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My Sacred Garden is another website
created by John Stuart Leslie
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th
is is
Conventional gardens
are often used strictly as functional,
yet aesthetic creations, but can
lack symbolic meaning that
makes them so special. |
Gardens can be magical
places if designed with the right
ingredients. One of which is
the Spiritual
component
that can be accessed by anyone.
Gardens can also renew your
Soul
. When
gardens are designed with deeper meaning
and when one experiences the garden as an
introspective space, gardens
become
Sacred
spaces.
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Great Gardens Have
Great Design
What makes a great garden so
visually captivating is the thought that went into the design. When you
look beyond just the abundance of colorful flowers that catches your eye or a
piece of garden art strategically placed when just the right proportion so
that it looks like it "belongs" there -- you will see the designer's hand at
work.
A good design can also reflect the
personality or the values of the owner/designer. The lifestyle of "health and
sustainability" is one the conscious consumer's values.
This type of person identifies with green living -- not
only for the environment, but for their mind, body & spiritual well
being. A person's garden, whatever form that may be, is a reflection of their
mind, body & spiritual condition. Living greener grows your
soul.
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Labyrinth
Gardens
A labyrinth is a circular ancient symbol
that relates to the
wholeness of one. The circular shape and its pathways combine to form a
metaphor for life’s journey -- a path of life on a single
continuum. A Labyrinth is a perfect component for a
sacred garden, as it is interactive. We can walk it. We meander along its
circuitous path. Changing directions back and forth, spiraling towards the
center. As we walk, contemplating our life, our thoughts go within, just as
the path is leading to the center. Read
more....
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What defines a Sacred
Garden?
A Sacred garden can be any space that
has special meaning to you. It may be a spot where you did something
memorable, such as performing a ceremony. It could be a spot that you go to
for inspiration. It could be a place in your garden that is where the wildlife
congregate and surround you with support. It is also an area that has a
special feeling to it -- that is distinct from other areas nearby -- something
about the space that you can feel in your soul.
Read
more....
Nature
provides a key.
The elements of nature whether they be fire, water, earth,
metal, air, or wood come in many forms. The exotic patterns found in flowers and
certain creatures can be none other than miraculous. How can nature design such
patterns? How can a Sea Horse look like a piece of
seaweed?
Or the ripples of a pebble tossed into a pond
creating a perfect pattern of concentric circles that reminds us of something
larger than the pond. Waves are like thoughts emanating from our minds. If
only our thoughts could be as peaceful as the perfection of the
ripples on a pond.
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Garden statuary reminds us of what
the statue symbolizes and what is important in our
lives.
Placing sculptures, statues and
other manmade objects in the garden serve to manifest the essence of what
that object symbolizes. It could also evoke a special meaning that is unique
to you. Placing a Buddha in a Sacred garden could be for the purpose of
reminding us to be compassionate, or to be kind, or to further the
illumination of our souls and the souls of others we meet.
The use of appropriate statuary or
garden art enhances the sacred feelings of a garden space by adding manmade
elements that add visual focal points and centers for
contemplation.
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Some aspects of design are self explanatory. The
intended effect of a design idea can be discussed, but sometimes cannot be put down on paper.
The quality of beauty cannot be obtained given step by step
instructions.
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