In a world of constant flux, the outside world can seem like a terrifying place, full of monsters both literal and metaphorical. Although yoga and meditation music are always touted as ways to help one relax, they often seem boring, even condescending – a conciliatory measure designed to temporarily keep anger at bay. 

Perhaps what can truly quell a discontent mind is a garden, teeming with wild things. Explore how to create a meditation garden that combines both nature and restoration. 

Benefits of a Meditation Garden

A meditation garden offers many benefits: mental clarity, stress relief, and spiritual growth. It is a simultaneous exploration of one’s innermost thoughts and a sense of place within the universe at a time when human interaction becomes too exhausting.  

Traditional meditation gardens draw upon the concepts from Zen Buddhism, often influenced by Japanese or Chinese design. Asian specimen plantings, rolling natural vistas featuring boulders, and water basins are common, intended to evoke a quiet respite from the outside world. 

While a meditation garden can overlap with other garden themes, such as a Mediterranean garden or native garden, it also has features that set it apart. At its basis, a meditation garden awakens the senses and calls to the soul. Most feature a secluded place or winding walkways, with an emphasis on harmony with nature using raw materials – gravel, wood, and metal. Visual flow is important, spurring visitors to think peaceful thoughts as they gaze upon the garden. This can be achieved with the layering of ornamental grasses along the path. 

Key Features of a Meditation Garden:

• Secluded space designed to invoke the divine 

• Winding walkways to encourage meditation 

• Plants such as bamboo, moss, lavender, or ferns to promote relaxation 

• Muted color palette  

• Naturalistic or rustic elements such as stone statues, woodwork, and gravel to calm the mind 

1. Create a Sacred Space            

Symbolism permeates every space of a meditation garden; the garden itself represents natural forces that shape the world. Many meditation gardens feature enclosures that offer secluded places for contemplation, free from interruption by the outside world. A gate – a physical element that enforces separation – along a meandering path, is crucial in achieving this boundary. 

While Buddha statues are commonly used to pay homage to Asian culture, you can also incorporate personal elements that truly speak to you. Plants are also important in a meditation garden. You may choose to include trees with folkloric meaning, such as the yew tree, which has long been linked to the dual concept of death and immortality, or strategically place plants with interesting foliage. 

2. Utilize Raised Beds and Arched Trellises 

If it’s not possible to fully separate your property, using raised garden beds and arched trellises is an easy way to define borders and thresholds between spaces. Arrange specially shaped raised beds in geometric formations to concentrate plantings together or create a labyrinth for mystique. You can even transform your edible gardens into walkways of vitality by intercropping vegetable crops with beautiful blooms. Fill arched trellises with interlacing vines for a natural, subtle arch that guides you deeper into the garden. 

3. Choose Calming Plants   

Overall, the color palette should be muted, with occasional pops of color placed throughout. Plants should seamlessly integrate with the background environment, with a grounding quality, from cacti and yucca in southwestern climates to the willowy Maculata Bamboo in tropical-like environments for complete privacy. Wispy plant textures, like the Tuscan Blue rosemary, go well with feathery evergreens; interweave with leafy foliage like ferns to form airy mounds. Scented plants like lavender and jasmine are good options to promote relaxation. Avoid flamboyant, garish plants that can inundate the senses. 

4. Introduce Elemental Features 

Attain a connection with earth with natural materials that evoke the elements: earth, fire, wind and water. Earthen structures such as a statue, deck, or a water feature can serve as focal points that promote mindfulness. Gleaming white stone arches and artisan fences are more classical choices, but economically, metal trellises work just as well. Achieved through minimalism and natural harmony, the key is to evoke a transcendental stillness. Water, in particular, adds to the idyllic scenery, tying the space together. The more entrepreneurial can aim for unique designs, such as a floating patio deck enclosed by a pond strewn with lily pads. Get rid of synthetic clutter like plastic chairs, which disrupts harmony with nature. 

5. Cultivate Classic Asian Plants   

Specimen trees common in a Japanese garden can help direct movement in a meditation garden. 'Golden' Japanese Red Pine is appealing to the eye, debuting in a spray of golden-hued needles. The Chinese lantern tree delights visitors with its papery, orange seed pods, while black bamboo stuns with its strikingly-colored stalks, as deep as ink. Chinese fan palm is a good potted plant that features gracefully arching fronds. 

6. Aim For Simplicity 

Don’t overcrowd your space with too many plants or aimless décor (these tacky garden gnomes come to mind). Repetition shouldn’t be overlooked – a repeated pattern in the form of a circular gate, rounded mounds of plants, and curved paths can create a sense of cohesion and calm that reinforces the meditative atmosphere. Focus on a few plants that impart joy instead of a densely planted plot. 

7. Arrange Sitting Areas  

It’s important to set aside space for sitting areas – if you feel at ease in a particular spot, you’re on the right path. Choose areas that offer much-needed shade and respite from the summer sun. Shading plants like bamboo and crepe myrtles form dense canopies, providing a cooling effect.