Natalia Proops: “When I was eight, I went with my parents to the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow to watch the Nutcracker, by Tchaikovsky. It was staged at the time by Marius Petipa, and it was pure magic. Imaginal exposure for children that I still find absolutely beautiful.

Walking around in a beautiful dress looking at Buckingham Palace in London, when I was twenty-one, I felt the connection of beauty within the world. The thought that ran through my mind was, “I can now see the world”. 

The first time I did an ikebana, a Japanese flower arrangement, I was in my thirties, and a student in New Zealand. Ikebana is the centuries-old Japanese art of arranging flowers, which translates to “making flowers come alive”. In ikebana, the key consideration is to use as few stems and leaves as possible in composing elegant contours that highlight the flowers' beauty. Three to five years are required to acquire the technical and expressive skills. Sogetsu is a modern school of the Japanese art of flower arranging, which was part of the school I attended. My first arrangement, which was the simplest one, amazed me that it really was ikebana. I could not believe I had actually done it.”

Have a listen as I interview my special guest, Natalia Proops. Find out how creating beauty can enhance your life.