Spring is the time of year when we happily leave our home and venture outside to our garden to reconnect with our land, nature, and all the beauty it has to offer. Feng Shui, the ancient Chinese art of placement, is practiced, not only in your home, but also in your yard and garden. As a matter of fact, in Feng Shui, it is impossible to separate our home from the land that it occupies. The home represents the ‘inner’self, while the garden is your more ‘public, visible’ space. Therefore, it is very important to have a balanced and harmonious garden, which influences the health, success and happiness in our lives.
In Feng Shui, Chi is the universe’s life energy force. To be the most effective, Chi must be able to flow smoothly throughout all aspects of your life: Workplace, home, and garden. It is the energy force that is within all living and nonliving things on this planet. Every leaf, flower, rock, waterfall, animal, etc. has an element of Chi within. In Feng Shui, it is imperative to provide maximum opportunity for Chi to flow smoothly throughout our indoor and outdoor space. By implementing the following Feng Shui cures, you can enliven and enhance a beautiful part of your life that will give you joy, love, and happiness.
First things first. Clean up and clear out all the CLUTTER on your property and in your garden. It’s time for a good spring-cleaning for your yard. Besides, the basic garden clean up, you must remove all trash, and throw away all broken, rusty, old and unusable items. Get rid of dead trees, plants and shrubs. Anything that does not work properly, in Feng Shui, is considered negative energy (Sha). So, if you have anything that is broken, get rid of it. This includes: broken cars, trucks, children toys, etc. All unusable, unsafe playground equipment should also be removed. You get the picture. If any item in your yard does not add value, than it is time to part with it. Clutter is a serious problem that causes Chi to get stuck, so let’s clear it up and start to enhance your garden.
A Chi enhancer is anything that will help raise the vibration or energy in any area of your garden. A Chi enhancer assists energy to move smoothly, and uninterrupted in the area you place it. Chi tends to stagnate in any corner, dark, shady area, or low-lying piece of land. There are basically nine (9) Chi enhancers you can use to help move energy. Below, is the list of Chi enhancers to enjoy in your garden:
1. Sound- Placement of wind chimes or bells.
2. Light- Adding lighting or a spotlight to any area of the garden or
pathway.
3. Reflective- A Victorian gazing ball placed on a stand will reflect back parts of the garden you most admire and increase the ‘wealth’ and beauty of that area. If placed near the entrance of your garden, it will deflect any negative energy that may try to enter.
4. Smell- Fragrant flowers and herbs help to stimulate the senses. Depending on what you choose to plant, you will set the mood for that area. It can be a calming fragrance like Lavender, or a more invigorating scent like Lemon Geranium.
5. Water- fresh, moving, clean water is best to use. Chi is always attracted to water. Adding an outdoor, tabletop fountain will add vibrant energy. Birdbaths not only represent water, they also attract wildlife. Remember, the water must be keep clean.
6. Color- this can easily be accomplished through any type of flower, greenery or shrubbery you choose. Don’t forget the color element in outdoor furniture, sheds, fences, doghouses, pathways, etc. A clean, fresh coat of any color paint will help brighten up the area. Choose a color that makes your heart sing and uplifts your spirit.
7. Stillness -Statues and large rocks help ground any area of your property where the Chi is moving too fast. Overly active Chi, such as a windy part of your garden, can be quieted down by placing a large, still object.
8. Movement- Windsocks, flags, mobiles all physically move Chi. They add color and boldness in any area.
9. Life- attracting wildlife to your garden or property can be a delight. You can add some colorful fish to an outdoor pond, or hang a decorative, yet functional birdfeeder and watch the show. Chi becomes stuck, and stagnant in corners of a garden. By inviting wildlife into your garden, you instantly raise the Chi in that area, and do something beneficial for the wild animals.
You now have a basic knowledge of how to balance and enliven your garden. By recognizing those stagnant corners, and utilizing Feng Shui cures, you are allowing Chi to flow evenly throughout your outdoor space. Use the enhancers you resonate most with. Your garden will then be transformed into a beautiful, peaceful, outdoor sanctuary. By balancing your garden’s energy, you are also balancing your inner self, and a new sense of calm and happiness will become more apparent. Let the Chi Flow!
