If you want to drink tea and explore the depths of yourself through meaningful conversation and an exploration of art… then go to The Shiloh Teahouse in downtown LA. This experience was something I had no idea I needed. Going into the teahouse we expected to drink tea and listen to some poetry but the tea experience was far more than that. We were greeted at the door and asked to take off our shoes. As we walked through the dimly lit space with humidified air we were encompassed by lush plants and mini sculptures everywhere. We then went to the tea bar and had an option of three teas- a caffeinated moonlight white tea which was described as brewed under the full moon to energize and release, The Herbal Grey and detoxifying Elderberry Elixir.
Tea:
Moonlight White, Herbal Grey, Elderberry Elixir
Teaware: The Teaware was very minimal and grounded as we were presented two small-sized hand-made tea cups that helped ground us for the upcoming tea ceremony. One thing that I appreciated from Tea at Shiloh was the emphasis on community
Poetry: One of the things we discussed in our poetry circle was the topic of community- what it means to build a community, what it means to be a part of a community, and how we are so dependent on socialization almost seemingly now more than ever as we enter this digital era. However, I asked the question: what do you do when you don’t feel like you belong in a community? Someone jokingly said well you leave! And although it’s such a light-hearted reply there is so much complexity behind the simple concept because unfortunately there are some communities you can never leave. Who you are, your identity, your culture defines you and how you operate amongst different communities so when you are put in place like for instance a racist predominantly white institution or a toxic job that you don’t really like the chances to opt out are slim. Being a part of these communities doesn’t mean the end, but finding your community through yourself and valuing the small things really goes a long way. Not allowing yourself to be a product of your environment but to allow your environment to be a product of you. Impacting the world around you in any way you can. I started this blog in hopes of finding a community that resonates with trying to enjoy the small pleasures of life when the world seems to be at odds with you. It is just as important to stop and smell the roses as it is to keep on going.
After our group discussion about community, we then went into the poems. One of the authors of the poems was a Palestinian survivor of the attacks of the war in Gaza and the other author was a transgender woman. Two very different perspectives. I was so honored to explore these points of view in a group discussion, there were so many different opinions that were so enlightening to hear.
The first poem was entitled
The End of a Discussion WIth a Prison-guard by Palestinian poet Samih al-Qasim
Through the eyehole of this little cell of mine
I can see the trees all smiling at me,
The rooftops crowded with my family,
The windows breaking into tears for me
And prayers for me.
Through the eyehole of this little cell of mine
I see your bigger cell just fine.
This poem was eye-opening for me because it talks about the duality of oppression. How both the oppressed and the oppressor will never be free, because although the person who is being oppressed is in this cage the guard is upholding the system for the oppressor which limits him to seeing “the trees all smiling at ‘them’” or in another sense life from the beauty of love and not of power. Even at the flip of a dime, it could be the guard in that very cell with him with one wrong move to his authorities which is why he’s not as free as he may seem. The guard metaphorically is pressed up against their bars so tightly that he thinks he’s free but if you were to tell him to step back he would realize how imprisoned he actually is. This poem made me think of The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin as Baldwin says “One of them said, “The very time I thought I was lost My dungeon shook and my chains fell off.” You know and I know that the country is celebrating one hundred years of freedom one hundred years too soon. We cannot be free until they are free.”
This is an unfortunate reality and a hard pill to swallow about the current state of inequalities not only in America but around the world, “When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.” -Jimi Hendrix
After we read the poems we were instructed to write our own poems and I wrote mine on what it’s like being a black woman in the workspace. It was so freeing to write down my feelings in the form of a poem! Who knew? I loved this exercise because it brought out an inner poet I didn’t know I knew. Not only was it therapeutic but through the art form of poetry I was able to personify a lot of my feelings which made it more tangible to deal with. It was a wonderful way to tie the evening, and I recommend my viewers to do the same! Have you ever felt stuck in a community you desperately want to get out of? A Job? New School? Bad friend group? What does it mean to have a community and how important is it to be in one? Write your own poem and share it in the comments if you feel called to share, I’d love to hear your stories!
Atmosphere:
The customer service was wonderful, the staff was very kind and so informative about each subject we discussed, and they made everyone feel welcomed and provided such a safe space.
The building is constructed of exposed brick loose silhouettes only lit by candles that were scattered throughout the room, beautiful lavish plants greeted us as we entered the gorgeous space. Dozens of pillows sat on the conversational pit where we had the tea ceremony. Overall this experience is for people who are interested in exploring the communal aspect of tea while engaging in in-depth conversation about our world and our impact as we know it. This tea experience was exactly what I needed from a community.
Experience Rating: 5/5 I would highly recommend Tea at Shiloh if you’re looking for down-to-earth conversations and looking for a sense of community. Tea at Shiloh provides a safe space for anyone looking to indulge in worldly conversations and allows you to connect with yourself as it relates to your values and beliefs that contribute to your journey on self-discovery over a nice pot of tea.
Cheers!
-M
