fire waltzing to a song
she knows in her heart.
Flame and wind will always be
hers, even when she stands still.
Song Choice: Slow Hand by the Pointer Sisters
Liner Notes for this Groove: If I may be permitted to get a little woo…I am one of the airiest
earth signs known to humankind. According to western astrology, although my sun
was chilling in Taurus on my birthday, a butt load of my planets were hanging
around in signs that are associated with the element of air (and I have a
couple of things dancing around in fire too). Someone who is an expert on such
matters told me that when they first met me, they thought I was a Gemini—until they
heard me wax poetic over tea (then I outted myself with my Taurean tendencies).
Whether you place any stock in such matters or not, this
much is clear—I have a tendency to want to do things fast. That’s not always
such a terrible thing (I’m going to be delighted about that time I got the
winning goal in sportsball forever), but in tea ceremony…yeah, it’s not really
encouraged, no matter how well you know the moves.
 |
| I mean, you could. It just probably won't be right. |
Funnily enough I found the answer back in air…in my breath
that is. On my teacher’s suggestion I started pacing my movements to flow in synchrony
with my breath, so each movement took on a rhythm that was fully mine. Not only
that, it was a way for my personal style (LOL, my inner fire for my love of
tea) to come through and be seen so much more clearly by guests.
In The Book of Tea Kakuzo Okakura wrote “Teaism is a cult
founded on the adoration of the beautiful among the sordid facts of everyday
existence…It is essentially a worship of the Imperfect, as it is a tender
attempt to accomplish something possible in this impossible thing we know as
life.” I am rather imperfect at being an earth sign, but in my practice of tea
I can honor my inner air with my breath and my inner fire with my passion for
the art form. My earthy self can take plenty of joy at eating the tea
sweets, while my watery side delights in simply drinking the tea.
So dear Groovers, what to you is worth slowing down for? Or what's new with you this week? Let's talk about it, and as always, if you'd like to continue the conversation on your cyberhome, include the web address in the comments.
So dear Groovers, what to you is worth slowing down for? Or what's new with you this week? Let's talk about it, and as always, if you'd like to continue the conversation on your cyberhome, include the web address in the comments.
