By Jane Blanchard, Modernize.com (Guest Author, Culture of Awareness)
With a few resourceful modifications, your backyard can give the haven you need to meditate and be free from stress. Here’s how you can start.
- Find a place with as little traffic (and noise) as possible.
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Regardless of size, all backyards have areas that are not as busy as the rest. Look for this area. All you need is enough space to sit quietly and be serene. Isolate this space and mark it with a length of rope or some water-based paint. Sit inside for a while to see if the space feels right. If it does, move on to picturing how you will arrange this special place. Identify any features that need fixing; this could include an ugly wall, or overgrown plants, or some old structure that needs to be taken down.
- Prepare a plan
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Based on the your preferences, your budget, and the limitations of your environment, visualize the garden you want.
You might want a Zen garden with its geometric simplicity or a Chinese garden where you can incorporate a bridge, a pond, and some overhanging plants. Still another option would be a starkly simple desert garden with cacti, perhaps a shade tree, and a few water-hardy plants.
Once you have a clear picture of how your garden will look, draw an outline of this projected garden, incorporating the existing features you want to keep. Then, make a list of the things you need to add.
- Start with the groundwork
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Check the drainage of the area. If it is waterlogged, correct the drainage problem first. This may involve installing a gravel drain, or some drainage trenches, or putting up a raised deck. If drainage is not a problem, you can start working on the surface you prefer – one that will allow you to comfortably sit, walk, or lie down. Decide if you want a soft grassy surface or one made of pebbles or brick. Then, start installing!
- Put your plants in
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The plants in your garden will help evoke the inner calmness you seek. If your spot needs privacy, you might want segregate it with a screen of bamboo. Another option would be a trellis of jasmine or a row of symmetrical bushes. Just remember that this is not the place for “needy” plants – plants that you will be tempted to weed, prune, or water while you are meditating.
- Don’t forget the shade
You will need a shaded area in your meditation garden – someplace where you can stay without having to worry about getting sunburned. If there is a tree in your yard, you can create some shaded space under it by by removing some lower branches. If no natural shade exists, consider putting in an arbor, a pergola, or even a small pavilion.
- Add accessories to create a mindful environment
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There are items that can help create a restful ambiance in your garden. For example, rocks and sculptures made of various earth materials will generate solidity. A water feature such as a trickling fountain or a pond can soothe you as you meditate. These features do not have to be huge; in fact, these objects can be as simple as a single sculpture no more than a foot tall or a bowl with water plants.
A backyard meditation space is such a pleasure in today’s busy world, and creating such a space is not at all an impossible task. It is doable project that it is guaranteed to give you hours of relaxation!
For more tips and tricks, head to Modernize.com.
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