Monday, July 30, 2012

Float a Lantern for Peace

Hiroshima lantern ceremony, 2010flickr.com/sueannsimon


Sunday's Cha-no-yu demonstration was attended by a couple involved in the annual Lantern Floating Ceremony in Arcata, Calif. Some details from the North Coast Journal:

The community is invited to the annual Lantern Floating Ceremony at Klopp Lake at the Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sactuary on Saturday, Aug. 4 at 7:30 p.m. As in past years, lantern making materials and help will be available on the northwest side of the Arcata Plaza during the Farmers’ Market on the morning before the ceremony.

Lantern floating ceremonies have been traditional in Japan for many centuries. An event is held annually in Hiroshima to honor those who suffered and died in the bombing, but long before that, the lanterns carried messages of loving remembrance of friends and family who have passed away. Arcata’s ceremony has expanded to include this older meaning, as well as being a time for our community to rededicate itself to peace.

Everyone is invited to gather at the lake for a program including music and poetry, followed at dusk by the launching of the lanterns.

This year's event will also honor Kyoko Clark for her participation in the first Arcata Lantern Ceremony, 30 years ago. For information, call (707) 826-7233. Click here for map.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Outdoor Tea, Presented Indoors

We presented a demonstration of Cha-no-yu on Sunday at the Ink People Center for the Arts. Nearly 20 people joined us -- a fascinating and diverse group that included the tea buyer for our local co-op, a couple involved in the Arcata Lantern Ceremony (see follow-up post), and two young ladies came in kimono and yukata!

The temae, or procedure, that we demonstrated was Chabako, "Picnic Tea," meant to be enjoyed outdoors.


Presentation of Chabako Japanese tea ceremony,
July 29, 2012 at the Ink People Center for the Arts.

Harvey-sensei discusses the procedure and answers questions.

Kristin preparing tea in the mizuya.
Kristin, Pia and Holly made bowls of tea for the guests
while Harvey-sensei answered questions.

Kristin and Pia hard at work in the mizuya: hard-working and adorable!


Plans are in the works for our autumn demonstration.

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

It's Not a Mistake, It's a New Obi Knot!


Pia tied this obi for Kristin and discovered a new knot!
Laura's obi kept staring at me.
Pia's obi
Chabana of thyme-leaf fuschia and white campanula.
The campanula remind me of little stars in celebration of Tanabata.
(Too bad I didn't take the photo before they began to wilt.)