Kado-Ikebana Instructor Training 2026

With: Marcia Shibata
27 September 2026 – 4 October 2026

This teacher’s training continues to cultivate a mind/heart that is always open. The programme is by invitation only.

Kado-Ikebana is a contemplative/meditative art. It can reveal the relationship and interdependency between space, nature and all sentient beings, but being able to perceive this depends on personal openness.

Human experience reflects the laws of the universe which are the laws of nature.

By practicing classical Ikebana forms, we can understand universal law or natural wisdom by witnessing it in nature, ourselves, all of life. Natural wisdom is the same everywhere even though it appears in myriad manifestations.

If we connect with natural wisdom it is then possible to guide others to discover their own. This depends on how consistently we maintain our openness.

The questions that always remain then are, “what is Kado-Ikebana?”, ”what can be learned from the practices taught from the contemplative/meditative art view and, “how do we learn?”

Once we have answered these questions, transmitting natural wisdom is self understood.

“It is true of every art that you cannot acquire what you have not felt.”

Gustie L. Herrigel, Zen in the Art of Flower Arrangement, p. 44.

Practical Information

Arrival day (Sunday 27 September): You’re invited to come from 4 pm in order to register and settle in your room. Dinner is served at 6:30 pm, followed by orientation talk at 8 pm.

End of programme (Saturday 3 October): Closing circle and banquet in the evening.

Departure day (Sunday 4 October): You may leave anytime (no programme). You’re welcome to stay for lunch.

Please note that an additional €40 flower fee (payable onsite) is not included in the price of the retreat.

This programme is taught in English. Requests for interpretation in other languages need to be made at least two months in advance and confirmed (please indicate you are requesting interpretation on the registration page).

Programme price

Regular	380 €
Patron	488 €	Help support lower income participants
Early Bird	323 €	Expires 30 August 2026
Under 30 years of age	190 €

Do not hesitate to contact our office to register for a scholarship at [email protected].

Price information

Regular: this is the regular price for participating in the programme. Occasionaly (if specified in the programme description), there may be an additional fee for materials, to be paid upon arrival.
Patron: for those who can offer more than the regular price, your generosity in paying the Patron Price helps cover the costs for others who are not able to pay the full programme price and provides support to Dechen Chöling.
Early Bird: 15% discount on the regular programme price is possible only if you register and pay the total cost of your stay upfront, 4 weeks prior to the start of the programme, i.e. before 30 August 2026.
Under 30 years of age: 50% reduction on the regular programme price for persons under 30 years at the start of the programme.

Accommodation: the standard accommodation we provide is in a dormitory for the winter and a furnished two-person tent in the summer. Extra fees for room upgrades can be paid upon arrival. Additionally, room tax will be charged at 0.22 € per person, per night.

See the full price list

Note: participation in any programme offered by the association of Dechen Chöling requires you to be up-to-date with the association’s annual fee (15 €), which can be settled upon arrival.

Total price

Item	Price
Total standard price	857.54 €
Programme price (Early Bird)	323.00 €
Full board: 7 nights (74 € per night - Shared 2-person room) *	518.00 €
Room tax: 7 nights	1.54 €
Dechen Chöling association’s annual fee **	15.00 €

* Includes Shared 2-person room and all meals. Other accommodation options available during registration.
** Legal yearly obligation (calendar year) for every participant or visitor.