The Art of Tea

 

Tea is such a calming, centering ritual.  Take time as you sip your tea to appreciate the essence of this act. Thich Nhat Hanh tells us to “drink our tea slowly and reverently, as if it is the axis on which the world resolves – slowly, evenly, without rushing toward the future.”

When you take time for tea be mindfully present in each act.  If you are the preparer bring awareness to each element of this task.  Pour the water into the kettle with reverence, heat it with patience, and pour it into the tea pot with love.  Each step in this process is a gift to you and to those who partake of this beverage.  Serve the tea to the table with grace that you bring to any sacred act.  Your energy is present in the water, the kettle, the tea, and the tea pot.  As the tea is poured into the cup hold the pot gently and still allowing the cup to receive with the same energy it was created.

As the receiver, accept the offered tea.  Feel the cup in your hands.  Absorb the warmth as an act of love that nourishes your body, mind, and spirit.  Breathe in the aroma of the drink, hold the cup in your hands and slowly bring the cup to your lips.  Sip the tea tasting it with your tongue and feeling its warm glow in your mouth as you swallow it down your throat.

So often when you drink your tea with friends or alone you are not aware of the tea, yourself, or of the friends.  Engaging in the art of your tea ritual you can enter a meditative state and can practice being truly present with yourself, your tea and your friends.  You can be happily in the moment despite all your fears and worries.  Sitting there relaxed without the need to speak brings you more deeply and intimately into the moment.  In that moment there are only you and the tea converging.  The art of your tea ritual has brought you into the mindful presence of the moment.