A Few Ways in which Tea is Used in Magick
Tea has a long history of use in various forms of magick and esoteric practices, including in Wuism (best translated as Chinese shamanism, though Wuism also encompasses magick and other forms of esotericism).
A few ways in which Tea is used in Magick:
DIVINATION
Tea leaves can be used for divination. Leaves are steeped in water, and then the patterns and shapes that form in the cup are interpreted to gain insight or to forecast incoming energies. The steeped teas can also be tossed onto the ground while invoking a helpful spirit and then interpreted based on how the leaves land.
CHA QI CHANNELING
The term Cha Qi literally translates to “Tea energy” or “Tea breath” and refers to the invoking of Tea’s energy, vitality, or spirit that arises from drinking her, and can lead to a sense of being “Tea drunk”. For me, being filled with Tea’s spirit can include sensations such as warmth, relaxation, alertness, a sense of well-being, euphoria, and a heightened sense of psychic knowing. It’s from this state, when Cha Qi is flowing, that I can enter into channeling states including trance mediumship, spoken communication, and automatic writing.
CHA QI DIVINATION
Similar to channeling, while being filled with Cha Qi, one can feel more attuned to divinatory modalities, such as Tarot, Runes, and most notably, the I Ching, where the receptive state of the Tea plant is referenced.
TEA SPELLS
Different classifications of Tea may be used in spell work, depending on their properties and associations. For example, Green Tea is often associated with the Wood Phase, making it suitable for new beginnings, launching projects, expansion, and the timing of Spring.
TEA RITUALS AND CEREMONIES
Tea can be used in rituals and ceremonies, such as in Gongfu Cha ceremonies, or more adapted rituals to suit modern and cross cultural contexts. The act of making and serving tea can be a way to honour ancestral and other spirits, as well as to bring people together.
Last few in-person at O5 Tea (Vancouver) and live-stream spots (with recordings) available for Magick of Tea: Drawing the I Ching on Saturday, March 18 from 9:30-11:30AM PST. The curation of teas by O5 Tea for us is spectacular (in-person attendees will partake, and folks joining in live have a chance to order ahead of time at preferred pricing) —
BAMBOO CONDITIONED PU ER (cooked). Surprisingly complex for it’s age, we were delighted to encounter a demerara sugar like sweetness contrasted by a rich aromatic profile reminiscent of english pipe tobacco. Medium body, smooth texture even with more aggressive brewing.
2010 (13 YEAR OLD) BAN PO LAO ZAI PU ER (RAW). Wild honey. Raw, intensively floral, mouth watering, with hint of smoke an long lasting finish. This tea takes you on a trip to the highlands of southern Yunnan.
TIBETAN TEA | HERITAGE BRICK. The tea that Tibetans drink all day, every day, often with butter (the original “bulletproof” style). This fermented tea ( བོད་ཇ ) is made by Mr. Gan Yuxiang (甘玉祥), an intangible cultural treasure of China.
Join us for April 15th’s Magick of Tea session
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