Zen Garden to Soothe Stress |

In the middle of a busy day at home or at work, sometimes all you want most is a little peace, isn’t it? Far from being a complicated task, the search for calm among the many routine tasks can basically be done with the help of sand, some stones, a wooden rectangle and a rake. These elements give rise to the Japanese garden, also known as the Zen garden, which has been used as an effective form of meditation for over three thousand years.

One of the great advantages of this practice is that it can be done in large spaces, such as temples, or in very small environments, such as the work table or a special corner of your home. The wooden rectangle represents the world, while the stones reflect the permanence and mutability of life, in contrast to the fluid aspect of the sand.

The idea is to contemplate the Zen garden in times of stress and, with the help of the rake, make circles and waves in the sand. Adherents believe that these designs imitate the movement of water, and can be compared to the fluidity of life events. Also, they help calm the mind.

Start practicing for five minutes a day and, as time goes by, try to make more and more harmonic lines in the sand. Experts advise avoiding triangular shapes, as it is believed that the ends of this design are like thorns, which hurt.

The choice of stones

According to geotherapist Simone Kobayashi, the stones can be of any size, as long as they harmoniously fit into the space of the zen garden. In addition, it is worth mixing stones of different colors, textures and formats, such as smooth and rough; round and flattened. But it is important to pay attention not to exaggerate the amount of elements in the garden. A suitable space for meditation should be sober and simple, free of visual distractions.

“Odd numbers, especially five and seven, are considered favorable and should be kept in mind when choosing the number of garden stones. The arrangement of this material should allow the free expression of its natural energy, that is, the stones should be buried partially in the sand, about two thirds deep. It is also important that they are arranged asymmetrically. The tip of a rock positioned upwards symbolizes the sky. The Earth, on the other hand, can be represented by a stone with horizontal lines, while another placed diagonally means humanity”, teaches Simone.

Also, it’s important to keep the stones always clean and energized. To do this, just adopt two simple techniques: physical and energetic cleansing. First wash the rocks with water, which can be from a river, rain, sea, fountain, well or lake. After that use a brush with soft bristles to remove impurities and finish by passing a cotton cloth. Energization can already be done by placing the stones on a druza (cluster of several crystal tips on a single base); washing them in running water or water with thick salt; leaving them exposed to rain and storms or exposed to sunlight and moonlight.

Check below the meaning of some stones and choose the ones that best match your moment:

Fluorite: works in times of change, especially mental. It is able to eliminate impurities and resentments so that internal transformation is achieved.

Amethyst: Keeps the mind away from self-centered thoughts and fights anxiety. Ideal for inducing a meditative state.

Aquamarine: helps to get out of the whirlwind of emotions and expose what you feel in words. It also stimulates creativity.

Sodalite: clears the mind, helping to think more rationally and logically. Ideal for those who have difficulty reaching logical conclusions.

Rose Quartz: relieves sorrows and stimulates self-realization and a sense of inner peace.

Citrine: ideal stone for those who need confidence and security in difficult times. The stone warms, comforts, energizes and gives life.