Tea Time

A meditation of preparation and tasting

AN INVITATION

We savor the world through what we smell and taste.

Think of the many warm beverages we prepare in the course of a day, a week, a month, a year. We prepare and we share so many herbs, beans and leaves as a way to create comfort, sustenance and joy for ourselves and one another.

 
A graphic element anchors this page - it's a white, hand-drawn doily pattern.
 

 Here and now, we invite you to participate in this ritual of preparation and tasting.

Brew. Consume. Reflect and relax into the moment.

WHAT YOU'LL NEED

A white tea pot with blue doily pattern along the bottom sits upon a bed of gold glitter.

Pot or Kettle

Find yourself something to boil your water in as we prepare all the other elements we need for our tea.

A White Mug with a hand-drawn and stylized purple flower on it sits above a round bed of golden glitter.

A lovely mug

Choose a mug or some other vessel for the tea. It can be special, have a story, or just be the mug that allows for you to take the space to indulge in Tea Time.

A hand drawn piece of rosehip, one of the tea ingredients, sits over a round bed of golden glitter

Tea ingredients

Any prepared tea bag or loose tea leaves will do. We’ve also prepared special recipes by Carla that you can view here.

A quiet spot

Get comfortable and shut it all out to enjoy your creation.

THE PRACTICE

1. The Taste of Black Joy

Start by getting comfortable and watching this meditation, “The Taste of Black Joy”: a beautiful introduction to the practice of nourishing yourself in this ritual.

2. Prepare your tea

Prepare the tea from one of the recipes we love, or get creative and try your own. This practice can also be done with any beverage you prefer.

A black and steaming ceramic tea kettle sits next a black mug on a wooden tray, in a comfortable looking living room.

3. Savor what you’ve prepared

Spend the next 20-30 minutes sipping, tasting and enjoying your tea. Savor what you have prepared alone with your thoughts or in the company of a friend or two. This time and space is for you. It can help you feel more connected to the community of others that have, will be, and are currently doing this ritual.

REFLECT ON YOUR EXPERIENCE

 
A graphic element anchors this page, and is a hand-drawn lemon
 

What does it take to fully stop and experience this ritual?

How do you feel nourished by this experience?

How might you fit regular tea time into your self-care plan?

 
 

Ways to use this meditation

 

As a stand-alone activity to bring intentional moments of quiet into any part of your day

As a late afternoon or bedtime ritual done in community during retreats

Use “A Meditation on Black Joy” as a stand-alone reflection on the Divine, God, and spirit