It is a grey, overcast and damp day with cool temperatures. I broke my fast with Yunnan Golden Tips Black Tea from TLeafT, Their description of this tea is “This rare, high grown, golden tippy Yunnan is one of the most prized Chinese black teas in the world. Very smooth and malty with pleasing floral overtones and a tinge of citrus. It has a spicy character and a bouquet reminiscent of cocoa.” Its colour is a rich bronzy gold and as the hot water is poured over the finely cup leaf a sweetness emerges. For a black tea it has a light and pleasant taste. I choose my Picasso “Le Reve” tea cup to drink the tea. The bright red and yellow added an enlivening element to the grey day and “The Dream” as this is my last day of my three weeks leave from work. Tomorrow is back to the early rising and eight hours in the office.
Earlier in the week I posted the words “Go easy on yourself. Whatever you do today, Let it be enough” I have is take these words on, internalise them and own them; as I entered my leave with a list of things I wanted to get done and today on my last day I am looking around at all the things I still want to get done. I have done a lot in the garden but there is so much left to do and I didn’t get time to be creative because my focus was the garden. I am pleased that I have achieved a number of tasks that I have wanted to get done for several years. Realistically I cannot completely undo several years of neglect and random garden clearance in three week, but I gave it the best that I was able to do.
The cats have enjoyed having me home and I have had lots of cuddles with all of them and while working in the garden they would all be somewhere close by generally sleeping whilst I was slaving away. As I have cleared areas they have reclaimed then spending time in the areas I have tidied up. Serida was very funny running and pouncing on the dirt in areas as they emerged from the overgrowth.
I am so very grateful that I am able to have my place, the garden space, the cats, the fish and that I am able to have the time to do what I want to do without restriction. I am grateful that my employment enables me to meet the costs of having this peaceful and beautiful place that I can nurture and that nurtures me. I give thanks that physically I am able to do what needs doing albeit more slowly than I used to. I give thanks to the friends; both those that I see and that I interact with on Facebook, people I am able to share my very ordinary, extraordinary life with. I give thanks to my family who are a foundation that supports me to explore my worlds both inner and outer even though those explorations may not make much sense to them their acceptance of my wide and diverse range of interest show their support and love. I am grateful for this life.
The Calm of Ritual
Calm of centuries
Courtesy of cultures
Tea is a ritual
Known worldwide
An unhurried pace
I select today’s choice
Time loses meaning
Mind quiets
It brews
I wait patiently
Steam wreaths
Tea misting the air
Cup selected to enhance
I pour
A golden stream
From teapot to cup
I lift the cup
Inhale the fragrance
Heart beating slowly
I sip
Infused with peace
Mind quiets
Heartbeat slows
Body and spirit in harmony
In the calm of ritual.
Blessings to you all may peace and harmony flow through your week.
