How to Use Feng Shui in a Garden

Feng shui is an ancient Chinese art that attains harmony and balance through the placement of objects. Start the harmony before you even enter your home by using its ideas in your garden.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Keep the front and back yards even. Don't put lovely flowering plants out front, and keep your back lawn green and shrubby. Mix it up. Also, spend time working in both areas. This will help with the sense of balance.

2. "Ming Tong" is a phrase that translates to roughly "bright palace." The area in front of your door should be flat and welcoming. Plants with thorns have no place in the front yard.

3. Small yards? Flower and window boxes will help attain balance. You can put window boxes on all sides of the house.

4. When it comes to making paths, they should be naturally crooked and curved. The curves will invite the flow of energy more easily.

5. Keep the five-elements in balance: water, wood, earth, fire and metal. You don't really have to worry about wood and earth--they are both all around in a garden. Throw some stones in as borders if you want to add more earth. A pond or bird bath will do for water. Keep in mind that flowing water in the back, left corner of the yard is said to increase wealth. A favorite way to incorporate metal is through windchimes, although sitting chairs will do just fine. Finally, a fire pit or barbecue will certainly bring an element of fire to your garden.

6. Use a variety of plants to keep it natural. Your goal is to work with nature, let it design for you. Western notions of a neat, formal garden in straight lines and grids have no place here. Don't be afraid to mix hanging vine plants near bushy shrubs, or ground cover near tall trees. You should be able to look at your garden and feel that nothing is out of order, but it shouldn't be ordered. Get it?

7. Use color! Vibrant colors such as red increases luck. Pretty plants will attract positive energy from passersby--which will bring positive energy to your home.

8. Remove dead leaves and debris. Feng shui traditions dictate that you should never leave dead plant matter in your garden.

9. Provide a sitting or meditation area in the garden. Visit it often, and relax. Take in the flow of energy that you have harvested in your new feng shui garden.

Tips & Warnings

• By following nature's design, you make it easier for energy to flow in its natural paths. Practicing feng shui will connect you to your home and the earth on which it sits.

[vikki9]

on 5/26/2008 Feng Shui also suggests keeping plants trimmed to below the windows of your home. Windows are the 'eyes' of your building and a clear view is desired. Also, facing from the street or front property line toward the building, the area to the front left is Skills/Knowledge/Wisdom: excellent location for a meditation garden. If you are standing in a back doorway looking into your garden, the Skills/Knowledge/Wisdom area is still to the front left. Thank you for this article - good suggestions.