May Tea ’23

From Gerow

Purification… Meeting life as it is…. Acceptance or
recognition of the present moment… Respect…. Sense of freedom from “shoulds”

 
From Karen (who remembered this from another Lama Tea poet)

Rains arrived… fire turns to
steam… renewal

 
From Deb

The presence created by a focus on beauty.

 
From Jean Kenin

I am refuge for the matcha now finding its way to all parts of me

 
From Sheila Fling

Spiritual warrior embracing Live as it is wanting it different

 
From Deborah MN

Weather finally starting to warm up here. Out for my first morning bike
ride of the year. Such freedom, a blessed day, tea? Thanks to all!

 
From Gerow Reece

Zooming straight into the Harbor of Tea/ Resting deeply in gratitude

 
From Lesley Maclean

Five refuges: friendly imperfections…tea utensils serving me a bowl as
i walk past…the happy taskter…breaking and mending and breaking open…the fifth
unnameable refuge

 
From Sakina

In a tea space…I feel the safety…of accepting what is…surrender is grace

 
From Kim C

5 mountains / 5 tastes / 5 seasons / 5 blessings/ may these 5 fingers open the
door to this Refuge /

 
From Kay Hankinson

A half-mat refuge. Sending quiet energy. Be still. Listen. Peace.

 
From Siddiq

Heart’s rest to be found / in many familiar things / would I awaken.

 
From Kathy

By Kikaku – “My hands, poised to cut iris, seem to tremble”

 
From John Adams

The tea space, tea utensils and tea itself is my refuge – it warms my heart
and reminds me how good my life is.

 
From William Singleton

Reality (the world as it is)/ is altered when we gather for Tea/ and
we take Refuge in this fleeting moment

 
From Karen

Between heaven and earth…. A cherry blossom branch….Curtain of petals
falling
Create a mosaic carpet…. At last, spring arrived

 
From Randy

In the bottom of a tea bowl…. No matter how chipped or cracked….
A green heart beating…. In our hands.

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...