Kado - Ikebana

About this program

What is Kado Ikebana? The practice of Kado, or the "Way of Flowers” originated in China over 3,000 years ago. “Flowers”in this case is a metaphor for all sentient beings as all life-forms big and small come into being with innate universal wisdom. Meditation in Action The ultimate goal of Kado-Ikebana is not to make pleasant flower arrangements, but to expand our heart/mind to be in each moment fully, finding clarity with life’s confusion and obstacles, and develop a deep appreciation for the living world, self, other, and all of life. Heaven-Earth-Humanity Students will learn and work with the ancient Taoist principle and the natural hierarchy of Heaven, Earth, and Humanity, which is the organic beginning, middle, and end of all activity on earth and in the universe. The Heaven-Earth-Humanity principle can be witnessed in any natural environment or being, untouched or not manipulated by the hands or minds of humans. By understanding and following the natural unfolding of all nature, be it flower arranging, yourself, or any sentient being, life and “art" can become genuine and joyful. Meditation Meditation practice is the ground of Kado Ikebana as it shows us an understanding of the obstacles we encounter on the path. Participants will be given basic instruction in meditation practice. Prerequisites There are no prerequisites. The class is open to anyone with or without experience in Ikebana. Arrival & Departure Tuesday, please arrive 3:00 - 6:00pm for registration. Dinner will be served at 6:30pm. There will be an orientation given at 7:30pm. On Sunday, the program will finish by 5:00pm. Flower Fee: A $50 non-refundable flower fee is included in the tuition amount. Three Options FREE Friday Night Public Talk & Demonstration: Join us as Marcia gives a taste of what Kado is about and what the rest of the weekend will be like. No registration necessary to attend just the talk. Friday, Oct. 30, 7:30pm. October 30 - November 1 : This weekend portion of the program is a good place to start if you are new to the practice , curious about it, or have studied with a different school of Kado Ikebana . You can register just for the weekend by clicking on this link. October 27 - November 1: The full 5-day retreat offers an opportunity to deepen your practice. For those who have previously worked with Kado Ikebana, the program will be customized to meet your individual level and needs. You can register for the entire 5-day retreat on this page. Cancellation Policy Approximately two weeks before the start date of a program we confirm that we have sufficient numbers to hold the event. On the rare occasion when enrollment is too low, we may need to cancel a program. If this happens, we will notify all registered participants as soon as possible and provide a full refund of the program and accommodation fees paid to us. The center is not responsible for airfare or other travel expenses incurred. For this reason we recommend purchasing refundable travel tickets or travel insurance whenever possible. Getting Here Visit our Directions and Transportation page to see different options for traveling to Karmê Chöling including our Rideshare board.