West Meets East ©

By Caroline Patrick

Feng Shui Gardens II

Feng Shui, the ancient art of placement, gives everyone simple but empowering ways of connecting ourselves with nature.

Translated as a balance of gentle winds blowing on water, this system of harmony restores nature.

Use in gardens surrounding living and working spaces, it brings tranquility to the mind, body and spirit. These three powers of human existence need to be in equal balance for a peaceful and creative life.

The most important tenet of feng shui is chَi. This all-important, invisible life force flows in all of God’s works. Chَi itself is manifested in the five elements that make up all things – fire, water, wood, metal and earth constantly interact and can relate in either creative or destructive cycles.

Using gardens to relate to these elements is a way to add "outside" rooms to your home. Finding ways to celebrate the earthly cycles brings sanctuaries of heaven down to the earth plain through thoughtful landscaping.

Bringing in selected plants, trees, statuary, water features, wind chimes, pathways, hidden gates, benches and lighting can create a calm refuge to restore personal growth and spiritual awareness.

Outdoor gardening can be a feast for the eyes as well.

Starting at the front entry, walk around the space facing the street. This space, according to the Bagua, a tool used to assess the site, includes eight trigrams.

Sometimes known as the pa kua, it is placed over your entire property and explains the nine stations of life. This octagonal-shaped grid reveals where each direction, element and season are located on your property and in your home.

Using the front door as the mount of the chَi or the entrance of energy into your space, the element of water is introduced. Using the method or school called Black Hat Sect feng shui, north is automatically aligned with the architectural built entrance. A garden using a water element near the entry brings career opportunities and represents life’s journey, the colors blue and black connect the season of winter to this qua or section.

Walking to the left front yard, we find a section called knowledge. Using a centerpiece such as a statue to symbolize learning inspires the owners of the property to gain wisdom.

Suggestions for this left front landscaping might be a Biblical garden, a Saints garden, a Labyrinth spiral, with flowers or stone pathways leading to the center of life. A statue of an angel, saint or a stately Confucius form would certainly bring wisdom and knowledge to this left side garden. Blue is the color for this area.

Color will attract chَi along with birds, butterflies and little creatures. The color red near your front entry is a natural energizer for living things.

Now cross over to the right side of the front yard. This section called helpful people and travel could provide a bench, swing, glider or bird bath, inviting angels, friends, children or adults a peaceful rest while assisting you with individuals to make life smoother.

Plants in shades of silver, such as dusty miller, herbal wormwoods and sages abound. Rock formations in gray stone suggests the round shape related to this area. Round flowers, gazing balls, temples and suggested waterways formed with white and black rocks form Zen-like gardens. Always be sure this type of landscaping curves back toward the house. These "waterways" bring abundance to the homeowners and not away from the house.

When odd-shaped homes have what is referred to as missing parts, these irregular-shaped structures can cause an imbalance in the bagua. Using landscaping to fill in these missing areas gives you a feeling of completion and fills a void in your job opportunities.

Using the element of water through color, form, sound, plants, or actual water features, we complete the front entryway to our homes, inviting the breath of life through clarity and wealth.

Remember, symbols in the form of pathways, edging, fences, hedges should have a sense of wind blowing gently on water. A wavy shape brings prosperity.

If a fountain is chosen for the front yard landscaping, make sure it is treated like a child. And make sure it has plenty of clean, clear water and is plugged in at all times. It is important that it flows toward the house.

Muddied water signifies confusion and water running away from the house allows wealth to run away.

Enjoy your spirit gardens. Whether you choose large or small spaces to implement your enhancements, use the proper shapes, forms, colors and elements to complement the aspects of your life.

Map Your Home Workshop

Saturday, April 27, 10 a.m. – 12 noon

707-748-1127

www.fengshuiartistry.com and click on moongate school for schedules

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We have a new shipment of products and magic eggs – all colors.

Caroline’s Arts

129 1^st Street, Suite K • Benicia

Open 1-5 daily, closed Monday