(from Shangri-la Hotels)
(from Sunset Magazine)
(from Jamie Durie's HGTV's The Outdoor Room)
(from HGTV)
(from Living Etc.)
(from Sunset Magazine)
Please notice the use of some good Feng Shui principles: color, light, healthy plants, movement, a place of refuge and serenity and the presence of all 5 Elements: water, wood, metal, fire, earth.
I hope you enjoy these design inspirations as much as I do!!!
(from the blog Alkemie)
(from www.marthastewart.com)
(from www.sunset.com)
The fire of incandescence and luminosity is almost here! In nature as well as Feng Shui, the fire element is related to the season of summer when yang energies are at their greatest with both heat and long sun-lit hours as well as the mid-day hours when the sun is at its zenith.
Just like the flames of a fire, this particular chi is full of movement, joyful expansion, charisma, activity, passion and ecstatic bliss. The fire element gifts you with dynamic enthusiasm, desire and passion as well as incredible joy, laughter and love. A person with a healthy fire element will feel happy, compassionate, light and playful.
May these images inspire you to welcome the element of Fire into your garden this summer!
I saw this wonderful project on Martha Stewart's website and thought it's a fabulous idea for welcoming Summer and the Element of Fire...and it's so easy even I can do it, "Miss I Don't Do Crafts"!
These would be great for your path to your front entrance (Mouth of Chi); party or dining decor; or sprinkled in your garden in the Li (fame and recognition) gua or area of your back garden or patio (the back center area).
"You'll need 8 1/2-by-11-inch sheets of vellum paper in the color of your choice, chopsticks, and 7-day candles in glass vessels (sold at supermarkets). Sandwich the candle between 2 sheets of vellum, clipping the sheets together with 2 sets of un-separated wooden chopsticks 1 inch in from edges".
HARNASSING THE POWER OF THE DRAGON
The Chinese Dragon is look upon as the ultimate symbol of Good Fortune. Over three weeks at the magnificent Lan Su Chinese Gardens in Portland, Oregon, you’ll learn about dragon cures and ceremonies and how they’re relevant to us in the 21st century.
Each talk is at 1:00pm and the talk is free with admission to the gardens.
I’d be honored and happy for your presence--please join me and do RSVP, thank you!
Gregory and I had a glorious day recently at the Portland Japanese Gardens strolling through the chi-filled gardens of verdant green moss, bright pink flowers and gentle water features. It's such a marvelous place for restoring your energy and mind--if you're in Portland, you must go!
We were so honored to particpiate in a Hana Matsuri ceremony (the 8th day of the 4th Lunar Month) celebrating the birhday of Buddha. This Hana (flower) and Matsuri (festival) was celebrated by placing a young Buddha in the middle of a flower-strewn altar and we lit gorgeous incense before him and poured sweet tea over Him after awhile of deep, resonant chanting.
We were also moved to tears to add our prayers to a memorial for the Japanese victims.
And our spirits lifted by the beautiful Ikebana--kept thinking how gorgeous it would be in our master bathroom with our Japanese soaking tub!
Jamie Durie does a fabulous job of incorporating all five elements (fire, water, earth, wood and metal) into each of his gardens. Check out these groovy design videos for inspiration:
Balinese: http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv-the-outdoor-room/videos/index.html
Thai: http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv-the-outdoor-room/videos/index.html
Zen: http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv-the-outdoor-room/videos/index.html
Egyptian: http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv-the-outdoor-room/videos/index.html
Indian: http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv-the-outdoor-room/videos/index.html
My husband and I just returned from three days and nights at Breitenbush Hot Springs (www.breitenbush.com)--which you can see in the 3rd picture above--and there is something so divine about soaking outdoors in the fresh air and sunlight or under the light of the moon and stars. In Feng Shui, the Element of Water is associated with qualities of stillness, rest, clarity and wisdom.
Enjoy these inspiring images to create your own backyard showers or baths as a spa-like retreat of restoration for yourself!
I only recently discoved Jamie Durie by seeing an episode of his new HGTV show, "The Outdoor Room"--wow wow wow wow wow! I'm now going to go out and get all his books but I wanted to share these two videos I found at HGTV-- watch the Tranquil Waters and Garden of Zen previews--and understand how I'm now torn between going Japanese or Balinese in our back patio this summer...
I don't know yet if he's studied Feng Shui or not, but he seems to embody the principles so effortlessly.
Enjoy!
http://www.hgtv.com/outdoor-room-with-jamie-durie/video/index.html
I'm loving this outdoor shower made of bamboo--wood and water elements together and a great way to increase your chi with cold water out in the fresh air!
