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The Garden as a Spiritual Space: How to Take Your Garden to a Higher Level

What do We Mean By the Term ‘Spiritual Garden’?

I use the terms “Spiritual Garden”, “Garden Sanctuary” and “Sacred Garden” interchangeably, for they are all so interrelated that it is only useful to differentiate when the term is appropriate to the context in which it is being used. Spirit is used as a generalized term for God, Universal Truth, and Consciousness, Higher Power or any other supernatural form or creation that one chooses to align with their belief system.

With that said, a Garden Sanctuary is a space thoughtfully designed to create not only an ambiance of peace and prosperity, but at a transcendent level, where one connects with the Spirit of the Garden, facilitating a connection between Heaven and Earth, the Divine and Human, the Self and Universal Spirit.

It is a sacred outdoor space where you can retreat from the mundane world, relax and reawaken your connection with Spirit. Gardening is an activity that symbolizes and represents the miracle of life in the form of a gardener growing something from a seed.

There is something deep, a soulful connection to this miracle that when we garden, we experience this on a certain level. Simple acts such as witnessing the flowering of a plant or eating a tomato from your own vine is spiritually nourishing.

Spiritual gardens should not only be aesthetic creations, but must in some way, trigger the “spiritual experience”– that personal revelation connecting you to the larger whole. The feeling you get when gazing upon a flower, that its meaning mystically unlocks a key to its sacred symbolism revealed through ancient wisdom. These thoughtful realizations can be achieved through profound awareness of the physical objects and their associated meanings.

For example, let us say that we are going to plant a special tree in the garden. We are going to call this tree the “Tree of Life” as we have read about this concept. In this context, the “Tree of Life” is used as a symbol and is obviously associated with that of a secret message. The term “secret message” is interchangeable with the word symbol, but a symbol generally has deeper meaning. A symbol is something that through its outward aspect or character represents something more profound than itself.

The flames of a fire for instance, can symbolize the sun, which itself has qualities of heat, illumination and creative or destructive powers. The sun is associated with giving forth life and power as well as being associated with gods of mythology who possess these same qualities. In a garden setting, elements or objects such as a light fixture, a luminary, fireplace or fire pit can be also related to the imagery of the sun.

A symbolic image therefore can be linked to many garden design applications depending on its purpose and placement within the space.
As Jack Trasidder states in his book, Symbols and Their Meaning,

“There is a connection between the power of symbols and their antiquity. There are some symbols or types of symbols that are so universally potent, so close to the very stuff of life, that there meanings tend to remain constant over time. We believe that on a personal level, that profound realities dwell beyond our rational objective knowledge, and that these “truths” are sacred forms of knowledge of the universe and of ourselves. Our connection, that we instinctively sense is behind the language of symbols, suggests that such truths are eternal and we yearn to have access to them. That is why we are attracted to various forms of symbolism, myth and legend.”

In order for someone to create and design their own sacred or spiritual garden space, the foundation must be in place. Certain basic design principles should be followed along with appropriate site planning principles that would apply to any location. After the foundation is in place, the transcendental qualities are incorporated in such a way so that the garden builder can customize it to their needs. This is how one personalizes the garden. The elements chosen are not only imbued with their own inherent embodiments, but the garden builder adds their own spiritual intention in such a manner that the elements now have special meaning. The garden meaning has now become what the gardener associates with its sacredness.

For more on this subject, go to:

http://www.johnstuartleslie.com

 

Feng Shui Your Garden!

 

Is your front door visible from the street?  Do you have a walk or path that meanders from the street to your main entrance?  If you answered no to either of these questions, your front yard could use some Feng Shui fixing.

 

Feng Shui applies to not only the interior of the house, but the way the house sits on the lot, its relationship to the street, the topography of the land and the elements that make up the landscaping. As Chi energy ebbs and flows around a house, it is greatly influenced by how well the architecture is sensitive to the site and the landscape elements around it.

 

The front entrance of a house is the “mouth of Chi” and represents our relationship with society.  Entrances, front doors and pathways should be inviting and welcoming to attract positive Chi.  Entrances should be free from blockages, barriers and clutter.  A “hidden” front door needs special enhancements to draw in the Chi energy, such as lighting the path or hanging a wind chime at the entrance.

 

Fountains are very effective in enhancing the flow of positive Chi as water symbolizes the flow of wealth. A clear still pond brings calmness, tranquillity and clarity of thought.  Fountains and waterfalls are essential elements in gardens because they bring movement, sound and positive energy to a space.

 

Water, as one of the “five elements” of Feng Shui, brings a key component to our dry desert gardens. When the other four elements of fire, earth, metal and wood complement a space, the garden is balanced and will evoke good feelings, comfort and a sense of connection to nature.

 

In Feng Shui terms, nature is balanced by the cyclical interconnections of the five elements: wood, water, fire, earth and metal. Too much of one element or the lack of an element can be felt energetically. For instance, too many green shrubs (wood) can be balanced with fire (red or spiky plants) as fire burns wood.  Too much fire can be balanced using water (water puts out fire). When each element is represented by either its physical form (i.e. water) or symbolically through its corresponding shape or color, a feeling of harmony can be sensed. This feeling of balance is what makes an outdoor living environment enjoyable to be in and appealing to the eye. 

 

Often times, when a garden is tired and neglected, or just seems “bla”, a few feng shui cures may be all that is necessary to revive the energy flow, achieve balance between the elements and create an enjoyable space that you can call your special ”feng shui” garden.

I AM The Happy Buddha

Greetings,

This is such a special moment as we launch our new blog and new passion.  I will be on a show about “Cutting Edge Women in Business” where 4 women will talk about how their business’ are contributing to their immediate and global communities. 

7-9pm PST, (I will be on from 8-8:30),  www.blogtalkradio.com/mysticdeva. 

Spiritual Elements:

John and I met in 1987, August 16, Haleakala Crator, Maui, HI.  We were both there observing the Harmonic Convergence.  Both John and I were studying Metaphysics for years before we met and it was destiny that we met in such a spiritual place at such a spiritual time.  We were married one year later and that bond has sustained us through 20 years.

Very early on John was drawn to creating spiritual spaces in outdoor environments and over the years has accomplished this in minor ways in the 100s and 100s of landscapes he has designed and installed.  John got his Master’s in Landscape Architecture because of that inner calling.  I had done what any girl would do with a BSEE, get a technical sales job and slog it out for the next 20 years in the microelectronics field.  Neither of us were fulfilled, there was ALWAYS something missing.  I felt like I was in the ‘belly of the beast’ working with military contractors for many years.  We yearned to take it to the next level, To Be About It, walk the talk, live like spiritual beings.  SO…when I say this is a New Dawning, dream come true for us, it truly is.

Our mission is to assist people to create an outdoor environment that is healing, inspiring, attitude adjusting, life altering, thereby contributing to raising the vibration of Mother Earth…one happy, relaxed person at a time.

If each one of us can stay centered, hold the Light, be inspired and inspiring, then the world will lift in Spirit.  John and I create spaces where each person can do that and be that.  It is spiritual philosophy and physicality through Spiritual Gardening.  Did I mention John is trained in Feng Shui and is a Buddist disciple? 

Coming attractions:   Audio, video, membership club where modern and ancient philosophical lessons & Secrets are revealed.  Garden modalities and lessons will include Eastern, Western, Japanese, Feng Shui, Labyrinths, traditional, Galactic (my specialty ) to name just a few and other topics that John and I find inspiring. 

Best wishes, Lana

Transcendental Landscaping

Since the beginning of my career I have always been interested in the fields of landscape architecture, design and construction as well as having a more “hidden” interest in metaphysics, philosophy, feng shui, etc. You could have called it New Age thinking years ago, but that term is no longer used, except by certain fundamentalist religious faiths that condemn it.  I noticed that in the sub markets of landscape/gardening, there is very little overlap with spiritual concepts. Conversely, I noticed in the “new age” circles that gardening and landscape design in general was treated as a whole separate thought process. What is interesting is that the design and building of gardens and landscaping is of the “mundane”, physical realm, while spirituality, symbolism and metaphysics is of the “transcendental” realm. They can be however, integrated so that the purpose and meaning of each realm is synergistic. This is the essence of what I am pursuing here in my spiritual gardens blog. I will soon be delivering more informative and useful materials such as books articles and other tools that will help one to achieve their particular, personalized way of obtaining meaning, purpose and connection to spirit. Each has their unique path, be that through religion, prayer, meditation, spirit guides, angels or just digging in the soil and listening to the plants, a “garden” setting can be a portal or gateway for such personal revelation and transformation.

-JSL

The Road to Enlightenment

Here’s how I got interested in the topic of “spiritual gardens”. But first, I should point out that the use of the term spritual gardens could just as easily be in lieu of such phrases as “sacred gardens” spiritual spaces, metaphysical gardens, meditative gardens, healing gardens, gardens of the soul, etc. All describe the connection of the inner thoughts and feelings of one’s consciousness to that of the outer physical world or their immediate environment in the context of a garden setting. The term garden is used broadly and not necessarily describing the growing of flowers and vegetables. The term “garden” and “tending to ones’s garden” when used metaphorically, can evoke parallels with one’s personal and spriitual development and “growth”. 

Twenty years ago or so, I obtained my Masters degree in Landscape Architecture from California Polytechnic University Pomona. I was later employed as a Coastal Planner for the California Coastal Commission, dealing with protection of the coastal resources, its environmentally sensitive habitat, public access to the shoreline and overall land use regulation that protects the environment. This was all at a large regional scale, while a development proposal dealing with a single residence was considered a minor project. I was very much an “environmentalist” and resonated with the policies that protected the earth, the ecosystems, habitat and endangered species. This connection with nature was and still is profound. But what I was really intrigued about was my first exposure to a different way of looking at nature while attending graduate school.  I took a class taught by Professor Usugi called “Geomancy” or more commonly referred to today as Feng Shui. We were exposed to the principles of land planning in ancient China, the development of gardens and directional energies of the earth among other things.  This rekindled earlier studies and readings in eastern philosophy such as Alan Watts and D.H. Suzuki. My belief systems were being formulated as I was in a “seeking” mode for what is the essential meaning of life, or as I put it back then, what is the interconnectedness of all things? For I knew there was a connection, but I could not put my finger on it. I have not yet reached “enlightenment” but I am on a much clearer path today and part of that path is what I will share throught this blog site.

-JSL

Launching Spiritual Gardens

symbol of longevity

My name is John Stuart Leslie

Hello and welcome to this blog which will endeavor to explore the meaning of Spiritual Gardens and how they can function as a vehicle for personal transformations, soul searching, spiritual development and renewal and many other forms of enlightment. I am starting this blog as the beginning of an online journey into the exploration of the deeper meaning of nature, religion, spirituality, design, art and gardening. My interest stems from my long time interest and pursuit of spiritually through eastern philosophy, metaphysical concepts, self development, nature and a career in landscape architecture, construction and design. I have always been interested in spirituality as a whole: meditation, native American beliefs, Taoism, Zen Buddhism, and most “mainstream new age” belief systems. I also spend a lot of time in my own garden where I am immersed in the tasks of planting, digging, building and observing plants and nature as a whole. It came to me that there is a strong connection between gardening/landscaping/nature and the more transcendental form of spirituality that is actually contained within the garden. I shall share with you my thoughts, comments, articles and other musings as we enjoy this journey together. Stay tuned for more entries.

-JSL