How to Meditate with Tea, My Practice and Guide

Holding space for myself and taking care of my own needs has always posed difficult for me. I’ve struggled with self-care and mindfulness, especially while working two part-time jobs and running a business. Meditation holds a special place in my heart because of my struggle. I’ve learned that meditation goes beyond sitting for hours on end.

Most see meditation as a space to sit down and empty the mind of all thoughts. To somehow reach another plane of existence or enlightenment. But meditation is an expansive practice. One that can include everything from your morning run to doing the dishes after dinner. In fact, Zen Buddhists practice meditation in everything they do- from walking to standing, to gardening.

What makes these acts a meditation? Meditation to me is any act that grounds you into the present moment. The movement of your body allows you to anchor yourself to the present. In sitting meditation the only anchor is your breath. When the mind wanders, your attention returns to the breath. Sometimes people need an additional anchor. Sometimes the sound of your feet on the forest floor can aid in keeping you focused.

For me, meditation practice also includes the practice of tea. The ceremony of steeping, pouring, and sipping grounds me deep into the present moment. The sights, sounds, and flavors anchor me. Some tea changes from subtly sweet like honey, to floral and then to the rich before fading away.

These changes of the tea are best understood when you practice tea in a side handled teapot, or in a gaiwan. (used in Chinese tea ceremony called Gongfu). You steep the tea multiple times, using more tea than you would if you were steeping a bigger, more traditional pot. The steeping time is also a lot shorter. If you would like to learn more about steeping tea like this, here is a video showing you how to use a gaiwan. This way you get to watch the loose leaf tea unfurl and dance in the water. But this moment of meditation in tea is not reserved for expensive loose-leaf or tea wares you’ve never heard of. You can perform tea meditation in those lonely in-between times before the rest of the house rises or after they’ve all gone to bed. An act of sharing tea with yourself with your favorite tea and your favorite mug.

How to Perform Tea Meditation

· Take a deep breath and set an intention to stay here, now. If your mind begins to wander bring your attention back to your breath. This is done by focusing on the feeling of the air moving in and out of your lungs and the rise and fall of your chest.

· As you boil the water listen as the water changes from cold, to hot to boiling. As you pour the water into your chosen tea vessel.

· Watch the steam rise, feel the warmth as it hits your face.

· Watch as the water takes on the character of the leaves, their color and warmth swirling around in the cup.

· If you steeped the tea in a pot listen to the tea pour into a cup. Is it different than the sound of the water hitting the leaves?

· Feel the warmth of the tea in your hands, the texture of the cup of a mug.

· Smell the tea, does it smell of honey and lavender? Rich caramel or a campfire? There is no wrong answer

· Sip the tea carefully, let it coat your tongue. What does it taste like? Similar or different to the smell?

· Repeat until the tea is gone. Taking a deep breath whenever you feel your mind begin to wander. And it will. But that’s okay. The tea is your anchor, the breath is your anchor.

Repeat as needed, with tea, coffee or even hot water. Any act of meditation is valid, regardless of how it’s performed.

Sip slowly friends.