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.