Sometimes in my simple life, a quiet day is just that. Not putting a whole lot of things in the day, just spending time in reading and reflecting, writing and meditation. Tea is very often a big part of a day like that for me. Tea is a wonderful thing.
I have a reputation among my friends for being somewhat obsessed with tea. They hear much more than I am sure they want to about my love for this fragrant brew, and I freely admit their assessment is correct. Tea is an important part of my daily life, and my experiences with tea ground me and connect me to mindfulness and peace.
The Japanese Tea Ceremony, translated as The Way of Tea, is known for preparing, serving, and drinking tea in a ritualized, ceremonial way. The intent of the ceremony is to promote mindfulness and harmony. It is meant to bring about being fully present in the moment and realizing that every moment only occurs once. Practicing mindfulness and experiencing peace of mind are the ultimate goal.
I start each day by making tea and then sitting down to enjoy my first cup in a mindful, meditative way. Beginning my day this way unfailingly centers me in a good place and starts my day out in peace. I am grateful for the gift of tea every single day.
my tea was a meditation
this morning.
my mind was stilled,
calmed,
and focused
on my hands cradling
the warm mug of tea
under my face,
the mist of the steam
drifting up to my face
and bringing with it
the beautiful fragrance,
the gentle tipping of the mug
to bring the first sip
into my mouth,
awareness of
the wonderful flavor
and the warm flow
of the tea,
the feeling of my mouth
holding that first sip of tea,
savoring it
and then swallowing it
and tracing the slow flow
of the tea
as it moved through my body.
Peaceful moments
filled with beauty.
my tea was a meditation
this morning.
This is a great little book filled with many small treasures regarding tea, if you are interested.
I hope you enjoy a peaceful cup of tea today!
Finding It All in a Simple Life 
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