Chai

In India it simply means tea.

Tea that you share with all those around.
Neighbours, friends, brothers, sisters.

Chai that you buy for the cutie sneaky kids on the street.

Chai that you sit with- and look over the Ganga water in Varanasi- sipping out of a mini-terracotta cup- that you can smash on the ground after so it falls apart back to the earth. It's a whole experience that is wonderfully so satisfying.

Chai that i brew on my stove-top pot at home now in Canada... for all my babied- or pregnant sisters.
To Share our experiences over, with and through.

Chai that steep-ens over a day or two, with its cinnamon and ginger, cardamom and cloves... plus almond milk to soften and hold the flavours.

Their truest most richest flavours coming together in delicious synergy... to warm us and our insides during these cold winter days.

I make a whole big pot on purpose- knowing it will be shared for the next days. Not knowing all the reasons yet.

Wednesday the Mama's gather.

Thursday i go to dinner at a lovely friends, and i bring her some tea.

Friday- a long lost rainbow brother comes back into town- and we fill in the blanks over chai.

Saturday- a respected elder comes over to simply BE with me... a time so absolutely meaningful comforting and guiding... as my friend just died in Chile the night before. I am in shock. I needed to be comforted and warmed... we shared and talked over chai.

Sunday- last jar of chai... strong, dark and rich. It was needed. I sat with my sister- it was her best friend who died. We needed to just sit... and reminisce... Remember who he was- who he is.

He always added joy, warmth, and comfort.

Chai, tea... its more then the physical form.

It was brewing as i sat with my Mama Sisters... brewing as they brew new life in their bellies, or strengthened the child who fed at their breast... with loving spice.

Chai- it's loving energy being transmitted from mouth to mouth, belly to belly... heart to heart.

I sneakily know the story- namely THIS one... of the connection that this particular brew made.. easing the flow of life and death with the comfort it brought... the conversations and stories and emotions that its heat and warmth and spicy love nurtured, evoked and comforted.

Holding it- warming our hands... pleasuring our senses... and giving us a reason and focal point to connect.

Chai.