My name is Michelle. I own a teashop. I love Japanese tea ceremony.
After a 20 year search for a tea teacher, I began my training with Roo Sensei. That was nine years ago. During that time, I have trained almost weekly, on my own and with Roo Sensei’s oversight. I am a slow student. Fortunately, our tea lineage’s motto is, “tea is for everyone.” Even for slow Americans, like me.
In 2020, I want to do more tea. This might prove to be a bit more ambitious than I first thought. Pop-up tea ceremonies once a week AND regular tea practice/private ceremony at the teashop will likely double the number days I do tea. Yeah!
I want to bring tea to people who might not have ever thought about tea as ceremony, or who might not have a chance to get to a place that does tea ceremony. I want to put it into public and private places. I want to dispel thoughts that the use of the word ceremony implies a religious affiliation. Japanese tea ceremony is secular.
The underlying philosophy of the Japanese tea ceremony includes harmony, respect, purity, and tranquility. Who doesn’t want to experience these in their life? Practicing these ideals in tea ceremony is my gift to me, and I want to share that gift with others.