My Year of Travel
Day 40: 60 Days to Go – Let’s Make 2024 Unforgettable!
Keeping our promises to ourselves is essential.
Life of a Travel Writer
Join me on my third year of traveling full-time as I pivot from my two years of sailing into a career in travel writing.
November 2nd, 2024
Hello, Fellow Travelers, and Happy Saturday,
I hope you all are having a wonderful weekend!
Experiencing a Traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony in Kyoto
The rain has been relentless for the past two days, much to my disappointment, as it has thwarted my photo plans. Yet, it has also been a relief, as I don't feel the guilt of not capturing every moment through my lens. Today, however, we planned an indoor activity—a traditional Japanese tea ceremony in Kyoto.
Over 500 years old, this ritual originated in China and was introduced to Japan to help samurai curb their alcohol consumption. It's a cherished tradition in which practitioners meet with their teachers weekly, and it takes up to ten years to master the art.
The Four Principles of the Tea Ceremony
The dedication to meeting weekly for ten years profoundly resonates with the four principles of the tea ceremony:
Harmony (Wa)
Respect (Kei)
Purity (Sei)
Tranquility (Jaku)
The ceremony exclusively uses matcha, a finely ground green tea powder. The first step is to eat sweets, preparing your palate for the bitterness of the tea. As practiced by the samurai, a significant part of the ceremony is leaving one's swords outside before joining, symbolizing equality and peace.
Participating in the Ceremony
I cherished the tea ceremony because I participated in a traditional ritual and had the opportunity to use a chasen, a special whisk handmade from bamboo, to mix my matcha. After placing the cup on the tatami mat, I used the chasen, moving it up and down until bubbles formed. When I felt the matcha was well-mixed, I used the chasen to make one final circle around the cup.
Despite my efforts, my matcha was still chalky, unlike the master's perfectly smooth tea. This experience, however, made me appreciate the skill and practice required to perfect this art.
Conclusion
Attending a traditional Japanese tea ceremony in Kyoto was a profound experience, blending history, culture, and tranquility. Despite the rain and my imperfect matcha, the ceremony offered a peaceful escape and a deeper understanding of Japanese customs. It's a reminder that some traditions require patience, dedication, and respect—values worth embracing in our fast-paced world.
Current Projects
I can’t believe it’s November already. October flew by in the blink of an eye. But I’m excited to see what the last two months of 2024 will bring. November is crucial because it’s when I start planning for the upcoming year. Review what I have and haven’t accomplished so far and get honest about what I could do better. I have a habit of biting off more than I can chew. I feel that planning in November is the best because it gives me two months to focus and put new actions into effect to hit the ground running in January.
This year is a little different. I’m not sure what 2025 will look like since we are completing my book proposal and will auction it to publishing houses before the end of the year. Strategically, we will send it off to a few first and then regroup at the beginning of the year to see where we are.
My 2025 goals are similar to my 2024 goals, as my main focus will still be on travel writing. I’m excited to continue this journey and see where it takes me. Here’s to planning, focusing, and making the most of the remaining months of 2024!
Next Steps After Signing with a Literary Agent
In last weeks video I am exploring the next exciting steps after signing with a literary agent.
In this video:
What to expect after signing with a literary agent.
Breaking down the essential components of a book proposal.
Tips for organizing and presenting your manuscript.
Personal insights and experiences from my own writing process.
Join me as I share my journey crafting my first book proposal for my travel memoir.
Thank you for sharing this journey with me. Here’s to embracing the unexpected and continuing to grow together.
Thank you for sharing this journey with me. Here’s to embracing the unexpected and continuing to grow together.
Thank you for reading!
Tell me, Substack Reader, what goals are you working on accomplishing before the end of 2024? Comment below!
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I hope I have inspired you to pursue your dreams and that you will stick around to see how my journey turns out!
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