Speaking of Tea...

In this episode of Speaking of Tea… I travelled up island to Courtenay where I met with my friend Peggy Carswell who founded the non-profit organization Fertile Ground. This is a project which connects tea growers and farmers across India in developing sustainable farming practices through compost and soil, bringing together ideas and strategies and connecting cultures. Our conversation covered al...

While the title suggests a very relaxing episode of philosophical topics, well that is what you’ll get, but to say I was in a total state of mindfulness while recording this wouldn’t exactly lead you in the right direction. Between my recorder battery dying twice and me laughing at myself for the silliness, you’ll going to get me, Rachelle, as I am. In this episode I read a chapter out of the tao...

In this episode I do my first interview and video recording for the Speaking of Tea… podcast with my friend Megan Hill. The focus of our conversation was on the book Megan published a year ago called “Birthing An Angel” which I had the opportunity to read this summer when we met. We discuss many topics that are in the book including birth and body trauma, breath work, dissociation, several healing...

Journey to the other side... Today I talk about an album I’ve created over the month of October, called “Singing To The Dead”. It came from a will to just sing into a microphone while thinking about a loved one who has passed, Jesse McPhee. There was a first track called “Lifting The Veil”, and then a few more songs followed and it started to feel like something. Carrying the mood, several more ca...

This episode of Speaking of Tea explores the topic of poetry! What makes a poem what it is? How does a poem differ from other types of literature? Why does something written as a poem have the kind of meaning that it does? What are the rules to creating a poem? Does it have to rhyme? Rachelle investigates these questions with some personal input on her approach to writing. She discusses various th...

In this episode, I explore the topic of black tea. It is known as “red tea” in the east, and black tea in the west, and I provide some historical context into why that is. Discussion on different styles of tea production, traditional techniques for creating tea and tea brewing. The benefits of drinking chrysanthemum shou puerh. Legends of the great smoky tea Lapsang Souchong- and how it tells the...

In this episode, I discuss the changing of seasons and the need to wear warmer clothes & blankets to avoid turning up the thermostats. Then move into an oracle card reading which provokes talk about the Beginner’s Mind and how everyone can make use of this theory in their lives. Next, I discuss the results of the proposed “poetry tour” I embarked upon this summer! The many experiences that wer...

*Sound bowl & rain stick * Oracle card reading *Tea Education *Old projects (Opening the Box) *Poetry book discussion *Poetry reading *Stories of Travel *Change of Seasons *Breath meditation

In this episode, Rachelle presents the types of topics that you will encounter in further episodes of the "Speaking of Tea..." podcast. A singing bowl and tarot card reading to begin leads her into discussion of new beginnings and what kinds of conversations will take place during various episodes and interviews. Topics will include tea, poetry, spirituality, philosophy, healing arts and music. St...

An exploration of the voice and spirit of poetry.