Acceptance

Bite out of Oak Leaf.

Golden Dragon Cup broken.

Acceptance of Loss.

Tea Ceremony November 19, 2009

Moon in Capricorn

I walked over to my shelf today to pick up my tea tray and I noticed a red oak leaf had blown in on to the floor. It was a beautiful leaf, but it looked like someone had taken a big bite from its edge. I thought I can't use this for the ceremony, it is less than perfect. So I settled for two chrysanthemums and a few petals. I went over my tea notes while the water was boiling and then I began the dance of making and pouring tea. I had chosen a Perfumed Sancha Tea for today, called Songe Exotique.

All went well, my moments were smooth, the water made trickling music as I washed the cups. Every moment was flowing. I finished the ceremony and then it was time to wash the cups in the sink. The last cup slipped from my hand and my little golden dragon cup was pitifully broken in two in the kitchen sink.

I looked back at the red oak leaf and began to reflect what was I being taught in this moment. The last fews weeks I have been very sick. I had not been this sick since the 1980s. I stopped my yoga, my eating dropped down to half. And even when I wanted to move ahead, my body held me back to only do the simplest tasks. Today I realize I was really struggling inside myself from the loss of strength and power which I usually demanded from my physical body. The red oak leaf was the symbol of strength and the golden dragon cup represented power. Today I accepted my condition without anymore struggle. So what should one do with such conditions? Create art.