I recently took a class in ikebana, the traditional art of Japanese flower arranging. Ikebana is similar to Western-style flower arranging in that both styles use a variety of seasonal flowers and greens arranged in an attractive way. However, they differ in several important ways. First, in ikebana, the act of arranging the flowers should be peaceful and calming. The artist is completely silent while creating the arrangement. It is a time to remember our connection to the natural world and appreciate the beauty around us. For me, practicing ikebana has become a wonderful way to forget about the troubles of daily life. Second, in contrast to crowded Western-style arrangements, which use many types of colorful flowers and can look "busy," ikebana features open, pleasing designs of mainly stems and leaves and just a few flowers (or even none at all). Another important aspect of ikebana is the idea that the individual arranger should express his or her own character or emotions through the arrangement. In this way, the ikebana arrangement is more than flowers in a vase. It is a form of human communication. Although I still love making traditional Western bouquets, ikebana has given me a new way to relax and appreciate the beauty of nature.