This week, we've been reflecting on the subtle power of space—within our bodies, in our surroundings, and in the moments that exist between each gesture, each breath, and each thought. In our modern lives, filled with constant stimulation and obligation, it can feel as if space is always in short supply. Yet tea practice offers a gentle, accessible way to notice and honor these spaces, to slow down, and to create room for clarity, presence, and reflection.
Small rituals, like observing the emptiness in your teapot and the tea stage it rests upon, allow us to step back from distraction. These brief pauses—holding a bowl, pouring water slowly, noticing the movement of leaves—invite us to reconnect with what truly matters. This is the essence of mindful tea practice: a simple act that opens a doorway to awareness and reflection.
The season itself mirrors this invitation. Early autumn, with its cooling air and lengthening shadows, naturally calls us inward. Just as the trees shed their leaves to preserve energy for what is essential, we are reminded to let go of what no longer serves us. Cultivating space—through small daily practices or longer, immersive retreats—nurtures reflection, discernment, and a deeper connection to what is truly essential in our lives.
This Week in Practice: Turning Emptiness into Awareness
The Tao Te Ching offers a timeless perspective on the power of emptiness:
"We join spokes together in a wheel,
but it is the center hole
that makes the wagon move.
We shape clay into a pot,
but it is the emptiness inside
that holds whatever we want.
We hammer wood for a house,
but it is the inner space
that makes it livable.
We work with being,
but non-being is what we use."
— Tao Te Ching, Chapter 11 (trans. Stephen Mitchell)
This week, let space itself become the focus of your tea practice. Observe the emptiness that exists not only in your teaware, but also in your body, mind, and surroundings. Notice the gaps and pauses that make room for growth, insight, and presence. As you move through your practice, pay attention to how each moment of stillness allows clarity to emerge naturally.
Practice with space in mind:
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Observe your teapot and tea stage. Before beginning your practice, notice the emptiness in each and the potential each holds. Take a few moments to simply see and appreciate the quiet space you’ve created for tea.
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Feel the gaps in your tea leaves. Hold the leaves in your hands, sensing the space that allows each one to move, expand, and breathe. Reflect on the ways emptiness provides room for growth in your own life.
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Pour mindfully. Slowly add water to your pot, noticing how the liquid fills the empty space. Feel the subtle expansion within your own body as you move. Allow yourself to linger in this gentle awareness.
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Lift and observe. Bring the bowl to your lips and notice both the tea and the space around it. Sip slowly, attending to the quiet pauses between each breath and each gesture. Let each sip guide you deeper into presence.
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Let emptiness guide you. Carry the awareness of space through the rest of your practice. Notice how making room—physically, mentally, and energetically—creates clarity, discernment, and connection to what is truly essential.
Emptiness is not absence; it is the condition that allows everything else to exist fully. By noticing and honoring the spaces in your tea practice, you train yourself to see what matters most—between the leaves, within the bowl, and inside yourself.
Five Element Insights: Turning Inward and Seeing Clearly
The Metal Element teaches us the value of simplicity. In nature, autumn is a time of release—the trees let go of their leaves to conserve energy for what is essential: sustaining their roots and preparing for new growth in spring. In our own lives, Metal invites us to refine, let go of what is no longer needed, and honor the clarity that follows.
Consider these reflections as prompts for journaling or quiet contemplation:
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What am I holding onto that I’m ready to release, and how would letting it go create space for what truly matters?
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What might I accept now that I previously resisted, and what is getting in the way of that acceptance?
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How do I notice emptiness or stillness in my body, mind, or surroundings, and what clarity does it offer?
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To what extent do I recognize my own value without needing external validation?
Spending time with these questions can help illuminate the ways in which we can simplify, refine, and step more fully into the rhythm of the season.
What We’re Drinking: Metal Element Tincture
From this season’s Autumn Seasonal Tea Club box, we’ve been enjoying the Metal Element Tincture from Sacred Herbal Extracts. This spagyric blend features wild-crafted, organic roots including Osha, Marshmallow, Elecampane, and Mullein, sweetened lightly with honey.
Adding this tincture to our tea has highlighted its supportive qualities: aiding lung function, easing the transition into cooler weather, and providing gentle support during early stages of colds or seasonal discomfort. Its balanced, nourishing properties make it a thoughtful companion for quiet reflection and the subtle shifts of early autumn.
Art We’re Loving: Crossing Bhutan
Directed by Benjamin Henretig, Crossing Bhutan chronicles the ambitious journey of four athletes attempting the first 485-mile, human-powered crossing of Bhutan. Traversing the Himalayan kingdom by foot and bike, the expedition is more than a physical challenge—it is an exploration of Bhutan’s philosophy of Gross National Happiness.
The film highlights the ways in which the Bhutanese people prioritize community well-being, environmental care, and a deep sense of purpose over material wealth. Through Henretig’s lens, viewers are invited to reflect on alternative measures of success, considering how our own communities and lives might be enriched by connection, intention, and a focus on what matters most.
Friends of Living Tea: Benjamin Henretig
Meet Benjamin Henretig: artist, yogi, filmmaker, and composer, exploring film, photography, music, and imaginative visual practice. Over the past decade, he has focused on elevating human stories from the edges of culture, creating a storytelling framework that has guided filmmakers worldwide in crafting thousands of short films that advance human values. In addition to his creative work, Benjamin cultivates daily practices of breathwork, meditation, and tea, weaving mindfulness and reflection into both his life and his art.