CHADO NEW MEXICO EVENTS CALENDAR
Chado Urasenke Tankokai New Mexico Association

FALL - WINTER - 2008

Four Wednesdays, Oct. 29, Nov. 5, 12, & 19:  The Japanese Way of Tea:  A Four-week Introductory Class
Location: The von Briesen's tea room, 208 Sereno Drive  87501, Santa Fe
Seating Times: 7:00 to 9:00 PM
Cost:  $100 for the series of four classes
Register after October 1:  contact Sakina at Chadonm@cybermesa.com or 505.982.9385
Limited to six students (a $30 deposit is due with registration)

For those interested in beginning the study of Chado or who wish to deepen their study, this series of four classes explores the living tradition of the Way of Tea in the Urasenke tradition. In this intimate class students will receive an overview of the aesthetics, history and philosophy of Chado, and actively study the protocol for being guests while enjoying delicious Japanese sweets and bowls of matcha. Discussions will also cover the structure and energetics of traditional tearooms and gardens, as well as flowers and scrolls used in the Way of Tea.

Sunday, November 2:  Robiraki Open House:  Opening the Winter Hearth

Location: the von Briesen's home, 208 Sereno Dr, Santa Fe 87501
Seating Times: usucha and sweets ongoing in the tearoom from 1:00-5:00 pm
Cost: $10 per person (members may bring one guest)
This is a member event; reservations are not needed, and each member may each bring one guest.

Come celebrate Robiraki, the opening of the winter hearth, and gather around the first charcoal fire of the season with new and old friends. This is considered the tea person's New Year, since it is the time to taste the year's new tea, and it starts the winter cycle in the tearoom. Zenzai, a special sweet for this auspicious occasion, will be served along with bowls of usucha. All members are welcome, and each member may bring a guest. Reservations are not needed; if the tea room is full when you arrive, there may be a short wait.

Sunday, November 23:  Holiday Chadogu Sale & Dogu I. D.
Quarterly Meeting of Members

Location: The von Briesen's home, 208 Sereno Dr, Santa Fe
Times: Chadogu Sale 12:30-2:00 pm (and after meeting) Meeting of Members: 2:00-4:00 pm
Who can attend: Members and invited guests (no dealers please)

Chadogu Sale: It's time for the annual dogu sale, timed once again so that you can take care of your holiday gift shopping! Buy some affordable tea-related treasures, donate something that you no longer use, and enjoy browsing through things large and small. This is Chado New Mexico’s biggest fundraiser of the year, and great fun, too. 

Austin Babcock has kindly offered once again to help identify tea utensils that you bring with you from home, or those you find at the sale. Many of you have asked for help with learning more about your utensils, and Austin is a great resource for identifying types of ceramics and lacquer, designs, fabrics, and makers. Please bring not more than three items, including not more than one scroll (for time purposes he may photograph scrolls and email with you about them later). 

Quarterly Meeting of Members: Chado New Mexico is your group - come find out what's happening, and let us know your ideas for activities both for members and our larger communities. Your participation really matters!

Sunday, December 21: Solstice Tea & Meditation
Location: Mabel Dodge Lujan Classroom, Taos, NM
Time: 6:00-8:00 AM
Cost: Donations are gratefully accepted, everyone welcome
Reservations needed: Contact Jean at 505.758-9532 or chadonm@cybermesa.com

This annual winter solstice event is a silent sitting and walking meditation followed by a tea gathering. It is a special time of inner quiet and the sharing of tea heart to heart. Some sitting cushions will be available, but bring your own if you have one. 

Hatsugama Dates: January 10 & 11. Mark your calendars now! The annual Hatsugama celebration for the New Year will be the weekend of January 10 and 11. This is the biggest member event of the year, with an extraordinary meal in the tearoom of Japanese symbolic foods followed by steaming bowls of tea around the charcoal fire. Information about seating times and other details will be sent later, but hold these dates! 

Other tea events of interest: 

Eighth Hakone Daichakai: October 19, 2008 

This annual gathering in Saratoga, California brings together tea practitioners of many different tea traditions in the beautiful location of Hakone Gardens. Attending as a guest is $50, which gives entry to three different tea gatherings during the day and a bento box lunch. Registration is necessary. For more information, contact John Larissou at 415.731.0622 or larissou@gmail.com 

2009 Friends in Tea Conference: June 10-14 at Dai Bosatsu Zen Center, Livingston Manor, NY

Friends in Tea (formerly Tea Beyond Japan) is a group open to all tea practitioners that gathers to share tea, discuss tea-related topics, and offer classes such as sweet making, tea scoop carving, and other useful skills for tea. In 2009 the group will return to Dai Bosatsu Zen Center for the second time, and the conference will include a talk by the center's extraordinary abbot Eido Shimano Roshi. Dai Bosatsu is a place of great natural beauty, located in the 1400 acre Catskill Mountain Forest Preserve that includes Beecher Lake. For more information, go to the web site www.friendsintea.org;  for information about Dai Bosatsu, go to www.daibosatsu.org.