February Tea ’23

What courage, each year, has the tree
to once again birth her leaves,
her pink cherry blossoms or delicate dogwood petals,
knowing in days, weeks or months,
they will wither and fall to the ground.
So, too, the crocus or tulip,
who struggles through the frozen ground,
regardless the chance of spring snowfall.
Even if warmed, her flower’s glory will be
short-lived.
What freedom to show up, generously share,
sure of one’s value to Earth.
Oh, to be like that
to bloom without fear,
not clinging to longevity,
not demanding guarantee,
but offer our best without expectation.

“The Nature of Risk” ~ Patricia Soper

Still the Body
Still the Mind
Still the Voice inside
In silence
feel the Stillness
Move
Friends
This feeling
cannot be imagined

“Still” by Kabir

From Jean Kenin

Mess in the kitchen, mochi making reminds me to be still

 
From Lesley Maclean

fluffy cloud mind…cannot make tea…cannot string words…now still here

 
From Kim C

a blank slate/ stillness here now/ monster mochis, soybean pellets, and laughter.

 

From Sakina & Siddiq

Heart sore. . . Heart at rest. . . Heart grateful. . . Heart sore… Heart at rest… Heart grateful…

 
From Anne Ritchings

In stillness we rest/Quietly moving toward/the future that is now

 
From Kim C

Still here now/ a heart at peace/ ready/ for the flowers of spring

 
From Dean

In the stillness, now/Here we are with tea and smiles/Where else would we be?

 
From Beth Searcey

We are still here now, Our friendship strengthened in years, My friend Leilani

 
From Susan Ross

STILL: the path beckons, grateful for BEING, opening All Ways

 
From Deborah MN

Easy to be still in this white tundra perhaps the coldest day of the year thank you

 
From Karima Terry Forman

A moment now in stillness brings me to here, to tea, to the clouds parting and blue peeping

 
From JB Adams

Our busy lives abound, we long for the still here now which gives us peace and enlightens,
soothes and nourishes our hearts.

 
From Karen Robins

Easy to still mind, not so easy to still mind, Breath does even want to be still.

 
From Jean Kenin

bring me to stillness, beloveds in this silent chorus of faces, right here, right now..

 
From Kim C

bloom without fear you all

 
From Victoria

Words too sharp, pricking out of place; kindness restored in stillness and grace.
Thank you everyone for sharing your stories of togetherness and loving presence in the tea room and
the world! Here is to blooming without expectation regardless of the easy or challenging conditions.
Oni wa soto, fuku wa uchi! Demons out, good fortune in.

 
From Sakina & Siddiq

As in life I have to cut through so much to really be, so in Tea I have to cut through so much to
really prepare a bowl of Tea.

 
From Karima Terry Forman

Thank you!!! It is wonderful!

 
From Jean Kenin

It is so wonderful to see you all- I am reminded of tea next to ponds, dragon flies, tea of 20
years past visiting the present. Thank you.

May Tea ’24

From Randy W. "Prayer for Our World" In the midst of thisHorrifying imageThe only solaceFour survivorsPerhaps a familyHolding togetherThe grace of lifeAs if our worldMight be whole againAdorned with treesAnd lemons. From Deborah MN: I'm getting my first lily of the...

April Tea ’24

From Jean K: Thank you for welcoming Chloe to our practice today. I think she will enjoy learningmore about how to fold the fukusa when she and I practice together. We are leaving you allnow to work on the garden. Many spring blessings to all!! From Lesley M: we are...

March Tea ’24

From Susan R: Quiet here this moment, but like returning salmon, the flow was powerful From Lesley M: Stopping the battle … Letting the foam have bubbles … Spring and Autumn mix From Dean O: In the middle of tea / the great-tailed grackles / returned to my yard today...

February Tea ’24

“Luck is the Guest that turned up.” Lesley   From Willi S: I am borrowing the words of Gary Snyder, which I think are uniquely applicable today.  We can all individually decide what he means by WILD.  "People often think of art as the most highly cultured, the most...

January Tea ’24

​From Jean K: Our lives / shirts on the ironing board / tears of grief and gratitude / with water and whisk we blend them all / and sip From Kate S: Hurrying to a place where I yearn to slow down, to listen to the sounds of making tea and the jumbled thoughts in my...

December Tea ’23

From Kathy:Running Teachers!! Shiwasu! From Jean:running teachers know the value of mistakes From Lesley:making tea to a single point … a knock at the door … a tap at the window … points in flowing motion From Jean:Phone call, I’m at the door, interruptions happen,...

November Tea ’23

  From VictoriaThe comments on sprouting and awareness of the abundance of kindnesses reminds of the Thanksgiving poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox, which starts:We walk on starry fields of whiteAnd do not see the daisies;For blessings common in our sightWe rarely...

October Tea ’23

  From Kathy:   10 Virtues of Tea by Rikyu:  Blessed by gods / shakes off sleepiness / discharges filial duties / wards off disease/ makes one love and respect people / frees one from earthly desires / keeps one healthy / has contact withnobility / prolongs life...

September Tea ’23

  From Gerow Drinking tea/The shifting of the season’s light/ Illumines this double autumn. From Siddiq Approaching the gate / What can I look forward to? /  Never mind those thoughts!   From Deborah Summer to Autumn in 24 hours here; joining friends for...

August Tea ’23

  From Deborah MN First time at the library. Quite noisy and distracting. Fun though to join you even late.   From Karima Thank you soooo much for this beautiful tea time together! Must go.   From Kate I begin in uncertainty, slowly, my hands remember   From Jean...