Kado is Japanese flower arrangement. It means, “the Way of flowers,” and it’s one of numerous Japanese arts ending in “Do,” indicating “the Way.” Nonetheless, how these arts function as Ways isn’t always understood.
It’s common to state that kado is a Way of life (thus the designation “Do”), and that by practicing, we can transcend it and grasp the art of living. While this is true, it’s uncommon to find a teacher (or book) that can explain how floral art leads to spiritual realization. While some books pay lip service to the ideal of the Way producing spiritual evolution, they also sometimes fail to offer direct explanations and methodologies to help students realize the Way. It’s frequently assumed that merely manipulating flowers will produce profound realizations.
This is untrue and unfortunate. It’s untrue because it’s the manner in which we approach the Ways that determines what we learn from them. Spiritual realization isn’t guaranteed.
It’s unfortunate because the conscious practice of Japanese Do forms truly can result in the cultivation of mind and body. But to use flower arrangement as meditation, we must investigate exactly how it can lead to realization.
Kado’s been the subject of numerous books. Few of these works, however, have explored how it goes beyond floral sculpture and enters into spirituality. Even fewer have offered methods to practice what can be thought of as “flower meditation,” and which are needed for personal growth to take place.
Our book was written to answer that need.
