Home » Home & Garden » Gardening » Japanese Gardens

5 Essential Feng Shui Garden Elements

Ranked #2,558 in Home & Garden, #38,451 overall | Donates to Save the Children, Women's Peace Campaign

Feng Shui Gardening Basics

No matter how big or how small your outdoor garden, your ideal feng shui landscape design should represent the various unique aspects of your life and incorporate the basic Feng Shui elements and principles to stimulate, control, or balance your home's energy as needed.

Your Garden design should allow the flow and movement of Chi (life force energy) to move freely throughout by making use of the essential universal qualities of feng shui, these five basic elements are Water, Wood, Earth, Metal and Fire.

Used in any Feng Shui Design or Landscaping

Metal (White or Gold) - Corresponds with Autumn and offers stillness and serenity. The quality of contraction, sharpness, focus; when too strong, metal energy can make you sharp-tongued and critical.

Water (Black) - Corresponds with Winter and brings willpower and adaptability. The quality of flowing, making connections; too much water energy can make you "wishy-washy" and indecisive.

Wood (Green) -Corresponds with Spring and offers hope and possibility. The quality of easy growth and progress; too much wood energy makes you aggressive or impatient, lacking compassion.

Fire (Red) - Corresponds with Summer and offers warmth and joy. The quality of excitement, expansion, quickness; too much fire energy can leave you stressed out and anxious.

Earth (Yellow) - Corresponds with Late Summer gives contentment and stability. The quality of settling down, being receptive; too much leads to depression, sluggishness, feeling stuck or weighed down.

The Rules of the Five Elements:
Creation:
Wood produces fire (without fuel, fire cannot burn),
Fire produces earth (think of a volcano becoming a mountain),
Earth produces metal (metal is extracted from the earth),
Metal produces water (think of moisture condensing on a cold can of soda on a hot day), and
Water produces wood (without water, wood will die).

Destruction:
Wood uproots earth,
Earth blocks water,
Water douses fire,
Fire melts metal, and
Metal chops wood.

Source: www.fastfengshui.com Fast Feng Shui: 9 Simple Principles for Transforming Your Life by Energizing Your Home by Stephanie Roberts (Lotus Pond Press, 2001).

The Little Book of Garden Feng Shui

Lillian Too's Little Book of Feng Shui for the Garden

by: Lillian Too

Amazon Price: $5.95 (as of 02/14/2012)

This little book is full of tips on auspicious garden layouts, backyard arrangements, selection of plants, creation of celestial guardians and the lucky placement of water, water flows and lights to attract wealth, health, harmony and good relationship luck.

Water Element

Networking, communication, professional opportunities and wealth

Water attracts positive energy (Chi) and is symbolic of Wealth.

To invite Chi toward your home, place a small water object, such as a bird bath or fountain, near the front entrance. Just be sure any waterfalls, run toward, rather than away from your home, to symbolize a positive flow of prosperity. If you have a water source in your garden, clean it regularly and If it has a leak, fix it immediately, as this will cause wealth to drain away.

Place Water Elements in feng shui areas such as the southeast (money & abundance area); in the east (health & family area) and in the north (career & life path) to energize each aspect of your life.

Avoid placing Earth Elements in the Northern area of your garden; ( i.e. stone, clay)

Buddha Flowing Water Fountain

Illuminated Buddha Outdoor Fountain

Amazon Price: $349.99 (as of 02/14/2012)

Constantly recycles water from a hidden pump reservoir. Requires no wiring, simply install and enjoy. No operating costs. It creates a relaxing atmosphere on your patio, deck, balcony or in your garden.

Wood Element

Promotes development and creative energies

The East governs Family Relationships and Health. This area is called "Big Wood", which is why it is good to have at least one big tree there.

While Trees do bring the element of Wood to any area, be careful not to place these powerful energy-producers too close to your house, or they will overshadow and overpower your home.

If using Wooden Tables, use ones that have large round edges, so they don't give off a cutting energy. Chairs with flowing curves will also enhance the flow of Chi.

The Southeast area governs Wealth and Prosperity and should be as green and lush as possible. This area is known as "Small Wood" and could be enhanced by a windmill, a swing or another structure made of wood (preferably one that moves to circulate energy.)

Avoid Metal Elements, such as garden accessories, wrought iron patio furniture, and tools in these areas.

Feng Shui Objects for Your Garden

Fire Element

Energy and passion

The Element of Fire is considered the most powerful of all five elements.

The Southern corner of your garden governs Recognition and Fame and represents the Fire element. Consider stringing up lights, putting the barbecue there, or having a hearth for a fire.

The presence of animals also enhances positive Chi and brings the element of Fire into your garden. Encourage Butterflies and birds into your garden by using feeders and plants to which they are particularly attracted.

Avoid placing any Water Elements, such as ponds, waterfalls, and fountains in these areas.

Feng shui Oils

Fire Element

Feng Shui Fire (Fuego) Mithos Essential Oils -Set of 2-

Amazon Price: $32.95 (as of 02/14/2012)

Earth Element

Stability, permanence, and home

The Southwestern, "Big Earth", corner of your Feng Shui Garden, guides Marriage Prospects and Matrimonial Happiness. Big round terracotta or earthenware pots can easily symbolize this Earth Element.

The Northeast corner governs Education and Wisdom; this area is known as "Small Earth", so it is a good location for a rock garden, or a small statue.

Feng Shui Terra Cotta Bean Pot

Mamma Ro 9 Inch by 12 Inch Bean Pot, Terra Cotta

Amazon Price: $95.22 (as of 02/14/2012)

Handmade Italian earthenware pottery

Metal Element

Generates attention and transmits energy

Wind chimes, metal gongs and wrought iron can add the Element of Metal to any area, including your Garden.

The Northwestern corner governs Helpful People or Mentors. This corner is called "Big Metal", so it is a good place to put a wrought iron table and chairs, to invite helpful friends into your life.

The Western corner, governs Children and Fertility and is known as "Small Metal"; this area will benefit most from wind chimes or small silvery objects that catch and reflect the sun.

Avoid placing Fire Elements, such as barbecues in the western area of your garden.

Chinese Wind Gong by Woodstock

Woodstock Healing Gong

Amazon Price: $44.14 (as of 02/14/2012)
List Price: $87.95

You don't have to be on a secluded retreat to enjoy the resonant tones of this small gong. With its sturdy metal base and high-quality wood-handled leather mallet, this gong produces a resounding tone that's ideal for centering yourself, focusing meditation sessions, or just calling the kids to dinner.

A Garden of Zen

Do You Feng Shui?

submit

Reply

cmoneyspinner Sep 18, 2011 @ 4:19 pm | delete

Expert tips for amateur gardeners like me. This lens is gorgeous! I added a link to this lens as a Related Lens at my lens about the art of feng shui, so it appears under the section EXPLORE RELATED PAGES.

Reply

SereneSea Sep 3, 2011 @ 1:02 pm | delete

Very beautifully explained the basics of Feng shui for garden.

Reply

TheresaBesaw Aug 25, 2011 @ 8:00 pm | delete

I love Feng Shui and can't wait to learn more. My mother in law built a feng shui garden and it is so peaceful. I am looking forward to building mine in a few years. I have a few other project to finish first. Great lens.

Reply

lravidlearner Jan 29, 2011 @ 7:00 am | delete

I have not yet Feng Shui'd my garden. But now you've shown me how to do it. Blessed by a Squid Angel ~