They say you do your best tea after 60. Having lived past the age of 60 I’d like to think that I am doing my best tea now. Yes, I am a little stiffer in my legs and slower to get up and down, but I am at an age to have less concern …
Tag: chanoyu
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Tsukimi chakai at Issoan
Tsukimi Chakai, moon viewing at Issoan,
The night was clear after a weekend of rain for the moon viewing at Issoan. The chakai was virtual and 15 guests attended.
Guests were escorted through the Nijiriguchi to view the tokonoma. The scroll reads, “Mizu wo kikusureba tsuki te ni ari,” or Scoop water and …
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First Virtual Chakai at Issoan
Yesterday for Memorial Day, we had our first virtual chakai at Issoan. The theme was “Then and now.” Since we are still on lock down for the Corona virus in Oregon, we had to do it via Zoom. There were many innovations since the students cannot come to Issoan for lessons, and creative interpretations of …
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How to haiken
There is a time in temae, the tea procedure, where the first guest asks the host to haiken the utensils. Haiken means to look closely with appreciation. The etiquette for haiken is to first say “osaki ni” to the next guest before placing the utensil in front of you. First, look at the overall shape …
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Reading the room
Reading the room is something stand up comics are intimately familiar with. The difference between killing it and dying out there are vastly different. Jokes that get the biggest laugh with one audience may fall flat with another. How to handle a heckler and make them a part of your act is an art form …
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