Routine, ritual, or practice?

Depending on your intention, tea can be all three.

Hi friends,

It’s been a busy month! I spent the two weeks on either side of July 4 in the Upper Peninsula, then the day after I got home, I turned right around and headed to Grand Rapids for four days to record the narration of my audiobook.

While I continued to consume a lot of tea in both places (especially during those marathon reading-out-loud sessions!) when I was traveling, it took on a decidedly more utilitarian flavor. Whether I was sipping it as a morning pick-me-up or a way to keep my vocal cords hydrated, the habit of consuming tea carried forward, but not so much the depth of intention behind it.

Photo by Drew Jemmett on Unsplash

Because I consume tea every single day, multiple times per day, it’s easy to lean on the routine of tea drinking. Some of the elements of ritual that show up in the way I drink tea also made their way into my travels: I brought a favorite mug with me, for example, and brewed the tea the same way each time, following the same steps as I always do at home.

But in the busy-ness of my travels, something went missing from my tea-drinking habit: the element of practice.

I could feel the difference in the way I related to everything from choosing the tea I wanted to drink, to how slowly and intentionally I sipped it, to how I felt after I finished a cup.

It got me thinking about how an activity as routine as drinking a morning beverage can - with consistency and intention - go so much deeper.

• As a routine, tea can help keep us going in the morning, help us wind down at night, or support our health in other ways.

• As a ritual, tea can help us slow down and notice the moment.

• And, much like yoga or meditation, as a practice, tea can become a pathway for personal growth.

Routines can be great! It’s very helpful when healthy behaviors become hard-wired habits. And rituals, of course, add a bit of meaning and oomph to elevate simple habits and make them more special.

But when those rituals and routines become practice, they can help transform us.

Since I returned home and resumed both my tea practice and tea studies (I just passed “Tea 102” in my Tea Sommelier certification program this morning, woohoo!) I’ve been identifying the specific ways my personal tea practice has developed and evolved over the years so that I can keep it a more consistent part of my life - yes, even while traveling - as well as share it with you.

This fall, I’m planning to present a workshop at my St. Joseph shop called “Build Your Personal Tea Practice.” The workshop will be aimed at anyone with an interest in tea, whether you consider yourself a total newbie or are a more experienced tea enthusiast.

Build Your Personal Tea Practice will be a hands-on, heart-centered workshop designed to help you slow down and create space for intention in your daily life through the simple, yet meaningful practice of tea.

If you’re possibly interested in attending this in-person workshop (or if you’re not local and would like a recorded/virtual version you can follow along with at home!) I’d love to hear from you.

Just respond to this newsletter with “I’m interested!” and I’ll be sure to get you the details as soon as I have them.

Warmly,

Meagan

p.s. I will be at Bevy St. Joseph tomorrow (Friday July 25) morning from 9:30 to 11:30 AM, on Saturday, July 26 from 11 AM to 1 PM, and on Monday, July 28, from 12:30 - 2 PM). Next week I will be traveling again to visit a critically ill family member (prayers and positive thoughts welcomed) but you can help yourself to self-serve tea (loose-leaf by the ounce, or hot by the cup!) as well as snacks and teaware from the honor store by the front desk.

I’ll be back in early August and look forward to seeing you all soon!