Discovering the sacred in the ordinary, tea ceremony began more than two decades ago when I gave up coffee
Discovering the sacred in the ordinary, tea ceremony began more than two decades ago when I gave up coffee
Beyond the first two sips, I didn’t like the way coffee wired me, plugged my ears and left me with a mild jitter. Since I wasn’t privy to Swiss or German coffees (what I drink when traveling to those countries) on a regular basis, I no longer desired the beverage. Thus, tea ceremony filled its place.
Still and Quiet
Between the hours of 4 and 5 am a faint stir of anticipation awakens within. It lures me from any stage of sleep, a renewal of sorts in the subtlest of gestures, a purifying rite that promises an hour of precious solitude. Thus rises a new day blessed by tea ceremony, a personal custom of modern day tradition wherein the faculties of taste and touch are engaged.
It begins with the tranquil sound of silence. Almost nothing pierces the air as I move about invisibly: the rustling of bedding; barely audible commotion of clothing; crackle of waking joints after a night’s sleep and trickling of water are all kept to a minimum.
Scent and glow
Fire is nature’s way of illuminating a passageway into the new day. Thus, three organic candles are resurrected and placed around the kitchen to radiate their flickering aura and emit their cleansing aroma. The burning of aromatherapy oils welcomes serenity and resonates throughout; perhaps lavender, orange, peony or bergamont, depending upon my mood.
Ritual and Ceremony
Straight from the tea fields of Kyoto, Japan, organic Matcha in all its purity is the only tea that agrees with my palate. The kettle is filled with purified water while the next three minutes are spent placing the porcelain tea bowl and bamboo chasen on a thin, white cloth. As the kettle quickly comes to a near-boil, a delicate scoop of Matcha sprinkles the bottom of the tea bowl like a fine powder. One hand slowly pours the steamy water into the bowl while the other vigorously whisks with precision held all in the wrist. Soon, the frothy goodness is ready for consumption as my mouth longs for the subtle taste of this powerful antioxidant. Modern times would have it that I enjoy my tea while checking email on my computer – a far cry from the more traditional Way of Tea in the Japanese culture. But it works for me, each and every ceremony more treasured than the last.
