A tea ceremony is not to be confused with high tea. There are no white tablecloths, no cucumber sandwiches, cookies, or creamer. No gossip or giggles. There is not a dress code. A tea ceremony is a time for connectedness, reflection, and feeling close with nature. Shiva Rose, founder of her totally clean, totally nature-centered namesake beauty and skincare brand, has been on a mission to do just that all her life. She finds her daily ceremony deeply centering, and spills the tea with us about how it’s done.
This isn’t just for special occasions—it’s for the everyday. It’s a personal and sacred ritual that really only requires tea and time. Shiva starts each morning with a practice of sitting in silence with several bowls of tea. Not just a microplastic tea bag steeping in a hot cup, but bowls of loose leaves that offer a wide brim of steam. “This is the moment I gather my energy for the day, and connect to my spirit or deeper self.”
Shiva refers to this as the Cha Dao, or “The Way of Tea,” and shares that it’s helped her evolve from someone who has an “intense monkey mind” (someone who cannot sit still with their thoughts, aka many of us) to “someone who now has a profound love and respect for this practice.”
