Autumn and Spring - Feng Shui in the Garden

Yin handing over to Yang - Springthemselves and prepare for the winter months up
Yang handing over to Yin - Autumnahead. Maybe time we step in and help through
During these periods a time arises when they aresome pruning, fertilising, mulching and the like,
both in harmony with each other. Neither Yin orensuring before winter approaches the plants in
Yang and that reflected in the ambiance ofthe garden are ready, creating stability and a
sunlight, shadow, movement in the season, windsense of settlement. We can walk away and be
flow and temperature variation. After rainfallsure the garden is at peace within itself as Yin
(which is more likely in Spring and Autumn) plantarrives and takes over, Yang handing the garden
life and animal movements flourish. Birds areover to Yin and Yang wanting to retreat into itself
nesting, feeding, food supply abundant and plantsuntil Spring.
preparing themselves for new growth orI suggest this is a simplified scenario to garden via
retreating within themselves as winterthe season or Yin and Yang. Maybe the heading
approaches.should be gardening to Yin and Yang and the
A great time to garden and be outdoors and toseasonality of it all coming to us.
travel into places enjoying their Spring andChi flow can be postulated as a seasonal thing.
Autumn weather and seasonal flushes of its plantsAbundant and active beneficial Chi is more obvious
and animals. What's good for nature is good forduring Autumn and Spring periods and at times of
us.the day when the influence of cold and hot wain.
I also notice during these times, birds and animalsBeneficial or the Sheng Chi wants or seeks places
are more contented (maybe their bellies are full)where Yin and Yang are in balance in all their
and they have more time to relax when Chi flowpermeations including that of living and non living
is abundant and providing them with all theirthings. The rocks on the ground contain Chi
energy needs with some left over. Yet on otheralongside the plant beside the rock and the insect
occasions animals, insects and bird life are moreattached to the plant.
active. I feel their behaviour mimics the transitionalSo really another scenario can take place and that
process of Yin to Yang and Yang to Yin.is gardening to Chi. Now that's something! Same
Gardening to the season is very wise andgarden, same you and me, same birds and
beneficial. Summertime is far more passive and ainsects and animals but all relating to and
step away approach to gardening. Plants don'tinfluenced by Chi. Abundant and vibrant Chi
want to be stressed with abrupt changes insymbolised by Yang fostering growth and
temperature, moisture supply and strength ofdevelopment and change. And correspondingly,
sunlight, a good time to leave them in peace,stagnant, regressive Chi associated with Yin
animals sheltering during the heat of the daywanting to withdraw into itself and be stabilised.
(including ourselves) and so on.There's a middle ground on offer and through our
Wintertime comes around and a similar approachobservations and actions, stagnant, regressive Chi
is adopted by those plants and animals thatcan be replaced or deflected in its influence by
frequent our localised surroundings. They want toSheng, positive, vibrant Chi influences and
remain passive in their nature, their growth andinfluences such as health, vigour, mystery and
development on hold as they sustain themselvesdiversity. Vitality and interest, movements,
from the onslaught of winter climate, some plantssounds, smells, climatic appeal and ambiance and
defoliating and breaking down back into theso on.
ground to protect themselves and their sensitiveSo really gardening by Yin and Yang and its
tissue from extremes of cold, wet, ice and snow.companion Chi is a logical and valuable addition to
Gardening in the springtime is different to thethe gardener's knowledge and arsenal of
autumn. In spring, plants want to break out andgardening tricks.
flush themselves with new growth and potentiallyI suggest a package of tricks can be put together
reproduce themselves through their flowers orto foster the relationship between ourselves and
expansion of their root systems. We see a surgeYin and Yang and Chi. My Harmonious Chi
of activity as temperatures rise and sunlightGardening publication is a starting point. Wondrous
lengthen (Yang influences). Yang is life and fostersCharacter gives an insight to Chi through its
change.creation, Mechi. Maybe someone out there wants
Gardening in the autumn suggests anotherto put all these Yin and Yang, Chi traits together
strategy, the prolonging of plants through theirto form a gardening package. Not Feng Shui but
care and maintenance. If they have survivedsimply gardening as nature would want through
through summer they now wanting to reassertthe world of Yin and Yang and Chi.