Feng Shui is, to put it quite simply, the art of maximizing the good energy while minimizing the bad. Its focus is to help people live in harmony with their surroundings. The Chinese believe that the ancient art of Feng Shui-ing your landscaping will balance out the Ch’i, the animating force behind all living things.
Using The 5 Natural Elements In Your Landscaping Design
The five natural elements are the main components of Feng Shui – wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. Landscape designs are often centered around these elements and are easily incorporated into the finished product.
Wood
Incorporating wood into your landscaping design is easier than you may think, especially in Minnesota. Our lovely trees balance out the earth as their roots stretch deep down underground. Just make sure they’re not too close to the house, so they don’t trap the energy and send it to their roots.
Of course, a wooden fence may create a sense of security and also protect your yard from possible negative environmental impacts such as noise, wind or air pollution. If you want to stick to Feng Shui principles, you can decorate the fence with green plants or flowers.
To add a bit of an Asian influence, you can hang bamboo wind chimes to help you relax and slip away into pleasant memories.
Fire
Who doesn’t love gathering with friends around a roaring fire? Landscape designers can create a fire pit that will blend into the surrounding area with seating for you and all your friends. If you don’t want to commit to a built-in fire pit, perhaps a portable chiminea is more your speed.
Earth
So yes, you are technically surrounded by earth being outside in your yard. However, to fulfill this element in your landscape design, incorporate terracotta or clay pots in your yard. Just make sure that they don’t block the entrance to your home or disrupt the flow and harmony of your landscaping.
Metal
There are several ways you can incorporate metal into your landscaping without taking away from the overall design. Get creative! To create a sense of peace, find metal wind chimes to play nature’s soundtrack. You can also add some artistic flair to your yard with a metal sculpture or wind mobile.
Water
Now here is where you can have a lot of fun when designing your backyard oasis. Water features can either stand alone or work hand in hand with another of the natural elements. According to the philosophy of Feng Shui design, water is a symbol of wealth.
If you like to hear running water, install a fountain or a small waterfall. A koi pond is another way to add the element of water to your home. For those that aim for practicality in their design, a swimming pool is technically a large body of water and would work in balancing out the water requirement of Feng Shui.
Once you’ve decided how you will incorporate all five elements, it’s time to look at other principles in Feng Shui. First, make sure nothing is blocking the doors into your house. Not only is this a safety hazard, but it can also create unbalance in the flow of positive and negative energies that run in and out.
Another way to maintain balance is to keep everything in proportion. Trees and shrubs shouldn’t have a huge difference in height. Tall trees may disrupt the harmony and balance happening around you. Making sure everything is manicured and landscaped will keep it all looking nice and the energy flowing.
Create a welcoming environment with comfortable and attractive furniture, garden decorations, and anything else you can think of to create a peaceful and inviting atmosphere. If you can, have the seating area close to the water feature so you and your guests can enjoy the sounds of running water.