What is "Feng Shui"?
Feng Shui or "Wind and
Water" is the ancient Chinese Art Of Placement. It is based on the
understanding of the flow of energy (Ch'i) throughout ones inner and
outer life.
The
tradition of Feng Shui believes the way a home is decorated and
designed affects the fortune of the people living in it. Feng Shui, the
art of creating/finding harmony in your surroundings, can be applied to
your home, office or apartment.
In
Feng Shui if you want to create a new future for yourself, then first
you must clear out the clutter in order to make space for new
possibilities and opportunities to enter into your life.
Clutter
can have a significant effect on us by impeding the smooth flow of ch'i
around the home, thus reducing the chances of progressing through life
with ease and comfort. Things that you want to keep should be useful,
stored tidily, and be easily accessible.
The
outdoors surrounding your home is also important. This includes items
like planting materials(palms, trees, shrubs, climbers, bamboos, bonsai
or etcs), fencing, fountains, decks and patio furniture.
*Tips: If you surround
yourself with things that you want and love, your energy will increase
every time you see them.
Feng
Shui Garden
Feng Shui is the ancient
Chinese art of placement.
The
Chinese believe that by placing things to encourage the beneficial flow
of Chi (Energy Force) you can create harmonious change which affects
your health, wealth and relationships.Feng Shui is becoming
increasingly popular in the West.
The Feng Shui garden
incorporates Feng Shui princicples, thereby creating beneficial Chi in
your environment.
A
Feng Shui garden should follow nature's lead as much as possible with
the primary aim of creating harmony and balance. There are certain
fundamentals to remember when you begin to plan your Feng Shui garden.
Paths should never be straight, as chi energy would run too quickly
towards your home, instead let them meander and curve through your
garden. A curved path encourages chi to move more slowly and freely. If
you already have straight paths, then allow plants to grow over them so
the chi can circulate freely around them.
A
garden should have "living spaces" that provide a haven for friends and
family to relax and enjoy the sunshine and gentle breeze.Trees or large shrubs
will provide privacy and protection at the back of the garden. Balance is created by
mixing different sizes, shapes and colors of plants so that no one
species is overwhelmed by another.
Water
features such as pools, ponds and fountains are beautiful and encourage
beneficial chi. They also symbolize prosperity and create yin
(feminine) energy.
*Tips
:You can create more Yang (masculine) energy by using garden lights to
add light to the garden’s dark areas. Remember balance and
harmony is the key to a Feng Shui Garden.
Feng Shui
Garden Planning
All kinds of garden can incorporate Feng Shui
principles
from the country garden style, which is considered informal to the
asymmetrical formal gardens. The key is placement and balance of yin
and yang energies. This can be done with color, plants, trees, shrubs
and water features, garden furniture, lightings, windchimes and other
garden accessories.
To make the perfect Feng Shui garden, plant a mix
of
flowers, shrubs and trees that will delight the senses for all four
seasons. Plants should be healthy, lush and well trimmed. The shapes
should balance each other to encourage good Feng Shui for your home and
its occupants.
To encourage wealth, luck and prosperity grow healthy plants
in
the Southeast of the garden. The presence of soft foliage can be
balanced with the yang of natural stone and rock. Place some stone
ornaments and terracotta plant containers for a touch of Earth energy,
particularly in the Southwest and Northeast.
By
using a variety of materials in a garden, you can bring about the kind
of effect you want. Groves and vines are very yang and can mark seating
areas and garden borders. If
you have garden walls and fences, don’t despair, you can use
them
to support climbing plants and flowers. This adds color and
height to a garden. With planning, these plants can soften sharp edges
at corners thereby reducing harmful “cutting chi.”
A
structured effect can be created in larger areas
by
growing a mixture of flowering and evergreen shrubs up pergolas. A rustic wooden bench
looks perfect in a country garden. If it is placed in the East it will
help to boost the wood element.
Water features are very
important to a Feng Shui garden and are a key element in attracting
positive and beneficial chi. Water features are
beautiful all year, trickling, splashing, reflecting light and shade,
against a backdrop of luxurious plants or mysterious
stones. In
Feng Shui the location of the water is essential. Elaborate water
features can become the main focus of a garden, however, make sure it
doesn’t overpower the rest of the garden. Goldfish in a pond are
very auspicious in Feng Shui. Some
areas are only large enough for a small water feature. Make sure the
water circulates constantly. Free form ponds look very natural in a garden
and should be filled with interesting aquatic plants.
If you have a pond
already establishes in you Feng Shui garden, it should be well
maintained with healthy plants and fish. Any dead or sickly plants
and fish create stagnant chi. Water that is cascading
down over rocks makes a very appealing water feature. Pleasurable winding
walking paths are at the heart of the Feng Shui garden. They are vital
conduits of Chi.
Many materials can be combined to form
garden paths. Meandering paths can be edged with delicate creeping
plants that balance the yang energy of stone, concrete
or brick. Paths can wind through
the garden and lead to sunny, pleasant seating areas surrounded by
shrubs and aromatic herbs. You can design a curving, grass
path bordered by flowers and fast growing shrubs.
*Tips
: Localing garden lights in the Southwest area of your garden may bring
about significant and dramatic improvement in your marriage or
relationship areas of your life.
Garden
Lighting
 Adding lights to your
Feng Shui garden can create a warm inviting glow
in the evenings to give it a more balanced and relaxed feel. Lighting
can be used to highlight plants and foliage, enhancing the colors of
the seasons. Lights represent the fire element and give
out positive yang energy, that can be used to create auspicious Feng
Shui.
The
warm glow of candles always adds to the ambience of your garden and
brings in more positive yang energy. You can also use candles that are
designed to keep mosquitoes out of your environment at night. Hanging
lanterns from hooks or trees is especially potent when placed in the
South of any garden, as this particular area symbolizes the Fire
element. Small lights placed anywhere in your feng shui garden create
good fortune by adding positive yang chi. By cleverly using lighting
you can effectively harness Earth luck, thereby enhancing and
activating family and relationship luck.
Soft and subtle garden lighting placed
beneath
foliage or behind rocks can add to the ambience of your garden and
enhance positive yang energy. If the areas you plan on using lighting
receive plenty of sun during the daytime, try using solar
powered lighting that automatically turns on when the sun
sets.
You
can bring about major improvements to your garden feng-shui by the use
of lights to energize good areas of the garden and offset problem
areas. The potency of specific elemental forces can be increased to
attract recognition and fame.
*Tips
: Plant taller trees and fast growing shrubs at back of your Feng Shui
garden for protection, privacy and support.
Garden Planting
Plants of course are at the very heart of every garden,
however in a Feng Shui garden the combining of plants with foliage, and
contrasts in color and texture not only looks appealing but will help
to balance the yin and yang energies. Plants can help to create visual
and acoustic privacy, softening the effects of negative chi. Flowering
and fruit shrubs attract very beneficial chi and invite living
creatures into your garden. It is a law of nature to blossom into a
plentiful tree that shares its fruit.
Small shrubs are best placed in the Southern area
of your
Feng Shui garden. Be sure not to block any of your entry ways or
windows with plants.
Planting purple and red
bougainvillea attract
wealth as these colors represent prosperity and are very important feng
shui colors. Shrubs which can be useful for their positive influence in
the feng shui garden include camellia and roses, however, there are
many others such as forsythia, shrubby clematis and rhododendron.
 In
the East of the garden, grow trees such as the Chinese dove tree and
silk tree as well as their weeping forms. For fragrance, lilacs have a
lot to offer. In the Western area grow flowers, especially scented
varieties and combine them with low-growing shrubs.
Garden
Accessories and Ornaments
Once you have resolved the layout and planning of your feng
shui
garden you need to consider what accessories you can add to enhance it.
Tables that have large round edges are best as they don’t
give
off cutting energy. Chairs with flowing curves will enhance the flow of
chi.
There are many styles and materials you
can choose
from for your garden furniture. Wood is always preferable. Big round
terracotta or earthenware pots symbolize the Earth element and can be
the focus point of your garden. Place them in
the Southwest (Marriage and Romance) and Northeast (Education and
knowledge) areas.
Sculpture or stones will absorb energy or
force
energy to move around it-thereby slowing it down. Gazing balls
strategically placed can deflect negative shi. Wind chimes and gongs
add to the beneficial movement of chi. Different types of trellises can
be used for trailing plants to soften cutting corners or walls or to
conceal dull sheds.
Many people incorporate gazebos as a
part of the
design of their garden adding a serene and private place to relax on
sunny, summer afternoons. Remember balance and harmony is the key to a
good feng shui garden.
*Tips
: The principle of Feng Shui are those of harmony and balance. Be
careful of overwhelming the area near home with too much water. The
size of any water feature should be planned in balance with
all
the elements of your garden.
Garden Pond
The beauty of water is reflected in the clear serenity of a
garden pond. To create a unique and beautiful focal point in your
garden, add a garden
pond. There
are many styles to choose from. Some are preformed and can be installed
easily or you could build it as a “do it yourself”
project. No matter which you choose, your garden pond will give you,
your family and guests many pleasant moments.
Before you begin thee are a few important points to consider. The space you have
available for the garden pond. What will the theme of
your garden be? Is your garden classic, formal or informal? How are you going to
landscape the area surrounding the pond and garden?
There
are also additional items you may want to consider. A beautiful
Garden Patio umbrella is the perfect accent for your home. It
is helpful to have a general plan, with sketches, to get an idea of
space and placement. Keeping all of this in mind have fun and you will enjoy
your garden pond for many years to come.
*Tips
: Always keep water clear and clean in any water feature in
your garden. Whether it’s a pool, garden
pond, fountain or even a bird bath, a healthy water feature is
essential to maintain positive chi in your garden.
Swimming
Pool or Spa
Water has a quality unlike no other. People seek out water
all seasons of the year and times of the day. Then there is the
great feeling of jumping
in a body of water, swimming, wading, or just getting your feet wet.
A pool or spa can bring a piece of this back to your own home and yard.
With a pool, you can swim as often as weather and time permit. What better
way to relax and get exercise than in your own swimming pool or Spa. There are many different
styles of pools to choose from. If you want an in ground swimming pool,
you will need to hire a company that specializes
in building pools.
There are standard oval, and square
shapes, as well as just about any custom size and shape that you can
imagine. An in ground pool can be made with various depths,
as well as inclines/declines.
*Tips
: Small courtyards / patios can benefit from the extra beneficial chi
that climbing plants can bring into your residence or housing
environment.
Water Features
Water features add an entirely new dimension to an outdoor
environment, and they are available in an ever growing assortment of
styles.There are several major aspects to take into consideration when
planning a water feature. Some of these include: The size of the area.
How much space to you have for the water feature itself, and to what
extent you plan on landscaping the surrounding area.
The impact you wish to create. To you
want a
stimulating waterfall, a bubbling fountain, a koi pond, water garden,
reflecting pool, stately fountain, or even a swimming pool. Maintenance
that is needed to maintain the water feature and keep it in good, clean
working order. There are certain fish that can help to keep the water
clean, of course they will need to be fed for example.
*Tips
: Remove any tree stumps, plants or vegetation that are dead as they
all create negative chi.
Water
Fountain
A water fountain is a wonderful way to add an entirely new dimension to
both your home and garden. Outdoors you will be able to recreate the
sound of a bubbling brook, stream, or waterfall. Indoors, a water
fountain will help to bring the water element and nature into your home
environment.
A water fountain is a fantastic way to
create a
serene and peaceful environment, while at the same time, adding new
energy with the flowing water.
*Tips
: It
is very important to keep clutter, debris and dried leaves cleaned up.
Plants should be checked for dried or faded blooms. This will help cut
down on negative chi.
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