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 with
nobility / prolongs life / expels darkness

From Victoria:
        I like the idea of a flock of fukusas. This talk of nature reminds me of 花鳥風月, kachou fuugetsu which
literally means Flower Bird Wind Moon but commonly translates to “experience the beauty of nature, learn
about yourself”

From Karima Terry Forman:
        Thank you for this beautiful tea. Love to all, Karima

From Karen:
        Bounties of nature/provide the materials for our study/mirroring the perfectness of the imperfect.

From Kay:
        Asking so little/Giving so generously/God’s hand whisking hope

From Kim:
a flock of fukasas/ a pinecone whisk, / and a heart still beating for the one I love. / Blessed by gods.

From Gracy and Richard:
        pine cone twirling in the green tea longing for the lost bark of the covenant remembers the needles of its
youth

From Kim:
        tea with friends/ expels the darkness.

From Jean:
        Three birds in the sunflower stocks, withered leaves, faded petals and pale feathers joined in an October
moment.

From Deboah MN:
        so grateful for this time together    thank you

From Victoria:
        We sit together in our fukusa flock/
        with dreams of sky and shore;/
        Nature provides wherever we seek.

From Sakina:
        my fukusa is a gift/ from silkworms/who ate mulberry leaves/ If I’m quiet enough/ can I hear them/
chewing?

From Lesley:
        thank god for nature’s tea. every moment holding, purifying, scooping, whisking, slurping, rinsing,
draining,

From Kevin:
        Nature inspires to take a deeper look and see with new eyes  

From Siddiq:
       The craftsman’s gift / is met by nature’s bounty / and wed in beauty.   

From JB:
         Nature and Tea intertwine and gives our creative side endless possibilities – How amazing is that!

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...

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...