Mini Zen Gardens

[Visitor]

Mini Zen garden: also known as mini sand garden, or mini Japanese rock garden.

On my lounge coffee table, I have a mini Japanese rock garden.
I love to play with it in the mornings, while having a hot cuppa.
Quite often, some lovely impressions come from this.

Quote from below wiki link: 'They were intended to imitate the intimate essence of nature, not its actual appearance, and to serve an aid to meditation about the true meaning of life '
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_rock_garden

For those who wish to make a simple mini zen garden in 7 steps.
http://www.wikihow.com/Create-a-Zen-Garden

Here is a lovely example of a mini japanese rock garden.
http://www.mitokourakuen.com/wp-cont...Gardens-32.jpg

If you have photos of your own mini zen garden creations, let's see them.
If you found a nice mini zen garden image on the Internet, please post a link. (copyright laws).

[muileag]

Lovely

I had one a few moves ago...maybe I'll get another after I move; it's one way to express myself creatively (because I have no fine motor skills for painting or drawing) because you can just let yourself flow.

[Adrienne]

Very nice Visitor. I can see how peaceful and calming this would be, having such an indoor garden .....and how the mind can drift, while making designs in the sand. I can see this as a mediation of sorts.

I had an Aunt and Uncle who had some Zen Gardens in their backyard, very lovely.

[Soul Searching]

Funnily enough I was just reading up about mini zen gardens on line last night.

I have been thinking recently of making one myself, rather than buying a kit to make one. I feel as though making the actual garden from scratch would give me a better outlet for personal expression, as well as the added calming, stress releasing and meditative aspects that are associated with them.

Also ...... they can be very beautiful in their simplicity.

[Visitor]

Thank you muileag, Dream Angel, and Soul Searching for your response and support.

Originally Posted by Soul Searching

... I have been thinking recently of making one myself, rather than buying a kit to make one. I feel as though making the actual garden from scratch would give me a better outlet for personal expression, as well as the added calming, stress releasing and meditative aspects that are associated with them.

I agree with you about building from scratch. Over the years I have built two MZG for friends, (smaller than this one).
Also enjoyed creating a zen garden, together with owner, of small backyard.
They have that calming effect on my nervous system.

Here is composition image of my Mini Zen Garden (MZG). It was designed to suit a bought coffee table.
The MZG is placed on top of the table, but I also placed a dark chocolate brown sheet of felt between the two.

The MZG tools, (lined rakes, smoothing rake, and single points) are made from 1/4 inch dowel, chopsticks, and wooden kebab skewers.
All the rocks, stones, and other bits and pieces are stored in the trough compartments around the MZG.
Many of these, were collected from streams, and beaches. Collecting bits for the MZG is half the fun.

[Adrienne]

Very cool Visitor ! thanks for sharing the steps to make a MZG, yours looks very nice.

"Collecting bits for the MZG is half the fun." I can see how it would be. I think if I had one of these on my table I would be zoned out most of the time, creating patterns and letting my thoughts drift far away .

[muileag]

Beautiful craftsmanship, Visitor! My garden was only half that size.

I already have enough rocks for a garden....I collect them from streams and beaches (along with sea glass and shells)....and often find special ones tucked into pockets, car nooks and crannies, and bags

[Adrienne]

Originally Posted by muileag

Beautiful craftsmanship, Visitor!

Craftmanship, that was the word I was looking for Muileag . Seashells and sea glass would be wonderful additions !

[Visitor]

Hello muileag, and Dream Angel.
Thanks again.

Originally Posted by muileag

...I already have enough rocks for a garden....I collect them from streams and beaches (along with sea glass and shells)....and often find special ones tucked into pockets, car nooks and crannies, and bags

Me too.
I have many old ice-cream containers filled with sea glass and ceratain shells.
Most are brown glass, then white/clear, green, and then blue. Blue sea glass is very rare where I live.
I started collecting glass as a sort of repentance for all the smashed bottles of booze I created in my lifetime. Ha ha ha.
I am currently creating my first mosaic from sea glass and a certain blue shell. It will be a large eye. (I have a thing about eyes ... windows to the soul?)

[Adrienne]

Your mosaic sounds like a very creative piece of art. Yes, I have heard that also ~ eyes are the window to the soul . Speaking of eyes, your avatar is a bit eerie