Having a cup of tea can, in my opinion, have such a calming effect. There’s just something special about putting one’s hands around a nice hot cup and slowly savouring the warming, yet refreshing qualities of a cuppa’. I remember for my job application to become a Listener I had to read some scenarios of people that had some stresses and problems in their lives. I was required to respond by outlining how I would help the people in the scenarios. I remember reading one of these scenarios about a young mum to new born twins who didn’t have any time for self care and was finding motherhood very tiring and overwhelming. My initial and overriding impulse was to express how, before anything else, I would sit this individual down and offer her a cup of tea. My thinking was that she probably didn’t have the time amongst all the overwhelm to truly sit back and enjoy a cuppa’.
I guess offering somebody a cuppa’ is an act of kindness that is well and truly established in our society. It is probably for-the-most-part so normalised that perhaps we mostly do take it for granted when we are offered a hot drink. I know people that enjoy brewing loose leaf tea in a teapot which I’m told does taste so much better! Aside from this, I wonder if the process of making tea in this way adds a sense of extra satisfaction and joy by participating in an ancient tradition and ritual. In Japan there are actual tea ceremonies:
“The Japanese tea ceremony (茶道, sadō or chadō, lit. “the way of tea” or 茶の湯, chanoyu) is a Japanese tradition steeped in history. It is a ceremonial way of preparing and drinking green tea typically in a traditional tearoom with tatami floor. Beyond just serving and receiving tea, one of the main purposes of the tea ceremony is for the guests to enjoy the hospitality of the host in an atmosphere distinct from the fast pace of everyday life.”
I like to think that the Calmly Create art sessions provide an atmosphere that is separate from the speedy pace of everyday life. Tea is also freely available (with biscuits of course)! This month, in celebration of the good old cuppa’, we will be painting tea cup shaped coasters and learning about the wellbeing links to consuming tea. Also, taking a moment to think of how it feels when we do get offered a cuppa’ or when we offer somebody else a cuppa’.
Happy Creating!
Ruth x x x
Source: https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2096.html
