Using Gardens for Meditating
Gardens provide holistic peace and tranquility, so why not go one step further and bring in meditation garden ideas that will enhance the practice and place you in a space that encourages the technique. In fine weather, there are few things more peaceful than relaxing in an outdoor living space. Plants for meditation can enhance the therapeutic experience of being outdoors and open up a space to allow your mind to clear and your meditation practice flourish. The power of nature and plants has long been known to be beneficial to our physical, mental, and spiritual selves. There are even landscape designers that specialize in creating healing gardens and spaces perfect for tranquil contemplation and practice. Meditation garden ideas encompass clear, uncluttered spaces, simple lines, Asian influenced pieces, and a comfortable space to contemplate. The exact elements will vary for each of us, but the basic idea is to keep things natural and open. Excess plants or garden décor will clutter the space as well as the mind. This is why Asian influenced garden practices are often part of the meditating garden. The restful aspect of Asian landscaping is perfect for drawing the mind and eye and creating a peaceful meditation space, but the simplicity of a southwestern garden or the lushness of a Mediterranean inspired space can also work.
How to Make a Meditation Garden
The first steps to making an outdoor meditation space are to declutter. If there are numerous trees that block the light and bring in shadows, clear limbs or even have one or two removed to bring in light and air. Consider the view you will have as you sit in contemplation and the sounds that you will hear as you control your breathing. Visualize a sanctuary space that is at least slightly set apart from the rest of the landscape. You can create this with hardscape items like patios or arbors and pergolas. A small structure that is used as an art space or other creative retreat will enhance the feeling of calm and tranquility while setting the space off from the rest of the garden.
Enhancing the Peaceful Meditating Garden
Utilize the natural features of your garden to develop a plan and then bring in plants for meditation that add sensory; beauty, scent, and motion.
Ornamental grasses are easy to grow and add a delicious rustling experience to help you into a trance-like state. A rock or stone lined path becomes softened and blurred by the addition of mosses and other ground covers. Sweet smelling perennials and bushes perfume the space and lend an aromatherapy aspect to the garden. Water features are particularly calming and visually relaxing. For evening meditation, a fire pit or candlelight will bring a Zen-like ambiance that encourages gentle contemplation and calmness.
Items that pluck gently at the senses seem to help with meditation practice but also make the day-to-day garden a special space.
