01/12/2011

The Peace Garden

The Peace Garden


Set within the delightful healing gardens.  (Although theoretically this could be a stand alone project with many around the country)

A place to sit, relax, contemplate, meditate and be at peace with the world, yourself and all living things.

Consisting of:

Visual - mosaics (colour, striking images, images to make you think), greenery (evergreen), words, pictures, garden art, chamomile seating/lawns, water feature(s).

Smell - sensory plants (herbs etc).

Sound - water feature(s) (running water naturally (or to appear natural)), wind chimes, natural sounds (birdsong, animals, insects).

Touch - certain plants (soft surfaces to sit/lie/lounge/meditate on), water, textured surfaces (shells perhaps)

Summary

A large chamomile lawn which in summer one can relax, meditate, perform activities such as yoga and/or Tai Chi or any other mind and body activities for health and well-being.

The lawn surrounded by gardens, walkways and secluded sitting and meditation areas;  to allow for isolation amongst the natural world or simply somewhere pleasant to sit and relax.  It is a place of peace and happiness where one can be at peace, or find that peace within oneself.


Peace and Happiness  x

Taking things for granted?

Do we take things for granted?

How much do we see through our eyes and instantly dismiss them because they are considered just things in the background?

Everything is labelled in some way.  Words are assigned to everything so we know what things are; but do we?

Take, for example, the humble dandelion.  A small yellow flower in many a field are found.  A weed and a nuisance to many.  But do really know what a dandelion is?

Next time you come across one, look at it, really look at it.  No, don't just hold it in your hand we the thought in your mind as 'this is a dandelion, a weed..so what?'  You need to look at it as if you have never seen the like before.  Think as if you were a child, looking at a new object but with no label attached to identify it.

Now look at it again, you don't have to pick it, unless you're weeding.

Look at it.  Don't think about it.  Don't think about anything.  Just look and observe.

Now.  Ask yourself this.

What is it?

What does it do?

Who designed it?

Is it alive?

But don't run through every thought in your mind.  Just observe, take note of its detail and learn.

Don't see it as an object that can be dismissed at random.  See it as something new.

Look around, there may be others like it.  Are they the same?  Are they exactly the same?  Are any two objects the same?  All are give the same label but are any two completely alike?

This may seem like a meaningless exercise, but just look at everything around you and ask yourself:

How much do I take for granted?  How much is really as is said to be?

If you look at everything as new every day you may learn something new and inspiring every day :)

The lesson here is to go out and learn.  Look at what you have always looked at, then look again and again.  Is it always the same?

Just something to think about.  It doesn't have to be applied to nature.  I can be anything you wish.  You may be surprised by the results :)


Peace and Happiness x