April 2013

The Spiritual Spring Garden

A recent trip to Macy's flower show, The Painted Garden, reminded me of the close relationship between gardens and sacred space and the power of flowers to inspire, elevate mood, heighten senses, and create feelings of abundance. 

The Painted Garden, on display through April 7 in Chicago, San Francisco, and other major cities, draws upon the bold, high-key palette of South Asia. Orchids, azaleas, bromeliads, palms, and more are arranged in bright, irresistible vignettes. With a nod to feng shui, some displays include water features, bells (air), lanterns (fire), and sacred imagery (Spirit). The gardens remind those in cold climes that spring, with its promise of beauty and renewal, will soon return.

The Garden As Color Therapy

The Painted Garden utilizes bold colors to stimulate visual movement and elevate mood. People viewing the strong palette of primary and high-key colors became noticeably happier. If you create a spiritual garden, even if it is just a flowering plant and statue added to a windowsill, consider how color influences you and what mood you'd like to inspire. Do you want a calm, meditative palette? Do you wish to feature a particular chakra color? Do you want to stimulate creativity with strong colors? 

Chakra Colors in the Garden

Warm Colors:
Warm colors are radiant and cozy. Red relates to the Root Chakra (grounding, keeping life vibrant) and can raise energy levels. Tulips, peonies, roses, poppies, and ranunculus are among the red flowers to consider. Orange corresponds to the Second Chakra (physical well-being, sexuality). Orange promotes fun and happiness and can be found in tulips, poppies, and orchids. Yellow, which corresponds to the Third Chakra (personal identity and self-esteem), can make you feel more cheerful. Look for narcissus, daisies, and primroses.

Cool Colors:
Cool blues promote serenity; cool greens are associated with money and fertility. Green corresponds to the Heart Chakra (love and compassion). For more green in your garden, add leafy vegetables, herbs, palms, and shrubs. Blue, the color of water and the sky, helps you focus. Blue relates to the Fifth Chakra (communication). Agapanthus, delphinium, hydrangea, and rosemary bring blue to the garden. Indigo corresponds to the Sixth chakra (intuition and knowledge). It can be found in hyacinths and wild indigo (Baptista australis).

Violet, which can have warm undertones, is neither a warm color nor a solidly cool color. Long associated with royalty and the Seventh Chakra (spirituality), violet stimulates the part of the brain linked to problem solving. Incorporate violets, irises, and crocuses into your garden.

For further ideas and to see which plants work well in your area, visit your local nursery. Be inspired. Paint your spiritual spring garden.