Tradition is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of fire.” ― Gustav Mahler
As international teachers of a traditional Japanese art, how can we “preserve the fire” of Chado and pass on the traditions, yet still allow for it to have meaning in our own culture? I have been lucky in …
Permanent link to this article: https://issoantea.com/preserving-the-fire/
The Portland Japanese Garden invited Yoshitsugu Nagano sensei of Ueda Soko school from New York City to come and present tea at the Cultural Corner floating tatami space. It is always interesting to watch other school’s temae to compare the different styles of making tea. And I think that is what it is, stylistic differences. …
Permanent link to this article: https://issoantea.com/yoshitsugu-nagano-sensei-comes-to-portland/
People tell me that I have a talent for Chado. But nobody is born being good at tea. When people are good at something, we assume that they must have a talent for it. This is not necessarily the case. We love to attribute success to talent. When we look at successful or professional athletes, …
Permanent link to this article: https://issoantea.com/talent-passion-and-practice/
This summer I had the good fortune to be invited as a guest speaker on the podcast TeaLife Audio. Many of you already may know of this podcast hosted by Marius Frøisland, Adam Sōmu Wojciński, and Anthony Crasso. It has been around for a number of years, and is about an hour long informal discussion …
Permanent link to this article: https://issoantea.com/guest-speaker-tealife-audio-teaching-tea/
When I was in my corporate life, I met with a development coach. I complained to him that I didn’t think that the job I was doing was making much of a difference in the world. He asked me if that was what I wanted to do, make a difference in the world. Of course, …
Permanent link to this article: https://issoantea.com/up-your-game/
