Why writers burn pots

This is my daily meditation ritual, perhaps it will work for you.

Western practitioners affectionately call it "MAKING TEA."



Each time you "MAKE TEA" you will be surprised by the result, no matter how many times you conduct this ritual.



1. Put water in pot.

2. Select tea. Feel twinge of guilt. Will the KAVA tea become addictive?

3. Flirt on the edge of over -scrupulosity. Doubt your faith, your guidance, your sanity.


4.  Place teabag in cup.  Read the teabag. It says: Think and speak kindly today.

5. Put heat under pot. Make a mental note: DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES FORGET THE WATER THIS TIME YOU KNOW YOU WILL BUT NOT THIS TIME. OK I WON'T.
YES YOU WILL IDIOT.

6. Have 100 thoughts as you move from kitchen to your writing place.

7. Face the computer. Choose a weighty topic. TAKING A VOW OF REFUGE.
 Plan to make it short, delightful and simple. Write something ponderous for 6 minutes. Delete it all, start again. This time choose a simple topic: strange sightings of animals. Become absorbed.

8. You set out to write about the animals, but it becomes about a certain obsession. That's why it is an obsession, it sneaks into everything. But should you write about the obsession--or keep your focus on the animals?

9. KEEP GOING! If you keep going, you will make it work!

9. You are now in a scene, writing a scene. There is an obsession. There is a possibly rabid animal.
It's creeping along behind a snowbank, and you can only see its humped back.

10. You are ready to unmask this obsession. After decades, you have become aware that it is time to take action.

10.  The animal becomes visible--AHA, it's a raccoon! It's going somewhere,  the story is flowing, --you are hooked--fingers flying--action, drama--

8. Smell something weird.

9. Cry out: SHIT, not again! (as if you are truly surprised.)

10. Run to kitchen.

11. Apologize--to what?

12. Run scorched pot under cold water.

13. Repeat as necessary, until house burns down or you have a decent cup of tea.

14. If you happen to wind up with a steamy cup of tea, do not become attached.
Instead, move on to the completion stage of the practice.

15. Allow tea to grow cold.

16. Spill tea onto keyboard.

If the computer is not entirely destroyed,  do not be disappointed! Simply engage in your practice tomorrow, with a fresh mind, and one-pointed determination. BLACKEN THAT POT! BURN THE HOUSE DOWN! DIP YOUR FINGER INTO THE SMOLDERING COALS AND WRITE YOUR STORY IN THE SNOW!