Where have I been!!!?
Ok, let’s see… I know I have promised a post about this, so let’s start with Tea. In the Fall of 2011, Tea Master Wu De happened to come from Taiwan to LA for the first time, he served me a bowl of living Tea that without a doubt, forever change my life. In that bowl, there I was and everything was in it. Presence, spirit, love, beauty, truth, sadness, strength, kindness, compassion, joy, warmth, life, death, space, movement, and stillness. The spirit of nature itself manifested through this Leaf, awaken by hot water, and served up by this tea monk to nourish me. That night, I took home a bowl, some leaves, and a genuine desire to explore further. Per Wu De’s suggestion, I woke up every morning and set aside the first moments of my day to drink 3 bowls of Tea in silence. Previous to this, I had always fantasized about having a disciplined meditation practice, but wasn’t quite sure what that looked like to me. It can be quite challenging to wrap your head around getting out of bed in the morning to sit up in silence for an hour observing your breath, and the ego can come up with a million and one justifications as to why you shouldn’t. But with this practice, it is different. Every morning, I hear the Leaf calling me to wake up and sit with her. Every morning I find space, stillness, and magic. Every morning she is completely different, yet so familiar. As time goes on like this, I find myself carving out more and more time every day to sit in peace and silence, meditating with this plant.

I recently went further down the “tea bowl” and accompanied Wu De back to Taiwan to visit the Tea Sage Hut center in Miao Li. My trip was full of rich interactions with present, loving individuals. We bonded over deep silence, yummy meals, incredible teas, and bounds of laughter! In every nook and cranny I found ways to deepen my connection to Self, peeling back more and more layers of my own “onion”. It was such a heart warming experience of surrendering into the receiving flow. In terms of Tea, there is so much information there, some spoken, but mainly in the experience of drinking living Teas that are brewed in ways that allow them to shine their brightest!

It has been almost 2 years now and I have since sat many tea ceremonies, more served by Wu De and also many served by my dearest friends, who as well have been profoundly impacted by this tea tradition. Every ceremony is completely unique unto itself and deeply moving. I have danced, cried, laughed hysterically, and travelled through time and space. I now have the humble honor of serving and have watched others find in their bowls the same magic that continues to inspire me. Tea meets us exactly where we are and gives exactly what is needed. She shows us a doorway, opens it, but gives one the choice to stand wherever feels comfortable.

If you would like to learn more about drinking Tea in this way, the community, and even help support, there is a beautiful way to participate! The Tea Sage Hut center, which is completely free, does an amazing project called “Global Tea Hut”. It is basically a tea of the month club! You sign up with a monthly donation and every month in the mail you receive a different living Tea, a newsletter, and a gift. All the donations go toward helping the center run. I highly recommend it!

Wu De also has written a few amazing books of which I quote often…
The Way of Tea is a great introductory into the long life and presence Tea has had in shaping our culture over thousands of years.
Happy Full Moon!
Sending you all love and light,
B