Create a moment of introspection and relaxation at your home table
You zen gardens are special areas originally created in Japan to help Zen Buddhist monks in daily meditations. The monks swept the sand daily to maintain its characteristic pattern and discourage the growth of vegetation.
They also spent time in a specific spot in the garden observe, reflect and meditate. Even if we don’t have the time and space to create and maintain a traditional Zen garden, we can still engage in this practice and reap the rewards with our mini gardens.
Many people like to keep Zen gardens on their desks to take a break from the day, while others like to display them in living areas to give guests a quiet activity to do.
Scraping patterns in the sand and tidying up the rocks helps raise awareness, making mini zen gardens a great activity to relax in during times of stress and doubt, or even times of success.
Participating in these activities is a great way to clear our minds and reflect on our thoughts.
To help you get started, we’ve gathered all the information you need create your own mini zen garden. Setting up a simple garden requires few materials and a small part of your time. Our guide includes a detailed list of materials, detailed steps, and some style ideas to inspire you.
Before delving into the necessary materials, let’s take a look at the symbolism of traditional elements to better understand their importance.
Meaning of Zen Garden Elements
Zen sand gardens are called “karesansui” or “dry landscape” gardens. This is because traditional Zen gardens do not include plants or water features to provide an abstraction-prone atmosphere and to promote feelings of tranquility and calm.
As such, the placement of stones and sand in Zen gardens has a lot of meaning and intent. In stones represent things like islands, mountains and treeswhile the models of sand to represent running water.
While this is the traditional approach, you don’t need to stick to just these elements. Contemporary gardens feature modern elements like colored sand, mini trees, and even decorative accessories.
Feel free to add some fun details to make this project your own, but remember you’re making a relaxing space and aware and anything you add should complement those emotions.
In other words, the neon-colored sand and bright LED lights may not be the best things to add if you want to maintain peace of mind.
materials
- Mini Rake – Some craft stores sell mini rakes made specifically for mini Zen gardens. Alternatives include mini harrows, skewers, toothpicks, and forks, depending on what look you’re trying to achieve.
- Container – Your mini zen garden container really depends on your personal taste. A glass container is great for an elegant approach, while a wooden box goes more naturally. We use a small round container.
- Sand – Fine-grained sand shows the best patterns, but you can also add a fun touch with colored sand. Collect sand at craft shops.
- Plants – Air plants are a popular choice of Zen garden plants as they don’t need soil to grow. Other popular plants include succulents and mosses. Choose compact varieties that don’t overgrow. Check your specific plant’s care guidelines to make sure it can thrive in a Zen garden setting.
- Essential Oils (Optional) – Add your favorite essential oils to increase the relaxing benefits of your mini Zen garden. You can add a few drops directly to the sand.
- Stones – Use stones outdoors if you want to give your Zen garden an authentic and natural look. Just remember to clean them before putting them in your garden. You can also purchase polished stones or gravel at craft stores. Crystals are popular alternatives to traditional stones due to their energy-enhancing and healing properties.
Mini Zen Garden: step by step
Step 1: Fill the container with sand and essential oils
Pour the sand into the container and shake it from side to side to even out the sand. Add a few drops of your favorite essential oils if you want an aromatic mini Zen garden.
You can also add a few drops of jojoba oil at this point to give your sand a wet look and bring out your sand patterns.
Step 2: Place stones and charms in your garden
Stones are one of the most important aspects of a Zen garden. You can place a group of them in a corner of the garden or place them far away. Take some time to think about what you would like the stones to represent and how their placement will affect your sand patterns.
Decorative accessories are great for customization, especially if you’re gifting them, but don’t go overboard and darken your garden with impressive pieces.
Step 3: Add the plants for a splash of greenery
Plants are not part of traditional Zen gardens, but they are a great way to introduce other elements of nature.
If you plan to have live plants (as well as aerial ones) in your garden, place a divider around the area where you will place them before pouring the sand.
You can wait until the end to add your air plants. After dividing the space, add a few rocks along the bottom of the plant area before adding soil to help drain the water during irrigation.
Alternatively, you can store your plant and its soil in a paper cup. To place the cup in your garden, first pour in enough sand to hold the cup. Then add more sand on top to cover.
It is especially important in a mini Zen garden not to overwater the plant. Since your container will not have drainage holes – the openings typically found in potted plants to help keep the roots from entering the water – your soil also cannot drain and your plant is susceptible to drowning. if too much watered.
If you water too much, replace the soil and keep an eye on the plant as it adapts to the change.
Step 4: Create your sand pattern with a mini rake or skewer
Since this is a mini Zen garden, you can sweep the grounds as many times as you want. This is a great mindfulness practice and can ease your mind when you need to relieve stress or process your thoughts.
You now have a mini Zen garden that you can call your own! Put it in your bedroom to start and end the day with clear ideas, or keep it in your living room to give everyone a chance to practice mindfulness.
inspirations
You can even make a few to gift your family and friends. Check out some of our ideas below to see how to customize mini zen gardens!
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* Through Pro Flowers
Source: Terra
Benjamin Smith is a fashion journalist and author at Gossipify, known for his coverage of the latest fashion trends and industry insights. He writes about clothing, shoes, accessories, and runway shows, providing in-depth analysis and unique perspectives. He’s respected for his ability to spot emerging designers and trends, and for providing practical fashion advice to readers.
