FENG SHUI AND YOUR GARDEN Part 3
Practical Planting in a Feng Shui Garden
This will be modified somewhat by the Pa Kua numbers of the people who use the garden and more complicated formulae, which will be explained later in this course.
But let me apply basic principles now, which can be adapted later. The final layers of personal astrology and particular formulae may be laid over the basic principles, as they can too in a house or office. Dragons, the most powerful and lucky animals in Feng Shui are seen to live in undulating, rolling land. They will never live in completely flat areas of land. Gardens need to contain the symbolic dragon, different levels to be interesting and also to provide the Oriental approach of 'hide and reveal', in other words, the garden should never be able to be seen fully from one vantage point, should never be completely flat.The dragon's breath, 'Sheng Chi', is important to encourage, and sorockeries and even small hills 'Shan' are to be included in your design whenever you can.
Use of The Pa
Kua Sectors in a Feng Shui Garden .
In the SOUTH EAST, Pa Kua number 4, element 'wood', plant lots of small
leafy shrubs, mainly evergreens. Herbs are ideal. Greens and blues are
excellent colours to use. It is said however that blue flowers in a front
garden symbolise the flowing way of wealth and so they should be avoided
if the South East sector falls into the front garden. This would equally
apply to the Northern sector.
A water feature in this sector [or the North for Career] is excellent as it is the wealth corner. A waterfall should always flow in towards the house and be seen from the house, bringing prosperity with it. If placed in a front garden, a water feature is best positioned on the Left Hand Side of the front door as you face outwards. Frog and fish ornaments are good in this zone as are real fish. Real fish can be goldfish [baby dragons] or Koi [which turn into dragons]. Nine fish is the best number, eight gold and one black, or use multiples of nine. In a very small water feature, have three fishes, two gold and one black. Any that die are thought to have absorbed bad chi and should be replaced at once.
The SOUTH, your 'Bright Hall', symbolising Fame, Public Recognition and Reputation should be as well lit as possible. This could be with garden lighting, or with Japanese Lanterns. The Lanterns must be lit, to be useful---in the same way that candles in the house must be lit to be called 'light' remedies.Flowers and shrubs in the South, Pa Kua number 9, should be bright and fiery. Fuchsias are excellent, not only are they fiery colours, they also look like little lanterns. A bird sculpture in the South is good, a Phoenix, or a Cockerel, Pheasant, or even Flamingo. The element is Fire, so reds, yellows, oranges and even purples, are all good colours to have in flowers and leaves. Acers, 'Garnet', 'Bloodgood', 'Atropurpureum' and 'Osakazuki,' are all perfect.
In China and to some extent in Japan, it was a tradition to have a Pear Tree outside a theatre and the actors were often known as 'Children of the Pear Tree'. If you have someone in the family particularly interested in showbusiness then a Pear Tree, 'Pyrus', would be very useful planted in the South, and you can get dwarf ornamental varieties which are really lovely.
The SOUTH WEST is the Earth Mother corner, symbolising physical relationships, earth element, and Pa Kua number 2. Any plants here should be bright and thriving, with orange, yellow, pink and red flowers. Peonies are especially useful in this sector and after a Chinese wedding a bright red peony is planted in the South West corner of the newly married couple's home. This South Western corner can be really Oriental in flavour with gravel, pebbles, rocks and Japanese lanterns. You may wish to place a Buddha, Kuan Yin, the female Buddha of Compassion in this area. She could also go in the West, area of Children.
Any ornaments here should be preferably be made of stone and any pairs of birds or people, especially lovers are very good. Also in this sector ornaments of mandarin ducks are excellent. These ducks are believed to mate for life and so represent a long, happy and deep relationship with a loved one. A pair of cranes are also good, one preening while the other stands on guard!
Any windchimes used here would be best in crystal or pottery.
The
WEST needs to contain rounded shapes to enhance its metal element. This
is the sector of children, new projects, pleasure, joy and creativity.
It is interesting that in Japan and to a certain extent in Ancient China,
'houses of ill repute, of pleasure', always had their gateways in the
West!
The NORTH WEST is once again a metal sector, zone of influential people, important meetings, mentors and networking, Pa Kua number 6, so the colours previously mentioned would also be very good here, as well as grays. Stone and metal sculptures are good, especially of warrior protectors. Wind chimes and bells made of metal can also be used in this sector.
The
NORTH---your Career and Life Journey sector could be used to place a water
feature. Any blues, especially dark blues are good in this zone. Blacks
can be used as well but do not overdo them. Perhaps a clump of Dragon
Grass,' Ophiopogon Planiscapus 'Nigra'! What a great name.
The NORTH EAST, area of study, learning, spirituality and inner self is an earth element sector, Pa Kua number 8 and should contain pebble gardens, small rockeries and any stone buildings. Stone Buddha shrines are also good in this area. It is a good place for a quiet reading zone, particularly if the reading material is about spiritual or philosophical matters.
Herbs and alpines are a good choice of plants to have here and the colours can be very earthy, oranges, reds, pinks, and yellows. Plants in terra cotta pots are excellent in this zone. A barbecue is well positioned in this zone.
Finally,
the EAST is the sector of Family, Health, Longevity and the realisation
of ambitions. It is a wood element area with the number three. The colours
here should be green and yet more greens of all shades. A bamboo here
placed here is excellent. Bamboo was thought to be very good for health
and longevity and the pine tree specifically for longevity.
A Buddha of
Ho Tai[the Laughing Buddha] or Shakymuni[the Indian Buddha] would be good
here. Yellow Chrysanthemums are thought to be good in this area.There
is a town in China where a lot of people live beyond a hundred years.
In the same area are loads of Chrysanthemums and it is thought their essence
permeates the water supply, thus helping with longevity.
In this zone you could have other symbols of longevity, including cranes or deer. Ornamental fruit trees are thought to be good Feng Shui in this area. Throughout the compass directions of the Pa Kua, any 'poison arrows' can be deflected by using plants, trees, ornaments or a combination of all three. Any prickly plants such as roses, holly or berberis--if you must have them--- are best located on a boundary, where they can be described as protectors.
Also useful on noisy boundaries are large empty pots. They seem to help 'quieten down' any noise.
www.fengshuidoctor.co.uk
Paul is in great demand for his wide ranging skills as a consultant, speaker and writer. With a Ph.D in Oriental Philosophy[1996], Paul, a Buddhist, speaks with avid enthusiasm on all things oriental. Paul is a registered consultant with the Feng Shui Society(U.K.) and is a member of its Executive Committee. He is a member of the Japanese Garden Societies[UK and America]. Writes Advanced Feng Shui and Oriental Philosophy courses for The British School of Yoga as well as courses on Japanese Garden Design for The Horticultural College, Wiltshire. He also writes a regular Feng Shui Doctor advice page in The Feng Shui Society Journal.
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