With the madness of the festive season reaching its peak, this year we thought we’d look at things from a slightly different perspective. And we do love giving people something to think about before we then skip merrily on our way(!). 

 

So not the consumer fuelled frenzy that epitomises the modern approach. Enough said. 

 

Nor the Victorian one seen on so many cards. The nativity scene. Or, perhaps, the snowy landscape, usually with a flock of sheep in the foreground. And not forgetting the perennial favourite, the festive robin. 

 

With the nights drawing in – and temperatures dropping – it’s not surprising that our thoughts at this time of year turn to warming and comforting treats. Spices have long been treasured for their ability to pep up our staple fare not to mention their preserving and medicinal qualities. 

 

Many of the winter treats we still enjoy today – fruit cakes, Christmas puddings, mince pies and mulled wine – date back to medieval times, when spices were a luxury. A long anticipated treat. 

 

These days with travel having become so much easier – and the world much smaller – spices have become an integral part of our everyday lives. However, they offer much more than simply being an ingredient of our favourite Indian or Chinese foods. They also have an important medicinal aspect which has long been recognised by many traditional forms of medicine, including Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese Medicine. 

A couple of weeks ago we talked about the mysteries of time and sowed a radical little seed. Forgiveness. Having left it there to grow for a while, we’re now returning to talk about it a little more. Give a different perspective. 

 

Before we go any further, we must also say that we’re not talking about forgiveness in the religious sense you were probably taught at school. The stories about forgiving your enemy. Turning the other cheek. Etc. Etc.