Tea Parties Raise $10,000 for Women in Transition

Tea with a purpose
Monthly teas turned into nonprofit ministry to help women in transition

You never know where a passion for pretty things will lead you. Thada Ziegler's love of teacups, beautiful dishes and vintage silver led her – and her husband – to sleeping in a closet.

"My husband and I are nuts about estate sales," Thada said. Over time she developed a huge collection of teacups and related serving items.

A volunteer coordinator at the Union Gospel Mission [in Spokane, WA], where Ziegler helped out, knew of her collection and suggested Ziegler host a tea for the residents of Anna Ogden Hall.

Ziegler and her husband love to entertain and agreed to host the tea. She knew the dining room in their Colbert home wasn't big enough to accommodate a large group. But, their master bedroom was huge. Her husband Warren, moved their king-size bed into the walk-in closet. Three years later, it's still there.

"That first tea was so much fun." Ziegler said. She knew she wanted to do it again, and decided to use all the proceeds to raise money for Ogden Hall.

Soon Ziegler was hosting teas every month, and Taste and See Ministries was born. Wide French doors open to reveal Ziegler's former bedroom transformed into a charming tea parlor. A garden-themed mural arches over one wall, and sunlight pours through the windows. Crystal water goblets sparkle.

Tables topped with lace are set with heavy silver and delicate cups and saucers. Fringed lamps and fragile china rest on lovingly restored side tables. Hand embroidered vintage napkins and antique linens add to the old-world feel of the room.

"I love to hear women laughing," Ziegler said. "I like to pamper them."

In two years Taste and See raised $10,000 for Anna Odgen Hall. Recently, Jan Pike, a former customer, started helping Ziegler with the teas. The ladies also began teaching a class at Ogden Hall called, Tea 101. The class covers everything from how to set a proper table to the history of tea. At the end of the class, Pike and Ziegler host a tea party for the residents who've completed the course. "The women are transformed," said Pike.

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Tasseography 101

Tasseography is the ancient art of interpreting the patterns of tea leaves in a cup in order to provide insights into the subconscious. The process is quite simple.

1. Choose a light-colored or white tea cup with no pattern and a wide brim. Make a cup of tea in it using a high-quality loose leaf tea without dusty particles. Do not use the contents of a teabag.
   
2. Meditate and empty your mind as your tea steeps.
3. If you are left-handed, lift the cup with your right hand and vice versa. Sip your tea while you continue to empty your mind. Slowly allow your mind to begin to focus on an important thought or issue. Leave a little tea and all the tea leaves in the bottom of your cup.
4. Gently swirl the leaves in the cup clockwise three times bringing the leaves up to the brim. Pour out the remaining tea by turning the cup upside down on a saucer. Take three breaths then turn the cup right-side up. The leaves will be distributed around the inside of your cup.
5. If your cup has a handle, start there and read clockwise. If it doesn't have a handle, begin at the 12:00 spot. Make notes of the symbols you see in the leaves (like Rorschach inkblots) and also note the location (rim, middle, or base).
6. Note the first thing each symbol brings to mind.
   
7. The first symbol represents your dominant trait or someone near. Symbols in the rim represent the present. Symbols in the middle section represent the near future. Symbols in the base represent your ultimate truth for all time.

Some common symbols and their usual meanings:

• wings - messages
• egg - good omen
• leaf - new life
• hammer - hard work needed
• sun - happiness
• birds - good news

Explore more symbols and their interpretations here.

For more information on the art of tasseography, visit Tasseography.com or enjoy these books

Test Your Tea Knowledge

1) Definition of English “High Tea” is:
A) An evening (dinner) meal where tea is served.
B) Tea service characterized by ritual and formality, as in ‘high society’
C) Also called “Afternoon Tea.”
D) None of the above.

2) A “gaiwan” is:
A) A bamboo strainer
B) A Chinese covered cup
C) A whisk
D) None of the above

3) The English baked product 'scone' is pronounced:
A) “sk—on”
B) “sk—own”
C) Both a and b
D) Neither a nor b

4) To properly care for your porcelain teapot and make the best tea, one should
A) Wash thoroughly after each use with mild soap and water.
B) Wash in a dishwasher.
C) After each use, wash with 2 tablespoons baking soda and boiling water.Soak overnight and rinse with clean water.
D) Never wash with soap or in the dishwasher. Rinse with clean water, invert and air dry.

5) Rank these drinks in order of consumption worldwide from most to least: Coffee, Milk, Tea, Water.
A) Coffee, Tea, Water, Milk
B) Milk, Water, Tea Coffee
C) Water, Tea, Coffee, Milk
D) Water, Milk, Coffee, Tea

6) Tea is produced from which plant?
A) Chamomile
B) Camellia sinensis
C) Ilex paraguariensis
D) Aspalathus linearis

7) Mate and Rooibos are varieties of tea.
A) True
B) False

8) White, Green, Oolong, and Black teas all come from the same plant?
A) True
B) False

9) Drinking tea will make you lose weight?
A) True
B) False

Answers: 1-a; 2-b; 3-c; 4-d; 5-c; 6-b; 7-b; 8-a; 9-a
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