"To the top!"

(Thanks to our friend Kumi for sharing this!)

Some poems from Hakone

Fern's autumn shadow
single dark arrow pierces.
Stop. Leaving roji


forgotten ladle
basin purifies with song
shadow leaves bamboo


“Hanto! Another sweet!”
Quickly so the guest can be calm
Warm fall our alcove


The sound of incense
tells me there is something beautiful here.
Sometimes I forget


Outside not inside
a special host just for us
Inside not outside


Can’t climb the hill again
I'll follow from here and
Beat you to the top


Mushakouji Senke
Tea family of Rikyu
no room left to fin---


“Ice”ing on the couch
rain sounds on a sunny day
kitten heating pad

— Oct.17, 2011 by Harvey II
Inspired by the Daichakai at Hakone Gardens,
Saratoga, Calif., Oct.16, 2011

 

Arcata Peace Lantern Ceremony

“When the student is ready,
the teacher will appear.” 

— Buddhist proverb 

Humboldters mark the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki with a floating lantern ceremony of peace and remembrance, and have done so for 30 years, yet this was our first time attending. The occasion was marked with song and poetry, and a special recognition of Kyoko Clark — a native of Kyushu, Japan, and long-time Humboldt resident — who was in attendance at the area's first peace lantern ceremony. 

People gathering at the edge of Klopp Lake at the Arcata Marsh …

… were welcomed by flute songs.

Kyoko Clark (left) received special recognition for 30 years
of participation in the lantern ceremony.

As dusk falls, the lanterns are lit  …

 

… and set adrift, one by one.

Visit Facebook for more photos: http://www.facebook.com/groups/132996573390199/

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.

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.)

Chabana with Sleeping Cat

Chabana: azalea and Japanese maple in Laura's new vase

In Nikko they say, "The sparrow is safe as long as the cat is asleep." In our house, it's the flowers.