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Meditation gardens add a relaxing feel to your yard and are wonderful for parties and watching birds, sunrises and sunsets. Meditation gardens should be set up with relaxing colors and fragrant flowers. A fountain is also a nice touch.
photo credit: erix!

As with any garden I put in, a meditation garden should be easy to maintain. You want to spend you time enjoying the garden not weeding and watering.

When setting up a meditation garden keep these tips in mind.

• Allow paths in your garden to flow freely and follow the natural curves of the landscape. Straight paths encourage energy to flow too quickly. If you have a straight path, allow some plants to grow on the path to slow the movement of energy.
• Surround your property with curved fences or stone wall and avoid the straight line.
• Line the back of your garden with trees or large shrubs. This will provide protection and privacy. Use trees that have rounded leaves to keep the energy flow.
• Plant trees or large bushes on each side of your door for protection.
• Keep balance in your yard by planting vegetation that varies in size.
• add garden art to please the eye and relax the soul 
• Enhance yin, or feminine energy, by installing water features in your yard.
• Brighten the darker areas of the garden by installing solar lights along paths or along the edge of gardens. This also enhances yang, or masculine energy, in the yard.
  photo credit: kafka4prez

There are many styles of meditation gardens. They can be simple, structured or very private. But most important they need to be relaxing and your personality and needs will help to shape the meditation garden you create.

Creating relaxing living spaces in your garden will draw the family into the backyard and be a great place for friends and family to gather. I have always thought my yard is my haven away from work and the world. And I always have a special corner of my garden that is my hideaway and meditation area.

Technorati Tags: garden therapy, Theme Gardens

Many people would ask, why walk a Labyrinth?
photo credit: Zesmerelda

I would answer because it’s fun and relaxing. It’s always different and depending which labyrinth you walk its very scenic.

Most Labyrinths are located outdoors but many are inside. Quite a few are located in churches. The history of labyrinths goes far back and is amazing and rather mystical.

How do you walk a Labyrinth?

A Labyrinth is very easy to walk. There is only one opening and you will return and exit at the same spot. This is rather amazing when several people are walking the path at one time. You are all going the same way but because the path runs back onto itself you look like you are going different directions.

Its best to just clear your mind and let your thoughts go where they want. Sometimes you will surprise yourself with what feelings you have during the walk.

Some people suggest walking with your hands in an upward position like you are holding or receiving something until you get to the center of the circle. At the center it is a time to reflect. You can stay there as long as you wish. As you leave the center and follow the path to the beginning its suggested that your hands be down at your side as if you are letting go of all your cares that came in with.

I also has a friend that would pick up a small rock by the beginning of the path and leave it in the center. This was leaving her problems and worries behind.

I walked a temporary Labyrinth in Mississippi last fall and it was the most relaxing and beautiful experience. It was set up like most labyrinths using one of several paths. This was the Circle of Peace design. What made this different is that the paths can be marked in many ways but this path was marked with flowers on both sides of the path. A beautiful winding flower garden.

Outside of the circle were several sculptures and benches to relax. Being an avid gardener a garden theme that used this Circle of peace design made my mind spin with garden ideas.

I have a  funny feeling that there may be a Labrinth garden in my gardens next year.

Technorati Tags: garden art, garden therapy, labyrinth, theme garden