Tea Time
“No matter where you are in the world, you are at home when tea is served.”
Tea, book, and flowers by Ioana Motoc
“There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea.” Henry James, Portrait of a Lady. Y’all, I have very few rituals that don’t involve tea. I work, pray, meditate, journal, create, and have my deepest conversations with tea; and when I stopped drinking alcohol (IKR), I doubled down on my favorite herbal infusions. In short, tea drinking is my jam. The steam coming off a piping hot cup instantly creates space for me to breathe for a moment. I hope you’ll spend some time relaxing too, even if it’s just a half hour. Here are some tips to make the most of your tea time:
My Top 5 Tea Time Tips:
Light a candle because what are you even doing if you’re sipping tea without a candle?
Warm up your feet. I don’t know what it is but a change of clothes for my feet seems to usher in an immediate shift in the way I feel. Simply putting on soft socks or cozy slippers morphs the energy. And I always turn on my space heater for an added boost.
Smell. Right after I’ve steeped my tea, I like to pull the cover off and deeply inhale. It’s a way to get thrust instantly into mindfulness.
Listen to music. I made a playlist just for you!
Settle in and read a bit of something beautiful. Here are 10 of my favorites (though I reserve the right to edit this list often, as I read all the time):
The Invitation, Oriah Mountain Dreamer
Braiding Sweetgrass, Robin Wall Kimmerer
Bella Grace Magazine (any issue)
Edge of Wonder, Victoria Erickson
Your Soul is a River, Nikita Gill
I Heard God Laughing, Hafiz
Tiny Beautiful Things, Cheryl Strayed
The Enchanted April, Elizabeth Von Arnim
The Secret Garden, Frances Hodgson Burnett
Their Eyes Were Watching God, Zora Neale Hurston
Please note, these tips are solely for the unpretentious - the tea sippers that swoon at pretty blends, lovely names, and fragrant smells; may or may not steep their tea properly; love honey way too much; and have absolutely no clue about the difference between afternoon and high tea (I had to look it up). Enjoy!
Love in all things,
April Eileen
