October 2025
The Kettle's on the Boil ... Let's Have Tea
Listen to the audio version by Dorothy
Welcome to October's Innisfree Moment, when we say a fond farewell to this year's summer and greet autumn's vibrant colours and crispy underfoot leaves. With the cooler temperatures and shorter daylight hours, do your thoughts turn to cozying up with warm cups of tea?
I have recently been listening to Irish tenor, Daniel O'Donnell's, The Irish Album. One song in particular brings back early memories: There's always a fire in the kitchen; there's always a kettle on the boil. Growing up in our home in Belfast, Northern Ireland, one of our rituals, when coming in from outside, was to put the kettle on to boil. Then we had one brand of tea leaves; once made, the teapot sat on a lighted gas ring and was 'stewed to within an inch of its life'!! Later, the leaves were used as fertilizer for our garden. Today we have so many choices: Regular or herbal tea - Earl Grey, English or Irish Breakfast, Green, Peppermint, and many more.
Are we complicating our lives with so many choices? Anne Morrow Lindberg writes in Gift from the Sea, " ... we, who could choose simplicity, choose complication." Managing our lives is challenging. It means saying "no" in order to say "yes" to higher priorities. It means listening to that still voice within to discern our own truth, rather than being overwhelmed by the tug of facts that barrel their way into our minds each day.
During my career as a verbatim reporter, at the conclusion of a lengthy Human Rights hearing, the lawyer for the plaintiff, in his summation to the tribunal, urged them to focus on the truth, and quoted Frank Lloyd Wright: Truth is more important than facts.
Yet, how privileged we are to have choices that extend far beyond the decision of which tea, or coffee, is most appealing. We decide which clothes to wear, the kitchen dishes and utensils we use, etc. Do you enjoy variety, as I do? Perhaps the question to ask is: Did I wear it / use it within the past year? If not, perhaps it's time to give it 'wings' and let it go to another happy recipient. Life is made up of choices, so with the longer evenings, let's ponder on ensuring we choose simplicity in our lives, as Anne Morrow Lindberg reminds us.
I wish you moments of stillness where you discern your own truth. Do be kind to yourself, and patient. As legendary Chinese philosopher, Lao Tzu, wrote: Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished. Just make yourself your favourite cup of tea --- or beverage of your choice, and if you don't have a cheery fireside in your home - real, gas or an electric one, as I do, the crackling logs on one of the television channels is a dreamy substitute.
Until next time, enjoy the colours of autumn and, if you are joining friends or family during our Canadian Thanksgiving, have safe travels. From my heart to yours, thank you for journeying with me. If you and I one day have tea together, I promise you, it will not be stewed!
Blessèd be ... Namasté!
Dorothy B.
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Rev. Dorothy Blandford, Ph.D
Apt. 202 - 1655 Martin Drive
Surrey, BC, V4A 6E1, Canada
604-535-9016
info@innisfreespirit.com