Category: blog post

10 things I learned at Midorikai

I look back on my time at Midorikai and I thought about what I had learned there. Some of the lessons I learned there have nothing to do with tea and yet they have everything to with tea and life. I am still striving to put these into practice every single day.

  • Be open to …

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    Return to Kyoto

    I recently returned from a visit to Kyoto. It has been many, many years since I last visited there. My husband went with me, and together we explored the city. I wondered how much it had changed, he discovered this charming city for the first time.

    We ate very well including this cheap Japanese breakfastThe …

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    My first chawan, ichigo ichie

    I think I had been studying for about 3 years when I thought I would like to acquire my first teabowl.  In those days there was not the internet nor eBay to purchase utensils.  So we had to ask someone to buy it for us in Japan or find some other way of acquiring utensils.  …

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    5 ways to make your temae go better

  • Before you enter the tea room, take 5 slow deep breaths.
  • Trust your body, don’t try to out think it.
  • Look at mistakes as opportunities to  learn.
  • Don’t forget to breathe during your temae.
  • Remember that making a good bowl of tea is the most important thing.
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    Sensei Says. . .

    Many of these sayings have appeared in the blog before, and students will recognize many of them from my own teachings. I have gathered them together to best of my recollection.  I hope you can add your own “sensei says” in the comments.

    The term “sensei” has been translated as “teacher.” Quite literally from the …

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