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Book Information
Title: Ritual Tea: How the 9 Secrets of Tea Can Transform Your Life
Author: Mario Zeleny
Publisher: Sancti Spiritus
Pages: 200
Genre: Self-help/Inspirational
Format: Paperback/Kindle
Media headlines abound these days saying, “Tea is trendy…” and we believe it until we read the first chapter of Ritual Tea: How the 9 Secrets of Tea Can Transform Your Life. Entitled, Tea’s Sordid and Holy Exploits, chapter one is a worldwide, whirlwind tour of tea history that leaves the reader knowing once and for all that tea has always been trendy for very good reasons. Next to water, tea is the world’s most popular drink.
Author Mario Zeleny, lifelong tea lover and personal coach, extracts the magic of tea from its history, uses, and benefits but also from its power to change the world. He brings the secrets of tea into modern light, and makes it accessible for contemporary lifestyles.
“We do not have to be a Buddhist monk, or study The Way of Tea for decades to be your own Tea Master,” says Zeleny, “but you must understand its secrets to reap tea’s transformative qualities in your life.”
Ritual Tea boasts over 30 links to free tea products, ten personal rituals to help with everything from anxiety to sleep, and 10 charts that make crafting our own ritual a breeze.
Discover the transformative power of tea hidden in its history, versatility, and essence through simple, timeless and individualized rituals. To help us on the tea path, the author has made a free Ritual Tea ecourse available through ArtSpellz.com.
Tea has made a 5000 year trek to inhabit the world and in its wake it has altered not only individual lives but cultures and countries. Ritual Tea asks, “Who will we be in tea’s history?” Will we just make tea, or will we allow tea make us?
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BOOK REVIEW
I learned as much about rituals in general from Mario Zeleny's book "Ritual Tea" as I did about tea or the use of tea in rituals. I also learned more about tea during the time I read the book than I have in my entire half-century or so on this planet. The cup of "Ritual Tea" is so full, each sip leaves you wanting more and being satisfied at the same time.
After sweating it out in the garden in the morning, there are few things I like better than a big glass (or two-depending on how long I worked) of brewed sweet tea over ice. Instead of such a case of simply drinking tea, "Ritual Tea" espouses the idea of 'taking tea', which is an entirely different experience. Drinking tea is about quenching thirst. Taking tea is about what kind of tea, how it is made, with whom you are drinking the tea (and solo is a perfectly valid option), the other sights, sounds, aromas etc going on around the tea drinkers at the time.
Mr. Zeleny takes us on a wonderful tour of the world of tea, it's history, and the amazing range of varieties and uses of tea. There is a list of links at the end of the book around which you could build a tea connoisseur training program.
"Ritual Tea" would enrich any tea-drinkers library. It would look good on your living room "tea table" (like a coffee table book, but for tea - get it?). If you are expecting visitors from another country where tea is a popular beverage, you can honor your guests by presenting tea in a manner to which they are accustomed.
I am at the "gathering supplies" stage (my term) of taking tea. Until about a month ago, I didn't even have a teacup in the house. Then I found a nice, mostly matched set of cups and saucers that look more like teacups than coffee cups. Several people I know who write like to have a cup of tea on their desk (or wherever they are writing) to 'keep their juices going'.
Having read "Ritual Tea" through once, I would now like to go back through and really savor it ... over a nice cup of tea, of course. This will be my go-to all things tea book.
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Mario Zeleny – Lover of all things tea. Mario spent 15 years in healthcare and social services in clinical and administrative roles that offered coaching to employees and volunteers.
An artist and entrepreneur from an early age, Mario now brings his love of writing, art, spirit, coaching and ritual together online at his creative living site, Sancti Spiritus, and also from his transformational art site, Art Spellz.
Mario looks forward to completing his education with Mentor Coach and St. Clement Seminary. He currently resides in Sacramento with his husband of 8 years, their children and their domestic sovereign, a pug named Brigit.
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Click the link to be taken to Art Spellz for several giveaways, featuring the book "Ritual Tea", tea and accessories!
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(Disclaimer: I was provided an e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. No other compensation was received.)
As an avid tea-drinker for more than sixty years, it's very nice to know that... finally!... something I do is considered "trendy".
ReplyDeleteThis book sounds very interesting. Thanks. Now, back to my mug of tea... (Okay, so maybe I'm not trendy after all. I drink tea from a big ol' mug...)
Susan, to paraphrase Coco Chanel (?) "You can never be too trendy or drink tea from a too large cup!"
DeleteI have an old set of China dimatasse (sp) that were my mom's. Would be perfect for "taking" tea. In a large way, tea prompted the revolution that started the U.S. of A.
ReplyDeleteBarbara
Life & Faith in Caneyhead
Barbara, I may have to put up a picture of my flea market tea set find for next Wordless Wednesday. Want to join me for tea? :O)
Delete