初心忘るべからず — The Beauty of Being a Beginner

Never forget the beginner's mind.

Some of the most profound lessons I've learned in life have come from the quietest, most awkward moments of studying Chadō (茶道), the Japanese Way of Tea.

If you've ever attended a tea ceremony or participated in okeiko (稽古)—practice—you might understand.

There's a particular kind of vulnerability that comes with learning something so deliberate.

Every movement matters. (and sometimes its uncomfortable and painful!!! >,<")

Where you place your hands. How you handle the utensils. When to bow. When to speak. When to simply sit.

And when you're new, it can feel like everyone knows exactly what they're doing except you.

I've certainly had my share of those moments. 😅

But I've come to appreciate them.

Because somewhere between the mistakes, the uncomfortable silences, and the gentle corrections from teachers, something begins to change.

You learn patience.

You learn to listen.

You learn that not knowing is perfectly acceptable.

And perhaps most importantly, you learn to set your ego aside.

Honoring the People Who Keep the Tradition Alive

This is why I'm especially grateful that Flowering Waters has the privilege of supplying Jyoraku Matcha to the East-West Chanoyu Center in Washington state.

Our family has shared this Kyoto-grown matcha for more than two decades, and knowing that it continues to be enjoyed by dedicated practitioners of the Way of Tea is deeply meaningful.

The quality of the tea matters, of course.

But so do the hands preparing it, the teachers sharing their knowledge, and the students willing to begin again.

Chadō is a living tradition because people continue to show up, practice, make mistakes, learn, and pass their knowledge forward.

Always a Student

初心忘るべからず (shoshin wasuru bekarazu) is often translated as “Never forget the beginner's mind.”

The phrase, associated with the Japanese performing arts master Zeami, reminds us not to lose the perspective and lessons of our earlier stages of learning.

And I think that's beautiful.

We don't need to have everything figured out to participate in something meaningful.

Sometimes we simply need the courage to show up.

To be corrected.

To be quiet.

To try again.

I'm grateful to the East-West Chanoyu Center and to the many teachers and practitioners who remind me that learning is a lifelong privilege.

A good bowl of tea can teach us a lot.

Sometimes the lesson has very little to do with tea at all.

ありがとうございます。🍵🤍

Love you tea babes xo,

Flowering Waters