Tag: practice

Making a good bowl of koicha

During koicha temae, the teishu asks the shokyaku “Ofukukagen wa ikaga desu ka?” How is the tea.  Of course out of politeness, it is always “Kekko desu, or Taihen kekko desu” It is good and sufficient.  But we need honest feedback in order to improve how we make koicha.  One of my students told me …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://issoantea.com/making-good-bowl-koicha/

Rikyu’s futaoki

We have been practicing with a variety of dogu this year in the intermediate classes. I have a bronze set of the 7 futaoki supposedly favored by Rikyu. (Rikyu no nanashu no futaoki). A futaoki is a kettle lid rest, and also can be used to rest the hishaku. These are ways to handle …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://issoantea.com/rikyus-futaoki/

Beginner’s heart

One line of the kotoba reads: As we diligently learn the Way, we shall not forget the humble but eager heart of the beginner.  To many of us who have been studying the Way of tea for a number of years, it is easy to forget what it is like to be a beginner. It …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://issoantea.com/beginners-heart/

How to sharpen pencils

 

Book review:  I have just finished reading a book titled, “How to Sharpen Pencils: A Practical & Theoretical Treatise on the Artisanal Craft of Pencil Sharpening for Writers, Artists, Contractors, Flange Turners, and Civil Servants,” by David Rees.

This book classified in the humor section, but I read it with the seriousness of …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://issoantea.com/how-to-sharpen-pencils/

Kagetsu Koshukai, Beginner’s Perspective

Hello fellow Tea Lovers! It’s Karla and I apologize for my long absence from the blog. I recently completed my Masters in Teaching and have been busy, busy, busy with school, student teaching and a continuing job search. Here is a lovely picture of what Oregon looks like when the sun is coming through the …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://issoantea.com/kagetsu-koshukai-beginners-perspective/