hugs for body and soul:
I’m listening to Fia, Olivia Fern and Starling Arrow whilst cooking dinner and it’s doing good things for my insides, especially this song which is like self-acceptance bottled!
The audiobook with all the words I need to hear as I journey into perimenopause - Wise Power by Alexandra Pope & Sjanie Hugo Wurlitzer
Currently keeping my feet so toasty, these socks which I bought during a big discount so somehow feel even better.
And I forgot to mention in the audio, but moments with this bandana scarf knitting in my lap from Purl Soho (free pattern) whilst sat in reach of the woodburner is everything.
I hope you enjoy this instalment of Hibernate! I’m sending love from my cosy Winter’s nest to yours and I’ll see you with part five, re-connecting us with our inner spark through a guided mini-meditation, in a couple of days. Take care, lovely.
Lisa x
Hi, lovely. If we don’t already know each other, I’m Lisa Mabberley from Mother, Nurture & Wild. I’m a coach for mums and those who hold others, a circle holder and retreat host. I hold soft, supportive spaces for you to come and deepen your sense of Self, grow your self belief and figure out what will help you to thrive inside your motherhood and life.
Share this post