Sacred Space Design Ideas Archives

Air is one of the four classic elements (also Fire, Water and Earth).  Air as a classical element in the garden can be reflected in several ways namely through wind, sound and movement. Air gives life through its component molecules of Carbon and Oxygen.

Air has a close connection with the “etheric plane”, which is an unseen, unsensed aspect of our surroundings and more associated with the etheric body or the human energy fields represented through the auras surrounding our bodies.  Prana or Chi is the cosmic breath of life in Chinese and Hindu philosophies. Conscious breathing as practiced in meditation and yoga connects this vital energy of our physical bodies to our higher energy bodies.

This is the essence of air albeit a metaphysical description yet as an example of one of many sacred design ideas, air can be used in the garden in a number of ways as explained below.

Sound

air wind_chimes

Air in the form of wind provides an energy force that has tremendous power. Its slow moving form creates gentle energy for wind chimes. The chimes in turn produce melodic soundwaves which travel through the air. Thus sound is an aspect of air.

 

 

 

 

 

air prayer-flags

Wind

Flags and banners or anything else that captures the wind like swaying bamboo or tall grasses reflect the element air and are easy to include in any garden design. But the symbolism of air and wind reflected in the use of Tibetan prayer flags is most auspicious. It is believed that the prayers inscribed on the surface of the flags when hung outside will transmit the blessings and prayers to all beings of the world carried upon the wings of the wind.

Movement

air kinetic sculptureKinetic sculpture is another way to reflect air as a classical element in the garden with the design principle of movement being the key. Without the wind, these sculptures become static and stoic always waiting for that little breeze to make them come alive with the spirit of the wind.

 

 

 

A dry rock garden is typically uses boulders, gravel or pebbles to simulate a dry stream bed. The texture and form of the stone is featured so as to convey the theme of the garden. Dry rock gardens typically are not lush with lots of vegetation and are often designed as minimalist requiring very low maintenance. What makes a dry rock garden a type of Sacred Garden you may ask. A “zen garden” is what most people think of when designing a dry rock garden that has a sacred component such as meditation or contemplation. Below is an example of a dry Japanese Tea Garden I designed and built. To read about its construction see my post A Japanese Garden From Design to Completion

Dry rock garden with a Japanese Tea Garden theme

Initially designed to have a body of water, this dry rock garden a part of a tea garden ended up being a river rock pebble stream and gravel pond.

ABOVE: This small covered structure is called a Komiachi Machai or “waiting area” in Japanese. The waiting area is part of the experience of strolling through a Tea Garden prior to entering the formal Tea House where the Tea Master conducts the tea ceremony. The Roji or pathway is a key component that leads from the entrance and throughout the garden allowing guests to quiet their minds.

BELOW: This dry rock garden stone arrangement was designed and situated to be viewed from the Tea House. The river rock stones mimic the beach shoreline while the stone represent mountainous island landforms in the ocean. The gravel can be raked to simulate waves on the water and provide an interactive form of meditation. A bamboo fence was used as a backdrop to simplify the view and be more conducive for meditation.

Dry rock garden is often thought of as a traditional Japanese zen raked sand garden designed and built by JSL Landscape

For a more thorough explanation of this Japanese Tea Garden see my post Scottsdale Japanese Tea Garden

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