The Wisdom of Tea

The Wisdom of Tea

Japanese Tea Ceremony – Chanoyu

The Japanese tea ceremony is a unique Japanese cultural tradition, which began in the 15th century. It has evolved over the centuries, and today there are many different styles and schools of tea in Japan. Despite the various styles and schools of tea, they all share the same philosophy, which has been shaped by its origins in Zen Buddhism. The guiding philosophy of the Japanese tea ceremony rests on these principles:  Wa – Harmony, Kei – Respect, Sei – Purity, and Jaku – Serenity. The Japanese tea ceremony, or Cha-no-yu, meaning “hot water for tea”, is more than an elaborate ritual. It is an interlude in which one leads oneself for the moment to the spirit of beauty, quietude, and politeness toward others. The ceremony may be practiced anywhere, at home or in a teahouse. Matcha: powdered green tea used exclusively in the tea ceremony.

There are 4 principles: harmony, respect, purity, and tranquility

• Harmony:with other people and with nature. The tea ceremony is the way of bringing one’s self into harmony with nature.
• Respects:a harmonious relationship with others.
• Purity:clean yourselves through the five senses – sense of hearing when hearing the sound of water(which remind one of the silence outside), sense of sight when see the flowers, sense of touch when touch the utensils, sense of smell when smell the scent of the flowers, sense of taste when drinking tea.
• Tranquility to experience peace.

When the Zen monk Eisai brought tea seeds from China to Japan in the twelfth century, he also imported the following ten virtues of tea.                     

The Ten Virtues of Tea

It has the blessing of all deities.
It promotes filial piety.
It drives away evil spirits.
It banishes drowsiness.
It keeps the five internal organs in harmony.
It wards off disease.
It strengthens friendship.
It disciplines body and mind.
It destroys all passions.
It gives a peaceful death.

Please take time to watch this video- the tea pots are truly magnificent works of art!!

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=brilliant+kettle+designs

After watching this video, it inspired me to make a cup of tea – Chocolate Mint – Rooibos, peppermint and natural chocolate flavour – a lovely treat on a very snowy morning here in Meaford!  I thought of the 10 Virtues of Tea…no wonderful I like it so much!

Enjoy a cup of tea today and here’s my winter Haiku poems for you!

morning snow falling below  roots stir quietly with spring’s rhythm   Winter stillness stirs A restlessness to wander On long winter trail By Jane Rosalea Brown

Peacefully, Jane

Jane Rosalea Brown, BA, CSW

USUI Reiki Master

Author In Silence, Discovering Self through Meditation

Author name: Jane Rosalea Booth

Ref: unknown, I found this on the internet years ago, I thank whoever shared this information and hope others will enjoy it too. Here is a lovely site that shares more about the Japanese Tea Ceremony http://www.teagenius.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1064:the-japanese-tea-ceremony-defining-japanese-culture&catid=10&Itemid=122

 

 

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Healing hearts…peace and love

We are grieving together, again, for those who lost their lives from terrorism in Afghanistan and England. This morning we learned a Canadian was killed in London during the attack.   It is most difficult for us to understand this kind of madness that keeps unfolding.  However, we also are witnessing great humanity, courage, strength and love, the qualities that rise in times of darkness.  This brings comfort but does not negate the suffering of all the victims and their loved ones.

In honour and with deep condolences to the families of those who were killed, I am offering this song…My love is like a red, red rose.  It is a Scottish song by Robby Burns, the Scottish poet.  My father sang it to me.  May love fill and heal our hearts as we join together, as brothers and sisters of the world…with no separation in our hearts.

“My Love Is Like A Red Red Rose”

My love’s like a red, red rose
That’s newly sprung in June;

My love is like a melody
So sweetly play’d in tuneAs fair art thou, my bonnie lass,
So deep in love am I;
And I will love thee still, my dear,
Though all the seas gone dry.

Though all the seas gone dry, my dear,
And the rocks melt with the sun;
I will love thee still my dear,
Though the sands o’ life shall run.

So fare-thee-weel, my only love!
And fare-thee-weel awhile!
And I will come to you again,
Though it were ten thousand miles!

Though it were ten thousand miles, my dear
Though it were ten thousand miles.
I will come to you again.
Though it were ten thousand miles.

 

May we join in a prayer by Maya Angelou

Lord, Thank you for your presence during the hard and mean days.
For then we have you to lean upon.

Thank you for your presence during the bright and sunny days, for then we can share that which we have with those who have less.
And thank you for your presence during the Holy Days, for then we are able to celebrate you and our families and our friends.
For those who have no voice, we ask you to speak. For those who feel unworthy, we ask you to pour your love out in waterfalls of tenderness.
For those who live in pain, we ask you to bathe them in the river of your healing.
For those who are lonely, we ask you to keep them company.

For those who are depressed, we ask you to shower upon them the light of hope.
Dear Creator, You, the borderless sea of substance, we ask you to give to all the world that which we need most—Peace.

Peace, deep peace,

Jane

Jane Rosalea Brown

Author, In Silence, Discovering Self through Meditation

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Anam Cara…Soul Friend

 

Anam Cara’…soul friend.

John O’Donohue wrote a book called “Anam Cara”

“Anam cara” (Ananchara) is a Gaelic word that translates as “soul” friend. Anam cara is a partner of your soul, an equal who discuss problems and share advice with you. The ancient Celts often practiced the ritual of Anam Cara to formalize friendships in the same way that marriage rituals formalize the bond between lovers.

In the Celtic tradition, there is a beautiful understanding of love and friendship. One of the fascinating ideas here is the idea of soul-love; the old Gaelic term for this is anam cara. Anam is the Gaelic word for soul and cara is the word for friend. So anam cara in the Celtic world was the “soul friend.” In the early Celtic church, a person who acted as a teacher, companion, or spiritual guide was called an anam cara. It originally referred to someone to whom you confessed, revealing the hidden intimacies of your life. With the anam cara you could share your inner-most self, your mind and your heart. This friendship was an act of recognition and belonging. When you had an anam cara, your friendship cut across all convention, morality, and category. You were joined in an ancient and eternal way with the “friend of your soul.”  John O’Donohue

John O’Donohue  explained that “Anam Cara’ and the meaning of these kind of relationships that are different than just being an acquaintance but “requires a purposeful presence – it asks that we show up with absolute integrity of intention.

Anam Cara Blessing video

I love this  video by  Doug Von Koss, where he sings a Anam Cara blessings

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2Ys0HvZuI8

Send a blessing to your ‘Anam Cara’

Peacefully, Jane

Jane Brown Robertson, BA, CS

Conscious Aging workshop facilitator, graduate of IONS Conscious Aging Workshop Facilitator training

A Peaceful Way workshops and Retreats

Author – In Silence, Discovering Self through Meditation

 

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Rumi – A Hundred Blessings

Whenever I read Rumi’s poetry, my heart bursts open.  His words speak to me and call me to move more deeply into love. A Hundred Blessings is one of my Rumi favourites.  I invite you to listen to his words as they are sung most beautifully in this video.  Listen…close your eyes…breathe gently…let all your barriers go and fall into love.

Hundred Blessings – Rumi

When Love comes suddenly and taps on your window,

run and let it in, but first shut the door of your reason,

even the smallest hint chases love away,

like smoke that drowns the freshness of the morning breeze.
To reason, Love can only say the way is barred,

you can’t pass through,

but to the lover it offers a hundred blessings.

Before the mind decides to take a step, Love has reached the seventh heaven.

Love has climbed the Holy Mountain.

I must stop this talk now and let Love speak from its nest of silence

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Let Your Love Flow – Peaceful Way Tips

Here are some wonderful insights about love by Ralph Marston

“Let love be your reason.

Let love be your drive.

Let love fill you with power and the authentic purpose of being who you really are.

Let love heal your hurts and inspire your actions.

Have the courage, acceptance and humility to feel love fully.

Have the strength and confidence to give your love freely.

Let love fill your thoughts with goodness  and your intentions with kindness.

Let love brighten every corner of your world. Let love flow abundantly from you  before you can even think about it.  L

et love illuminate the unique and miraculous  richness in every unfolding moment.

Let love live within you, and spread beauty through all you do.

Let love be, with all you have and all you are.”   Ralph Marston

https://www.facebook.com/DailyMotivator/photos_stream

 

Enjoy “Let Your Love Flow”– Bellamy Brothers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nf-9jmL4dg

 

Peacefully, Jane

 

About Jane:

Jane Rosalea Booth-Robertson, BA, CSW, an experienced holistic workshop facilitator, promotes seeing the connection of nature, art and heart centered spirituality for inner peace and spiritual self-mastery. Jane is Author of In Silence, Discovering Self through Meditation. (Author name – Jane Rosalea Booth) Jane is a Minister of Spiritual Peacemaking, a Certified USUI Reiki Master, and creator of Peaceful Path Women’s Workshops and Retreats.

 

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Happy Robby Burn’s Day

 

Happy Robby Burn’s Day to all my Scottish family and friends,

^{Here is a beautiful video of the song “My love is like a red, red rose”}  sung so beautifully by Eva Cassidy.  I lovingly dedicated this song to my husband, Ian who was born in Scotland.

I also have sweet memories of my father quoting Robby Burns and singing this song to my mother.

The lyrics of the song  by Robby Burns are simple but effective. “My luve’s like a red, red rose/That’s newly sprung in June” describe a love that is both fresh and long lasting. David Daiches in his work describes Burns as “the greatest songwriter Britain has produced” for his work in refurbishing and improving traditional Scots songs including “Red, Red Rose” which he described as a “combination of tenderness and swagger.”

O my Luve’s like a red, red rose

That’s newly sprung in June;

O my Luve’s like the melodie

That’s sweetly play’d in tune.
As fair art thou, my bonnie lass,

So deep in luve am I:

And I will luve thee still, my dear,

Till a’ the seas gang dry:
Till a’ the seas gang dry, my dear,

And the rocks melt wi’ the sun:

I will luve thee still, my dear, W

hile the sands o’ life shall run.
And fare thee well, my only Luve And fare thee well, a while!

And I will come again, my Luve,

Tho’ it were ten thousand mile.

 

 I ‘ luved’ the shaggy Highland ‘Coos’.  This big guy came over to say hello to me when I was in Scotland a few years go.

Have a bonny day,

Jane

About Jane:

Jane Rosalea Booth-Robertson, BA, CSW, an experienced holistic workshop facilitator, promotes seeing the connection of nature, art and heart centered spirituality for inner peace and spiritual self-mastery. Jane is Author of In Silence, Discovering Self through Meditation. (Author name – Jane Rosalea Booth) Jane is a Minister of Spiritual Peacemaking, a Certified USUI Reiki Master, and creator of Peaceful Path Women’s Workshops and Retreats.

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If you can’t go to sleep – Rumi poem

if you can’t go to sleep
my dear soul
for tonight
what do you think will happen

if you pass your night
and merge it with dawn
for the sake of heart
what do you think will happen

if the entire world
is covered with the blossoms
you have labored to plant
what do you think will happen

if the elixir of life
that has been hidden in the dark
fills the desert and towns
what do you think will happen

if because of
your generosity and love
a few humans find their lives
what do you think will happen

if you pour an entire jar
filled with joyous wine
on the head of those already drunk
what do you think will happen

go my friend
bestow your love
even on your enemies
if you touch their hearts
what do you think will happen

——————
——————
Rumi: Fountain of Fire, A Celebration of Life and Love, CalEarth Press, 1994
translated from the Persian by Nader Khalili.

Enjoy this beautiful video of ‘If You Can’t Go To Sleep” by Rumi

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIVfcOeIJyQ

Peacefully,

Jane

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As Winter Nears – A Time for Yourself

In a few days we celebrate the Winter’s Solstice.  Winter weather arrived well before the 21st of December in Ontario.  Like many Canadians, I love winter in spite of its challenges, it’s bountiful beauty is so wonderful to witness.  Here are some thoughts about winter to contemplate.

“In the depths of winter I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer.”
–  Albert Camus

“There is a privacy about it which no other season gives you …..  In spring, summer and fall people sort of have an open season on each other; only in the winter, in the country, can you have longer, quiet stretches when you can savor belonging to yourself.”
–  Ruth Stout

“Winter, a lingering season, is a time to gather golden moments, embark upon a sentimental journey, and enjoy every idle hour. ”
–  John Boswell

“All the leaves are brown
And the sky is grey
I went for a walk
On a winter’s day
I’d be safe and warm
If I was in L.A.
California dreamin’
On such a winter’s day.”
–  Mammas and Pappas, California Dreamin

 

“God gave us our memories so that we might have roses in December.”
–   J. M. Barrie

“Whispering breath of light

Freshness of the fallen snow

Stillness in the forest

A sanctuary of inner peace

The way of infinite love”

~Jane Rosalea Booth

Enjoy your snowy days with snowflakes covering the earth with a blanket of peace protecting all below that is alive and resting…giving light to all above with its radiant whiteness.

Peacefully with love, Jane

Author’s Bio:

Jane Rosalea Booth, BA, CSW, an experienced holistic workshop facilitator, promotes seeing the connection of nature, art and heart centered spirituality for inner peace and spiritual self-mastery. Jane is Author of In Silence, Discovering Self through Meditation. Jane is a Minister of Spiritual Peacemaking, a Certified USUI Reiki Master, and creator of Peaceful Path Women’s Workshops and Retreats.

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Spirit Garden

For years I have used the image of  a ‘spirit garden’ in my meditation as a sacred place where I enter to pray, to find peace, to listen, to connect deeply to all that is spiritual.  The ‘spirit garden’ within is a resting place for me that reveals to me new ‘blooms’ of beauty and wonder in each meditation.

For those who love to connect to nature, the image of an inner garden provides a comfortable place where you can take a personal journey within your mind, heart and soul that will lead you to a greater understanding and remembrance of who you truly are.  Meditation provides a connection for your outer world to meet your inner world and eases this union so you see life more clarity and new visions to create more harmony and peace.

From In Silence, Discovering Self through Meditation ~

“Enter the garden of love

Grow in the light of beauty

As the vision comes to lead you

On the garden path towards the whole

To the peace dwelling deep within” 

by Jane Rosalea Booth

Enjoy this lovely “Spirit Garden” Meditation

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKU_xFO6_gU

Peacefully,

Jane

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The Spiritual Path Unfolds

I came to realize
that the spiritual journey
is a closed circle of love
in which we slowly come closer
to the center of ourself,
which is always present…
As this spiral path unfolds,
so our concepts of both ourself
and the journey change,
and we come to realize the deeper truth:
that the traveler, the journey
and the goal are all one.
~ Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee ~

Peacefully

Jane

Author’s Bio:

Jane Rosalea Booth, BA, CSW, an experienced holistic workshop facilitator, promotes seeing the connection of nature, art and heart centered spirituality for inner peace and spiritual self-mastery.  Jane is Author of In Silence, Discovering Self through Meditation. Jane is a Minister of Spiritual Peacemaking, a Certified USUI Reiki Master, and creator of Peaceful Path Women’s Workshops and Retreats.

Visit: Facebook page: In Silence, Discovering Self through Meditation

Jane

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