In ikebana, as in Zen, space is not empty, it’s alive and essential. This workshop invites participants to slow down and listen to the quiet intervals between flowers, branches, and moments. In this class, we’ll explore how ikebana arrangements emerge not just from form, but from the space that holds it. The workshop will begin with a live demonstration, and then participants will create their own arrangement with guidance and feedback.

About the Instructor: Kristina Bajunaishvili has studied Sogetsu ikebana since 2015. She approaches ikebana as her primary creative practice, a way to explore space, form, and feeling through flowers and unexpected materials.

The fee for this in-person workshop is $70 for nonmembers and $55 for Zen Studies Society (ZSS) members. Register early as the maximum number of participants is 12. Note that the member price is for ZSS members only – please consider becoming a Supporting Member. No prior ikebana experience is necessary. Materials will be provided (all plants locally grown and sourced). ZSS Health Protocols apply.

Experience The Festive Song “Takasago”

Noh theater was established about 700 years ago and is considered the oldest surviving major performing art in the world. It emerged during Japan’s medieval period, a time when Zen flourished and deeply influenced Japanese culture. Noh embodies the Japanese perspective on life, death, and spirituality. Many mindful ideas for one’s life path can come from experiencing Japanese literature and crafts through Noh, including Noh music and dance, which are permeated with the memory and feelings of the people of the past, as well as elements of their aesthetics and physical sensibilities. Experiencing Japanese literature, music, and dance through Noh offers deep insight into mindful living. These art forms are imbued with the memories, emotions, aesthetics, and physical sensibilities of past generations, reflecting a rich cultural heritage that can inspire one’s life path.

This lecture and workshop will begin with an introduction to Noh, including its masks and expressions. In the workshop, you will experience Noh chanting, known as utai, which utilizes deep breathing techniques. Participants will learn by chanting a passage from Takasago, a festive Noh play centered on purity, the pine tree as a symbol of eternal life, and prayers for peace. Open to beginners, the workshop focuses on Noh vocalization and breathing techniques.

Let’s open your heart, distill, and emit your inexhaustible energy with Noh chanting during the cold season. Enrich your life by learning this Japanese traditional art.

About the instructor: Mayo Miwa (三輪万葉) is a New York City-based Noh performer and instructor. She trained under a leading Noh actor of the Kanze School and earned her Noh major from Tokyo University of the Arts. She teaches Noh chanting and dance both in NYC and online, reaching students domestically and internationally. Beyond its role as a traditional Japanese art form to be preserved for future generations, she views Noh as a unique physical and aesthetic practice that can rejuvenate the mind and body in today’s world. She also serves as Vice President of the 501(c)(3) organization Noh Society.

The fee for this workshop is $25 for nonmembers and $20 for Zen Studies Society (ZSS) members. Note that the Member price is for Members only – please consider becoming a Supporting Member of ZSS.

To register please email info@miwamayo.com and indicate which 40-minute session you would like to attend. All sessions are semi-private and conducted in English. Payment can be made via Paypal or Venmo, details will be provided at the time of registration.

• Session One | 2:00pm – 2:40pm
• Session Two | 3:00pm – 3:40pm
  
• Session Three | 4:00pm – 4:40pm