When I learns tea ceremony, I sometimes have the opportunity to perform tea ceremonies at tea parties or cultural festivals at local centers.
I worry about whether I will make mistakes in the tea ceremony. It is a good thing that I worry so much that I practice a lot and devote myself to it. In addition, it is important to learn the movements of the tea ceremony, not only in the tea ceremony but also in the tea ceremony itself, by practicing until your body can do them naturally. I would encourage anyone who has the opportunity to experience the tea ceremony to not only try it once, but to continue.
By the way, when you perform in front of others for the first time, your consciousness usually wanders off somewhere, and you often lose track of what you have done. In some cases, the memory of the mistake has flown away, but before you know it, you have successfully completed the tea ceremony.
I used to learn tea ceremony at a local center. I had an opportunity to perform a ‘RYU−REI‘ tea ceremony(Table and chair style) at the center's cultural festival.

As a new member of the club, I was so nervous about quietly serving tea in front of 30 people that I made a slight mistake in the procedure. As I proceeded with the tea ceremony, I realized my mistake and corrected it with a nonchalant face, so it did not become a serious problem.

But right after everything was over and I greeted them, the woman who had been ‘SHO−KYAKU‘ a main guest came up to me with a steady hand and said, "You made a mistake there. You should do there.’ and left. I thanked her for teaching me, but at the same time I felt very embarrassed as I saw her off.
Later, my teacher came near me and said. ‘That main guest is not a true tea master,‘ she said to me. I did not understand what she meant at the time.

To be continued…

mica♡matcha