Romjul: the quiet week between Christmas and New Year

We are in the quiet week between Christmas and the New Year. I recently learned that this time is called Romjul — a Norwegian word for the days after Christmas, traditionally held as a tranquil time to stay close to home, rest, and be undisturbed by the outside world.

Yesterday, the weather finally cooled here, and I spent the day with a fire burning, a book in hand, and nowhere else I needed to be. It felt nourishing to simply be at home, letting the pace slow. How are you spending these in-between days?

The Quiet Between

This quieter rhythm has also opened space for dreaming — both personally and in my work. Later this month, I’ll be wrapping up one six-month Essential Herbalism group while preparing to welcome a new circle beginning in January. I feel so proud of these students — not only for what they’ve learned, but for the way I see them weaving herbs into their daily lives with confidence and care. Creating spaces where women feel welcomed, supported, and encouraged to grow has always been at the heart of my work.

One student recently shared:

“If you’re looking for community, a stronger connection to nature, and a grounded and warm herbal mentor, then you’ll find all of that and more in Kirsten’s Medicine Making gatherings. I came out of the program feeling empowered to use herbs to care for myself and my family and confident in my ability to make tea infusions, tinctures, herbal ciders, and more. It’s a beautiful community of earth-centered, heart-led women that you’ll be a part of long after the program ends.”

Why I Teach This Way

This is the heart of why I teach herbalism the way I do. I want women to feel prepared — not scrambling for answers online when someone they love is unwell — but rooted in relationship with the plants and confident in how to use them. The next Essential Herbalism Foundations & Medicine Circles begin January 18, and we spend six months learning slowly, seasonally, and together.

As this week continues, I’m looking forward to more quiet joys — reading, working on a jigsaw puzzle, playing games (we have a new family favorite: Flip 7), taking walks, and doing a bit of gentle decluttering.

If you’d like to receive Herbal Tidbits in your inbox each Monday, you can subscribe here.