| > | | | | east promote harmony and balance. |
| The design of your garden has an amazing affect | | | | Here are five great steps you can use to bring |
| on your family’s health and well-being. Here | | | | the five elements into balance within your garden |
| is how you can create harmony in your | | | | and make it a sanctuary that is not only beautiful |
| gardenwhich is considered a living entityand | | | | to look and wonderful to spend time in, but will |
| bring peace and happiness within your home. | | | | actually have an empowering affect on the health |
| Vastu Shastra is an environmental science written | | | | and well-being of you and your family. |
| about some 7,000 — 10,000 years ago in | | | | 1. Build up the southwest area of your garden to |
| India by rishis, or men of great wisdom. They | | | | produce the stabilizing force of the earth element. |
| observed the workings of Nature and recorded | | | | You can do this with a rock garden, tall trees and |
| how different rays of the sun, the magnetic | | | | even a stone statue. This will help to collect and |
| poles, the makeup of the land, soil, slope, | | | | hold the positive solar and magnetic energies |
| structures, etc. affected all living things. It is the | | | | coming from the east and north. Since yellow is |
| oldest recorded architectural treatise known to | | | | the color associated with the southwest, choose |
| man and it is from this science that some of the | | | | daffodils, roses or wisteria to accentuate this |
| world’s most enduring structures have | | | | area. This is also a good place for a storage or |
| been created. | | | | tool shed. |
| According to the science of Vastu Shastra, all five | | | | 2. Represent the water element by using low |
| elements (earth, water, fire, air and space) need | | | | plantings in the northeast that will allow the flow |
| to be in harmony. When a seed is planted, it | | | | of positive solar energy. Add a fountain or |
| requires that all five elements be balanced for a | | | | reflection pool or pond in this area to reflect this |
| seed to germinate, sprout and become a strong, | | | | beneficial energy throughout the garden. Herbs, |
| healthy plant. The disproportion of any one | | | | white pansies or geraniums can be used as |
| element whether it is the quality of the earth | | | | accents. |
| (soil ph), the amount and quality of water, wind | | | | 3. Add a barbeque or a fire pit in the southeast as |
| (air), sun | | | | your fire element. Red symbolizes this direction so |
| (fire), or the amount of space it is planted inwill | | | | plant tulips, geraniums and dahlias here. |
| inhibit its growth. In this way a wise gardener sets | | | | 4. Use wind chimes to balance the air element in |
| up a balanced environment for his plants to grow | | | | the northwest. Since blue is the color of this area, |
| free from disease and stress. | | | | plant bluebells, forget-me-nots and iris to enhance |
| Briefly, each area of your garden is associated | | | | the influences coming from this direction. |
| with one of the five elements. The earth element | | | | 5. Represent the space element by an open area |
| is associated with the southwest area of your | | | | in the middle of you garden. It can either be a |
| garden and creates a sustaining and grounding | | | | patio or grass. Finally, by keeping your garden |
| force. In the northeast, the water element is at | | | | neat and tidy you will be maintaining balance and |
| home. This element allows plants to flourish. The | | | | attracting the positive influence of each of the |
| fire element in the southeast supports | | | | directions. |
| disease-free plants. The northwest is related to | | | | A well-designed and tended garden, using the |
| the air element encouraging cross-pollination. The | | | | principles of Vastu Shastra, will benefit you and all |
| space element is associated with the central area | | | | the members of your family for years to come. |
| of your garden, enhancing the flow of beneficial | | | | By reconnecting with the natural balance inherent |
| influences that nourishes the other elements. | | | | in the environment, you will encourage better |
| Positive magnetic energies coming from the north | | | | personal health, improve the quality of |
| and the positive solar energies coming from the | | | | relationships and enhance well-being. |