Ikebana, the stress reliever

Nature offers beauty, serenity, creativity, adventure and even more. But with the advent of technology, computers, televisions, mobile phones and others, one does not even have the time to look at nature, leave alone enjoy it anymore.

But Malika Cooke is changing all that. She is slowly but surely bringing back the age old Japanese art and science of Spartan flower arrangements – known as ikebana back to Sri Lanka. Ikebana that was initially only the realm of Japanese men during the eighth century is now taught to a few interested people all over the world while definitely occupying a strong place in the Japanese school curriculum.

All Japanese school children are introduced to ikebana as an all important life skill. Despite the fact that Japan is one of the most technologically advanced countries in the world, they do not wish to drop their age old traditional art, as its importance in personality development cannot be overlooked.

Mali was drawn towards ikebana way back in 1972 when she had loads of time on her hands and just one teacher of ikebana in the whole of Sri Lanka. She perfected her art when she got an opportunity to study under a very exacting teacher for several years in the UK.

And now she spreads this very beautiful therapy to her many students from many walks of life with her soothing voice and gentle encouragement.

“Ikebana helps a person become much more organized in their daily lives. It also brings a slow but sure change to the personality of not only the arranger but also those that look at the arrangements,” says Mali. “Much like ornamental fish that have now become an all important accessory in boardrooms and hospitals, ikebana too is very therapeutic for the onlooker,” adds Mali.

As technology advances, and stress increases all over the world, people are desperately looking for stress relievers, in the gym or at yoga or in meditation or even in dance classes but here with ikebana not only is there Peace of mind but a sense of achievement, as creations are turned out in minutes.

While for the onlooker a sense of surprise awaits, at seeing how beauty can be achieved with so little and with such clever juxtaposition.

Essential three

Preparation: Ikebana teaches the arranger to prepare beforehand. Way before buying the flowers or picking it from the garden, the idea of what will mix well with what. What colours will bring out the desired effect, should be planned in the arranger’s mind. One cannot just buy a bunch of flowers and put them all together. Much planning and preparation goes on in the mind. By following this pattern, the arranger realizes that he or she is able to use this preparation skill in all walks of life, not just for ikebana.

Cleanliness: The first rule of ikebana is that the flowers, leaves and stems as well as the containers have to be squeaky clean. The arrangers are immediately inculcated with the importance of cleanliness.

Peace: While arranging the few items on the pin holder, a sense of calm and peace descends, while flowers and stems are placed with firm but gentle movements.

‘The arrangement itself reflects the personality of the arranger’ says Mali. With the same flowers and stems so many different arrangements can be produced by different arrangers. But all of them follow the principal of the earth and heaven connected by the colourful soul of the human being.