First off, this note is late.
I realize I promised you an email every Wednesday, but I haven’t hit that mark this week. Here’s to next week. 🥂
This past weekend I attended a tea ceremony at the Marciano Art Foundation with Buddhist monk, Seizan Toda, Head priest of Daijiin, Daitokuji Temple (Kyoto). It made me think about ritual. Watching Seizan slow down and prepare the matcha in the specific way he’s done thousands of times before gave it significance (watch one for yourself).
I was raised Catholic, full of religious rituals, traditions, and Traditions. After I left the church I was very skeptical of most types of ritual like things. The more I study and learn about all the cultures and histories of the world I see the place and reason these types of things exist. I think these rituals are tools, tools we can use to make sense of our lives. I’d like to slow down and add more ritual into my life, and after thinking about it, I already have a little bit lately.
This past year (with a ton of help from my girlfriend) I’ve upped my skin care regimen, adding masks, toner, special face lotion, and sunscreen to my every day routine. I also decidedly light a candle, add a couple drops of eucalyptus oil, and blast some dance music for my showers. These small rituals help me remember why I’m doing the things I’m doing and celebrate those moments. I find it really helpful to keep things more consistent and positive.
In my workday I’m trying to add more ritual as well. Thinking about how I pack and unpack my briefcase. How I turn on or off my computer. How I sit at my desk, turn on my lamp and desktop diffuser. How every day at 2 or 3pm I go for a walk to the coffee shop with a coworker. All of these little steps help me get into the zone, slow down and be intentional with my day. Being at that tea ceremony reminded me to celebrate all the things in life, but do so in a slow, methodic manner.
I’ll be experimenting with tea ceremonies and bringing other types of ritual into my everyday life. I think it will help me feel more grounded in the things that I do and the time I spend doing those things. 🍵
Noodler’s Ink Clear Fountain Pen
I’ve been getting back into drawing lately and experimenting with new pens. I bought this Noodler’s Ink fountain pen to try out different inks. I’ve only had it for about a week, but I must say that I love so much of what I can do with this pen already even though I’ve got so much to learn. I threw in some walnut ink and my quick subway portraits are looking great. (progress to me I mean). I’ve been thinking of sharing my pen adventures and thoughts for a while now, so keep an eye out for more about this later.
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◾️Geremy