First, I would like to thank all of the Fairview Community Board members who made possible the opportunity for me to perform Ikebana classes as an activity for our local seniors; and in particular Alicia Davis for taking care of the details to make it happen.
I have been teaching Japanese flower arranging, Ikebana, based on the principles of the Koufu school since 2012. I try to impress upon my students that the importance of the flower arrangement is how it makes us feel while we are making our arrangements, and how we feel influences the resulting arrangements. However, particularly in introductory or basic classes, the connection to our feelings gets lost as comprehending technical skills occupy our thoughts:
How shall the way of branching various components of a flower arrangement proceed? In what direction, angle, and rotation do we arrange a flower upon seeing that each component itself can be arranged in various directions? How do we show that a flower is full of life, and it can grow? Sometimes when I am thinking about it, I can concentrate on only a flower and can forget the motley of circumstances I find myself in and time passes in no time.
It takes a lot of practice or maybe discipline to stay in touch with our feelings, but it gets easier once the technical processes become habit and occupy less of our conscious thought. In the end, the flower arrangement doesn’t matter but for us to learn and feel what it is teaching us, the flower arrangement is all important. In Japan, we have the term “mu” which means to “come to nothing or nonexistence.” Ikebana is a form of meditation where, when our mind is on flowers, it is nowhere else and can be enjoyed for that period.
While my classes are normally attended by adults, and in this case seniors, Ikebana is age independent. Children learn flower arrangements in Japan from primary school age and anyone can use it to acquire or improve aesthetic sense and concentration skills at any point in life.
One of the rewards for hosting these senior classes as a neighbourhood event was meeting and getting to know people who live close by. Beyond the technical, philosophical, and therapeutic aspects of Ikebana, the one constant in my classes is that the students always teach me something. While a common interest in Ikebana is what gathers us together, it is these gatherings where people’s stories emerge, and new inspiration unveils itself.
For instance, during a class this summer it happened that two of the ladies were half-sister’s but only found out recently. One of them had known she was adopted but had only recently set out to find her birth parents. When she did, she learned that she and her half-sister lived on the same street for decades without knowing each other. Now they do all sorts of activities together like coming to an Ikebana class.
There are miraculous things within our reach every day, but we have to have faith that they exist and the courage to look for them.
In another class, I sadly learned that my student had lost her daughter. She yearned to keep a connection with her by way of artistic creations. The aesthetics of Ikebana arrangements was one of the forms of art she knew her daughter loved and had a knack for. Hence, she came to my class to learn about creating flower arrangements. Unfortunately, my class was preplanned with materials to demonstrate introductory techniques and it did not match my student’s vision for the arrangement she wanted to create. I was however able to provide her with some materials and guidance to help her along in addition to the preplanned class. With her determination beget by love, I am certain she will create many beautiful arrangements and have little concern whether they conform to the principles of The Koufu School of Ikebana that I am trained to teach.
A lesson that came up for me is that, while I try to inspire others to see the beauty, feel the peace of mind and the satisfaction that can come from practicing Ikebana; I am reminded that the inspiration must come from within. A spark cannot create a fire if there is no fuel to burn.
For these lessons and simply spending time with me. I thank my students.
Rika
We thank Rika for sharing her time, skills, and beauty with the 60+ Collective.
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