According to the ancient Chinese art of placement called feng shui ("wind and water"), the flow of energy through a home or garden has a positive or negative effect on the owner's health and well-being. Modern feng shui advocates say that business success, marital bliss and even fame can be achieved by proper furniture placement in the home and balanced landscape design in the garden. Feng shui expert Deborah Gee has created a video to help people harness and properly use chi, the "life force" central to feng shui principles. The three elements needed to correctly apply chi in a garden are mountains, water and greenery. Mountains may be symbolically represented by raised planting beds, tall trees and shrubbery. Water, which symbolizes wealth, may be represented by streams, ponds or fountains--or even a river of stones. Balance is a key factor in feng shui. The elements of mountains, water and plants must be placed fairly close to one another. Sharp items near a pathway direct sharp chi at passersby, which can disrupt their internal energy flow and create tension and stress. Meandering or circular pathways in the garden are preferred to straight paths, as a straight walkway creates fast-moving chi, which may cause feelings of discomfort. Planting a flat garden is the most common design mistake gardeners make. Different layers and levels encourage the flow of chi. Curves in the garden improve the flow of chi. Various areas of the garden relate to specific parts of life. For instance, the far-left corner of the garden represents wealth. Because bright colors attract chi, try planting purple, red or blue flowers in this area. The center of the garden represents fame and reputation, so placing an archway here will beckon chi to enter one's life, bestow fame and enhance one's reputation. The far-right corner of the garden represents love and marriage and is often enhanced with pink, red and white flowers.
RESOURCES :
Feng Shui Institute of America
The Complete Illustrated Guide to Feng Shui for Gardens
Model: 1862043558
Author: Lillian Too
Element, 1999
| 
)
)
)
