More and more people today rely on Far Eastern teaching Feng Shui. The term, translated from ancient Chinese, means “wind and water” – the main sources of positive life energy, also called chi. The main goal of Feng Shui is that human beings live in harmony with their environment and that the positive energy flows freely. In this article you will find useful tips on how to design a Feng Shui garden to bring happiness, health and well-being into your home.
Apply Feng Shui in the garden area
In the traditional Feng Shui garden, order and harmony prevail – between open and densely vegetated areas, busy and quiet zones, bright and shady corners. So you should try to find the balance – the plant growth must be neither lush, nor monotonous and sparse. To accomplish this goal, all you need to do is follow a few simple rules that best reflect the Feng Shui principles. If you want to know more, read on!
Plant species for the Feng Shui garden
What is important in a Feng Shui garden? Not only the arrangement of the garden paths or the flowerbeds plays a role here, but also the kind of plants, which watch in your garden. According to Chinese folklore, there are five important elements that enable harmony and weight in the world – fire, water, wood, metal and earth. Each element symbolizes a special property, and must be present in any case in the Feng Shui garden – of course, by certain plant species that stand for it. Plants that represent the fire element are characterized, for example, by red-colored bark or leaves with a triangular or conical shape. Such species are, for example, red-flowering camellias, Japanese maple whose bark is red, and rosemary, boxwood and holly because of their triangular and conical leaves. Plants such as black snake beard, butterfly shrub, purple bell and taro are the water element as they are characterized by free forms and dark or even black foliage. Characteristic of the species that stand for the metal element are white or pastel-colored flowers, as well as round and oval leaves, while flowers in yellow tones and rectangular shapes symbolize the earth. The wood, as a last element, is represented by long and thin plants, such as Japanese arrow bamboo or rosemary.
Important rules to follow
Garden paths also play a special role in a Feng Shui garden, as they can direct the positive Chi energy to the house. It is not the choice of materials, but the shape of the way important. Whether made of stones, bricks or concrete, you should definitely avoid straight lines and angles, but opt for wavy patterns, spirals or circular shapes. Your footpaths should be designed in such a way that you have soft curves and turns. That would give your garden an original and unusual look.
The water – inseparable part of the Feng Shui garden
The flowing water is also an important and inseparable part of the Feng Shui Garden, as it stands for money and prosperity. You can introduce the element into your garden design by choosing to build a small garden fountain or pond. In Japan, the ponds are very popular with gold and silver fish, because it is believed that the fish symbolize valuable coins and bring the Glüch into the house.
Design energy centers
According to Feng Shui, the positive life energy accumulates in certain objects with a circular shape – for example, stones, and is then gradually released to the environment. Such energy centers are a must for any Feng Shui garden. A round flowerbed, whose edges are also made of round stones, is ideal for such a point. Another possible variant is Buchs, cut in a spherical or spiral form, since he can also absorb energies. However, to feel good in the garden, the most important thing is to stay true to your own style – then the positive energies would flow by themselves.