Ikebana: Reflection in Bloom

In the summer of 2018 I moved to Portland, Oregon for a job. On a particularly gorgeous Wednesday afternoon, the humidity was low and the sun didn’t set until 9PM. With the free time at dusk and nothing else better to do, I decided to check out an Ikebana workshop that Nike was hosting.

Our instructor, Hideko Hearn, who is in her late 60s, is the sweetest Japanese lady you’ll ever meet. She started the class by explaining Ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arrangement, and its philosophy and technique for composing shapes within containers with flowers. Ikebana is based on Buddhist principles and has specific roles within the three dimensional composition of the arrangement. The longest stem called shin represents heaven, the medium stem called soe represents human, and the shortest stem called hikae represents earth.

Basic Upright Style Moribana with Campanula “Bell Flowers” and Calla Lilies

There’s a saying that Ikebana mirrors the person who arranged it, so in a way it represents self reflection and the human spirit. At the workshop there was enough flowers and materials for each student to make 2 arrangements. Even though it wasn’t a race to finish first, I hurried so I could fully maximize my time to make my second one. I feel as though I’m always in a rush or searching—whether it’s a new career move, life plans for the following year, or what’s coming next. Eventually, I tire myself from these thoughts and focus on the actual present. But it never really leaves though, because somehow the cycle begins again.


Flowers come into existence, live for a period of time, and die. I used to think it was a waste of money and question why anyone would want something so temporary. Maybe it was the warm weather, or living alone for the first time that finally did a number on me; either way the class made me look at my life and flowers with a new lens. Ikebana in many ways helped me let go of things I can’t control—though I’m not sure if my anxious thoughts of the future will ever leave me. The practice itself is mathematical since you’re placing the stems in certain angles, but the flowers are dependent on Mother Nature and what she decides to deliver you that season.

FaceTime Ikebana arrangements with Justin and Hideko

While I would have loved to keep Ikebana as my little secret of serenity, I inevitably shared it with my partner in life, Justin. We were in a long distance relationship for a year and a half. Whenever we FaceTimed on weekends or visited each other, we made time to do an arrangement together. There was something cathartic in sharing these experiences with him and I told myself that in some ways this long distance was short lived and eventually I’d be back in New York. And yes, if anyone is wondering, I moved back to the concrete jungle. We still spend time on the weekends doing Ikebana arrangements, together.

Text, Photography & Arrangements by Shirley Huong Wong