The purpose of a meditation garden is to create a refuge, a place where everything is calming and peaceful, ideal for relaxing from the stresses of everyday life and existence in general. If you are going to make this space, you don't even have to be a meditation expert, because the garden itself will evoke calm in its purest essence. All you have to do is feel relaxed and at peace. Here are some tips on how to start this project.
Steps
Step 1. Imagine a peaceful space in which you would feel good
Think about the features you love about this garden in terms of relaxation and stress relief. Take these memories and feelings and translate them into practical ideas of how you would like to set up a personal garden completely aimed at relaxation and peace. If you have any ideas (for example you would like a blue and yellow pattern or have a wooden bench), incorporate these elements into the project you have in mind. In case you will share this space with your family or with other people, also grasp their ideas and their input. But always remember that this is your garden, the most important ideas for creation are yours. There is no right or wrong way to create this space. The real goal is to create a garden that calms you and, at the same time, stimulates you, so that when you open your eyes, you will feel even more inspired.
- Try to think of it as a kind of "outside room". A place where you will go to relax, rest and unwind. Consequently, it must have features that are comfortable, comforting and away from prying eyes.
- It would be best to imagine the project with certain conditions in mind, such as your budget. That way, you won't go crazy chasing expensive and hardly achievable dreams.
- Check out some gardening books and get inspired by looking at photos of other people's gardens. What elements attract you and inspire peaceful and serene ideas, to incorporate into your space?
Step 2. Conduct preliminary work to test the ground
There are several factors that you need to consider from the start in order to create a viable garden that fits within your budget and meets what can actually be achieved. For instance:
- Garden size: Evaluate the size of the space so that you can work accordingly. And, unless you live alone, the garden will be used by other people, so it's a good idea to plan how you will divide the area dedicated to meditation and serenity from the regular hustle and bustle that sets the rest of the space apart. Think about how you will make the different subdivisions. It will be easy using plant pots arranged in a row, a hedge, tall palm trees, benches, a fence and so on.
- Acoustic condition of the garden: Consider if it is already quiet on its own or if you should isolate it using a fence, hedge, embankment or other structures that can dampen the noise. The garden doesn't have to be large, but if you live in a quiet neighborhood full of green areas, you are already at an advantage. External sounds can be an annoying obstacle to concentrating and meditating.
- Terrain: evaluate if it is sloping, hilly, flat, grassy, consisting of earth, etc. All of these features will determine particular needs and issues, which you will need to look into to create a peaceful and comfortable space.
- View: what is the view you can see from your garden? You could use it as an extra feature of your space and find ways to "frame it". The view could be represented by the horizon, a grove, or anything else that can inspire you. If you don't have anything like that, you could plant a bamboo hedge to make up for the lack of a view, otherwise you'll have to get used to garbage cans, a neighbor's wall, or an ugly fence.
Step 3. Look for examples of gardens located in different parts of the world for inspiration
You could get some great insights into traditional gardens scattered around the rest of the planet. While you don't need to follow a theme, having one can instill a sense of calm thanks to the order and focus it inspires. There are several ways to discover the gardens of other countries; borrow books from the library, where you can admire photographs, search for images online, visit open gardens with certain aspects that interest you or go to botanical or public gardens but dedicated to a certain theme to inspire you. Think of the elements of these spaces that awaken in you feelings of peace and blissful solitude. Here are some gardens to look at:
- A Japanese garden. It could incorporate walkways made of sand or gravel, Zen elements, cherry trees, Japanese maples and geometric simplicity.
- A Chinese garden. It may feature a fish pond, overhanging trees, small bridges, tiny pagodas, natural (uncarved) stone sculptures, and footpaths.
- A desert garden like those in the southwest of the USA. It could stand out for its simplicity, cacti and other succulents (great for a garden that is in an area where water is scarce) and trees that provide shade.
- A traditional English garden; As an example, think of a walled garden in a college town like Oxford, Cambridge or Durham.
- An Australian garden with native plants. It could include eucalyptus and other Australian plants (look for those that give off aromas that awaken your senses) and lots of shaded areas to protect you from the beating sun. Eucalyptus trees are ideal for listening to the sound of the breeze, plus they give off a pleasant smell.
- A North American garden. It may be full of items carved in wood, maple, fir, birch and oak. In addition, it is characterized by the colors of the deciduous leaves, typical of autumn, by the numerous plants, the bird feeders and so on.
- Other types of minimalist gardens include those characteristic of the Middle East, or Islamic, but there are many other variations to consider.
Step 4. Start a plan
Enter all the positive features of the garden you already have (for example, perhaps you already have a pleasant and quiet area or a fish pond around which to build the rest of the space) and start thinking about what you want to buy. On a large enough piece of paper, sketch the final result, including the elements you intend to add. This plan can be updated and changed as you go, but it's a good idea to start with a basic idea and continue from there.
Keep the plan in a folder or binder. This way, you can also slip in magazine clippings, photos and brochures that give you ideas about the products and services you would like to incorporate into your space over time
Step 5. Use different structures and rows of trees to create a shrine
Throughout history, small garden constructions such as gazebos, loggias, pergolas, areas bordered by trees and atriums have been used to create small peaceful havens or to calm the gaze. By adding these structures (whether animated or inanimate), you create beauty and functionality in one fell swoop:
- Plant a grove. All you should do is plant a few rows of trees at the end of a mowed lawn, along a path or in another place within the garden, in order to delimit your space. A grove is a nice place to relax or enjoy the view, and it can often allow you to take your eyes off annoying distractions, such as what's going on in the house, neighbors sunbathing, chaotic areas, etc.
- Pergolas with climbing plants and pergolas are a mix of garden space and interior space. They can offer shelter from the sun, wind and rain, as well as add incredible depth and beauty to the garden.
- Consider a courtyard. This semi-enclosed environment could be ideal for defining your sanctuary in a defined way and for creating barriers to protect you from external movements and sounds. The courtyards allow you to consider different spaces for the realization of your project: a roof garden, a garden on a path or a garden compressed in a small space and included between walls.
- Add a gazebo, loggia, or enclosed pagoda. Places that protect from the sun and rain are ideal in a garden designed for meditating. If there is too much noise, it is hot, rainy or cold, this enclosed space will be your refuge. If you already have a gazebo, take advantage of it and use it for the project. The beauty of having a pagoda-like or gazebo-like structure is that you can fill the space with soft furniture, such as rugs, small and large pillows, etc. In this way, it will be a comfortable sanctuary to lie down and rest, at any time of the year.
Step 6. Think about the surfaces
If you relax in this garden, the surface on which you walk, sit, lie down and relax counts, and not a little. If the floor is too hot, cold or hard, it will ruin the experience, so plan this detail carefully. Here are some surfaces to consider:
- Soft and grassy surfaces. You could make a mowed lawn or use naturally growing grass, chamomile, so-called button grass, etc.
- Bricks. The expensive old bricks make up a wonderful sun-warmed surface. Over time, however, they attract moss, lichens and so on. You may or may not like this, but it is definitely a choice of character and one that creates a sense of oneness with nature.
- You can also pave the garden, but remember that slabs can be unpredictable if poorly selected. Older, hand-made ones are fine. Concrete and light colored ones can be a bad choice if they look poor and you notice that they are not of quality. Pay close attention to your decision. They can be fantastic if you use them to create paths and to enrich other surfaces, without relying solely on them.
- Mosaic. If you have the time and money for this solution, you can adapt it to create a small (or large!) Part of the garden. Choose designs that you feel are meaningful to you.
- Other possible surfaces include pebbles, wood, slate, gravel (very fine), sand and geometric slabs.
- The complexity of the garden must be defined according to the character of the creator. Inserting too many elements can distract someone, putting too few does not inspire others. A particularly intricate picture can be a useful object for concentration, taking on a function similar to that of a mandala.
Step 7. Invest in items that will increase the feeling of serenity communicated by the garden
There are numerous items perfect for this space that will help you create a truly meditation-friendly and peaceful garden. Here are some ideas:
- Sculptures. Look for artists you appreciate in your area (this will also allow you to support local art) and get unique and special pieces for your garden. You may also want to consider commissioning items that have special significance to you, such as a totem pole depicting an animal or a memorial plaque dedicated to a loved one. And of course, you can always create your own sculpture!
- Waterfall. Water is soothing and relaxing, both when it is stationary and when it moves. You could include water bowls, fish ponds, a fountain, waterfall, or other items that rely on using this element.
- Stones. The typical stones of the Japanese gardens, the sculptures carved in the stone, the inukshuk and the other stones in general can give an idea of solidity and firmness in your peaceful garden.
- Small plinths or altars. They can be ideal locations for a candle, a vase of flowers, a small shrine, incense, candles or other spiritual offerings. It all depends on what you prefer. It doesn't matter who you bid on, it's the intention that matters. Either way, it's best to choose something that will inspire you to calm down.
- Statues and other decorations. There are many possibilities in this case. You can simply choose those that give you a feeling of peace. Buddha images or statues and small pagodas are good ideas, but only if they are right for you.
- Specific blanks. These are surprisingly peaceful little areas, and they are places that don't need to be filled.
Step 8. Choose plants that inspire you
Typical English cottage plants are fine if you create a minimalist garden, which requires few, sometimes none. The plants you choose can be of different types: fragrant, completely green, with flowers, tropical, native, typical of the desert, etc. The most important thing is that they evoke calm within you. So, if they are "demanding" plants that require a lot of work, you should leave them out of the garden dedicated to meditation, otherwise you will feel compelled to take care of them and clean them instead of meditating and resting!
- Use your five senses to figure out which plants are most pleasant for you in a garden dedicated to meditation. For example, if you are someone who loves to touch things, look for plants with a pleasant texture, such as lamb's ears, with a texture that resembles that of velvet. If you like to be visually stimulated, you might like brightly colored flowers. Otherwise, if you like to be enveloped in fragrances, opt for a wide range of fragrant plants that bloom at different times of the year, in order to make sure they give off a beautiful scent in every season. Some of the plants that bloom in the dark have wonderful fragrances and create heavenly atmospheres on moonlit or starry nights.
- Plant shapes can inspire you. When choosing a plant, consider the shape, texture, lines and colors to see if it gives you a feeling of peace and if it helps you focus while you meditate (in case you want to).
Step 9. Use eco-friendly garden solutions and products
This space allows you to become one with nature and the Earth. It would make no sense to pollute it with man-made chemicals such as those contained in pesticides (insecticides), fungicides, antimicrobials and anti-rodent products. If you practice a philosophy based on non-violence or follow a virtuous system such as that of the Buddhist precepts, using these toxins can negatively affect the quality of meditation and your well-being. Instead, look for eco-friendly solutions to keep weeds and pests that can appear in your garden under control. Also use ecological fertilizers.
- Make sprays at home to use in the garden.
- Read How to Use Your Compost and How to Make Compost Tea for an even more environmentalist lifestyle.
- Learn about companion plants, as some encourage the growth of other shrubs by attracting beneficial insects.
Step 10. Continue to update and modify the meditation garden to suit your needs
As with meditation itself, which helps you grow and change over time, the garden shouldn't get trapped in time. Renovating and renovating this space, your needs and your desires involves a certain evolution.
Step 11. When meditating, select an area that is cool, calm and preferably quiet
Use an inexpensive doormat or old beach towel to have a meditation-friendly and inexpensive mat (this way you won't get dirty from coming into contact with grass or dirt when you sit down). Afterward, close your eyes, relax, focus and let your meditative state flow. Don't try to stop thoughts in their flow, you don't have to force yourself. You simply have to let them flow and fade away.
To learn more about meditation, click here. There are many varieties of meditation, suitable for various types of people; some serve to calm down and reduce stress, others to nurture spiritual or mental health, and still others to look within and contemplate existence. Then there are types of meditation that are mixed with real forms of physical exercise, such as Tai Chi, meditation performed while walking, yoga and so on. They all have subtle differences, but how you treasure your experiences is up to you
Advice
- There are several types of shelters or barriers, which may include screens, fences, trellises, logs, ferns, woven hazel wood panels, fences, a single strategically placed wall, a hedge, a row of bushes or trees, pots containing plants, benches, seating, etc. Even a pond can help create a sense of separation between one part of the garden and another.
- If you think an item is distracting you because of the noise it makes, for example a fountain or bells you have hung up bother you, remove it. However, don't assume that these items won't work for you. Their constant noise could be a source of concentration and peace for you, and could help you dispel the chaos of traffic and neighborhood activities.
Warnings
- Bamboo is a good plant to use, but in many places it is considered an invasive species that will take over the garden and harm native plants. Research the plants you want to use!
- Stagnant water can attract mosquitoes, which could be dangerous if you live in an area prone to diseases transmitted by these insects. For some time you should drain the fountain or artificial pond.
- Some trees, plants, and flowers are said to attract snakes or other animals that some would find annoying.
- Having standing water is never a good idea, and the same goes for bird drinking fountains. They require constant emptying and cleaning. Make sure that the water does not collect and does not get stuck in the various pots and containers. If you have a fish pond, check its condition and clean it. You definitely don't want leaves, fallen branches, and (even worse!) Dead fish floating on the water.
- Try to strike a balance between the creation of the garden and the relaxation that you will indulge in it. There's no need to regret the idea as it takes too much work to create and maintain.
