Gardens for the Soul

Gardens connect us with nature and the earth, awaken our senses, remind us of the changing cycles of the seasons, enliven the body, provide opportunities for peace and contemplation, and enable experiences of beauty and reverence in every day life. It can be said that a garden is a reflection of the soul, so tend both with love and reverence. Applied to a garden Feng Shui can deepen one's experience of peace, balance and beauty.

In busy urban environments of concrete, bitumen, plastic and power lines, gardens are especially important for bringing balance and beauty into our lives. Whether your garden is a planter tub on your balcony or kitchen window sill, an inner city courtyard, or a suburban backyard, having a view and daily encounter with plants and nature can be uplifting for the spirit and nourishing to the soul.

Landscaping should be sensitive to the local climate and environment as well as to the dynamics of your home and lifestyle. Applying Feng Shui principles to the design of your garden can strengthen siting and significantly enhance your experience of your home.

The Perfect Arrangement
The first rule of Feng Shui is to create symbolically the strength and stability of the mountain at your back. In garden terms this means that the back of your home should be contained and protected. This is particularly important if the rear of the site slopes away or has a road or water flowing past. Avoid disturbing the back further with moving water from a fountain, spa or pool. A tall and solid fence and high thick plants along the back perimeter can offer some protection and anchoring for your home.

The front of the house should be open, vibrant and welcoming. Generally this is where you could place a fountain.

Flow of Life Force
Where possible with fences, paths and other garden structures, avoid straight lines, angles or sharp edges. These create "cutting Qi" which can be uncomfortable to occupy. Feng Shui generally prefers curves in a garden to enable Qi to flow gently as nature does. Balance hard surfaces of paths and patios with shrubs that also help to channel and contain Qi. A meandering path through the garden can assist the Qi to meander like a river.

The Five Elements
For balance introduce to your garden materials that represent the qualities of the five elements of fire, earth, metal, water and wood:

Fire
For example, the flamboyant, expansive energy of "fire" could be expressed with flame coloured flowers, garden lanterns, a brazier and rich terracotta paving.

Earth
"Earth" conveys stability and nurturing. In the garden earth could be a stone wall, a sandstone statue, clay bricks and yellow flowers such as wattle.

Metal
"Metal" represents heaven's force and could be present in the form of a wrought iron gate, a bronze statue or sundial, a metal wind chime or round white flowers.

Water
"Water" in moderation can bring qualities of depth, mood and reflection into a garden. As a fountain or a bird bath, water is life force. A fish pond can be auspicious with eight gold and one black fish to encourage prosperity. If you cannot have real water in your garden, a "river" of pebbles could be a wonderful water pattern.

Wood
"Wood" is the primary element in a garden, of course, as plants, relative to other objects, are considered to be wood. A bamboo chime could also convey the soft wood tones of the wind.

The Energy of Plants
Choose plants carefully for their energetic nature of growing. For example, the dense form of conifers can be useful for settling and containing open, exposed areas, or for a protective buffer on busy roads. However, in a small space these thicker plants can create stagnation and obstruction. In contrast the rich red flowers of the bottle brush can be a cheerful influence and attract birds.

Avoid sharp leaved, blade-like or spiky plants, especially close to paths, as these can be inhibiting and unfriendly.