Who Went and Put the Holidays Smack Dab in the Middle of Vata Season?!

My annual lament as Vata anxiety is on high alert

Anthropologie shop window, NYC December 2010.

I love this photograph. I took it many years ago when I lived in NYC and joined the throngs of people uptown to see the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree and look at the shop windows. It perfectly captures the feeling of chaos that I've always felt this time of year.

When I was studying Ayurveda, I started to think about the irony of the major holidays falling during Vata season (in the Northern Hemisphere where I live).

As soon as Halloween was over, I'd feel myself slowly filling with panic and dread. Thanksgiving was on the horizon. And then Christmas.

The holidays seem to be all about staying organized, time management, scheduling, and upsetting your regular routine. Ayurveda finally made me understand why the holiday months have always derailed me.

All of those qualities that help to make this time enjoyable and minimally stressful are, unfortunately, not characteristics of Vata dosha. 

Vata-types often tend to be disorganized, creative, fly-by-the-seat-of-their-pants people, and extremely prone to depletion.

Of course, there are exceptions, and many of us have constitutions that are dual-doshic or tri-doshic. And we all have all three doshas in our constitution. We all get anxious. But for someone with a lot of Vata, this time of year can seem impossible to navigate. Vata-types can feel chaotic and unhinged even on days when there’s no holiday in sight.

My astrology chart doesn’t seem to help, either. My astrologer once said, “you didn’t come into this lifetime to be organized.” Ha ha ha.

So, how do Pitta-types handle the holidays? Well, they are generally the most organized of the doshas. Although Pitta-types can be overworked and overstressed (many Type A’s are Pitta), they at least have the skills to get through. 

They might have their shopping done months ago, cookies are baked and in the freezer, and the tree is bought and decorated.

They attack their to-do list with a vengeance.

My dear Pitta friend in NYC, who always included me at her holiday table, once hosted a slew of relatives and friends for Christmas dinner after just having moved to Brooklyn. While expecting her third child. Due at the end of the month. Impressive, right? I think I harnessed the energy to bake a pie that year.

And what about the beloved Kapha type? Well, they might not be as motivated as the Pitta person or as disorganized and anxious as the Vata type, but what is most important to them is family.

So the holidays can either fill them with joy or depress them, depending on the state of affairs in their family. A Kapha-type can easily slip into depression if they find themselves alone during the holidays.

If we can take a moment to understand each other better based on our constitutions, the holidays just might be a little less stressful and more enjoyable for all of us.

If you’re unsure of your Ayurvedic constitution, click here.

I admit that I feel a certain tenderness for my fellow Vatas during the holiday months. Being creative types, we find ourselves in a dilemma – we love the twinkling lights, the music, and the sights and smells of the holidays – but we often lack the energy or skills to navigate them successfully.

Back in the day, when I was raising a family, I was usually a hot mess during the holidays. I hid it pretty well. I remember one time when the kids were little, and it was my turn to host my extended family for Thanksgiving. I ended up hiding and crying in the bathroom.

These days I face the holidays with a new sense of understanding, freedom, peace, and CALM.

Thanks to Ayurveda, once I recognized these differences for what they are (our constitutions never change), I was able to let go of the unrealistic expectations I had put on myself. 

I don’t bake cookies or send cards, or even buy many gifts anymore.

I don't buy a Christmas tree, and last year I didn't put up one decoration.

For years after I moved to NY, I would decorate Miss Claire, my cactus/not a cactus, with ornaments that I’ve had forever. Some were my mother’s and very, very old. But, alas, they are held captive in a storage unit in Jersey City with all of my artwork, and I honestly don’t know if I’ll ever see them again.

Miss Claire dressed for the holidays

It seemed criminal at first when one by one, I dropped these to-dos from my list. 

Now, it feels downright liberating.

I want to be slowing down, hibernating, not in a state of chaotic consumerism and seasonal activities that I just don't enjoy.

It’s no coincidence that this time of year is ripe with spiritual gifts. The veil between our world and the spiritual world is very thin now, and it’s a time for deep meditation, reflection, and dreaming.

Vata types tend to be rather intuitive, tuned-in, and spiritual. They often live more comfortably “in the clouds” rather than grounded in this world. This is even more pronounced during Vata Season.

Please nurture the Vata-types in your life a little extra during the holidays. Cook for them, hug them, lighten their load, keep them warm and be understanding of their limitations during this challenging time.

If you have a Kapha in your life, make an extra effort to spend family time with them and be vigilant for signs of depression.

Please don't take this as holiday bashing. I have friends and family who LOVE the holidays. If they feed your soul, that is a gift to be treasured!

Meanwhile, I'll be popping in and out of my cave this season. I might re-read "Little Women" again and maybe watch some old movies. But I'll definitely be honoring my own energy and not caving into any outside pressure.

For the “Little Women” fans out there, if you haven’t seen the latest version (2019) by Greta Gerwig, here’s a peek at her most original re-telling of the classic and timeless story of Jo, Meg, Amy, and Beth.

And lastly, I have a bit of an uncomfortable announcement to make. I have decided, after much deliberation since joining Substack, to turn on Paid Subscriptions. Talking about money still makes me squirm, even at 68 years of age. I’m working on that!

I’ve been writing a blog/newsletter since 2009. A few of you have been journeying along with me since then. You’ve held on longer than most of my family members! 

And it’s always been free.

But Substack has a wonderful way of making it possible for readers to give paid support to writers if they so choose. So, I’m turning on the Paid Subscription function if anyone feels inclined to participate. But know that The Quaking Poplar 🌳 will ALWAYS be a free subscription newsletter. There will be no paywalls for anything. Free or paid, you have no idea how much I appreciate that you let me land in your Inbox whenever I feel the need to write to you.

Substack’s paid subscription system seems a little complicated and wonky to me, but I am forever grateful to them for creating this censorship-free platform that is so user-friendly. It has really lit a fire under my writing.

Wishing you all a calm, stress-free, and happy holiday season!

Much Love,
Barbara