The cozy aroma filled the air and the steam hit our faces as we poured the colored water into our cups. The colorful boxes sat on my counter top watching as we laughed in conversation as we waited for our tea to cool so we could add our honey. We were excited. Of course for the tea, but also to catch up in a different, more structured way. We decided to try a zine for the first time. To begin, let’s talk about what a “zine” is. Traditionally, a zine is a short, DIY magazine that can be printed and shared. The one which I’ve printed out was meant to be done and reflected upon over some tea, which I had shared with a friend.
We had decided to bring our favorite teas and prepare them together, reflecting upon the questions and our own experiences. Tea itself has a deep root in our cultures, as we are both South Asian. Tea is its own part of the day where families come together to discuss their day and news they’d like to share. When we followed the zine, we had to dig deep and clearly channel our inner thoughts and experiences into words. Instead of covering our daily endeavors we pushed ourselves into thought, thinking about who we actually are and who we aim to be.
This was a special experience that I shared with another and after the full experience, we had a deeper appreciation and understanding for each other. Some questions asked things like “what do we want to manifest in others?”. Our responses to these types of questions helped us understand each other’s goals and values better by the end of it; we also now help each other to fulfill these wishes we have since we know each other’s goals.
The further we went into this, we realized that it wasn’t always about the tea. The tea just acted as a medium for conversation. Overall, I believe that taking time out of your day to enjoy a cup of tea, or any drink, with your thoughts can have many benefits. Using this zine as a guideline can help you learn things about yourself you haven’t even thought of.
This experience allows you to push through your personal barriers and confront yourself on a level you may not have reached prior. Following the zine in an organic way allowed me to understand myself as well as those around me in a more meaningful way; and I strongly recommend that anybody interested try it out, either alone or with a friend.
Download zine | Download instructions
