Episode Summary

I hope you had a very Merry Christmas (if you celebrate) or, simply a joyful, cosy day all the same. How are we all feeling in the Boxing Day haze?

This week on The Tea Mind Podcast, we step into the soft, quiet space between Christmas and the New Year. The days where time blurs, the to-do list fades, and something deeper begins to stir.

I introduce Between Years – a 12-day tea ritual rooted in Celtic traditions and global seasonal wisdom. You’ll hear the story behind the ancient Omen Days, why this pause matters, and how a simple tea practice can become a gentle way to begin again.

Not a program. Not a challenge. Just a rhythm to return to.

In this episode:

* What makes this time of year feel strange, and why that’s useful

* The deeper purpose of the 12 Omen Days

* How other cultures honour this pause: Hogmanay, Rauhnächte, Kwanzaa, La Befana

* A tea practice to help you let go and begin again

* An invitation to join Between Years

Ask yourself: What am I ready to release so something new can take root? Let the answer come as slowly as steam rises from your cup.

Live Sessions

I’d love you to join me at our Opening Circle (26 Dec) and Closing Circle (6 Jan) - live online spaces to brew together, reflect, and set gentle intentions for 2026. Register now for your complimentary space (spaces are limited):

Opening Circle 26 Dec 7-8pm UK time:

Closing Circle 6 Jan 7-8pm UK time:

Resources and Links

* Join {Between Years} - the free 12 Day Tea Ritual at The Tea Mind Substack

* Make sure you’re getting eteaket’s Tea Mail to be the first to discover our new teas, like Earl of Winter.

Thanks for joining me on our pause for tea to rebalance and thrive. If you enjoyed this post, it would make my day if you’d comment, hit the heart button or share it. Your actions will help me reach more people. Thanks for your support! ✨ Erica x

The Tea Mind is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Episode Summary

When the outside world becomes cold and still, it is easy for our inner world to do the same.

In this episode, Erica explores how winter’s dominant energy, the Water Element, can leave us feeling emotionally flat, disconnected and unmotivated. Drawing from the wisdom of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the Five Element system, you will learn how to gently rebalance your energy by inviting in more Fire.

You do not need a new room or a big life change. Just a mat, a warm cup of tea and a few small signals to remind your body that you are safe, present and alive.

In this episode:

* Why winter fatigue and emotional numbness are signs of Water Element imbalance

* How Fire supports joy, circulation and connection

* Simple ways to create a sacred tea space with energy, not perfection

* How black teas like Earl of Winter can act as gentle ignition for your spirit

* Six practical ways to add Fire to your daily life without burnout

* A step-by-step tea routine to help you reset and reconnect

What is one small source of Fire you could bring into your tea space this week?A red scarf. A bold mug. A candle. A tea that lifts your senses.

Do not wait for the perfect moment. Start with what you have.

Resources and Links

* Subscribe to The Tea Mind Substack for free weekly insights and tea-based rituals

* Make sure you’re getting eteaket’s Tea Mail to be the first to discover our new teas, like Earl of Winter.

Thanks for joining me on our pause for tea to rebalance and thrive. If you enjoyed this post, it would make my day if you’d comment, hit the heart button or share it. Your actions will help me reach more people. Thanks for your support! ✨ Erica x

The Tea Mind is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Episode Summary

Feeling foggy, tired and pulled in too many directions?

You’re not alone.In this solo episode, Erica explores how the Water Element shapes our winter experience and why we often feel emotionally off-balance this time of year.

She shares how a simple tea break and a walk in the rain became the reset she didn’t know she needed. Alongside that story, you’ll learn how to use Mulled Pine tea and a three-minute ritual to reconnect with your energy and find clarity again.

In this episode:

* Why winter fog feels so intense

* How the Water Element affects your mind, body and spirit

* What imbalance looks like and how to recognise it

* A personal story about overwhelm, stillness and a shift in perspective

* Why clarity often comes when you stop forcing it

* How to create your own winter tea ritual with Mulled Pine

You don’t need to push through.You need space to pause.Clarity comes when you return to yourself.

Resources and Links

* Subscribe to The Tea Mind Substack for free weekly insights and tea-based rituals

* Make sure you’re getting eteaket’s Tea Mail to be the first to discover our new teas, like Sea Within and seasonal delights like Mulled Pine.

Thanks for joining me on our pause for tea to rebalance and thrive. If you enjoyed this post, it would make my day if you’d comment, hit the heart button or share it. Your actions will help me reach more people. Thanks for your support! ✨ Erica x

The Tea Mind is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Episode Summary

In this reflective winter episode, we explore how tea can be a doorway to deeper self-awareness. What begins as a simple cup becomes an invitation to slow down, reconnect, and notice who you are in the moment.

Through a personal story, a sensory tea experience, and a practice rooted in the Water and Fire elements, this episode helps you shift from rushing through rituals to reclaiming presence through them.

Because it’s never just about the tea. It’s about how you show up with it.

In this episode:

* Why tea is not the goal, but the gateway

* How the Water element shows up in winter and in us

* What happens when we live without enough Fire

* A personal story of slowing down and rekindling connection

* A simple but powerful Tea Routine you can practise this week

* One question to ask as your tea steeps

We want the comfort of tea without the confrontation of presence. But the way you brew is the way you live.

Resources and Links

* Subscribe to The Tea Mind Substack for free weekly insights and tea-based rituals

* Make sure you’re getting eteaket’s Tea Mail to be the first to discover our new teas, like Toasted Caramel Cookie.

Thanks for joining me on our pause for tea to rebalance and thrive. If you enjoyed this post, it would make my day if you’d comment, hit the heart button or share it. Your actions will help me reach more people. Thanks for your support! ✨ Erica x

The Tea Mind is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Episode Summary

In this rich and heartfelt episode of The Tea Mind Podcast, we’re joined by Beth Rehman, Managing Director and co-founder of Perle Hotels, one of Scotland’s boutique hospitality success stories. With a background in finance, a global career that spans Moscow, Dubai and Singapore, and a deep belief in purpose-led leadership, Beth brings a fresh and thoughtful take on what it really means to lead with intention in the modern world.

We explore everything from the lessons she learned during Russia’s 1998 financial crisis to how she’s embedding wellness into her hotel group – not just for guests, but for her team too. Beth shares the story behind the name “Perle,” her love for journaling, her unexpected path into hospitality, and how staying open to possibility has shaped every step of her journey.

Grab your tea – perhaps Jasmine Pearls, as we both serendipitously did – and join us as we unpack business, belonging, and being human.

In this episode:

* The surprising journey from global finance to boutique hospitality

* How Perle Hotels became a “string of pearls” and what holds them together

* Embedding wellness into hotel culture (yes, there are saunas)

* How journaling and imperfection shape Beth’s leadership and inner calm

* How journaling and imperfection shape Beth’s leadership and inner calm

* Redefining success as the art of making people feel seen, safe and at home

Resources and Links

* Perle Hotels

* Kintsugi: The Japanese art of embracing flaws and beauty in repair

* Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way and Morning Pages

* Beth’s favourite teacup: Catherine the Great pattern from Lomonosov porcelain

* Subscribe to The Tea Mind Substack for free weekly insights and tea-based rituals

* Make sure you’re getting eteaket’s Tea Mail to be the first to discover our new tea, like Sea Within and classics like Jasmine Pearls.

Thanks for joining me on our pause for tea to rebalance and thrive. If you enjoyed this post, it would make my day if you’d comment, hit the heart button or share it. Your actions will help me reach more people. Thanks for your support! ✨ Erica x

The Tea Mind is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Episode Summary

In this episode, Erica explores what it really means to do less, not as an excuse to check out but as a strategy to sharpen your focus, reclaim your energy and move forward with what truly matters.

Using a simple tea blending analogy and a real story about juggling work and an unexpected trip to Peru, Erica reflects on how easy it is to slip back into reactive mode, even when you think you’ve got it all handled.

This episode is a practical reminder that doing less isn’t failure.It’s a decision to focus.Because clarity often comes not from adding more, but from cutting what doesn’t serve.

In this episode:

* Why trying to do everything often leads to achieving nothing

* The cost of the “beige blend” life and how to find your flavour again

* How a simple tea routine can anchor clarity in chaotic times

* A real-life story about saying no and shifting focus

* A powerful question you can ask every day to stay aligned:“What do I need to say no to today to make space for what really matters?”

Resources and Links

* More Tea Routines and inspiration: The Tea Mind

* Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown

* Fewer Things Better Podcast by Kristin Graham

* Make sure you’re getting eteaket’s Tea Mail to discover teas like The Balanced Mind, white tea – to support clarity and calm.

Thanks for joining me on our pause for tea to rebalance and thrive. If you enjoyed this post, it would make my day if you’d comment, hit the heart button or share it. Your actions will help me reach more people. Thanks for your support! ✨ Erica x

The Tea Mind is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Episode Summary

In this episode, we explore what it really takes to stay the course - even when no one’s watching. Inspired by the remarkable story of photographer Alan McFadyen (who took 720,000 shots over 6 years to capture one perfect photo of a kingfisher mid-dive), this episode invites you to reflect on the quiet power of repetition, ritual, and the long game.

We unpack what it means to become someone who returns. Someone who waits. Someone who doesn’t quit just because it’s hard or invisible or unrewarded … yet.

In this episode:

* (00:01:00) The kingfisher dive: a 6-year promise in one perfect photo

* (00:03:20) Why we abandon habits too soon (and what it costs us)

* (00:04:00) My personal story: showing up online when no one responded

* (00:05:00) Inner critics, team rituals, and the power of tiny returns

* (00:06:30) A Tea Routine to build your “return muscle”

* (00:07:45) The question to carry with you this week

Resources and Links

* More Tea Routines and inspiration: The Tea Mind

* Alan McFadyen’s Kingfisher Photo & short film Moment of Impact by Blair Stewart.

* David Hieatt’s Micro Blog Course

* Make sure you’re getting eteaket’s Tea Mail to discover teas like Toasted Caramel Cookie Black Tea– to support your focus while nourishing your spirit.

Thanks for joining me on our pause for tea to rebalance and thrive. If you enjoyed this post, it would make my day if you’d comment, hit the heart button or share it. Your actions will help me reach more people. Thanks for your support! ✨ Erica x

The Tea Mind is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Episode Summary

What happens when we stop striving and start noticing?

In this solo episode, Erica explores how everyday awe can help us feel more present, grounded and connected. You’ll hear a story about a night sky over a Scottish beach, a community gathered around a fire, and a moment where time slowed down.

We’ll look at why awe matters, how it helps shift our perspective, and what happens when we feel small in a way that opens us up instead of shutting us down.

This episode includes a calming three-minute Awe Tea Routine and a gentle tea suggestion to help bring wonder back into your day.

Brew something warm, get comfortable, and come back to what matters.

In this episode:

* [01:00] What happens when we’re always chasing

* [01:20] The link between awe and meaning

* [02:05] A story about awe at a surf competition

* [03:09] The small-self effect and why it helps

* [04:00] A practical Tea Routine for everyday awe

* [04:50] A seasonal tea recommendation

* [05:28] Final thoughts on stillness and perspective

Resources and Links

* More Tea Routines and inspiration: The Tea Mind

* Listen: The Happiness Lab episode on awe with Dacher Keltner

* Read: The Science of Awe summary article (ICHK School, 2025)

* Make sure you’re getting eteaket’s Tea Mail to be the first to discover our new tea, like Earl of Winter.

Thanks for joining me on our pause for tea to rebalance and thrive. If you enjoyed this post, it would make my day if you’d comment, hit the heart button or share it. Your actions will help me reach more people. Thanks for your support! ✨ Erica x

The Tea Mind is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.