When designing your garden, have you considered incorporating feng shui principles to enhance the positive energy in your outdoor living space?
The aim of incorporating this ancient Chinese art of placement is to improve the beneficial flow of chi or energy force in the environment which encourages harmony in all aspects of life.
By including feng shui elements in the garden, you can create an ambience that is both inviting and pleasurable.
To begin with, a feng shui garden does not refer to a style of design such as an Oriental or Zen garden but rather an approach to placement of various elements in the garden.
There are three basic concepts of feng shui to be kept in mind.
The path of chi: It is important to consider that the flow of energy should be able to circulate freely throughout the space.
This can be achieved by creating curved paths or meandering walkways rather than a straight path leading directly and hurriedly to the end.
Since the idea of a garden is to offer relaxation, circular or regular shapes are preferred over irregular ones.
When designing paved seating areas, it should be viewed as a haven of tranquility, one that is clutter-free and away from disturbance.
Try placing a Bradstone Old Town Circle feature with a seating of your choice and make your own beautiful sanctuary.
Balance of yin and yang: The ideal feng shui garden should have a harmonious balance of the opposites, as represented by the concepts of yin (dark, soft and passive) and yang (light, hard and active).
For example, dark areas should be brightened up with garden lanterns.
Hard paved areas should be softened with bright borders of greenery.
Basically, any one feature should not dominate the space in the garden.
Five elements of nature: The third step involves incorporating the five natural elements in the form of ornamentation in a feng shui garden.
Earth, water, fire, wood and metal elements can be activated in various ways.
Ceramic planters or stoneware statuary can enrich the earth element.
Water features such as pools and ponds can be soothing.
A wooden arbour at the entrance can be a welcoming sight.
Wrought-iron benches and cast-iron bird baths can dress up any garden with a touch of metal.
Fire can be symbolised through garden lighting or sundials.
These are just a few simple ideas ideas on how to inspire harmony in the garden.
Remember that the facing directions — north, south, east, west, northeast, northwest, southeast and southwest — also represent the natural elements in varying degrees.
Hence, the right balance of elements and their placements can be achieved by further study and analysis by a specialist.
Dubai-based feng shui consultant Samita Khanna will host a
talk on “Feng shui in your Garden'' today at 11.30am in Royal Gardenscape, Al Barsha. To find out more about this science, visit the showroom and enjoy a complimentary morning coffee while learning first-hand from an expert. For more information, log on to www.royalgardenscape.com or call 04-3400648
— Karuna Sawlani is a UAE-based freelance writer
