I discovered the beauty of tea from my grandmother and my mother.  

Each morning as I was growing up I watched the morning ritual of pouring tea.  

It was a typical tradition : boil the water, grab the tea bag and put it in the mug, pour the water and sit.  They would sip and sit and sip and sit.  

Sometimes my grandmother would see the birds out of the window and make a comment.  Sometimes my mother would look out into the distance and smile.  

Words were not often spoken.  Nothing seemed to be happening.  

In reflection, however,  I witnessed a routine each morning that I have come to know as their own version of contemplative meditation.  

Meditation can take many forms.  And one of my favorite paths of meditation is found in an ancient practice called the Tea Ceremony.

The essence of the Tea Ceremony is to be fully present to your Self and to the process of preparation, pouring and sharing tea.  It is with an open-heart and mindful attention that we serve for the benefit of ourselves and of others.

It is a kind of meditation in action.  And it is a way to bring attention and intention into your daily routine and make it a shared experience, as well as a solo endeavor.  

One of the most delightful things about a Tea Ceremony is that it can be created for your Self or with others and so, the meditation becomes a process of expansion and spaciousness.  A shared experience for guest and host.

Each moment is unique and transient. There is only one moment – this moment. It will never occur again in this way.

Whether you are preparing tea for yourself or for others, it is an opportunity to celebrate the moment and care for yourself and others. 

See the magic in what is ordinary. 

This magic is always available to us when we slow down, pay attention to our ordinary experience and allow ourselves to simply be.

To bring extra joy to my personal tea ceremony, each month I receive a beautiful package of tea, a gift and a magazine about tea from the Global Tea Hut, a tea community in Taiwan, China.  

This month's gift was about honoring the Year of the Sheep and it's lessons on abundance.  And in the spirit of sharing, I share this process with You.

I always look forward to this subscription ~ more than any other mail I receive each month.  The magazine is incredibly thoughtful and educational and insightful.  

The gifts each month are surprisingly generous and the tea is amazing.  

You can subscribe, too, and be a part of the community that serves others so kindly.

In the meantime, whether you are a tea or coffee drinker, please remember to sit, breathe and be still.

Want to learn more about tea + meditation, check out mydailyom.com.  

I discovered iMovie on my iPad and it's been so much fun exploring different elements and aspects of life to share in different ways of mood and temperament that come together in harmony.  This is my second insta-film.  Hope you enjoy it!

This insta-film is about my dear friend, Pitango.  

We met in 2010 on Prince Street where he sold his rings. He was a street vendor there for 20 years and I walked by him for 20 years before I actually "saw" him.  When we met, it was a friendship from the soul and heart that will last forever.  

He is a great teacher of life and love and laughter. 

What is Tumeric?

Turmeric is a popular spice in India used for curries and mustards.  It is a deep yellow, earthy spice.

Studies have shown that curcumin, a compound found in turmeric that gives it the dark yellow color, may block cancer growth and decrease tumor size. In addition, turmeric naturally detoxifies the liver. 

One of the most comprehensive summaries of turmeric studies to date was published by the respected ethnobotanist James A. Duke, Phd., in the October, 2007 issue of Alternative & Complementary Therapies, and summarized in the July, 2008, issue of the American Botanical Council publication, HerbClip.  

I suffer from inflammation in my joints, also known as arthritis.  I have found adding a dropper full of turmeric tincture to a glass of water each morning to be an extremely helpful additive to my daily routine to ease my suffering naturally.  

I have known turmeric to be a helpful anti-inflammatory and I've also known people who have been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and cancer and when they used turmeric, their symptoms were alleviated.

I did some more digging about the medicinal benefits of turmeric.  And you may be surprised at the many uses of this gorgeous spice!

Here's what I found.

Read about the statistics of this study on Dr. Weil's blog. They are astonishing!

How To Use Turmeric

1.  Tinctures ~ I love Banyan Botanicals Turmeric Tincture and use it daily.  It's very helpful.

2.  Teas ~ Here is Dr. Weil's version of turmeric tea as well as information about useful studies of the benefits of the spice.

3.  Tablets ~ There are also extracts in tablet and capsule form available in health food stores.  Please ask a homeopath or naturopath the best way for you to take tablets.  

And, of course, eating more yummy curried dishes is a great way to add more turmeric to your meals.

P.S.  Here is another wonderful article on the remarkable uses of turmeric that also includes skin, beauty and health treatments.  

Happy reading!  Please share! xoxo