Bamboo in the Feng Shui Garden

The Transfornational Phases:

The phases of feng shui .Feng shui gardens for bamboo.

There are five transformational phases. The dynamics of each element are that it can work in a number of interactive cycles.

This gives us flexibility when adjusting or fine-tuning the energy values in our home or space.

Each element can interact with another element by producing that element, by destroying another element, draining another element, or in turn exhausting itself supporting another element.

It is the understanding of how these elements interact and work on each other that form the physics and chemistry so to speak of practicing Feng Shui.

I must stress that a thorough understanding of the elements and their characteristics is of fundamental importance if you want to get it right.

Example in Nature:

By photosynthesis, plants build molecules of carbohydrates from carbon dioxide and water, in return they produce and release oxygen to the atmosphere which is obviously beneficial to us. This only happens during daylight and is a direct interaction with sun light. The plants chlorophyll transforms the suns radiant energy to chemical energy that is stored as a carbohydrates and then transforming them into proteins and other materials that are stored and converted to the plant matter itself.

In due course this matter gets consumed by animal’s, insects and humans and transferred back into energy. This stored solar energy that transforms into plant, animal matter eventually dies, and over a period of several million years that matter is compressed and transformed to what we know as fossil fuels such as oil and coal.

These fossil fuels provide a huge proportion of our energy requirements and in the process of burning them we are once again releasing that stored solar energy and creating carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide is once again absorbed by the green pigment of plants called chlorophyll and the ash from the burnt fuel contributes to the make up of the soil providing potash and carbon etc.

This is only one over simplified example but there are literally hundreds of examples that illustrate the constructive, destructive, nourishing and weakening cycles of Feng Shui if you take time to look for them. And what better place to look for them than in your garden.

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Fargesia. Nitida. Black/blue a water element.

Japanese blood grass. Cautious fire element.

Shibataea kumasasa. Green leafy wood element

Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens' , another good water element.

Carex 'Silver Scepter'. Grey/silver adds a metal element

Carex 'Milk Chocolate.' An earth element

Uncinia .New Zealand hook sedge. A good fire element.

[Celestial Animals][The Form][Garden Layout][Alignment][The Cycles][Your Feng Shui]

Laying out the garden with the Lo Shu:
The Productive Cycle:
	The basic five elements are water, wood, fire, earth and metal. In the productive cycle, the Xiang or Sheng Cycle as it is sometimes called (shown left). We can see how each element is supportive of the next. The different cycles can be likened to a family unit with each cycle representing the roles or necessity of a family member. This Cycle is represented by the Parental role of Mother in supporting and nourishing its respective Child.
The Destructive Cycle:
	In this cycle the basic five elements are arranged in a destructive cycle, or Sha Cycle. Water, fire, metal, wood and earth. In the destructive cycle here, we can see how each element effectively destroys the next not unlike an over strict patriarch. This cycle is very powerful and can be very destructive, in turn destroying the balance by removing an element altogether. It is not necessarily the first cycle to chose when trying to reduce a bad element or influence. It is better to look for alternatives in the initial stages and take the softer option.
The Weakening Cycle:
	The Destructive Cycle as we have seen can be too drastic a measure to take when trying to balance the energies. It is far better to use the Reduction and Weakening Cycles. The reduction Cycle is arranged exactly in the same way as the Productive Cycle the only difference is the energy flows the opposite way. These two cycles are not quite as easy to understand at first but you will start to see the pattern once you look at the examples and try a few changes at home yourself.
The Reduction Cycle:
	Example 1: If you wish to stimulate the Southeast, that is the wealth and prosperity area. Then you would need to take a good look of what is there in the way of colour, elements and shapes. Wood is the element of the Southeast so straight away the addition of a green leafy plant especially a Ruscus leaved bamboo Shibataea Kumasasa will be an instant improvement. In addition, the adding of Water in any form, actual or symbolic will nurture and stimulate wood. Avoid Earth items such as earthenware or clay pots and Earth colours and shapes as wood is weakened through destroying Earth.
Now look to see if there is any fire in that area in the way of sharp angular or triangular garden ornaments, anything Orange or red especially roses or fire of any sort such as a patio heater BBQ etc, as this exhausts Wood by nourishing Fire. If there is Fire, add Water or more Water to reduce the fire and feed the wood. Avoid any metal as metal destroys wood. Example 2: Using the destructive cycle is a last resort and a desperate cure all, because you are destroying an element you will be causing an imbalance within the cycle and consequently another element will become deficient, causing problems in another area. For example lets say there was an over abundance of Fire in the Southwest. This is the area associated with romance and relationships, maybe this Fire, a very powerful agent is stimulating this area to a point where it is causing problems. Maybe it is attracting too much attention from unwanted suitors, or possibly you suspect it is the cause of possible infidelity on the behalf of your partner. To destroy the fires just add plenty of Water. Caution Beware fire produces Earth, the element associated with the Southwest. By adding lots of Water, you will extinguish the Fire and it will no longer act as a supporter to Earth in turn destroys water. Water like fire is a powerful agent, and will severely drain the Earth element as it attempt to destroy it. In consequence the cycle is further exacerbated because due to the earth’s efforts to destroy the Water, More water will be needed to Destroy the Fire and the situation become cyclostrophic resulting in the Earth element being so dissipated that the chances of any romance or relationship flourishing even at a communications level at all, will be pretty slim. A far better solution would be to try to remove as many Fire elements in the way of shape and colour as possible replacing them with Earth colours and shapes to adjust balance and add the element Metal that has the effect of controlling both of them by draining Fire and dissipating Earth.