The season for the monthly tea ceremony at the Chashitsu Nagano-an in the Missouri Botanical Garden has finally arrived.
On April 14th, blessed with weather reminiscent of early summer, we had five group of guests from 10 in the morning until 3 in the afternoon.
The scroll featured the four spirits of tea: “Wa” (harmony), “Kei” (respect), “Sei” (purity), and “Jaku” (tranquility). It was calligraphed by Seiran.
The flowers were quince blossoms, the only ones blooming in my garden.
We welcomed guests who were experiencing the tea ceremony for the first time. We provided hospitality, explaining the purification with the furo, the proper way to enter through the Nijiriguchi, the spirit of tea, the host’s manners, and how guests should enjoy the tea and sweets. We aimed to help guests enjoy this cultural experience of tea ceremony, even if it was just a little.
