Welcome to February at Being Tea!
I'm finding myself curiously both eager for the end of winter and the arrival of early spring days, and also not yet ready. There is a quiet in this period that I realize, I sometimes take for granted. I get really nervous, for example, by the stillness of my inbox - because, as a small business owner, this is one of our slowest times of year. But also, I'm grateful for it because things are fine at the moment (in business), and I actually truly need the downtime to get my head on straight. The quiet is beneficial and nourishing, even when it's super uncomfortable at times. And this translates to other areas, too.
Late winter is when I'm reminded that I don't have it all figured out, nor will I ever! And that this is the very season for honoring our seeking, the unknown, and the sacred pause before the renewal of spring.
This month's offerings are all about finding ways to get comfortable with the stillness imposed by winter. From giving more thought to how we choose and enjoy our teas, to taking advantage of refreshing our mind and becoming a beginner again, to nesting in the peacefulness of solitude.
Here's what's coming up this month in the Being Tea online studio...
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Tea Energetics: Winter Warming vs Cooling
Saturday, Feb 11, 12pm-1:30pm US central
Do you struggle sometimes to pick a tea the resonates for you this time of year? Here in the deep of winter, we have an opportunity to learn more about ourselves - and our tea - through exploring the concept of energetics. How specific types of tea can help us tap into qualities like warmth or cooling, grounding or lift, energized or calm. In this class, we'll prepare a range of different teas (all from an easy to personalize suggested list) to witness the effect of various teas, in real time, finding out what specifically fits your own winter needs.
Welcome to Tea! A Beginner's Course
Saturday, Feb 25, 12pm-2:30pm US central
This month, I'm revisiting one of our very first classes - Welcome to Tea - with new updates and deeper considerations for understanding. If you're new to tea yourself, or perhaps you've spent quite a lot of time in really specific areas of tea, but not much with the whole story, this is a great opportunity to welcome your Beginner's Mind and reconnect with a fresh perspective! This is special 2-hour course, with very friendly suggestions for teas to bring for tasting along with us. Note the class itself is 2 hours, followed by a break and then our community Q&A and sharing time with the folks who attend live.
Quiet Tea Sundays
Weekly, 9am-10:15am US Central
Recordings posted weekly
In February, Quiet Tea Sundays explores Sacred Solitude. The natural pull to draw inward in winter is something I look forward to exploring every year, pretty much as soon as the Winter Solstice arrives. And late winter is when I really lean into the muscle memory of that practice - what it represents and why it can be so nourishing - particularly because we can be to prone to weariness and anxious feelings (not to mention Vitamin D deprivation) by this point in the season. I practice reminding myself of the deep wonder that intentional, lovingly held solitude in winter allows.
And so this month, we'll enjoy a series that blends our tea practice with readings on solitude from some of my favorite contemplative authors and thinkers, including liturgist Cole Arthur Riley and the late Irish poet / theologian John O'Donohue.
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Want to take classes with Being Tea?
Join our membership community!
All of these classes and more are created just for our membership community. Everything you see listed is available both live on Zoom and as videos, and there are over 200 offerings in my video library for you to explore!
Being Tea membership is an all-inclusive program, not pay per class. And the monthly rate is self-select, starting at just $10/month!
Come join us and nourish your tea life this year!
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Open House for Being Tea Teacher Training
Sunday, February 26, 12pm US central
This session will be recorded!
2023 marks a special milestone for me - my 20th year working in tea as an educator. While I've held many different jobs under that umbrella over the years, I think my favorite is this one: mentoring future educators. I *LOVE* working with folks who are excited about education, communication, and creativity. It's the work I've wanted to do for a very long time, and now, here we are - preparing to welcome our sixth cohort of trainees this fall!
If you’re an aspiring tea educator / community facilitator, or a tea professional interested in developing deep teaching skills, come to our Open House to learn more about Being Tea Teacher Training. This event will be held live on Zoom.
The Being Tea Teacher Training program is the first course in the tea industry that focuses entirely on the skills of effective, inclusive and compassionate teaching for tea. You don't need to be a "tea expert" to join, either - read more about that on FAQ here!
Register below to attend our free Open House. This event will be recorded, so even if you can’t join us live, please still register if you are interested in joining this year’s cohort.
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