feng shui… you may have heard of it, but how much do you really know about it? To start with the basics, Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese art and science that originated more than 3,000 years ago. it relates to the orientation of things and how they affect the flow of energy. So when people use feng shui in the home, they arrange the furniture to balance yin and yang to manifest good fortune. It is believed in Chinese culture that if you have bad feng shui, it will bring bad fortune.
Reading: Feng shui garden map
Bad fortune doesn’t sound so good, does it? however, even if you don’t believe in the superstitious aspects of feng shui, there is still a logical reason to incorporate this design detail into your home and throughout your garden. Because feng shui is all about balancing earth materials, it actually creates a very relaxing and comfortable atmosphere, good luck or not. plus, since this good placement practice works with nature, not against it, you can be sure that your garden will be as happy as you are with the final product.
feng shui in the garden
Curious about how to feng shui-ify your garden design? well, first, you need to know the principles of the art form. as we mentioned earlier, feng shui focuses on the earth elements:
- fire
- wood
- water
- earth
- metal
To make your garden feng shui compatible, it’s much easier to start before you’ve planted everything. yes, you need to plan your garden design in advance. Unfortunately, there are wrong ways to plan your garden, but on the plus side, there are plenty of garden planning apps available to help you visualize before you start.
While most garden experts don’t like to suggest straightforward, universal tips for creating good flow in your garden, there are still some general ideas that will help you achieve great energy and fabulous feng shui. Next, we’ll take a look at some of those clever feng shui techniques so your garden can thrive with good fortune.
what is the bagua map & how do i use it?
If you want to bring feng shui into your life, the first step is to understand the bagua map. the western feng shui bagua focuses on the same nine areas as the classic bagua. the nine squares are lined up in rows of three, and you’ll basically be using this map over a layout of your garden so you can overlay the right elements in the right places. the nine areas it focuses on are:
• Wealth – wood element
• fame – fire element
• marriage – earth element
See also: How to Design a Feng Shui Living Room | Extra Space Storage
• family – wood element
• health – wood element
• children – metallic element
• knowledge – earth element
• career – water element
• travel – metallic element
now using this map you can align it with your garden. Knowing which items should go where will help you plan your garden for feng shui compatibility. when you look at the cardinal directions on the map, you can see which energies are the focus in each area of your garden. Below, you’ll see how these compass points can help you harness their respective energies by planting the right flowers and adding the right elements and structures.
Just remember that feng shui focuses on life energy (also known as “chi”), so all paths should promote flow and movement. too much clutter or a complicated design will disrupt the chi. curved pathways leading from one area to another are a great way to promote chi. You’ll also want to plant the right trees and plants that invite garden friends, like butterflies and birds.
how to take advantage of the energies of your garden
north:
This area of your garden focuses on the energies that relate to your path in life and your career. using the water element and dark colors (according to the bagua map) will help you harness luck for this area of life. therefore, a couple of suggestions might be to install rockery, such as a birdbath or water feature. For dark colors, consider adding some frog or turtle embellishments for added balance.
northeast:
This section of your garden is all about pursuing personal and spiritual growth, so a zen garden would be wonderful adjacent to the rocky elements of your neighboring north section. Think about creating a waved, smooth pebble path through this area, complete with a bench intertwined with nature. Feng Shui works against too many straight lines, so keeping the flow relaxed is crucial (hence the waved path instead of a straight one). Remember that the practice also melds well with nature, so you’ll want to mix your garden furniture harmoniously with your plants so as not to disrupt the energy.
this:
See also: Feng Shui Shapes and Their Meanings – Buddha & Karma
The eastern part of your garden is the area for health and longevity, so you’ll naturally want thriving plants in this area. dead plants are not a good indicator of good health. Choose your plants in this area carefully: try ornamental trees for climbing and colorful mums and lilacs to bring boldness. Since health correlates with the wood element, here you can also add an ornamental wood structure of your choice.
southeast:
Think wood and water domination in the southeastern portion of your garden. Adding a water fountain to symbolize abundance and wealth is a great idea. To increase upon the abundance, add lovely, low-growing flowers for balance. Wooden accessories will also complement your water feature well.
south:
You may scoff at the idea of chasing fame, but fame and success are the dominant energies in the southern part of your garden. Since the element of this area is fire, this is a great opportunity to set up your grill and make the most of the sunlight. adding warm toned flowers and/or a fire pit or lanterns will complete this space and put the fiery energy to good use.
southwest:
It’s time to talk about love. this part of your garden is all about relationships, peace, and love, so make it a comfortable gathering place for friends and family. maybe it’s where your yard is located. add pink, red, yellow and orange flowers to the area (peonies are beautiful) and make sure all other areas of your garden have an easy access point to this social space. Blocking off areas is a no-no in feng shui, so remember that flow is important, especially when it comes to creating an inviting area. this area would be a great place for that garden party you’ve been wanting to host.
west:
Think of the western part of your garden as your new yoga studio. The energies in this area promote activity, so bright, vibrant blossoms will do well here. The west is a great area for children to play, but it also represents new hobbies and pleasures, and yoga is the relaxing activity that fits in perfectly here. Consider sprucing up the area with a hollow wind chime or quartz decorations to satisfy the metal element.
northwest:
Finally, the northwest area of your garden should be devoted to meeting new people. Encourage a comfortable social environment with a calm, open seating area and metallic colors like white and silver. Also, if you have an old tree in this area, decorate it with charming metal accessories or bells to amplify the atmosphere.
You don’t have to be an expert to bring feng shui to your garden; all it takes is a little attention and an understanding of general practices. If you simply print out a bagua map and compare it to your garden map (at the planning stage), you can easily see how to position certain pieces of furniture and lay out the right types of edging. using feng shui will certainly help the overall feel of your outdoor space no matter what!
Hopefully, this article covered what you need to know to use feng shui in your garden. If you want more helpful gardening tips like these, make sure you’re in Rozanne’s inner circle – her closest friends get the inside scoop!
See also: Clear your clutter with feng shui by karen kingston