Indian Voices Article – May 12, 2025
The power of a cup of tea By Cindy Saylor
The magic of a mindful cup of tea is a powerful tool for self-care, self-love and for sharing with others. Humans have mixed and matched herbs and plants into tasty brews for millenia. Every culture has beloved traditions and practices. Quieting your mind, thoughtfully choosing your herb or tea, waiting for the water to boil and finally for your tea to steep is a beautiful practice with universal benefits for mind, body and soul.
A short respite from our normal day a cup of tea can soothe frayed nerves, quiet a busy mind, and nourish our body.
How to use a simple cup of tea for self-care and self-love.
Center yourself: Take a few deep breaths, close your eyes if you want and ground yourself to the earth. Offer thanks to yourself and the world for this moment of quiet.
Prepare your tea: Choose your tea or herb, boil the water, and steep your tea for anywhere from 5 minutes to 15-20 minutes.
Steeping time: Turn off your phone, shut your computer, put some quiet music on if you desire, light a candle or burn some incense, or not. Give yourself this time to transition and offer yourself kind compassion.
Pouring & Smelling: Once your tea is ready pour your tea into a vessel. Notice the beautiful steam coming up out of the cup and into the air. Inhale deeply and allow your mind to be quiet. What do you smell? Does the scent evoke any emotions or memories?
Scent can awaken memories, gently open our emotional heart and bring a feeling of peace and calm.
Tasting: When you are ready, take a drink of your tea, but don’t swallow it immediately. Hold it in your mouth and notice the flavors – sweet, bitter, spicy, pungent, sour or? What do you taste? This may take a few sips to fully decide what flavors you are noticing. Notice how the flavors move through your body. Where does the energy of the tea move in your body? Up, down, to your head or heart? To your digestion, or perhaps to your emotional body.
Continue to fully enjoy your tea in an embodied way as you drink your cup. Allow your body and senses to lead the way.
Herbal teas to try:
Chamomile (Matircaria recutita) – Chamomile is light and refreshing yet powerfully calming and soothing to frayed nerves and tummies Chamomile is available everywhere and this seemingly simple herb is a powerhouse of nervous system and digestive support.
1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon per 8 oz of hot water.
Lavender (Lavandula spp.) – Lovely Lavender! The scent of Lavender uplifts our spirits, quiets our frayed mind and can help tension headaches. Luxuriate in calm joy Lavender brings to our minds and bodies. ½-1 tsp per 8 oz of hot water
Peppermint (Mentha piperita) or Spearmint (Mentha spicata) – Mildly stimulating to our energy Peppermint or Spearmint tea awakens our senses and brings energy to our mind and body. Both of these mints can help settle our digestion.
1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon per 8 oz of hot water.
I hope the simple yet powerful practice of pausing for tea becomes a gift you give yourself. Anytime you feel overwhelmed, stressed or confused, a pause for tea allows us to recenter ourselves and quiet our busy minds.
Green Blessings!
Note: The information shared is for educational purposes and not meant to diagnose or treat any condition. Always consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before using herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medications.
Cindy Saylor, Everyday Plant Magic is an herbalist, nutritionist, community educator, poet and devoted to sharing the teachings of the plants and the earth that have been shared with her.
Learn more: everydayplantmagic.com
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Cindy Saylor, Certified Herbalist & Nutritionist, Vitalist