In Cork we had a full house for the practical Wisdom of Japanese Arts workshop. Combining the disciplines of Ikebana flower arrangement and Haiku poetry, members of the public were invited to explore their reflective side and connect with timeless beauty.

First learning about the concepts of both arts, everyone then worked in calm and concentrated silence to construct their individual Ikabana. Everyone noticed the dramatic change in atmosphere after the time spent focusing on the floral arrangements, it being a calming and centring experience for all. After a short break we returned to reflect briefly on the flowers and the experience before capturing the essence of both in a short but profound Haiku.

In both cases, the specific structure of the artforms initially seemed to limit creativity but people quickly realised the need to let go of the desire to control, not to seek perfection but to quiet the mind and emotions and simply ‘be’. Though it was more of a challenge for some, everyone in the end was able to produce a unique and inspiring poem to accompany their ikebana, both of which they could take home with them.