December 2025 (Winter Collection)
Theme:
HYGGE (pronounced Hoo-gah)
Coziness & comfort
This month's theme invites you to slow down and embrace the simple pleasures of warmth, comfort, and connection during the darker months of winter.
Clay:
The cup you're holding in your hand was made with Laguna Azabache- a rich, black clay resembling the long, dark nights of winter. This clay body symbolizes protection and helps to ward off negative energies.
Glazes (each cup will come in 1 of these 4 glazes):
Cedar infused Shino - shino is an off white glaze that has a beautiful texture and is reminiscent of snow. Cedar symbolizes longevity, endurance, immortality, wisdom and strength. My family is also very grateful to have a beautiful cedar that is growing right next to Studio Blynne and my kids and I spend lots of time under his majestic branches making fairy houses and cuddling up reading. I knew I wanted to honor this tree with the first tea set the moment I began to think about creating a glaze. This special glaze was made from collecting fallen branches with my kids, burning them in a fire, collecting the ashes and mixing them into a glaze. Watch the fun being made here:
Deep Red - reminds me of the cheerful holly berries
Deep Green - the color of the evergreens- the few trees left with any color
Turquoise - the December birthstone
Tuning In
I like to use the full and new moons as gentle reminders to pause and check in with myself. I’m often going, going, going — so I love knowing that at least twice a month I’ll take the time to slow down and reflect with a longer tea session.
You definitely don’t have to choose the moon phases, but for me they help me feel more connected to nature’s cycles and more present in my day-to-day life. I also enjoy exploring the themes associated with each moon in astrology. Even if astrology isn’t really your thing, the symbolism still offers beautiful messages, prompts for reflection, and ideas you can use to create a themed ritual.
Full Moon (time of culmination, release & emotional climax):
December 4th in Gemini called the Cold Moon because of the longer, colder nights
Core themes : communication, understanding and perspective
Examples : speak your truth - now’s the time to express yourself, take the time to see a problem from someone else’s perspective - you may find you learn something new, this is a great time to release outdated thinking- take time to evaluate ideals that no longer serve you.
New Moon (new beginnings, setting an intention):
December 19th in Sagittarius
Core themes : expansion, adventure, optimism, seeking truth and higher learning.
Examples : begin studying something new, explore a new spiritual path (like committing to your tea ritual!) or dare to dream bigger- now is the time to manifest big changes!
Plant:
Inside your ritual kit is a beautiful sprig of cedar, hand collected by me and my family from our favorite cedar by the studio. Cedar has a rich history and is a powerful and ancient symbol in many traditions. I wanted to honor this beautiful tree in the very first Tea Ritual kit.
Its deep roots and towering form embody stability and endurance, qualities we lean on during winter’s stillness and introspection.
Cedar stays green and fragrant all year, standing as a symbol of immortality and strength in the midst of December’s cold and darkness.
Evergreen strength in winter
Cedar’s scent evokes sanctuary and protection, a sacred threshold between the old year and the new.
Cedar boughs were often used in evergreen wreaths and solstice decorations, representing everlasting life and divine protection.
Stone:
Turquoise : This incredible mineral was sourced from Cornerstone Minerals, LLC in downtown Asheville, NC, ensuring it's ethically sourced with responsible mining practices, fair labor and respect for human rights. It is one of the 3 traditional December birthstones and is used for protection, healing and good fortune which is why I chose this beautiful mineral to include in your Tea Ritual Kit.
Mantra
“I breath in coziness, I exhale peace. I savor the simple joys, embracing the warmth around me.”
Journal Prompt
The Art of Comfort
”Hygge” is the Danish art of creating coziness- not just through soft blankets or warm drinks, but through presence, gratitude and connection. Take a moment to reflect and write. Create a comfortable atmosphere for yourself, light a candle, lean against your favorite pillows, make yourself a cup of the suggested tea blend and get settled in.
What does coziness mean to you beyond the physical?
Where and when do you feel the most comfortable in your own skin?
How might you invite more Hygge into your daily life- through your home, your rituals or your relationships?
Hygge is all about savoring simplicity. Where do you notice the small joys in your life: your warm cup of tea, the sound of birds chirping in the morning, the soft glow of moonlight?
Herbal Blend
Decembers' vibes call for warmth, grounding and comfort with immune boosting and heart opening qualities.
cinnamon bark
ginger root
chamomile
tulsi
rose hips
cardamom pods
Spirit Pet
A tea pet or spirit pet is a small clay figurine that sits on your tea table as you sip your tea. In Chinese folklore, households often honored small domestic spirits by inviting them to share a cup of tea with them. This was not only a way to honor this unique spirit but also to invoke the unique qualities of that specific tea pet. This month we honor the sleeping kitty. Nothing is quite as cozy as a kitty curled up by the fire. I encourage you to invite this kitties unique qualities into your life as you sip your tea - PEACE, TRUST, WARMTH, CONTENTMENT, VULNERABILITY, GRACE & EASE. When not sipping tea with them, this snuggled up feline fits perfectly in the palm of your hand and has a heavy weight which can help to calm the nerves and relax the soul.
BONUS!
Every kit I like to add a little something as a gift to you for your commitment to this journey of self discovery and love. This month I've included an ethically sourced stick of Palo Santo purchased from the wonderful Herbiary in Asheville, NC. Palo Santo is traditionally used in South America and means "holy wood" in Spanish. It comes from the Bursera Graveolens tree and has been used for centuries in spiritual practices. It is burned to clear the space and create a calming atmosphere. I like to burn it as an offering to my ancestors when I begin my tea ceremony (you can find an example of this in the introduction video). However you choose to use this sacred plant, remember to light it with intention and gratitude.