For more than 10 years I've made the taking of tea an afternoon ritual for myself and others.I loved creating that sacred space for people to just untangle their spirits and deepen the connection to themselves and their loved ones. I loved it so much that I started to create a business of bringing English style tea parties in people's homes complete with the china, linens and little triangle cut sandwiches. It was a lovely thing to make people feel as though they were guests in their own homes. As I concluded my day with my clients conversation most often turned to something they were facing in their lives with me offering comfort, encouragement and guidance. Inevitably they would tell me how much my insight helped them. Somewhere in the course of creating that business, my spiritual path lead me to becoming an ordained Priestess. While ordination is one way to becoming a Tea Priestess, I don't believe mine is the only path. Here are some practices you may want to use to enhance your own journey to becoming a Tea Priestess: 1. Make a daily ritual of taking tea. We tend to reserve the word ritual for things done in religious services. But by definition a ritual is "a ceremony consisting of a series of actions performed according to a prescribed order."So wouldn't a making a cup of tea be a ritual? Of course it would! The main thing to remember is to intentionally look as this ceremony as if you are a Priestess. For me a Priestess is a woman is engaging in the act of claim the title of Priestess for herself by seeing every act within her life as sacred. With that in mind your own tea ritual can be as simple or as elaborate as you'd like it to be.I personally use both simple and elaborate tea rituals depending on what I feel I need and how much time I have that day. Simple tea ritual steps: 1. Take out your cup or mug 2. Choose your tea and as you open it, take a deep inhale of it's fragrance. Thank it for being a part of your day. 3. Put your water on giving thanks for clean running water in your space. Listen to it as it comes to temperature. 4. Pour the water over the tea honoring the act of infusion happening right before your eyes. 5. Close your eyes and take your first sip following it into your body. 6. Continue on with your day. 2. Engage in practices that deepen your own spiritual connection. This has everything to do with regularly deepening your understanding of your spiritual path (which may or may not be tied to a religion). In the context of tea, use it to develop a relationship with and understanding of the elements and how they work in your life. Spend your tea time reading, reflecting and journaling with Goddess, God or other spirit beings you are interesting having a relationship with Learn about a spiritual or religious path different from yours. Say mantras, affirmations or spend a few minutes in complete silence as your tea brews. 3. Invite some one over and have a tea party A Priestess acts in service to the Divine and to people. I have found the act of serving tea to another person to be just as spiritually rewarding as taking tea by one's self. Having a tea party allows you are actively engaged in infusing your life and energy with whomever you are inviting to the party. Also there is something magical that happens when you set the intention to have a tea party. There is a slowing down of time. The atmosphere becomes completely relaxed and you can literally see the tension melt away from the people you are serving. This is an excellent way to deepen a one on one relationship or strengthen your circle's bond to each other. Do you think there are other ways to become a Tea Priestess? What are some things I haven't suggested here that you think falls into the realm of being a Tea Priestess? I'd love to hear your feedback in the comments. Live Intentionally, Dionne Hello Beautiful! Now that I've talked about the 'why' of journaling with the elements I want to give you some tips to actually connecting with the elements. Keep in mind the way I connect with the elements may not be the best way for you. This also is the way I connect with the elements right now and may not be the same say this time next year! 1. Supplies~ As you decide what supplies to use, give yourself permission for these to be the right things for now. You may decide on another day that you prefer working with other supplies and that's perfectly okay! In fact its the sweet spot where you and the elements are working in harmony that you want to get to! Some options you may enjoy exploring: Journal- use the one you've been saving for a special occasion (you know the one with the leather cover and nice paper that you're afraid to write in? Get that sucker out!), Computer, laptop or tablet- Not into paper? Compose an email to yourself, make a special folder on your desktop just for your elemental journal, or use a diary app on your phone or tablet. Pens and pencils- I personally love 01 pens in multiple colors (love me so microns) and colored pencils when I feel like doodling (my current favorite are prismacolors) Ephemera and glue sticks- some times the elements like to speak through pictures so get your favorite collage stuff out or try creating a virtual collage board for yourself I keep a few secret boards via Pinterest for this purpose. Oracle Cards~ Obviously the Elemental Forces of Creation Oracle deck (affiliate link) would work beautifully for this purpose but what ever deck you're working with but just about any deck can help to enhance your relationship with the elements. 2. Make it a Special Time. Brew yourself a cup of tea and while the water is warming, take a few deep breaths letting go of all the stress and actions you need to take. Just as you would give your full attention to a friend sitting with you, you want to create a space for your elemental relationship to thrive. If journaling feels like a chore or just another thing to check off your to do list, you won't look forward to it and you won't stick to it. 3.. Create a Comfortable space. Find the best space for you to receive the transmission. This could be somewhere out in nature such as a park, near a body of water, on top of a windy hill, or on your porch. Or if the weather is icky curl up in that comfy chair in your house or at the coffee shop and connect via your own senses. You may even want to create a mini altar by choosing a few things that remind you of the elements; a special stone (earth), a shell (water) a feather (air) , a candle (fire) and a seed (spirit). Or go even simpler by acknowledging the presence of each of the elements in your cuppa! You can make this as simple or as complex as you'd like to, though I would recommend starting out a simple as possible. 4. Ask for a Connection. As you sit down to write take a few deep breaths and ask of a connection to the element you're working with. Simply say a few times slowly (aloud or quietly) "I am open to a connection with the element of...(state the element). You may want to start by just making random markings on the page just to get your hand moving or if you're going digital type the alphabet or random keys to keep your fingers moving. This keeps the connection open while the transmission is moving through you. Oh! If you're working with a collage, give yourself a few minutes to record what each picture means to you in that moment (what it reminds you of, how it applies to the goals/dreams you're working on or your life in general right now). Remember just as our relationships with friends and family are better with regular connection so does our relationship with the elements grow with regular contact. In fact the more you connect with them, the easier it is to gain access to their wisdom! Live Intentionally, Dionne. ![]() P.S. Need even more help to get started? Lisa Michaels has graciously allowed me to share this printable with you. It's in the format that I used as I was getting started connecting to the elements. Click on the picture to print this out and write directly on it or use the format in your journal. I know it will be helpful for you on your journey! |
Blessings!I'm Dionne, a Natural Rhythms Creation Coach and Elemental Forces of Creation Oracle Reader. I teach people how to tune into to the power of the elements and rhythms of nature to design a life they love I WRITE:
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