Feng Shui in the Garden

Feng Shui As a Powerful Design Principle

August 13, 2009
John Stuart Leslie

Is your front door visible from the street? Do you have a walk or path that meanders from the street to your main entrance? If you answered no to either of these questions, your front yard could use some Feng Shui fixing.

Feng Shui applies to not only the interior of the house, but the way the house sits on the lot, its relationship to the street, the topography of the land and the elements that make up the landscaping.

As Chi energy ebbs and flows around a house, it is greatly influenced by how well the architecture is sensitive to the site and the landscape elements around it.

The front entrance of a house is the “mouth of Chi” and represents our relationship with society also informally known as the "curb appeal". Entrances, front doors and pathways should be inviting and welcoming to attract positive Chi.

If the front door is hidden from the street, it could be that the archtiecture has hidden it, or that simply there is too much shrubbery blocking the view.

Blockages, barriers and clutter can interfere with the flow of Chi and reduce the amount of benefit you would otherwise get from a free flowing path. An architecturally “hidden” front door needs special enhancements to draw in the Chi energy, such as lighting the path or hanging a wind chime at the entrance.

Fountains are very effective in enhancing the flow of positive Chi as water symbolizes the flow of wealth. A clear still pond brings calmness, tranquility and clarity of thought.

Fountains and waterfalls are essential elements in gardens because they bring movement, sound and positive energy to a space. They also enhance the garden's curb appeal by adding a focal point.

Water, as one of the “five elements” of Feng Shui, brings a key component to any garden. When the other four elements of fire, earth, metal and wood complement a space, the garden is balanced and will evoke good feelings, comfort and a sense of connection to nature.

In Feng Shui terms, nature is balanced by the cyclical interconnections of the five elements: wood, water, fire, earth and metal. Too much of one element or the lack of an element can be felt energetically.

For instance, too many green shrubs (wood) can be balanced with fire (red or spiky plants) as fire burns wood. Too much fire can be balanced using water (water puts out fire).

When each element is represented by either its physical form (i.e. water) or symbolically through its corresponding shape or color, a feeling of harmony can be sensed. This feeling of balance is what makes an outdoor living environment enjoyable to be in and appealing to the eye.

Often times, when a garden is tired and neglected, or just seems “bla”, a few feng shui cures may be all that is necessary to revive the energy flow, achieve balance between the elements and create an enjoyable space that you can call your special ”feng shui” garden.

John Stuart Leslie is creator and founder of My Sacred Garden. A website that blends the mind, body & spiritual lifestyle of the conscious consumer with the pursuit of gardens, gardening, design and art. He holds a Master's degree in Landscape Architecture and has been a landscape designer and contractor since 1982.