The turn of the year

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here we are at the winter solstice of 2019.  Right now the Pacific Northwest is experiencing a category 3 Or 4 Atmospheric River described as a long, narrow plume of tropical moisture carrying intense rainfall across the atmosphere like a river in the sky.  “These columns of vapor move with the weather, carrying an amount of water vapor roughly equivalent to the average flow of water at the mouth of the Mississippi River,” according to NOAA.

I like to call it more poetically the aerial river.  Here we are used to rain in the winter time.  Boots or galoshes and  rainproof coat with a hood are standard gear for us.  But it is also a time to stay inside, keep warm and dry and reflect on the year passing.  It seems like every year it passes more quickly than previous years.

There were many challenges for my family and for a lot of my friends and students this past year.  But here we are at the end of the year having survived and grown.  There were many highs to this year as well.  Especially for me, this year saw the re-opening of Issoan, a beautiful tea room built by my husband.  This  has been a dream of mine for many years, and I am so thankful to have this special tea space to practice and teach the way of tea.

I am grateful for this blog and other social media that has allowed me to keep in touch with the wider world of Chado, and to connect and re-connect with my fellow chajin on the path.  I am hoping that the new year will bring much joy and happiness to all of my friends and acquaintances from around the world.   I offer this virtual sweet and bowl of tea to everyone.

And if you find yourself traveling to Portland, please come share a bowl of tea at Issoan.

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