Being with Flowers: Floral Art as Spiritual Practice - Meditations on Conscious Flower Arranging to Inspire Peace, Beauty and the Everyday Sacred - Hardcover

"Tears came to my eyes many times as I read this wise, soulful and loving book."
- Alice Walker

"This is a beautiful and original book in which Anthony Ward shares with us a life shaped by his love of flowers. And through vivid prose and stunning photographs, [he] brings into the living room the magic of these gifts from the world of nature."
- Jane Goodall

"Anthony Ward is a nature spirit-fairy-shaman coaxing the shining divinity of nature into a vase before your eyes. To watch him perform with flowers is like seeing a magician sculpt plant life into its most radiant beauty."
- Allyson and Alex Grey, visionary artists, authors, and co-founders, The Chapel of Sacred Mirrors

"One can always identify Anthony's work, which he receives directly from the Creator. The work is organic, pure, and innocent. I'm so happy that Anthony has finally put into form this much dreamt about and visioned book that you will be blessed to hold in your hands. Anthony himself is a flower."
- Gurmuckh Khalsa, founder, Golden Bridge Yoga Center

"I have been blessed to witness the magic that is Anthony being with flowers. People all over the world will now have the chance to experience his sacred, beautiful, and empowering process through his book. His experiences with flowers have beautiful and inspiring lessons for living life for all of us."
- Julia Butterfly Hill, author, The Legacy of Luna, and co-founder, The Circle of Life Foundation

“Tears came to my eyes many times as I read this wise, soulful, and loving book. Anthony Ward, who is himself as mysterious as a flower, has written beautifully about his relationship with flowers. Not perhaps since George Washington Carver have we had the opportunity to learn from so evolved a mystic soul about the possibility of human interaction with, and appreciation of, plants. 

“This is one of those books that make us say: This book, these teachings, this calm spirit, have been missing from my life! And, thanks to so good a universe as the one we share, now it exists!” (Alice Walker)

“I've known Anthony for more than twenty years. We go way back with our origins at Omega. I'll always remember Anthony's magnificent flower arrangements. Wherever we went at Omega, we would see Anthony's arrangements. There might be just one flower and a group of stones, twigs, and moss. One can always identify Anthony's work, which he receives directly from Creator. The work is organic, pure, and innocent. I'm so happy that Anthony has finally put into form this much dreamt about and visioned book that you will be blessed to hold in your hands. Anthony himself is a Flower.” (Gurmukh Khalsa)

“Anthony Ward's unique and disciplined art form blends nature with ceremony, music, dance and stage-crafted improvisation. The artist's creative expression reaches way beyond arranging multi-colored blooms, often emphasizing stems and leaves, the important choice of the container and all elements that surround the living and spontaneous sculpture. Works of art created before our eyes show the wisdom of careful consideration for visual elements of color, shape, line and form. Featuring the contours and aesthetic lines of nature highlights the essence and vitality of plant life. Being with Flowers offers a performative meditation that encourages our contemplation on sublime beauty, drawing together heaven and earth to grace mind and soul.

“Anthony Ward is a nature spirit fairy shaman coaxing the shining divinity of nature into a vase before your eyes. To watch him perform with flowers is like seeing a magician sculpt plant life into its most radiant beauty. Creating exquisite floral art for the Dalai Lama, Hollywood’s elite, and performing onstage with jam bands and electronic musicians, Anthony charms the audience while ceremonially showing us what we miss when we pass a grassy grove without thorough examination. He reminds us we are all ‘being with flowers’ and encourages us to embrace our tree hugging love of the environment with a sacred bouquet.” (Allyson and Alex Gray:)

“I have been blessed to witness the magic that is Anthony being with flowers on many occasions over the years. I was even able to be his assistant one year and have had his beauty bless more than one event that I have done and been a part of. I am so excited that people all over the world will now have the chance to experience his sacred, beautiful, and empowering process through his book. His experiences with flowers have beautiful and inspiring lessons for living life for all of us.” (Julia Butterfly Hill)

"This is a beautiful and original book. Through vivid prose and stunning photographs Anthony Ward shares with us his love of and respect for flowers. Whether their design is simple or exotic, their colors muted or flamboyant, he captures and shares the magic of these gifts from the world of nature.” (Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE, founder, the Jane Goodall Institute & UN Messenger of Peace)