The Energy of Tea with Olivia Simone and Iman Nazemzadeh
This live interview was recorded on December 16, 2023, and takes place on land that was originally inhabited by and stolen from the Tongva people.
It’s Saturday in late fall in Los Angeles. Flowers are still in bloom and the sway of palm fronds create a familiar symphony in this city of angels. As I enter the tidy and visually pleasing home of my dear friends Iman and Olivia, I’m greeted with a warm welcome and led to the floor cushions that surround the smooth olive wood tea table. Instantly, I’m at ease, as the fragrance of the brew fills the space. Iman is dressed in his tea service outfit, of crisp black with white accents, sitting next to Olivia, with her tousled hair and bohemian grace. The two, an embodiment of yin/yang energy, complement each other beautifully.
We spend the next hour mindfully sipping several cups of a delectable Pu’er, as we talk about how tea affects more than just our taste buds. The importance of ritual is highlighted, the elements of nature, and how the essence of this practice is to go within. Tea asks us to sit quietly, feel nourished by our insights, and allow them to take hold in our consciousness through the equanimity we feel in this moment. A delicious container provided for deeper relating.
