With a little bit of thoughtful planning, the garden areas of a
homeowner's property can become a sanctuary, a virtual retreat from the
responsibilities of life that steer us off course.
Having an appointed place outdoors to go to for regaining one's focus or to incorporate prayer or meditation into a distracted life can make all the difference in the attitude with which we face the day's challenges. While life's tornados spin around us, detachment time spent in an Asian inspired Zen Garden could prove to be a move in the right direction.
Having a simplified corner of a yard dedicated to become a place of spiritual focus and replenishment need not be an expensive project and can, in fact, be very low maintenance. By remaining open to an alternative gardening concept, the homeowners will find themselves with more time to regain that centered perspective to life. There are multitudes of lawn and garden centers now, and certainly plenty of decorative flowering plant varieties to choose from. Why not consider deviating from the norm and the predictable this year by dedicating your yard or at least a portion of it to a typical Zen influenced garden? Regardless of your horticultural sensibilities or faith affiliation, Zen gardens form a spiritual landscape that is gentle on the eyes and pocketbook. Creating a Zen garden combines principles of nature with traditional Eastern spiritual beliefs to teach garden visitors how to look at a landscape in a different light. Various elements of Zen can be incorporated into gardens that work to enhance the beauty of a garden of any dimension.
If you are not familiar with the Eastern principles of yin and yang, try to think of them as opposites. Yin is dark and feminine; yang is light and masculine. They are night and day, polar opposites that are both necessary to make up a whole. A Zen garden attempts to incorporate many yin and yang features into the garden, such as a cherry tree beside a stonewall. The cherry tree changes throughout the growing season, illustrating the transient nature of life, while the stonewall signifies endurance or permanence. Natural contrasting elements that somehow achieve a balance when placed side by side.
Likewise, a rippling brook beside it might challenge a rock feature such as a stone lantern. Pairing opposites throughout the Zen landscape is the overriding design principle behind these gardens. Eastern gardens typically seek to reflect or imitate nature, unlike Western gardens, which generally can be seen as man's attempt to control nature. Sometimes less can be more.
Opposites are relatively easy to install in the garden. Consider vertical design elements by including birdbaths, trellises, arbors, trees and pagoda style gazebos set beside horizontal features like a path of flat river stones, a flowerbed, a garden pond or a sea of grass. Pairing any such features allows visitors to meditate upon them and interpret them in any number of ways. Color choice is another way to incorporate principle of yin and yang into your garden. Offer a shady patch of trees
Across from a sunny stretch of garden. Plant a few bright yellow blossoms (yang) near dark green plants like ferns (yin).
Furthermore, many elements of the Zen garden are placed to encourage reflection about life and the universe. Features are artfully placed to reflect something not only of nature but also about life. For example a rock placed in the middle of a stream might represent the earth amidst a tide of change. A small basin might represent man's desire for cleansing. Moss growing atop a decaying log might signify nature reclaiming mankind upon death. . In this way, the gardener's attitudes become perceivable in the garden depending on how they are represented with natural elements.
Finally, include features that suggest greater significance beyond what they seem to be. A small cascade is not just a little running water; it represents a life force. Seeing the natural with spiritual eyes requires some reflection so be sure to incorporate rustic seating such as stone benches into your landscape for stopping to prayerfully commune with creation and the Creator.
Visitors to a Zen garden become a part of the garden themselves. The gardener is thought to grow as the garden does. There are many Oriental features to install in your garden, but the thoughtful pairing of them is what makes a Zen garden different from ones pulled together with little thought other than filling the space with affordable plants.
Zen gardens can evoke a range of responses depending on the mood created by the display of elements. Each element has a symbolic purpose for being there.
Rocks are a key element of such a garden symbolizing many things depending on shape, color and texture. A vertical rock can symbolize the sky, while a horizontal rock can symbolize the earth. Rocks can symbolize islands or mountains. Gravel, sand or small pebbles are used to add to the meditative atmosphere. Often sand is used in place of water. The sand is raked or swirled to form concentric circles to imply rippling or rushing water, lending a sense motion to the garden. Although sand is often used in place of water, water is also present in some Zen gardens. The belief is that that without water there is no life.
Plants are purposefully chosen. Pine trees and certain plants are selected bring order and completion to the garden. Plants are selected carefully for texture, color and to evoke a simplified elegance of line. Pruning is done frequently to maintain shapes and order.
Aside from natural elements, some architectural elements can be added. Pathways, bridges and lanterns are frequently found in Zen gardens. Since Buddhism puts great emphasis on correct posture, pathways and bridges help to enhance this philosophy. Bridges and paths allow a visitor to view things from all different angles. Lanterns are put in the gardens but ones made of natural materials such as wood and stone are chosen over metal. When these elements are applied to a Zen garden, a peaceful, balanced environment can be achieved to create a quiet, meditative ambiance that will appeal to all faiths and sensibilities.
Having a simplified corner of a yard dedicated to become a place of spiritual focus and replenishment need not be an expensive project and can, in fact, be very low maintenance. By remaining open to an alternative gardening concept, the homeowners will find themselves with more time to regain that centered perspective to life. There are multitudes of lawn and garden centers now, and certainly plenty of decorative flowering plant varieties to choose from. Why not consider deviating from the norm and the predictable this year by dedicating your yard or at least a portion of it to a typical Zen influenced garden? Regardless of your horticultural sensibilities or faith affiliation, Zen gardens form a spiritual landscape that is gentle on the eyes and pocketbook. Creating a Zen garden combines principles of nature with traditional Eastern spiritual beliefs to teach garden visitors how to look at a landscape in a different light. Various elements of Zen can be incorporated into gardens that work to enhance the beauty of a garden of any dimension.
If you are not familiar with the Eastern principles of yin and yang, try to think of them as opposites. Yin is dark and feminine; yang is light and masculine. They are night and day, polar opposites that are both necessary to make up a whole. A Zen garden attempts to incorporate many yin and yang features into the garden, such as a cherry tree beside a stonewall. The cherry tree changes throughout the growing season, illustrating the transient nature of life, while the stonewall signifies endurance or permanence. Natural contrasting elements that somehow achieve a balance when placed side by side.
Likewise, a rippling brook beside it might challenge a rock feature such as a stone lantern. Pairing opposites throughout the Zen landscape is the overriding design principle behind these gardens. Eastern gardens typically seek to reflect or imitate nature, unlike Western gardens, which generally can be seen as man's attempt to control nature. Sometimes less can be more.
Opposites are relatively easy to install in the garden. Consider vertical design elements by including birdbaths, trellises, arbors, trees and pagoda style gazebos set beside horizontal features like a path of flat river stones, a flowerbed, a garden pond or a sea of grass. Pairing any such features allows visitors to meditate upon them and interpret them in any number of ways. Color choice is another way to incorporate principle of yin and yang into your garden. Offer a shady patch of trees
Across from a sunny stretch of garden. Plant a few bright yellow blossoms (yang) near dark green plants like ferns (yin).
Furthermore, many elements of the Zen garden are placed to encourage reflection about life and the universe. Features are artfully placed to reflect something not only of nature but also about life. For example a rock placed in the middle of a stream might represent the earth amidst a tide of change. A small basin might represent man's desire for cleansing. Moss growing atop a decaying log might signify nature reclaiming mankind upon death. . In this way, the gardener's attitudes become perceivable in the garden depending on how they are represented with natural elements.
Finally, include features that suggest greater significance beyond what they seem to be. A small cascade is not just a little running water; it represents a life force. Seeing the natural with spiritual eyes requires some reflection so be sure to incorporate rustic seating such as stone benches into your landscape for stopping to prayerfully commune with creation and the Creator.
Visitors to a Zen garden become a part of the garden themselves. The gardener is thought to grow as the garden does. There are many Oriental features to install in your garden, but the thoughtful pairing of them is what makes a Zen garden different from ones pulled together with little thought other than filling the space with affordable plants.
Zen gardens can evoke a range of responses depending on the mood created by the display of elements. Each element has a symbolic purpose for being there.
Rocks are a key element of such a garden symbolizing many things depending on shape, color and texture. A vertical rock can symbolize the sky, while a horizontal rock can symbolize the earth. Rocks can symbolize islands or mountains. Gravel, sand or small pebbles are used to add to the meditative atmosphere. Often sand is used in place of water. The sand is raked or swirled to form concentric circles to imply rippling or rushing water, lending a sense motion to the garden. Although sand is often used in place of water, water is also present in some Zen gardens. The belief is that that without water there is no life.
Plants are purposefully chosen. Pine trees and certain plants are selected bring order and completion to the garden. Plants are selected carefully for texture, color and to evoke a simplified elegance of line. Pruning is done frequently to maintain shapes and order.
Aside from natural elements, some architectural elements can be added. Pathways, bridges and lanterns are frequently found in Zen gardens. Since Buddhism puts great emphasis on correct posture, pathways and bridges help to enhance this philosophy. Bridges and paths allow a visitor to view things from all different angles. Lanterns are put in the gardens but ones made of natural materials such as wood and stone are chosen over metal. When these elements are applied to a Zen garden, a peaceful, balanced environment can be achieved to create a quiet, meditative ambiance that will appeal to all faiths and sensibilities.
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