| ou establishing a new garden? Are you trying to | | | | around and admire your plants for a few minutes |
| bring a long neglected or difficult garden back to | | | | most days. In the difficult spots, stop and talk to |
| life again? You can create a flourishing garden | | | | those plants that are struggling. Express pleasure |
| anywhere. All you need is loads of desire, a little | | | | when you see some growth. Smile at your plants |
| imagination and an open mind. In this article I | | | | and talk to them in a light manner as you are |
| briefly summarize some techniques that I have | | | | attending to their needs. |
| successfully used for encouraging growth in | | | | Crystals for Positive Energy |
| difficult areas of the garden. By adding a little | | | | Use crystals and semi precious stones to add |
| magick to some basic ecological gardening | | | | some beneficial energy to the area. Here are |
| principles your can create a sensation. | | | | some ideas: |
| There are a few essential requirements for a | | | | Agate |
| healthy garden. These are: soil with the correct | | | | This crystal is known for its ability to produce |
| texture, nutrient levels, and drainage; water; | | | | abundance and increase yields in crops. It can be |
| sunlight and the appropriate plant choice for your | | | | used to enhance the health of your pot plants or |
| local environment. Garden bed preparation is of | | | | your garden plants. |
| utmost importance and you would be well advised | | | | Jade |
| to ensure that you have provided your plants | | | | Jade represents life and growth and has been |
| with the best physical environment possible for | | | | associated with the health of plants and the |
| their successful growth. But getting the physical | | | | environment. Place jade statues in the garden or |
| environment right is just the first step. To get the | | | | use jade in a decoration that hangs above or |
| best out of your garden you should provide a | | | | nearby your plants. |
| happy environment, full of positive energy and a | | | | Moonstone |
| little magick. | | | | Moonstone helps to enhance the growth and |
| Visualize | | | | health of plants. Use it in decoration in your garden |
| When you first start planting out your garden it | | | | or wear it when attending to your plants. |
| doesn’t look much like it will in two, three, | | | | Clear Quartz Crystal |
| five or ten years. Visualization is a crucial part of | | | | Quartz crystal will amplify and enhance the |
| the garden design and planning process. It is also | | | | qualities of any other stone and can be used to |
| important for the growing process. To keep your | | | | achieve any goal of pure intention. Use it alongside |
| garden growing in the direction would like it to | | | | the other stones or alone in your garden to |
| grow, you should visualize regularly. This is just a | | | | enhance plant growth. I hang crystals over pot |
| matter of looking at the garden and imagining | | | | plants to improve their performance. |
| what it will look like when your plants are fully | | | | These are examples of stones and crystals that |
| grown. In doing so you are mentally sending your | | | | have specific qualities that can assist plant |
| plants messages and encouragement. Make a | | | | recovery and growth. However, there are many |
| habit of visualizing your garden on a daily basis | | | | crystals and stones that have healing and |
| and imagine it as it will look in, say, five years of | | | | nurturing properties so it may pay to experiment. |
| constant and healthy growth. | | | | Crystals can be placed in pots, used as a display |
| In the meantime … fake it | | | | on a table, in a bird bath or water feature. They |
| While you are in the early stages of garden | | | | are particularly beautiful when they form part of a |
| creation, try making a ‘fake it ‘til | | | | hanging decoration. |
| you make it’ garden. This simply means | | | | Add a Little Fairy Magick |
| creating an interim garden. You can do this by | | | | Fairies have long been associated with gardens. |
| placing pots filled with colorful plants around the | | | | Flower fairies were thought to live in the flowers |
| area. This will give you some instant gratification | | | | of plants. They looked after the plant by ensuring |
| for your efforts. It will also give your new plants | | | | it had everything it needed. You can add your |
| some company. After all, plants are communal | | | | own bit of fairy magick to your garden by placing |
| and are not meant to grow alone. | | | | a hanging fairy near the garden that you want to |
| You can quickly and easily create new pot plants | | | | prosper from this energy. |
| by taking cuttings from other plants in your | | | | If fairies are not your thing, hang or place |
| garden or your existing pot plants. Put the | | | | sculptures of other powerful symbols around the |
| cuttings in water until they sprout roots – | | | | area, such as the Sun for positive energy and the |
| some won’t grow roots this way, it will | | | | Moon for receptivity and supernatural powers. |
| be trial and error but many will grow roots within | | | | Both of these symbols together represent |
| a week. Alternatively, buy some plants, preferably | | | | balance and harmony. There are many other |
| colorful flowering plants. Of course, choose | | | | symbols of good fortune such as Buddha that will |
| appropriate plants for the location of your garden | | | | enhance the energy and the feel of your garden. |
| - shade loving plants for areas with little sun, etc. | | | | These symbols and bearers of good energy also |
| Place the pots around the area where you want | | | | look great. |
| the garden to be and in between the plants that | | | | Feng Shui Garden |
| you have recently planted. If the garden is located | | | | Designing your garden for good Feng Shui |
| in a harsh landscape that is subject to extreme | | | | The Feng Shui garden is designed to allow Chi to |
| hot or cold or strong winds, you can place the | | | | flow. To create good Feng Shui, design your |
| pots so that young plants are protected from | | | | garden with plenty of curves. If you have a |
| harsh winds or direct sunlight. If your environment | | | | garden with very straight edges, add features |
| is particularly harsh, you may consider adding small | | | | that give the impression of curves. You can |
| screens made from bamboo or other natural | | | | achieve this by the way you place your garden |
| materials to protect young plants until they | | | | features and how you locate your plants. Choose |
| establish. In a dark or very shaded area, ensure | | | | rounded pots and curvy furniture to increase the |
| that your pots will not block any sunlight that your | | | | positive Feng Shui in your garden. |
| seedlings may be receiving. Whatever the nature | | | | Windchime Magick |
| of your garden, use plenty of mulch to keep the | | | | Another way to increase Chi in your garden is by |
| moisture in the soil and the weed growth to a | | | | hanging a windchime or a windchime bell. |
| minimum. | | | | Windchimes aid in the flow of Chi and add an |
| Attract Native Animals | | | | additional element to your garden through sound. |
| Life attracts life, so by attracting as many animals | | | | The right windchime can create a sensation of |
| to your garden as possible you will increase the | | | | peace through its harmonic tunes. It is worthwhile |
| life energy of your garden which will help your | | | | selecting a well made bell or windchime that you |
| plants to grow. Place rocks and logs in your | | | | enjoy listening to as this will make a valuable |
| garden to provide shelter and homes for small | | | | addition to the atmosphere of your home and |
| lizards and insects. If you do not have any tall | | | | give you joy every time the breeze blows. |
| trees, installing a pole that a bird can perch atop | | | | Water Features |
| (but a cat can’t climb) is a great idea, as | | | | A water feature is also extremely beneficial in the |
| birds will contribute seed laden droppings that can | | | | creation of a positive Feng Shui garden. The |
| bring additional plants to your garden as well as | | | | water must be flowing, however, so that Chi can |
| additional nutrients. Show your delight when you | | | | flow and so that it does not become stagnant. |
| notice a new native occupant and let him know | | | | The addition of fish to your water feature will |
| he is welcome. | | | | provide more positive energy due to the additional |
| Allow the ecology of your garden to evolve along | | | | life. Be sure to find fish that do not eat the spawn |
| with the growth and addition of your plants and | | | | of local frogs. Gold fish, which originated in China, |
| other components. Resist interfering by killing | | | | have become an environmental nuisance in some |
| particular animals that you don’t like such | | | | countries and they will eat frogspawn. For frog |
| as spiders, if you are so inclined. Instead, become | | | | friendly fish, check with your Government |
| curious and learn about them. Talk to them. You | | | | Fisheries Department. |
| will gain an entirely new appreciation for these | | | | Frog Magick |
| animals and improve your karma at the same | | | | Frogs represent good luck in many cultures |
| time. | | | | around the world. The first frogs hopped this |
| Avoid Using Poisons | | | | earth alongside the Dinosaurs. They are wise |
| Garden shops are full of garden poisons. | | | | beings, worthy of respect and they will bring good |
| It’s big business. It would be easy to | | | | energy to your garden. Be sure to locate any |
| assume that weed killers, snail killers and the other | | | | pond a good distance from bedroom windows, |
| exterminators are an essential component to | | | | however, as frogs can croak up a storm at night. |
| gardening. However, the reality is that they are | | | | Scent |
| really bad for your plants and the animals that add | | | | A wonderful way for a garden to enrich your life |
| value to your garden. There is almost always a | | | | is through scent. You can create a special |
| natural or more gentle alternative to using poisons | | | | atmosphere by planting the shrubs, trees and |
| in the home garden. It is far more effective in the | | | | flowers in your garden that provide certain scents |
| long term to pull weeds out by hand and you will | | | | that enhance particular moods. Add some instant |
| save a lot of money. | | | | inspiration by filling your pots with lavender, |
| Decorate and Communicate | | | | jasmine, geranium, lemongrass or whatever your |
| Celebrate your garden area by decorating it with | | | | nose desires. |
| beautiful things, such as hanging pots, statues, bird | | | | Burn incenses outside or light a scented candle at |
| baths, sculptures and low lighting, will add positive | | | | night while sitting in the garden. Select the scent |
| energy and atmosphere. If possible, include an | | | | that will be most beneficial for your |
| outdoor table and chairs and spend some time | | | | garden’s growth. Try gardenia or lavender |
| there entertaining friends, laughing and having a | | | | for love and healing, ginger for success, patchouli |
| good time, or just be there on your own relaxing | | | | or rosemary for love and growth, the invigorating |
| and smiling upon your garden. Make sure you | | | | benefits of sweet orange or frankincense and |
| remove or disguise any ugly or unsightly objects. | | | | myrrh for healing and growth. |
| It is important to keep the area beautiful as you | | | | A closing thought .. |
| are more likely to spend time in, and give loving | | | | Your garden reflects the relationship it shares with |
| energy to, a garden that you like the look of and | | | | you and the other inhabitants of your home. By |
| feel good about. | | | | increasing the positive loving energy in your |
| Take a leaf out of Grandma’s Book | | | | garden you will create a place for growth and |
| Did your Grandmother speak to her plants? Mine | | | | harmony, a place where life will thrive. In return |
| did, and that practice was passed down to my | | | | you will receive much enjoyment. By combining |
| mother and now I do it. It works! You | | | | good ecological concepts with a little magick you |
| don’t need to spend a lot of time in | | | | can turn a difficult garden into a sacred resort for |
| conversation with your flowers. Simply walk | | | | the soul. |