As I gaze outside my window, words come into my mind.

Clear.  Sharp.  Bright.  Cold.

Yes, very cold.

I’ve been away from my regular blogging, I know, only dropping in once a week now to share a cup of tea with you. I am hoping that I will be able to come visit more often as my healing progresses with a quite painful physical problem I’ve been struggling with. A frozen shoulder. How appropriate for this time of year when all is rimmed with frost and ice, including me. My acupuncturist gives advice that speaks straight to my heart.

Drink more tea.

This morning’s tea is a unique China black from Fujian province called Yin Lan Zao. A large leaf that is rolled into curl shapes, it is usually a leaf used to make Oolong tea. The tea master decided to produce a black tea, however, and the leaf was oxidized more to produce a lovely tea whose leaves unfurl into strands of ribbons.

I steeped my tea for 5 minutes in 212 degree (boiling) water.

As my tea steeped, I reflected on the frozen world outside and also inside of me.

The tea liquor is a beautiful amber color. Amber. Tree resin from so long ago that can trap remnants from an ancient world inside of it.

As I take my first sip, the warm, toasty aroma fills my senses. The warmth comes through in the rich flavor with spicy flavor notes reminiscent of nutmeg and a hint of cinnamon.

Last year, I chose a word as my touchstone for the year. Beauty. As I moved through my year and experienced many changes, I thought of my word and it helped me to stop, focus on the present moment and enjoy the simple Beauty in and around me. I am still pondering over a word for this year. The word Listen kept coming into my thoughts over the last several weeks but I feel like it is telling me to listen for my word. I am listening…

In the depth of winter I finally learned that within me

lay an invincible summer.

~Albert Camus