100 Years of (some) Women's Suffrage, Tea and More to Do

 

My copy of the tea set used by Alva Vanderbilt Belmont,
commissioned to raise funds for the suffrage movement.  More info

This month in the US, we mark the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which granted some women (mostly white women) the right to vote. The hard truth is that it took another 45 years for women of color to be guaranteed voting rights with the passage of the Voting Rights Act. 

Tea was a fueling beverage for the women a century-plus ago, laboring for suffrage. As we note the hard-fought victory of the 19th Amendment, let us also drink in the bitterness of this tea -- that many sisters of color were unable to vote until 1965. And another 10 years for Americans whose primary language was not English. 1975 -- that's in my lifetime. A moment of silence to acknowledge these transgressions. And a commitment to work for social justice.  

Following the model set by women in the UK, US women met over cups of tea to strategize and proselytize.  One infamous moment: In July 1848, Jane Hunt invited Elisabeth Cady Stanton to her home for tea, along with Lucretia Mott, Martha Wright and Mary Ann McClintock. These women were impassioned, and the gathering led to the Seneca Falls Convention just 10 days later. 

Let us now name some of the Black Suffragists who worked hard for voting rights: Sojourner Truth, Daisy Elizabeth Adams Lampkin, Frances Ellen Watkins Harper,  Mary Ann Shadd Cary, Mary Church Terrell, Nannie Helen Burroughs, Ida B. Wells.  Latinx suffragists include: María Amparo Ruiz de Burton and Adelina Otero-Warren.  Thanking Indigenous/Native American suffragist Zitkala-Sa and the Iriquois model of inclusion. Gratitude to Chinese-American Mabel Ping-Hua Lee and Japanese supporter Komako Kimura, who came from Japan to march with women in New York.  These are just a few of the many women of color who were committed to the cause. 

The ingenuity of the suffragists impresses, still today. They used tea parties to educate others, enlist support and raise money. 

There were at lest two special brands of tea sold for the cause, Equality Tea being one. Given that tea packaging is fragile, little physical evidence of this remains. 

In addition to the tea set shown above, the National American Woman Suffrage Association sold a demitasse cup and saucer embellished with "Votes for Women" on a gold rim. 

Image left: courtesy the California Secretary of State

Image below: courtesy liveauctioneers.com 

By the way, I've just learned that in the US, the preferred term was suffragist (not suffragette).  Read more. 

I'm indebted to and inspired by these suffragist women. I continue to think about how tea can play a role in the work of social justice.

Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglas statue in Rochester, NY
"Let's Have Tea" by Pepsy Kettavong
Image from commons.wikimedia.org

Writing Retreat

Opening the gate to new possibilities...

I've been away at a writing retreat. I'm learning to facilitate writing circles following the Women Writing for (a) Change principles and practices. I love it! I spent last week with 12 kindred spirits, nestled in a beautiful retreat center in Cincinnati, OH. We wrote of our experiences of being women in this world. We practiced deep listening and responding to one another's writing in safe and nurturing ways.  This style of writing in community is about honoring the path of each voice in the circle. The intention is to encourage and lift up each person's words. The experience is not at all like a critique-based workshop. 

The local hosts were so thoughtful! They prepared our rooms with flowers and candles. I added some tea things and had a very peaceful writing corner. 

Hours spent writing and listening are a gift, and I learned that I also needed to get out of my head and into my body each afternoon. I went for walks and runs. The surrounding community is full of historic homes and inviting benches.  

I am still discerning where this path will take me and am very excited to be on this journey! (I still have my day job, too.) I know this path will include heart, bravery, the help of others, and tea!

Tea Alone

"When we cannot bear to be alone, it means we do not properly value the only companion we will have from birth to death - ourselves."  ~Eda LeShan (1922-2002)

Sharing tea with others is a primary source of happiness in my life.  I love it!  Equally important, I am learning that I need quiet time to myself to truly thrive (and this is coming from an extrovert!)  I've written before on this topic here and here, and yet it continues to come up as a subject for me to discuss in this blog.  It must be an important message to myself.

Do you make space in your life for alone time?  Does tea play a role?  Do you sometimes meditate or read an inspiring book?  Do you sit quietly?  Do you daydream or doodle?  Do you listen to music or the sounds of nature? 

I crave/need a resting place for my brain, a time to allow it to settle and relax and not be so busy, busy.  I'm learning how meditation works for me, and like any new skill it takes patience and practice.  A sip of tea can be my encourager and my place of rest.

Tea and Truth: Sipping and Writing

Yesterday was a special day for me!  After a year of thinking about it, I hosted a small writing group.  It's something I've wanted to do since being in China.  I'm grateful to the participants who bravely shared their writing and gently offered feedback about where this idea could grow/go.  (To see a few Tea and Truth writing prompts, go here.)

I enjoyed playing the hostess.  I put together gift bags for the writers (above), with a few chocolates and tea, and envelopes that I've recycled from old calendars. 

We began the workshop with introductions over tea.

I chose an aged oolong tea because I wanted a tea with a lot of depth (a metaphor for these women and our writing).  I had hoped that the tea experience would be a nice way to settle into the group, and I think it worked well.  This time helped us form community and provided a comfortable starting place for me.

We enjoyed a few nibbles, including these almonds, dipped in dark chocolate and rolled in matcha.  I'm showing them just because they're pretty.  "-)

I owe much to the Women Writing for (a) Change group in Bloomington, IN.  In that writing circle, I fell in love with writing in community and learned how to take writing risks and trust in myself.  I also learned to trust my writing in the ears and hands of others.  This stone heart (found on an OR beach) represents trust and gratitude.  Yesterday we passed the stone as we shared our writing.

We wrote and shared, each following her own thread.  I am humbly reminded how quickly time passes when one is in the "flow" - that dimension of time that can't be explained.  When the clock made it round to our final 30 minutes, we celebrated with glasses of sparkling tea and a discussion of the day.

Now I'm rich with good feelings.  I'm sorting through the ideas and thinking about where I want to take this.

My tea article in Sparrow Magazine

I'm excited to announce that I've had an article published in the online magazine, Sparrow.  Below are the first few lines.  You can read the full article here.  Enjoy!

My tea ritual
My fantasy tea ritual begins with a sun that always shines before I rise, involves time spent in meditation, and finishes with a perfectly laid breakfast table. That just isn’t possible for me. Instead, I raise my teacup to the idea of an honest tea ritual, one that is doable within the complexities of our lives.

Here’s my real-life tea ritual, involving the first few minutes of my workday...read the rest of this article at Sparrow Magazine! 

Tea and Truth: Light in Dark, Dark in Light

Light in Dark

I notice how the light shines in the amber liquid

Many of us are thinking about light this time of year. We look forward to the longer days, the brighter days, the warmer days.  I've been working at embracing the dark.  I like this dark season because I have a reason to light candles and start a fire.  The dark helps me see the beauty of the light, the dark makes the light precious.  I know from living in New Mexico that a constantly sunny environment can grow tiresome.

On the afternoon of Dec 31, I made a cup of pu-erh (above), a very dark tea, to acknowledge the dark time of year.  I wanted something grounding as I reflected upon my experiences in 2011, what I valued and what I wanted to let go.  Then on Jan 1, I made a cup of white silver needles (below).  This white tea takes my energy up and out, perfect for dreaming of plans for the new year.

Dark in Light

I notice how the liquid appears clear, but when I look closely, I see the dark shadows and the color

Writing Prompt

Preparing: I invite you to find a few moments this week to think about the dark and light in your life.

Sipping: Over a couple of days (or a few hours), prepare a light tea and a dark tea. 
Writing: 

• Make notes about how the teas look, taste, smell and feel in your mouth.  How are the light and dark similar?  How are they different?  What qualities of each do you appreciate?
• Now make notes about light and dark aspects of life. 
• How is darkness sometimes a good thing?  For me, it's the candles, the fireplace, the time to snuggle in, watch movies and read.  Time to test myself by going outside to play on cool and moist days.  Time for celebrations of small things.  Time to reflect and renew.
• How is lightness sometimes a challenge?  There's a song done by Sweet Honey in the Rock called, The Sun Will Never Go Down.  It says, "...the flowers are blooming forever, the sun will never go down.  Don't you feel like cryin' sometimes...."  This song speaks to me.  There are times when the bright things in life are too much, and I need darkness to calm my soul. 
• How can you embrace both light and dark?

May 2012 be for you like this tangerine, full of good, healthy things!  Full of the goodness in both dark and light.  (In this case, pu-erh tea.)



Tea and Truth: A Teacup Overflowing (and Giveaway!)

Like many of you, I'm anticipating a Thanksgiving Day that will provide me a full belly and a full heart. Though far from my family, we are grateful to be sharing this special day with good friends who welcome us into their home as they do their own family.  My teacup overflows with good things, and I am thankful. 

Is your teacup overflowing, and if so, with what?  This writing prompt is an especially meaningful one for me, as I've been working to incorporate a practice of gratitude into my life.

Preparing: I invite you to carve out time over the next week, before or after the busyness of the holiday, to sit, sip and write.  Gather your materials and make a cup or mug of fragrant tea.  If you've got some pu-erh on hand, now is a great time to sip it as pu-erh has long been used as a digestive aid, but please drink whatever you find pleasing.

Sipping: Feel the warmth of the cup in your hand.  Close your eyes and inhale the aroma. 


Writing:  Take a few moments to let images come to you...what in your life is overflowing?

• Is it joyful? Is it sadness?
• Is it full of longing or is it full of release?
• Is it a material thing? Is it a hope or a memory?
• Don't worry about writing sentences.  Write down the images as they come to you. 
• Or maybe it's a sound, a fragment of a sentence, an aroma - whatever it is, jot it down.
• Don't limit yourself to one item. If you're a list maker, this is a great time to use that technique.
• Let the hand and body be connected, and write what presents itself.
• Date this and tuck it away.  You may enjoy reviewing this piece throughout the year, or even next Thanksgiving.

All my best wishes to you on this Thanksgiving holiday.  Thank you for participating in this blogging series!  And check back tomorrow - we'll have a light-hearted look at a way to serve your Thanksgiving meal!


Prizes: Leave a comment in this post, telling me something that is overflowing in your life or tell me what you think about this writing prompt.  I'll draw a winner next Wednesday.  On that note, congratulations to Snap who won last week's drawing!  Give me a few days and I'll have your prize in the mail!

Tea and Truth: Falling in Love with Tea (and Giveaway)

Congratulations to Angela winner of the giveaway from last week's writing prompt!  And thank you to everyone who left comments, I read each and every word.

Writing Theme for Week #3: Falling in Love with Tea

This week, let's reflect upon our relationship with tea.  Did you fall in love over time, slowly with each sip, or was it love at first site? 


Preparing: Gather a pen and paper, or your computer. Put on some music that fits your mood.  Make a cup of your favorite tea...you know, the one that captured your attention or sent you over the moon  (for me, it was Bai Hao Oolong).


Sipping: Slowly sip the tea.  Inhale its aroma.  Let the memories swirl up and into your mind and heart.


Writing: Try out these writing prompts, or go with what moves you...

• Think about a moment in time in which you had a deep and abiding appreciation of tea.  Describe the setting with details...
• How old were you?  What was happening in your life at the time?
• What were you wearing, do you recall?  If not, take a guess and embellish with details.
• Where were you sipping?  Describe the setting - color of walls (if inside), the chair, the temperature, the quality of light, the sounds.
• Who was with you?  Were you sipping alone or with company?
• What tea were you drinking?  Do you recall its flavor or scent?
• What did the china look like?  A favorite mug, a delicate cup and saucer, a celadon gaiwan?  Describe the pattern, the feel of the vessel.
• Now let's write about why we fell in love with tea.
• For many of us, it was the experience of afternoon tea with its beautiful china, delicate foods, delicious tea, and companionship.  Was this "it" for you?  Tell me this story. 
• Was it tea alone, in a quiet moment of contemplation? 
• Was it the caffeine combined with the calming?
• Was it the exploration of tea's diversity, flavor, character, aroma, etc.?
• Write about WHAT it is with tea that captures your heart. 
• Note:  For me, this is an evolving story.  I can't pick just one instance, and so I tell the story in different ways each time it's asked.  Pick one story and go long, or write snippets of several - whatever works for you!

Prizes: Leave a comment in this post, telling me what you you think about this writing prompt OR share a snippet of writing. We're all winners by reading your comments. I'll announce the winner, chosen randomly, next week. Happy writing!
*Image in this post is from Microsoft Online Images.

Tea and Truth: Tea Alone, Tea Together (and Giveaway)

Kudos to all the people who participated in the writing experiment last week.  I've been filled with joy reading your responses.  THANK you!  The winner of last week's prize is Rosemary!  She will be receiving some special tea I brought back from Darjeeling, along with additional writing prompts!

Writing Theme for Week #2:  Tea Alone and Tea Together

This week, I'm inviting you to think about tea on two levels... taking tea alone and with others.  To start our exploration, here are two quotes from Sen Soshitsu - Grand Master XIV, Urasenke School of Tea.

On Drinking Tea Alone...
"In my own hands I hold a bowl of tea; I see all of nature represented in its green color. Closing my eyes I find green mountains and pure water within my own heart. Silently sitting alone and drinking tea, I feel these become part of me."

On Drinking Tea With Friends...
"What is the most wonderful thing for people like myself who follow the Way of Tea? My answer: The oneness of host and guest, created through 'meeting heart to heart', and sharing a bowl of tea."

Now let's write!

Preparing:  Gather a pen and paper, or your computer.  Find yourself a comfortable place to write.  Once your implements are settled, make yourself a cup of good tea.  (Go out and buy some loose tea if you need to.)

Sipping:  Pour yourself a cup, and mull over these two quotes.

Writing:  My idea this week is to adopt the forms form these two quotes, they're so beautifully written.  I enjoy practicing the forms of the best writing I can find.  Try out these forms or venture on your own.  Enjoy!

• Tea Alone: Start with this phrase and finish the lines, "In my own hands I hold a bowl of tea."
• I see....
• Closing my eyes, I find...
• Silently siting alone and drinking tea, I feel...
• What other details would you like to add? 
• What other experiences does this bring to mind?
• Tea Together: "What is the most wonderful thing for people like myself who follow the Way of Tea?
• My answer:...

Prizes:  Leave a comment in this post, telling me what you you think about this writing prompt OR share one of your lines.  We're all winners by reading your comments.  I'll announce the winner, chosen randomly, next week.  Happy writing!

*Images in this post are from Microsoft Online Images.

Tea and Truth: A Month of Writing Prompts (and Giveaway)

This new blog series is a promise I'm keeping to myself.  A gift from my China trip was the connection of disparate ideas into a unified vision, related to tea and writing.  It was an Ah-ha moment to say the least, a moment of epiphany to be more precise.  I realized that I could shape these two passions into a cohesive package, one of value to myself - and my hope is to others, as well.

And so, with this first step, I begin...

Please join me in Tea and TruthTM. This is your invitation to join me each Wednesday this month, to sip tea and write.  To reflect, review, rewrite, respond, rejoice and renew.  Each Wednesday I will post a new writing prompt.  I welcome your company in these journaling opportunities.  (Plus Giveaways, Giveaways!)  What you write can be for you only, or to share - it's up to you.  (Prizes, prizes!)  It can be a one-time quick writing session never to be returned to, a journal entry, a poem, a memory on paper, a letter, a piece you work on over time, a page or two, a paragraph, a sentence or a word.  Just write, and allow tea to be the nectar of your muse.

And there will be prizes in the form of giveaways!  I hope you play along!

Writing Theme for Week #1:  Tea for Two

I'm inspired this week by Day of the Dead remembrances.  I vividly recall, from my New Mexico days, the gifts and merriment in the graveyards.  Initially, this was a foreign idea to me but as I learned more, I began to see the joy and respect involved. 

Preparing:  Gather a pen and paper, or your computer.  Find yourself a comfortable place to write.  Once your implements are settled, make yourself a cup of good tea.  (Go out and buy some loose tea if you need to.)  Bring out your favorite pair of mugs or two cups and saucers, because you're going to have a guest today as you write.

Sipping:  Pour yourself a cup, and pour one for your guest.  Sip slowly and think about this:  Who has gone before me that I want to invite to tea today?  Hold this person in your mind as you begin to write.

Writing:  Let this be a free-form writing activity.  Don't stop to edit or review.  Just let the pen flow and turn off the critical voice.  This is about truth, and the best way to get there, in my opinion, is to get out of my own way.  The following thought starters may be useful for you to get the pen moving, but go with whatever works!  Stick with today's theme, or go off on your own. What matters is that you keep writing.  Try it for 5 minutes at least, 10 if you can!  Go...

• Who have I invited to tea today?
• Why did I choose this person?
• Now go deeper - why else did I choose this person?
• Have a conversation over tea...go ahead, respond for him or her.  It's OK, it's YOUR writing!  You are safe and in control.
• Now the tea is growing cold (and you've finished yours)...how do you end this conversation in a way that leaves you feeling good?

Thank you. 

Prizes, prizes!  Leave a comment in this post, telling me what you like (or don't) about this writing prompt.  I'll pick a winner each week for a to-be-determined fabulous prize involving tea and writing.  If you mention this on Facebook or your blog, tell me about it in the comments, too, and you'll get a second entry.  (If it doesn't auto-link to a blog with contact info, be sure to leave me a way to reach you.)

Notes: 

• These writing prompts are meant to be starting points for you to explore writing and tea.  They are by no means a method of therapy, tho we all know that good tea and writing can be therapeutic.
• A shout-out to my writing friends at Women Writing for (a) Change, Bloomington.  I think of you regularly.