Illuminate, a tea ceremony of light. Saturday, October 24th, 4:00 to 8:00 PM CT at West China Tea House in East Austin, hosted by Grateful Giraffes and West China Tea House. 4:00 PM arrive in the garden, 4:30 PM opening and ecstatic Qigong with Alex, a friend of the tea house, 5:15 PM the tea ceremony at three tables inside, 6:00 PM linger and mingle until 8. $55 a seat, the same for everyone. Giraffes are automatically approved and non-Giraffes must be approved by the host.

A photo from the hosts.
Qi + Tea Ceremony

Illuminate · Qi + Tea Ceremony of Light

Saturday, October 24
4:00 to 9:00 PM CT
West China Tea House · Austin
Qi + Tea Ceremony

Illuminate · Qi + Tea Ceremony of Light

Saturday, October 24
4:00 to 9:00 PM CT
West China Tea House · Austin
Request your seatDiscover the ceremony
A photo from the hosts.
The Intention

Cultivate the light. For the season of dark.

As the days shorten and autumn turns toward winter, we step into the season of inward focus. When the outer world grows dark and cold, we gather to cultivate warmth from within, becoming the light that illuminates our journey and the community around us.
Hosted by West China Tea House and Grateful Giraffes ATX
The Intention

Cultivate the light. For the season of dark.

As the days shorten and autumn turns toward winter, we step into the season of inward focus. When the outer world grows dark and cold, we gather to cultivate warmth from within, becoming the light that illuminates our journey and the community around us.
Hosted by West China Tea House and Grateful Giraffes ATX
A photo from the hosts.
Qi + Tea Master

KantàMaiáAwa

KantàMaiá’Awa is a master of Qi Gong, tea ceremony, and somatic alignment. He seamlessly bridges Medical Qi Gong, Structural Bodywork, and ancient ceremonial arts. Through the intentional cultivation of breath, movement, and tea, KantàMaiá’Awa guides participants to dissolve deep-seated blocks, harmonize their energetic fields, and drop into profound presence and clarity.
Qi + Tea Master

KantàMaiáAwa

KantàMaiá’Awa is a master of Qi Gong, tea ceremony, and somatic alignment. He seamlessly bridges Medical Qi Gong, Structural Bodywork, and ancient ceremonial arts. Through the intentional cultivation of breath, movement, and tea, KantàMaiá’Awa guides participants to dissolve deep-seated blocks, harmonize their energetic fields, and drop into profound presence and clarity.
Tea poured from a clay pot into small cups, by lantern light.
Illuminate · Austin

How the tea pours

Illuminate · Austin

How the tea pours

4:00
Arrive in the Garden
Step into the courtyard, a peaceful respite in the midst of the city. Gather, quiet the mind, and connect with community.
4:30
Opening & Ecstatic Qigong
Led by Qi + Tea Master KantàMaiá’Awa, an opening circle followed by Ecstatic Qigong, a practice weaving the uninhibited motion of ecstatic dance with the intentional energy cultivation of traditional Qigong.
6:00
Ceremony of Illumination
Step inside as darkness falls for a Gong Fu tea ritual featuring rare, high-grade leaves, accompanied by the light of the Ye Ming Zhu stone, and seasonal refreshments.
8:00
Gratitude Circle & Open Gathering
A grounded closing circle to ground the evening’s experience, with a welcome to linger in the tea house and stay connected.
4:00
Arrive in the Garden
Step into the courtyard, a peaceful respite in the midst of the city. Gather, quiet the mind, and connect with community.
4:30
Opening & Ecstatic Qigong
Led by Qi + Tea Master KantàMaiá’Awa, an opening circle followed by Ecstatic Qigong, a practice weaving the uninhibited motion of ecstatic dance with the intentional energy cultivation of traditional Qigong.
6:00
Ceremony of Illumination
Step inside as darkness falls for a Gong Fu tea ritual featuring rare, high-grade leaves, accompanied by the light of the Ye Ming Zhu stone, and seasonal refreshments.
8:00
Gratitude Circle & Open Gathering
A grounded closing circle to ground the evening’s experience, with a welcome to linger in the tea house and stay connected.
A tea seal and cups on the wooden bar, lit by a lantern.
A Tea Ceremony of Light

Request your space

Saturday, October 24
4:00 to 9:00 PM CT
$55 per space for all guests.
Giraffes are automatically approved.
Non-Giraffes require host approval. Ticket pricing is the same for all.
A Tea Ceremony of Light

Request your space

Saturday, October 24
4:00 to 9:00 PM CT
$55 per space for all guests.
Giraffes are automatically approved.
Non-Giraffes require host approval. Ticket pricing is the same for all.
RSVP

Saturday, October 244:00 to 9:00 PM CT

West China Tea House · 1715 E 7th St, Austin

Your ticket
$55
Discount code

$55. Giraffes are automatically approved and non-Giraffes must be approved by the host.

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Guests are held for host approval. Your card is only put on hold now and charged once you’re approved; then you’ll receive the address and the calendar invite.

Grateful Giraffes are approved automatically. .

Hosted on the Oasis

This gathering lives on the Oasis.

This event is hosted on The Oasis, a collaboration between Grateful Labs and Grateful Giraffes. To host an event on the Oasis, email our Chief Giraffe of Staff, Gigi, at gigi@grateful.gg.

Email Gigi

Our story · since 2022

A wall, a bus, a collapse, a pivot, a pop-up dinner table.

  1. A wall

    The purple and yellow Gratitude Wall in Tel Aviv, covered in handwritten notes under the words What are you grateful for, a child lying on the ground writing one more

    The Gratitude Wall in Habima Square, Tel Aviv, April 2022.

  2. A bus

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    Writing on the Grateful Bus in Venice, June 2022.

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    Our Thank You wall at NFT NYC, June 2022.

    Then the price of Ether collapsed and took the NFT market with it.

  4. A pivot to a pop-up dinner table

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    An Evening of Gratitude in Venice, November 2022.

    We took that as information.

  5. 500 gatherings later

    About thirty-five Giraffes standing in a wide circle around a living room at dusk, each holding a lit tea candle, two hands with candles in the foreground

    An Evening of Gratitude Shabbat at Brentwood Hills, June 2026.

We started with twelve chairs and two folding tables in Venice. 500+ gatherings later, the people who kept showing up became the Giraffes: heads in the clouds, feet on the ground, big hearts. We’d love for you to be one of them.

Max & Julian
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Grateful GiraffesSaturday, October 24