TEA
It would be an honour to serve tea by serving you tea
thursday morning tea
Most Thursday mornings, from 8-9am, we meet at Charen teaspace (Uus 11, Tallinn) for short but sweet meditative morning tea sessions. See Chado teepood’s Facebook homepage for more details. You are welcome!
Format: A few minutes of intro and preparation. About 45 minutes of meditative tea drinking, supported by music - or silence, as you choose. A few minutes of questions/answers. Namaste. The day begins anew.
You can listen to some of my tea / meditation / massage session musical playlists anytime here:
tea ceremony services
If you are considering a gathering and feel that a tea ceremony would add value, and if times and vibes coincide, I’d be happy to oblige.
I used to avoid using the word ‘ceremony’. I felt it sets up specific expectations. Yet I use the word now happily as it implies ritual where respect is shown not only to the tea being prepared but to the time and space, to guests and server. A ceremonial space deepens people’s ability to be rooted in the present.
My main job is to be as empty a channel as possible, a middle man to assist in setting the stage as best as possible for tea to work her own magic on you.
Many kinds of tea service possible. They can be casually set up in a quiet area of a larger event where guests come to enjoy a few bowls of tea in peace and then move back to the main party. Or they can be the main event themselves. Some are more informal and chatty/informative, others even shamanic in form. Most often, a ‘classic’ meditative format is chosen which has an introduction, time for silent tea drinking and then time for questions and answers.
Wonder what it looks like? Check out this beautiful video by Igor Earthchild…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LY0vM1wXubk&feature=emb_logo&ab_channel=Earthchildme
tea space
People are given the time and space to let the magic of this medicine and the gift of silence sink in and do their job. The look of calm and the smiles on people’s faces afterwards warms my heart.
I have been studying Cha Dao (the way of tea; tea as a path; tea as a plant teacher) with Global Tea Hut in Taiwan since 2011, and much of my approach to tea service has been graciously informed by this unique place. To deepen your depth of feeling towards tea, consider becoming a member at globalteahut.org.
See the About Tea & Touch section for more information about my history with tea and cha dao…
cost
Tea ceremonies always last longer than people plan for: usually no one wants to leave them! Therefore, out of respect for my time, I charge a flat fee for 2.5 hours but kindly request that overtime be compensated for as well. The fees will depend on the request (location, kind of ceremony, rarity and number of the teas, length, and number of participants); it’s impossible to give one set fee for all kinds of events. Generally it ends up being between 10-15€ per person with a minimum fee for smaller gatherings. I am flexible and reasonable, and hope you are too! Just write to me and we can figure something out.
I can come to you, or you and your friends can be hosted at our tea centre Charen at Uus tn 11 in Old Town, Tallinn.
Do I offer ceremonies for other forms of energy exchange than money? Sometimes indeed, it’s worth asking! Do I offer ceremonies for charities like at schools or children’s gatherings? Generally, when I can, I love to! Would I travel to another city or country to perform such a ceremony? I have and would indeed!
For more info, please write to steve.kokker@gmail.com
