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Features>>Feng shui and Your Garden III
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.
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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.
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The
dragon's breath, 'Sheng Chi', is important to encourage, and
so |
rockeries
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.
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The
SOUTH, your 'Bright Hall', symbolising Fame, Public Recognition
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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.
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Flowers
and shrubs in the South, Pa Kua number 9, should be bright
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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.
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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!
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The
number of the West is 7 and it is also the realm of the White
Tiger. |
White
fragrant flowers in this sector are excellent to keep the Tiger
dozing. If a pathway enters this sector then small lanterns along
it will keep the power of the Tiger away. Metal windchimes and tinkling
bells are excellent in this sector as are the colours of white,
silver, cream, gold and bronze.
 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.
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A
Tortoise ornament here would be well positioned, as would
be a warrior |
figure.
You could also have a birdbath here, which would count as a water
feature [as it would also in the South East].
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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.
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Herbs
and alpines are a good choice of plants to have here and the
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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.
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Finally,
the EAST is the sector of Family, Health, Longevity and the
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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.
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A
Buddha of Ho Tai[the Laughing Buddha] or Shakymuni[the Indian
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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.
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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.
Feng
Shui in your Garden part II
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