Experience an intimate tea ceremony exploring the connection between Taiwanese oolong tea and the handcrafted porcelain vessels used to serve it. Led by ceramic artist Meiya Sidney 陳美亞 and tea practitioner Flowing River, this immersive gathering invites guests to slow down, connect through mindful ritual, and discover the shared origins of tea and clay, both emerging from the lush earth of Taiwan.
The experience flows from an introduction to the tea and porcelain, into a silent meditation to connect with the tea’s energy, followed by a guided tea ceremony, an integration circle, and time for community, conversation, tea, and light snacks. Guests will also have the opportunity to explore fired and unfired porcelain samples while Meiya Sidney shares the history, craftsmanship, and creative process behind the hand-crafted vessels from Taichung, Taiwan.
Facilitators:
Meiya Sidney 陳美亞 is a ceramic artist whose work explores reflection, care, and Taiwanese cultural traditions through clay and paper. Inspired by her family’s history in Traditional Chinese Medicine, she teaches ceramics throughout Santa Barbara and has exhibited at institutions including the Art, Design & Architecture Museum at UC Santa Barbara and the Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara.
Flowing River is a poet, musician, and spiritual practitioner who has spent more than 15 years studying contemplative traditions around the world. Through tea ceremonies rooted in mindfulness and community, he creates welcoming spaces for reflection, connection, and personal growth.