Hi! I am Parul. My ancestors are from South Asia and I was born on Turtle Island. I am currently living in Bali, Indonesia. I use poetry, prose, poetic frames to unravel entanglements of our thoughts, feelings and experiences. Call it an evolving decolonization practice that is liberating the many intelligences our existence contains.
☝🏽 I read you this newsletter, or you can read it yourself! 👇🏽
i am collectingin process ofdrinking the elixir of ancient timestea
I recently completed Tea School. Yes, tea school, where I drank tea for hours discussing its history, ways of preparation, qualities, its beauty and of course the diversity amongst the tea plant Camelia Senensis.
(I learnt that tea is only considered tea when it comes from this plant, herbal teas are not really tea, rather flowers steeped in hot water. A rude awakening for me tbh.)
My love for tea and tea ware is strongly connected to my spiritual, emotional and physical practices. I feel most at home and safe when I am with a glass of, or in bath full of hot water. Little did I know that there is a whole life of tea waiting to be uncovered. I found poetry, meditation, stillness, joy, community and life lessons in tea.
the warm touch of tea to my skinto my heartsips of liquid soil reaching my coreunveils pieces only the patient sun gives space for
There is depth in layers. Complexity is a state of balance. Where each element finds its own space and sense of worth, blossoming and unraveling with time. Like tea. To be over steeped is to overcompensate, or under steep in fear of being too much.
between cups as tea meets waterspace between the leaves expands allowing space for the taste of water to be filledas the tea breathesdancing in her spaciousness blossoming
In my experience, tea can sit at the base of your heart. Giving you space to open folds within you.
The history of tea is full of lots of contradictions. The leaves and practice of tea is rich with complexity and care. Like many ancient practices, the history and knowledge around tea holds plurality. Where books are not absolute. Love and intuition are your guides. Certainty of knowledge comes from the ego.
Studying tea increases appreciation of uncertainty, patience and trust within ones own intuition. It offers no clear cut answers like modern practices emphasize and increasingly value.
The history of tea dates back to the Han Dynasty in China 602 BC-220 AD. It’s history presents the question: How can you know the truth?
There are many stories about the origin of tea. My favourite (so far) is:
Shen Nong 2237 BC
Credited with discovery of traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture, permaculture, and tea. He was clearly a receptive person. They say he had a mirror in his stomache since he was able to see the properties of plants in his body.
Can one person do all of this in a lifetime? Can one person be the sole discoverer of tea? Unlikely. But the story reflects some lessons and ideas:
* Harmony with nature : he was in harmony with nature, tea is in harmony with nature
* Self awareness : his mirror stomach reflects his presence to the acute moment
* No person is an island : we are part of an ecosystem larger than our selves
The stories of tea are rooted in many things, including nature. It is a practice I have found deep comfort and grounding in. Drinking leaves from trees that are 500-600 years old elicits a feeling for me, whether it is a placebo, or the energetics of something so old, so loved, so cared, offered in one single cup.
tealetting your soul tether to the earthgrounding
More tea thought to come. The knowledge and practice is still stepping within. 😌🖤
Stay safe and healthy out there.Much love ❤️ 🤎Parul@parulbee
