Grounding Ritual with Vanilla Obscura Shu Puerh
Vanilla Obscura is a deliciously grounding tea, as are most good Shu Puerhs. Shu Puerh is a type of partially-fermented tea made from leaves of Ancient Tea Trees (Camellia sinensis var. taliensis). Puerh leaves in general I find to be very grounding perhaps due to the age of their kind—there seems to be a certain wisdom lurking in the leaves. Shu Puerh (shu means “ripe,” in this case referring to the wet fermentation process of the leaves) seems to me to be especially grounding due to the partial decomposition of the leaves which lends the tea an earthy flavor reminiscent of a damp forest or perhaps some really good gourmet compost.
Simply pouring and drinking a Shu Puerh such as Vanilla Obscura is a Grounding Ritual in itself, as the process of pouring and drinking the tea engages the senses and brings the body and the self into the full experience of the present moment. However, you can include elements of visualization, incantation, and more as you desire.
Incantation
I’m standing in the magic,
Love is all around.
My head is in the clouds
But my feet are on the ground.
I’m standing in my power,
Look at me now!
My head is in the clouds
But my feet are on the ground.
Visualization
As you sit at your tea table, imagine the torso of your body as the trunk of a wise and ancient tree. Feel your root chakra expanding into a root system and tapping down deep into the earth to ground and anchor yourself in the present moment and to draw up all the nourishment from the soil which you need to flourish. Smell your tea. Notice the scent of petrichor, and any others which stand out to you. As you sip your tea, imagine a soft rain falling all around you and soaking deep into the earth where your roots will draw it up to feed your heart, body, and soul.
If you choose to do this ritual, or any variation of it, I’d love to hear about how it goes for you in the comments below!
Keep dreaming, stay grounded, and drink your tea. May your every day be filled with love and magic,