MORE TEA LOVE ?

 

TWO IMAGES OF TEA PREPARATION TO COMPARE AND CONTRAST

I would like to say more about tea and ritual but below is  pretty well everything I might have said  If only I had more time ..... for tea and other pleasing , pleasant rituals . I will definitely fit an occasional tea ritual in to my now   over-extended project list. 

I should add that the above image is called "invitation to tea with grandma " and  that my own grandma  ritually baked a laden table of heavenly cakes ,pies and more  ,  for all the family , the fare was served from ancient matching  bone- china on a huge lace cloth ( lovingly laundered)  . She would have baked for an entire day yet would appear fresh and beautiful .
I will be looking for a venue for tea  to share with you all or I may even try it in my studio. (a work of art ? ) grandma's was  a work of art   "an act and art of LOVE"  



Tea time with friends can be turned into ceremony simply by the intention in which you prepare your tea.

"Coffee may be the power beverage that gets us revved up in the morning and fuels us when we’re burning the midnight oil, but tea is the drink we turn to when we want to relax and be refreshed at the same time. Black, green, white, herbal, hot, or ice cold, tea is more than a soothing beverage. It can be a ritual, a cultural experience, and even a spiritual practice. 

The reverence for tea has inspired ceremony in many cultures. From the spirituality of Chanoyu, the Japanese way of preparing and serving tea, to the sharing of Maté in Latin America, tea rituals are for celebration, ceremony, and relationship bonding. In China, tea rituals are part of many wedding ceremonies with the bride and groom serving their elder relatives in a show of respect and gratitude. The Chinese art of drinking and serving tea has been a source of inspiration for poetry and song. The Russian custom of chaepitie has inspired a unique style of teapots, caddies, teacups, and cozies. The samovar, a special brewing device, has become the symbol of the Russian tea ceremony and an object of art in its own right. Iced tea, popular in the U.S., as well as other parts of the world, is a modern ritual bringing cool relief on a sweltering summer day. 

You can turn your own tea time with a friend into a simple ceremony by preparing your tea with the intention of offering nourishment and good wishes to the other person. When you are seated together, rather than drinking your tea right away, look at one another and express your gratitude and appreciation for your friendship. When you pour the tea, again intend it as an offering. Drink your tea slowly, savoring its flavor and aroma. Let its warmth or its coolness soothe your body. When you are finished drinking your tea, thank your friend for taking part in this nourishing ritual with you. Whether savored in the presence of another or tasted alone, the custom of drinking tea provides a soothing pause in our hectic world. Drinking tea can be a daily ritual that brings inner calm and clarity to the body, mind, and soul"by Madisyn Taylor