WEDS., MAY 10th - Ellie Marshall will be speaking at The Wainwright House in Rye, NY. Spend a fun and informative evening learning how to create balance, beauty and harmony in your garden while applying Feng Shui principles. Learn how: The Feng Shui Bagua can provide you with an energetic 'blueprint' for your garden • The Chi' (life force) energy is blocked in your current garden configuration • To properly employ the 8 Feng Shui enhancers in your garden space. Hint: Color is one of them.

Wainwright House
260 Stuyvesant Ave., Rye, NY 10580, 914-967-6080
To register visit www.wainwright.org!

Feng Shui In The Garden: The Importance of a Water Feature

By Ellie Marshall - "Home Healer" 

Feng Shui has been used for centuries to bring harmony, balance and prosperity to people’s home or office. But what happens when you apply Feng Shui theory to your outdoor space as well? It’s a natural match. As a matter of fact, Feng Shui originated from the land and now you can reap the benefits of this tradition in your own garden.

Thousands of years ago, the first Feng Shui practitioners were hired by the Emperor of China to pick the most auspicious, or favorable, place to build a burial site for the royal family. By having his ancestors “watch over” his reign, the Emperor would be guaranteed wealth and prosperity throughout his kingdom, and that means the most auspicious Feng Shui location in China was first used as a sacred burial ground. Then the Emperor had the Feng Shui practitioners select the most advantageous space for the building of his palaces, but the location was not considered complete until a prominent water feature was integrated into the landscape.

The Chinese have always honored water gently flowing in their garden. For them, it represents prosperity, wealth, depth of knowledge and clarity. No garden can have good Feng Shui unless it has a water feature, which attracts beneficial wildlife and brings added Chi to the garden. Chi is the life force energy that is in every living thing in the universe. Healthy Chi boosts the vitality in any space and brings good health and fortune to your garden or home. Chi must be able to flow freely throughout any environment.

Here are some of the ways you can integrate a water feature into your landscape:

1. Man-made Inground Pond - If you decide to install an inground pond, it is important to make it look as natural as possible. There are no straight lines in nature: the pond should have a circular shape that mimics the real thing. You can always buy a pre-fab plastic liner that makes this part of the job very easy. Once in the ground, plant attractive ground cover and plant life to hide the plastic edges of the man-made pond. Be creative! Place some beautiful, large stones around the pond’s edge. A mosquito ring should also be added to keep bugs at bay. Moving water is always the best, so it is strongly advisable to add a small fountain to keep the Chi circulating.

2. Free standing Fountains - This is a very easy way to add water to your front or backyard garden. These fountains come in various shapes and sizes. They also have a wide range of building materials. You can utilize everything from natural granite to lightweight resin, which is artificial, but looks natural and lifelike to the eye. Some fountains even work on solar energy, so you don’t have worry about electrical wires. These types of fountains are very attractive and practical. Be sure that the water either flows straight up or towards your home. Water that flows away from your home, especially the front door, could result in a loss of wealth!

3. Outdoor Wall Fountains - These give your garden a very romantic look and feel. The installation is more complicated, but the look is very attractive. Be mindful of any cracks or repairs that need to be made over time because damaged Chi is an energy you do not want to invite into your outdoor sanctuary.

4. Natural Streams and Ponds - A natural water element on your property can be a true blessing, yet certain principles still apply. The water must be kept clean and in good condition. A yearly clean-up of fallen branches, dead leaves, and litter is strongly recommended. Install a water fountain in your pond to circulate the water, elevate the Chi and reduce the mosquito population. A clean, healthy pond is oxidized from the movement of the water and enables fish and plant life to thrive. Pond aeration is very important to the environment and the life of your land. A stagnate pond in Feng Shui equals stagnate Chi, and a stagnant bank account. This is definitely not desired. A mosquito ring is recommended.

5. Birdbaths - These do count in Feng Shui as a water feature, and all of the above rules should apply. You must make the commitment to change the water on a daily basis. Inviting wildlife into the garden is a beautiful blessing. It also helps to raise the Chi in your outdoor space.