Ikebana: The living flowers

I spent the day in the garden, watching new flowers emerge from the frozen ground. Such grace and vitality, perfectly positioned in the earth, and possessed with a natural ability to twist and take the shape of the light, rain and spring breeze.

This natural order was relaxing to observe, giving my mind a space of comfort and silence. It is a natural order only understood by affinity and sensibility. It is a space offered by nature to harmonize the internal disorder. It is an opportunity to feed the soul.

To be able to reproduce in a flower base the impact of this natural beauty is an art. The understanding of such an order requires deep contemplation; its manifestation, the guidance of an ikebana artist.

Later in the day, I went to see an Ikebana show. I was brought to tears at the Embassy of Japan, delighted to see how the ikebana artist can depict their own personality in relationship to natural elements. I was impressed by the harmony that my mind adopted as I contemplated the perfect ikebana. I also experienced how the misplacement of a single flower can produce a subtle uneasiness in the mind. Ikebana has that oriental philosophy of space, grace and beauty. It has offered me the opportunity to see the objects of my home under a very different light, and has facilitated a creative explosion of opportunities in my large country garden.

I look forward to putting my hands to work under the direction of Christiane Ryan, an ikebana artist and enthusiastic meditator. I also look forward to sharing the afternoon with you, learning this subtle art of flower arrangement.


Here the details:

We will practice together a basic upright arrangement in a moribana (flat container).

                                               When:  May 13, 5 pm to 8 pm

Where: 22 Hillcrest, Wakefield

Cost: $45 per participant, payable before May 6, by cheque or cash. $10 non-refundable fee  for cancellations after May 6. Plant material included.  

What to bring:  Sharp gardening shears 

Kenzan (frog) at least 2 inch diameter, available in Chinatown or at a flower shop

One flat container at least 2 inches high (can be a cake pan, a baking dish, etc.)

1 pitcher

1 plastic bowl to cut flowers (at least 6 inch diameter and height)

1 towel

A camera and/or sketchbook (optional)

Your teacher

Christiane Ryan is a certified teacher of the Sogetsu School of Ikebana. She is a member of the Sogetsu Ottawa Branch and of Ikebana International (http://www.ikebanahq.org) Ottawa Centenial Chapter (http://ikebanaottawa.ca/). She has exhibited several times at the Japanese Embassy in Ottawa and at the Canadian Museum of Nature. She can be contacted at cryan@videotron.ca, or by phone at 819-243-1413