Reflections on Generosity, Earth Energy, and Connection
In the quiet moments of tea, it’s natural to turn inward—tuning into breath, sensations, and the stillness that grows as the leaves steep. The Way of Tea offers a powerful path of personal cultivation, encouraging mindfulness, presence, and a deeper relationship with ourselves.
But tea’s invitation is never only about the self. At some point, your practice seeks to expand outward. It wants to reach others, to create connection, and to become a gift.
This week, our Way of Tea Wednesdays centers on the Earth Element, the core of the Five Elements system. Earth is about nourishment, balance, generosity, and the grounded strength that supports all growth. Each week, we share a practice, an elemental reflection, a tea, an inspiring piece of art, and a friend who embodies these qualities.
This week, it all begins with a simple but profound invitation: share tea with someone you care about.
Tea Practice: Giving Your Practice Away
“The sage does not hoard.
Having worked for his fellow beings, the more he possesses.
Having donated himself to his fellow beings, the more abundant he becomes.”
– Tao Te Ching
Our culture often emphasizes self-care as a solo act—something we do for ourselves in isolation. But what if our self-cultivation was also an act of generosity? What if the gift of our inner work was a bridge to others?
This week’s practice is to invite one person over for tea. This isn’t a demonstration or a lesson—it’s a gesture of care and acknowledgement. Tea becomes the language through which you honor your relationship, create space for presence, and express something beyond words.
As you prepare your chaxi, consider how you might quietly honor the person you’ve invited. Is there a flower that reminds you of them? A dessert that holds a shared memory? A cup that feels like it was made for their hand? These subtle touches transform the ceremony into a heartfelt gift.
When you give your practice away like this, it blossoms. Your meditation, your mindfulness, your ritual becomes more than self-service—it becomes a source of connection, generosity, and mutual nourishment. This is the spirit of Earth Element: the cultivation of relationships that sustain and ground us.
Five Element Insight: Earth — The Sweetness of Enough
Earth is the mediator of the Five Elements—the stable center that balances the dynamic forces of nature and life. It is the nourishing soil beneath our feet, the fertile ground from which everything grows.
This element embodies the qualities of stability, satisfaction, and belonging. It is the late summer, when fruits ripen and the intensity of growth softens into a slow, quiet sweetness. Earth invites us to slow down, to savor, and to appreciate enough rather than more.
As we move from the outward expansion and intensity of Fire season toward Earth’s grounded stillness, we’re encouraged to reflect deeply on the dynamics of giving and receiving.
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What are the limits of your giving?
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How do you know when you’ve given too much?
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What are your limits around receiving?
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How open are you to accepting care and generosity?
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Where do you feel most balanced between the two?
Earth teaches us that true nourishment happens in reciprocity—a continuous, flowing exchange rather than a one-sided effort. The more generously we give, the more we open ourselves to receive. This balance supports satisfaction and belonging, allowing us to feel grounded and whole.
This season asks us to be tender with ourselves and others—to recognize that generosity is not just about grand gestures but the small, consistent acts of care that build relationships and community.
What Are We Drinking? — Ananda
Ancient Tree Lao Cha Tou Ripe Puerh
Ananda perfectly embodies the essence of Earth Element energy. This rare Lao Cha Tou tea is thick, clean, and deeply layered. Its flavors unfold like hazelnut, pie crust, and sweet Chinese date—comforting and grounding.
Ananda’s tea nuggets form during the wet-piling fermentation process, where heat and pressure concentrate the tea juices into dense, flavorful clusters. This tea comes from ancient trees, between 200 and 400 years old, a rarity that gives it a depth and complexity unlike younger puerh.
Named for the Sanskrit word meaning “bliss beyond desire,” Ananda leaves you with a deep sense of contentment, as if nothing more is needed beyond this present moment.
What We’re Watching — Amrita: The Sacred Journey of the Bee
Amrita tells the intertwined stories of three groups of women in Hawai‘i, Portugal, and the Yucatán who are dedicated to conserving wild honeybees—an essential species facing steep declines worldwide.
The film reveals how these women combine scientific research with spiritual connection to understand how bees live and thrive naturally in the wild, free from chemical treatments and industrial pressures.
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In Hawai‘i, Alison Yahna champions wild honeybee colonies using a Darwinian approach, allowing bees to evolve resistance naturally despite environmental threats.
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In Portugal’s Alentejo valley, the BeeWisdom Network uses meditative, joyful beekeeping and innovative hives crafted from cork to nurture symbiotic relationships with bees while living attuned to natural rhythms.
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In the Yucatán, indigenous Mayan women honor ancestral traditions by safeguarding stingless Melipona bees, blending cultural heritage with modern conservation.
Amrita offers a powerful vision of Earth-centered care, reciprocity, and reverence. At a moment when pollinators are vanishing at alarming rates, it reminds us that healing begins by listening, observing, and cultivating respectful relationships with the natural world.
Friend of Living Tea — Nitsa Citrine
We are proud to spotlight Nitsa Citrine, filmmaker, producer of Amrita, and host of the Soundfood podcast—a space where nourishment is explored across art, wellness, activism, and sustainability.
Nitsa is a true tea lover and embodies the grounding, generous qualities of the Earth Element in both her work and life. Over the years, she and Colin have shared rich conversations on Soundfood, including a favorite episode that beautifully explores the transitions between seasons and elements:
🎧 The Fifth Season: When Summer Ripens into Autumn
Together, they explore the “fifth season” of Indian Summer and discuss how to nourish ourselves as we move from the expansive energy of Fire into the settling, introspective energy of Earth and then Metal.
Closing Reflection
This week, as you prepare your tea and craft your chaxi, remember the power of your practice beyond the self. How can your tea ritual become an offering—a quiet gift of presence and care that nourishes not only you but those you invite into your circle?
Earth reminds us that connection, generosity, and balance are the foundation of true nourishment. May your practice this week expand into these gifts, grounding you in a deeper sense of belonging and love.