Today's Goddess: Unchi-Ahchi

Kencha-sai (Japan)

Themes: Spirituality; Universal Law; Meditation.

Symbols: Tea; Teapots and Cups

About Unchi-Ahchi: Presiding dutifully over the family stove is the Japanese Goddess, whose name means "grandmother hearth." From this position in the home she joins today's festivities to warm the tea and to meditate on our beliefs with the other gods and goddesses. Afterward, she returns to our homes and lives with important insights about the meaning of sacred ritual.

To Do Today: In Japan, today is a time to go to Kyoto temple and watch or participate in the ancient tea ceremony. In this culture, each movement and ingredient in the tea ceremony represents a spiritual principle or truth - all mingled into a simple, satisfying cup. This is a lovely tradition, so share a cup of tea with a friend or family member today. Invoke Unchi-ahchi simply by lighting the stove. Use the stove to ignite a candle, and take the candle to where you're sitting to carry the goddess's energy to that spot. Discuss spiritual ideas, allowing this goddess to give you new insights. To increase the significance of your tea ceremony, choose the tea's flavour according to the topic of conversation or something needed in that relationship. If discussing divination or alternative health, for example, use orange or mint, respectively. To deepen love or friendship, use lemon.

From "365 Goddess" by Patricia Telesco and GrannyMoon's Morning Feast Archives