Choosing a Container
Your Zen Garden should be housed in a shallow container such as a wooden box, a ceramic dish, a cool stone encasing or a metal tray. A shallow container will allow you to create patterns in the sand with a rake or a toothbrush, which is an important aspect of a Zen Garden. The container should be large enough to fit all the elements of your garden including sand, small rocks and plants, but it should also be small enough to fit on a desk or table.
Adding Sand
When adding sand to your Zen Garden, be sure that it is of a refined texture. Fine sand will give your little oasis that extra smooth and sophisticated touch. Not only that, but refined sand makes it easier to work with. With their smooth surfaces, they are ideal for raking patterns. Some of these sands include river sand, white sand, mason sand, or beach sand. You can also add different colored sands like dark and light sands to portray a yin and yang aspect to your garden. It is also important to keep your sand dry, as wet sand can be difficult to work with and will not hold patterns as well.
Placing Rocks
In a Zen Garden, rocks represent islands surrounded by raked gravel and sand which represents the water. In Japanese culture, placing rocks within a landscape is meant to represent a spiritual and artistic process. When setting up your Zen Garden, the journey you are looking to experience is completely up to you. You can either arrange your rocks in a pattern that represents something meaningful to you, or you can place them randomly how you please.
Add Your Plants
Plants also represent miniature tropical islands and mountains, in Japanese culture. When adding plants to your miniature Zen Garden, it is best to add small plants, ferns or mosses, or succulents that do not require a lot of water or maintenance. Some additional smaller and low maintenance plants include bonsai, dwarf conifers, bamboo, topiaries, Japanese maples, cacti, and azaleas. These plants can add some color, texture, and vitality to your garden without requiring a lot of attention.
The Art of Raking
The act of raking your Zen Garden can help to order peace to the wandering mind. Raking a Zen Garden is a meditative practice that requires patience and a calm-open mind. To begin, you usually start with a small rake or a toothbrush and create patterns in the sand. Allow the mind to wander as you design straight lines, circles, waves, or any other patterns that you find pleasing. Try to let go of any distractions and be in the present moment. The gratifying and beautiful thing about raking a Zen Garden is that there are no mistakes. If you mess up your flow or pattern, simply smooth out your sand and start again. With Zen Gardens, there is beauty in imperfection.
Be Creative!
Remember when creating your Zen Garden that it is YOUR Zen Garden. A key part of the meditative process is the creation process. You can add your own personal touch to your garden by adding little figurines or statues, or by adding something sentimental that will add purpose to your reflection. The goal of a Zen Garden is to create a space that speaks to you and helps you achieve that sense of tranquility. With a little creativity and Zen, you can create a meditative refuge that is both beautiful and reflective of your own personal style.
Stop by Jolly Lane Greenhouse to explore and shop for your Zen Garden supplies. We carry containers, sand, rocks, succulents, décor, and more that will help lead you on your pathway to Zen!