September 2018 - The Road Back to Civilization

​Wisdom has built her house…
Yes, she has spread her table.
She calls from the heights out over the city:
“Come, eat of my food,
Forsake foolishness that you may live;
Advance in the way of understanding.”

                                                 From the Book of Proverbs
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​This year has been a time of unprecedented disasters—historic volcanic eruptions, wildfires, earthquakes, floods, landslides, hurricanes and lethally hot temperatures causing untold human and animal deaths, destruction of property and degradation of the natural landscape. Why is all of this happening? Science has made the facts abundantly clear that global warming is indeed the result of human intervention in our planet’s ecosystem.
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​The Way of Tea is not a political path, and I will make no comments on the public discourse among our elected leaders on global warming and other “burning” social issues except to observe that some of our politicians have reached a level of crude, degenerate and indeed irrational behavior that in its own way is as destructive and unprecedented as the natural disasters surrounding us.

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The Harping of the Bard
 
It is not only old age that makes me say this;
It is the pure harp of truth:
            The world has revolved
            To a shadow place
            A dark point in the vast galaxy.
The evil species that spreads
Over the once green planet
Poisons even its own.
They lock their infants and their elders away,
And take no joy in them.
They kill and call it glory,
Invade and call it just.
 
The polar bears drown in the hot arctic
With no ice for an inn.
The bison were forgotten a hundred years ago
Along with their friends the Oglala, who found no glee in slaughter,
Killed only to feed the sacred children,
The precious old ones,
Only to clothe themselves against the cold.
 
Now we hack and hew,
Murdering the pines that try to serve us,
Try to purify the putrid air.
We fill the waters with filth
And shrug when the birds fall out of the sky.
 
Will God shrug too
When we have all foundered,
Choking on our toys?
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​What can we do to heal our world of this ecological and human destruction? When Kathleen and I wrote Sharing Tea: The Road Back to Civilization, we were quite sincere in suggesting that something as simple as spending an hour in the afternoon drinking tea with friends could create a global impact for the betterment of the human race. As Mother Teresa, now St. Teresa of Calcutta, once observed, “We cannot do great things; we can only do small things with great love.” One of the small things you can do with great love is vote in every election for candidates who will work to save our entire planet with a compassionate and civilized agenda.

​You can also serve as an example to others of dignified and compassionate personal behavior. I ask you to review the sections in myteaplanner.com entitled “Philosophy of Tea,” “Guidelines for the Host or Hostess” and “Guidelines for the Guest.” These chapters, which provide a brief summary of tea etiquette, are actually simple advice on how to live a civilized life. Choosing to live a life based on Harmony, Humility, Respect and Creativity can provide opportunities to do small things with great love. 
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​Let’s begin with the obvious by starting with the foundational principle underlying all of the world’s great religions: Treat others as you would like to be treated. A host of respectful and harmonious behaviors can flow from this one simple concept. Here are a few: Do not bully other people by calling them derogatory names. Instead, discipline yourself never to view your fellow human beings as strangers This will free you from any tendencies you may have to scapegoat immigrants or people of different races, nationalities, religions, political views or gender from your own. At Afternoon Tea, all are equal and share equally in a quiet appreciation of good food, tea and the wisdom to participate only in positive conversation. Tea Time is not the time for conflict or discord. 
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​Humility, another tenet of Afternoon Tea, is a precious gift that can be carried into every other aspect of your life. The expression, “It’s not all about you,” is truer now than ever, as self-absorption and narcissism are running rampant in our culture. All one needs to do is look at Facebook, Instagram or Twitter to see how much time people are spending posting pictures of themselves, expressing their opinions and sharing massive amounts of personal information that no one really needs to know. Devoting time each day to silence, including freedom from social media and television can be healing. And silence makes us more sensitive to the needs of others and to the creative energies that live within all of us.
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​Planning a tea party will awaken these creative energies and inspire you to think about the needs and interests of your guests. A tea party will also help connect you with the rhythms of nature, the source of much of the world’s art, music, poetry and good food. A life lived creatively and with concern for your fellow human beings can make you a happier person. Afternoon Tea is truly a happy time from which we can gather the strength to face the world around us as civilized human beings.
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​Depending on where you live, it is now late summer or early fall, a lovely time of the year. Why not plan a small gathering of friends for Tea, even if this is something you have never done before. As the host, you can serve as a model of decorum, gently guiding your guests away from the negative energy that permeates everyday conversation. To help you organize this event, I offer a very simple menu from the “Free Recipes” section of myteaplanner.com. I hope your little tea party will be a joyful journey on the Road Back to Civilization for you and your guests. There is so much that is still good about our world. Generous hospitality in the company of friends is eternally good.
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​The night heron shares
The pond’s edge with a plover
And a pair of swans.

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​Late Summer Tea with Friends
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​For your Late Summer or Early Autumn Tea, I have chosen a very simple menu which can be prepared by anyone who can read and follow directions, even if you do not know how to cook. First, review the “Tea Menu Basics” section of myteaplanner.com. This chapter provides a brief summary of the general structure and purpose of a tea party. All of the items included in the menu are available from the “Free Recipes” section of the website. I have chosen each item for its suitability for the season, ease of preparation, delicious taste and harmonious combination with the other foods on the menu. 
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​Menu
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Beverages: Iced Hibiscus Tea, Hot Assam Tea with Lemon and Honey
 
Scones: Cream Scones with Berries and Lemon Curd
(Chose any late summer berries that are available.)
 
Sandwiches: Best Summer Tomato Sandwiches, Smoked Salmon Sandwiches
 
Sweets: Lemon Tea Bread, Russian Tea Cakes
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