Look who's stirring the pot...
Hey peach,
What’s new? Hope you’re doing well and haven’t frozen into a human-shaped icicle (I nearly have).
To keep things cosy, toasty, and snug AF, I’ve collated a cheersome troop of my favourite simmer pot recipes for this time of year.
I first wrote about simmer pots in February 2024, but this is the perfect time of year for them, if you ask me, so we’re circling back.
Grab your cauldron, big-lidded pot, or slow cooker (I always use a slow cooker for this!) and let’s get steamy!
Simmer pot recipes for December
Release-the-year pot
Eucalyptus (emotional release)
Bay leaf (closure)
A single pinch of salt (purification)
Lemon peel (cutting cords)
Use it for:
When you’re clearing guilt about abandoned drafts, releasing old projects, or ending a creative chapter.
Hygge-for-the-writer pot
Cinnamon (motivation)
Vanilla (comfort)
Citrus (energy)
Clove (warmth with purpose)
Use it for:
Sunday morning journaling. Soft days when you want to stay connected to your craft without forcing productivity.
Winter muse pot
Apple slices (storytelling, mythic lineage)
Star anise (intuition + dreamwork)
Vanilla (softening the inner critic so ideas flow)
Cardamom (creative expansion)
Use it for:
Character development, worldbuilding, poetry, any writing that needs soul, not spreadsheets.
Deep winter focus pot
Rosemary (mental focus)
Peppermint (clean, sharp attention)
Sage (mental clearing)
Juniper berries (cutting through distractions)
Use it for:
Editing days. Plotting days. Brain-work days.
Remember: you can use tea bags in place of loose herbs if you don’t have them. Toss all your ingredients into a big vessel of water and let it simmer to your heart’s content. Stir clockwise to bring in and anti-clockwise to send out.
🌝 Cold Moon – 4th December
Self-discovery · Return of the light · Sharing the wealth
🔮 Freelance focus: facing anxiety with the 9 of Swords
I’m gonna level with you — this isn’t a popular card. It usually indicates worry, anxiety, catastrophising, and sleepless nights. As writers, things don’t necessarily feel awesome right now; we’ve got AI gunning for our jobs, our clients, and the value of creative work in general.
This card is a sign to take concrete action if something in your career is genuinely bothering you. Swords is the suit of the mind — a change in perspective could work wonders for you. Go back to the drawing board, look at the facts and figures, and see what changes you can make to help break the cycle. You’ve got this, hun!
Other shit you might like
🐉 earwyrm (my DIY occult music and arts zine) – support
🗞️ How to pitch a magazine: finding ideas editors will love – read