Summary:
Creating a garden of spiritual refreshment may take courage, but the rewards of creating sacred space can contribute to comforting remembrance, art, and healing.

Details or Sample:
Creating a Garden of Spiritual Refreshment

The garden trowel cut into the not-great soil, a small earth pocket for the deep pink tulip bulbs. With a little added soil conditioner, they would grow into bright patches of color not far from the birches set back off the small gravel footpath. Thus begins the creative process of working with nature to transform it in to something of beauty and transition.

Brooke felt drawn to create this garden of tranquility following her husband’s death. She wanted to create a small, sacred space for quiet reflection and found the idea brought comfort and creativity, soothing in a healing way. She hadn’t been a gardener in the past and yet felt satisfaction and energy in working with the garden and nature on her terms.

Gardens designed primarily for quiet space are fairly simple to create. Intent and purpose carry the most weight and reflect the spirit of the creator’s vision. There is no wrong way to go about it. A small bench that can withstand nature through each season is perhaps the one universal requirement, to which other ornamentation can be added as desired. The simple horizontal lines of a bench relax the eyes and provide seating for quiet thought.

The space can be intimate, and of any shape. It can be as small as a pocket-garden or set in gently rolling pastureland. A sense of intimacy can be achieved with vines on simple lattice or bamboo poles, or several large flowering bushes that require minimum maintenance like virburnum, elaeagnus, and honeysuckle. Some plants such as Butterfly bush and others with berries are known to attract gentle wildlife whose presence adds gentle rhythm and movement in the garden. Hosta and ornamental grasses are also good choices.

Symbols from different cultures and spiritual traditions can be added as the plan progresses. Wind chimes to announce a soft breeze, various earthen containers to hold plants and/or water, simple ornaments selected with attention to meaningful themes, sundials, stones of all kinds, wreaths, handcrafted objects, herbs, icons…all add to the relationship of the garden to nature and to the life cycle. Bring a circle into the garden to underline the spirit of eternity and the cycle of life. Some traditions such as Feng Shui honor and value the placement of objects and hold important the act of starting a garden from its center, or heart, of the space.

Space can be created by a single person or by a group of friends who work together to create a tranquil place of centeredness and a retreat of beauty. Creating a garden of spiritual refreshment and sacred space is a wonderful act of remembrance, art, and healing.

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