Feng Shui Garden Design

The Chinese art of Feng Shui serves to keep the vital life force 'Chi' flowing unobstructed and to achieve a balance of 'Yin' and 'Yang', the harmonizing factors of life. Chi is believed to manifest in all basic forms of creation - fire, earth, wood water and metal. Each of these elements symbolizes certain qualities and a place composed of these elements derives its energy based on the composition. Feng Shui's philosophy states that a proper balance of the elements is essential for peace and harmony.

The garden is one place in our home where all these elements co-exist. Unlike the rooms in our home which can be hard to re-orient or locate according to Feng Shui's ideal planning, the garden is easy to design and cultivate in accordance with Feng Shui.

A Feng-Shui garden is one that relies largely on being natural and in harmony with the climate and eco-system of its geographical location. According to Feng Shui, our habitat influences 9 aspects of our lives - health, fame, relationship, creativity, opportunities and spiritual guidance, career, knowledge, family honor and prosperity. Different zones of the habitat are believed to nurture the energies corresponding to these aspects. The bagua indicates these directional zones and Feng Shui provides ways to enhance these energies. You can divide your garden into these 9 zones with a compass and enhance each part. Use the following tips on Feng Shui garden design to give your home a spiritual makeover.

• The center of the garden symbolizes the earth element and abounds in energies pertaining to your family's health. Place flowering plants that have yellow blooms in this area. Have a statue of a revered holy figure here surrounded by plants. You can decorate the surrounding with rocks as they belong to the earth element. Avoid tress with large trunks in this region as they can block Chi.

• In the south which symbolizes the element wood and energies pertaining to fame and reputation, have flowering plants with red blossoms. You may decorate the area with red crystals and red lights. Do not place a fountain in this section as the water element dampens the power of this location.

• In the southwest where love and relationship are said to bloom, the earth element is predominant. Keep this place uncluttered and airy. Place round and curved furniture rather than pointed ones to avoid abruptions in energy flow in this zone. Enhance the beauty with pink flowering plants.

• On the west lie the energies of creativity. The dominant element that rules this sector is metal. Use metallic furniture and artwork to decorate this place. Let white blossoms fill the western corner of your Feng Shui garden.

• The northwest signifies friends and opportunities. Hard metal is its ruling element. Use silver or grey colored metallic furniture and artwork in this corner. You may hang metallic bells or chimes in the area.

• The north supports career and it of the nature of the water element. Place a pond, pool, fountain or aquarium here. You may also place a glass statue nearby to enhance the life force in this area.

• To the northeast lie the energies that enhance skills and knowledge. Made of element earth, this place is ideal for meditation and blue flowers.

• The eastern side signifies family honor and is of the nature of wood. Woody trees with big trunks should be located here. Metal in the vicinity of this place interfere with its harmony - so do not place metallic objects in the east.

• The southeast portion of your garden signifies prosperity. It has the quality of wood. You may place a fountain in this region and further enhance the place with red and purple flowering plants. Here, you may also plant fruit bearing trees like orange and lime.

An ideal Feng Shui garden design does not get an overly man-made appearance. It thrives on and through the natural elements.