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 disciplined, the most organized of human productions and one that requires a lot of training, but art doesn’t happen unless you let the wild in. Robert Duncan said, ‘To be poetry, it has to have both music and magic.’ And magic is the entry of the wild.” –Gary Snyder

From Lesley M:

the form…hugs me fiercely…comforting and confronting…there’s always some wriggle room though…and I like wriggling

From Kim C:

Prepare / a bowl of tea / by showing up / for your guests / host the whisk and the fukusa / all are friends / in this world

From Chad O:

Held in tea womb / the heart settles in rest / the day ends with cake

From Kim C:

Held by the form / move freely. / We are all friends here.

From Karima F:

riding above the ordinary—magnetism pulls us to this joy —or—that

From Dean:

As we follow the rules of tea / Our plan is interrupted / “Now isn’t that interesting!”

From Randy W:
As Spring unfolds, every rain- drop holds a promise of fresh water for tea; let us share one together,”

 

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...

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...

REMEMBERING – The Old Lama Kitchen

Lama children on the steps of the Old Kitchen (1981).  Arielle, Asha (Bernard) and Jamil inside the kitchen (1981). Photos offered by Asha and Uwais Old Lama Kitchen - A few memories By Irit Umani, June 2023 When I think of Lama’s Old Kitchen, my mind almost...