FENG SHUI AND YOUR GARDEN

Applying the Pa Kua is quite easy for the garden. If your back garden cannot be reached unless you go through the house or garage, then the whole Pa Kua is applied to the back garden and the front garden separately, by using the compass directions.

If, however, you can walk into your back garden without going through the building or the garage, then the Pa Kua is applied to the whole site and your back garden and front garden become as one. If you think about this, this could place certain zones of the Pa Kua completely out of the back or front gardens.

The most powerful chi influences are from the sectors of the Pa Kua over a complete area, BUT---------, if the back garden fell into only, say, three sectors of the Pa Kua [because you could reach it without going through the house], then, if needed for a specific reason, you could apply it over just the back garden or front garden so that all the sectors appear. The chi influence would NOT be as strong as the application over the whole site. You may need to read that sentence a few times so that it becomes clear.

Also, if necessary, different sections of the garden, could have the Pa Kua applied to them just like you would to a single room. The chi influences are never as strong, and in a consultation, I only do this if I really have to, for some special reason.

The surroundings of the garden are important. Watch out for 'poison arrows', which can come from edges of buildings, roof apexes, lamp posts, telegraph poles and bus stops.

Also be aware of any hospitals, doctors' surgeries, graveyards, undertakers, and dentists within the immediate vicinity. Any of the 'things' just mentioned need protecting against. The usual way is to hide it with a tree, or clump of bushes, or better still Bamboo. Bamboo is very magical in Feng Shui. Its name in Chinese means 'Heavenly Blessings.' Basically, hide the object bringing 'sha chi' and it has disappeared,-------'out of sight, out of mind!'

Feng Shui in the garden is not a modern trend or design statement. It is probably one of the oldest froms of cultivation in the world. Remember that originally, after grave siting, Feng Shui was used for the planting of crops and the positioning of water. This was mainly through Landscape[Form] School Feng Shui

There is a strong, living link through to Japanese gardens with INYODO, or FU SUI, the Japanese form of Feng Shui, but whereas a Japanese garden will definitely look Japanese, a Feng Shui garden need not look Oriental. You can have an English Cottage garden, and by using the colours and elements of the Pa Kua make it into a Feng Shui garden.

Feng Shui gardens and Japanese ones do tend to have certain traits in common though such as; they are always asymmetrical [not straight lines with matching borders, as in Western gardens] and the centre[the tai chi]is always left clear. Western people like their lawns, and in my designs I usually put these near and around the middle, if my client is insistent on having grass.

But in a true Japanese garden and in a traditional Chinese garden, no lawn would be present [thank goodness I say]. In fact the Chinese have a saying, 'Grass, good for cows, what use for people?'

Natural Harmony
Where possible, everything should look natural. This goes back deep into the philosophy of Taoism. Nothing should look out of place or look artificial. Whatever is planted or put into the garden should look as though it has been there for a very long time. It is interesting to note that any rocks are chosen with care and 'planted', NOT placed in the garden!

There should be a harmonious mixture of shrubs, trees, flowers and ornaments. Nothing should dominate, no one thing should overwhelm. The classic English back garden, and I have seen many, often has a large tree 'plonked' right in the middle of the garden---right in the tai chi, at least with a lawn, it is left clear!

You enter the garden and see TREE, you walk around the garden and you are aware of TREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As Easy as A-B-C
Balance and harmony are essential through A-B-C--Awareness, Balance and Control, leading to Calmness.

Meandering curves, in paths and flowerbeds are preferred to straight lines. In Chinese tradition it is said that devils, ghosts and evil spirits travel in straight lines, they cannot manage curves. Apart from that, curves look far more pleasing to the eye and allow the chi to circulate, without rushing through and being wasted.

A big danger with Western culture is that it loves to cram the garden full and keep adding to it. More means----- more and----- more. In a Feng Shui garden however [and in Japanese ones too], 'less is more.'

There is never a feeling of overcrowding. Careful placing is far more important than volume of planting. Quality not quantity. My garden plans can take days, even weeks to prepare, because careful planning, emptiness, harmony, asymmetry and the Pa Kua all have to be considered.

Next Week: Pa Kua Colours and Elements in Your Garden.

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