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Feng Shui - in the Garden

Feng Shui (pronounced Fung Schway), is an ancient Chinese art of manipulating and arranging the surrounding environment, in order to attract positive life energy, or Chi. It is the principle of designing your home and garden to maximise tranquility, luck and well-being. These principles can be employed within your home and can also have a gratifying affect on your garden. Designing your garden around Feng Shui will create a pleasing look in your home.

Landscaped gardens provide a sanctuary to surround your home and provide a place to relax and unwind.

Your back garden should have a surrounding fence for security and privacy. According to Feng Shui the fence provides strength and security for the back of your house; however the custom says to leave the front garden open so as to welcome all visitors. Feng Shui also says the front yard is an ideal place for a fountain.

To complement nature and the flow of energy or “Chi” paths and fences should be curved. If you cannot avoid straight edged structures balance your garden’s Chi with plants, preferably placed in a curved line to represent a river and create a flow of positive energy.

The choice of plants you make can have an effect, choose plants that do not have sharp or spiked edges, but instead colourful loose foliage creating a beautiful haven for nature and increasing your garden’s level of Chi.

For optimal Feng Shui include in your garden a representation of nature’s five elements; earth, water, metal, fire and wood. The plants and items you bring in do not have to be an element in the literal sense but rather a symbol, for instance the fire could be a red coloured flowering tree or shrub, or a ‘river’ of paving instead of water.

There are many rules for the successful practice of Feng Shui and these include the placement of mirrors, wind chimes, or plants. It can be as simple as the rearrangement of a couch in the living room or as complex as the best placement of a house on a property.

Consultations with Feng Shui practitioners vary in both length and depth but can help to achieve well being, from the neutralisation of features that are seen as responsible for bad luck and the achievement of a positive energetic balance.

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