FENG SHUI IN THE GARDEN

Feng Shui (pronounced Fong Shuay) translates literally as “wind and water”. These are the principles from which the homes and gardens of ancient China have developed into a form of environmental art. Feng Shui refers to the arrangement of your spatial surroundings in order to bring about auspicious changes to your existence.

Masters of Feng Shui believe in strong interconnectedness linking the environment to our individual circumstances; what happens in our objective environs acutely maneuvers our psychological and spiritual well-being.

A Collective Life Force

Not long from now, the weather will turn cool and glorious, here in Bahrain, and arranging your garden with Feng Shui in mind, will provide you with a sanctuary of peace and beauty, while enhancing your possibilities for better health, good fortune, and trusted friendships. In addition, the quality of energy or chi, outside our homes, or flats attracts positive forces to the inside of our living spaces. Chi is the collective life force that inhabits in all things --animate or inanimate; it surrounds us, rising and falling around trees, gates, furniture, etc. It is invisible --but it is evident in the natural world through the rounded and irregular scenes of mountain peaks, sandy mounds, oceans, meandering brooks and wild-flower trails.

Experts know that straight lines and jagged angles contain damaging energy; common sense makes us cover up, or plant greenery to soften pointy or sharp areas in our living spaces. Gardens can capture propitious chi with water components such as ponds, fountains or simple bird baths of clean, clear water. Chi moves in a winding manner, slowing down wherever water is present. Water attracts the company of birds, insects and butterflies adding exuberant vitality to your landscape. When chi is allowed to playfully meander through your property, it positively influences all aspects of your life.

The Chinese believe that landscapes should be gently embellished, but should not be held back. Temperate areas yield magnificent flora in the cooler months so we can adorn that environment without controlling it. Feng Shui gardening is in actuality very rational. Most gardeners probably unknowingly, already integrate the principles of this ancient philosophy in their choice of flowering shrubs and trees. Taking a walk around your immediate garden area, look at what’s there. Is what you see pleasing to your senses? Do you feel peace and tranquility? If not, incorporate some Feng Shui gardening principles and you will soon be able to notice positive changes.

The Four Mythical Animal Formations

In Oriental design the perfect building site should be supported by a knoll at the back. The reason for this is to have the protection of the mythical Black Tortoise lending good backing to your home by re-directing energy all around it.If you have no hill or wall behind your house, you can compensate by planting a clump of banana or palm trees (they are fast growing), or by putting up elevated lights behind the property. In this manner it will appear higher than the front, thus allowing chi to flow effectively. The front yard is the domain of the red phoenix, who in a position lower than the other formations, allows wealth enhancing opportunities to enter your garden and your home. The left side of your house, as you stand facing out of your front door, is the green dragon’s territory -symbolizing power and abundance. The right side is the realm of the white tiger, the embodiment of yin energy. The all-powerful dragon’s side should be slightly higher than the tiger’s to keep the latter’s unpredictable energy under control. To remedy the fact that both sides may be level, you can always place a high pole with a wind sock on the left, to make it higher, and to bring positive energy to the green dragon’s side. In essence, the ideal house should be in the center of the property with protection at its back; slightly higher on the left than on the right side, and indented at the front -thus allowing chi to freely enter the land. A residence surrounded by high walls is not beneficial in Feng Shui.

Yin and Yang

The philosophy of universal duality is conveyed by the forces of Yin and Yang, opposite, yet mutually complimentary. Yin represents a quiet, dark, passive, soft force while yang is an active, bright, noisy force. Akin to shadows and sunshine, or babbling water running over quiet rocks in a stream; both are harmonizing yet different. A happy balance between these two forces can bring wholeness and unity to the garden. Yin and yang can be synchronized. Harmony between sunny and shady spots can be achieved by placing bougainvilleas or hibiscus in shady parts or by adding white smooth rocks to dark, narrow paths. Dry areas can be complemented with small babbling fountains and ponds while simultaneously balancing silence (yin) with sound (yang).

The Five Elements in the Feng Shui Garden

Feng Shui gardeners use the five elements and interplay them to bring about creative, auspicious energy. Water, wood, fire, earth, and metal co-exist in harmony in the garden while having positive and negative interactions. They are the ‘agents’ of chi representing colors and shapes. Their importance in the Feng Shui garden is to make sure no singular element is dominant over the others, and that there’s a yin/yang balance at all times.

Feng Shui Gardening Tips

1 - Gardens should be simple and natural using plantings that grow well in our area. These include common fig, temple tree or Singapore plumeria, oleander, and pencil trees amongst others. There are some beautiful eucalyptus trees in many climates, but they take lots of care, and years to reach maturity.

2 - Balance the size and shape of plantings.

3 - Give paths that are straight, a meandering look with potted plants, or stones along their edges.

4 - Bougainvilleas, jasmine and hibiscus are great cover ups for sharp edges and see- through fences. Make an area for contemplation near some fragrant bushes with perhaps a bench and a water fountain nearby

5 - Water in the garden is important and should be balanced with rocks or pottery. Nice touches for permanent ponds could include gold fish for wealth or a turtle for long life.

6 - In a smallish courtyard or balcony, residents can recreate the feeling of profuse gardens by using taller potted plants or shrubs towards the rear; a small water fountain with babbling sounds, hanging baskets of hardy, trailing ivy, wind chimes, and a wind sock, flying from a bamboo stick. All these ideas would certainly make for a lovely while simple arrangement!@ESW2004

CAIRO'S COLORFUL SPICE BAZAAR

Souq in Arabic simply means bazaar or market center. Today however, the term is normally used to refer exclusively to traditional Middle Eastern markets. 

Souq Khan al Khalili, locally known as’ the Khan’, is located on one of Cairo’s oldest roads in the heart of the Islamic city; al khalili, one of the greatest Middle Eastern bazaars -- active since the Middle Ages -- provides a unique trading experience.

Labyrinths of consecutive alleys can still be found, and rarities of every sort make their appearance.  Khan al Khalili has somehow managed to retain the atmosphere of olden times in the midst of new construction, and shopping possibilities.

A diverse mix of haggling locals and tourists are frequent visitors, browsing in its fascinating passageways and verifying the traditional concept of a thoroughly Middle Eastern marketplace. In the early peak hours, I enjoy the obvious good cheer, the smells, the sounds, and also the loud verses of the Qur’an on a CD -- coming from a player somewhere in the surrounding area -- welcoming shoppers; I relish in the visual confusion of the tiny shops crammed with merchandise, and the procession of buyers from close by and afar.  Weathered awnings and chipped tiles cover up the top overhead, keeping interiors and stands somewhat cooler in the warmer months. 

Clearly divided areas boasting colorful piece goods, perfume shops, money changing alleys, shoes, the tent-makers street, camel hair items, jewelers, and spice vendors -unmistakably lead the visitor to the merchandise they are aiming for.

Most outlets house tiny workshops where an assortment of artisans produce traditional objects of brass, inlaid boxes, shisha (hookah) water pipes and carpets by means of time-honored techniques, while ‘al fresco’ stands lure costumers with samples to the treasures inside.

The absorbing maze of slender and meandering streets; soaring noise levels and the odor of aromatic tobaccos and smoldering frankincense -- both odd and stimulating -- can effortlessly baffle neophytes into loosing their sense of direction.  The spice alley is one of the most fascinating areas for me. 

Spices in the Khan are sold in bulk.  In this section every shop displays colorful blends on their open-air stands: there are small and large mounds of finely-ground powders, pleasantly fragrant seeds, pods, colorfully arranged ‘ pyramids’ of spices, and booths of large, dried tobacco leaves to be used for shisha smoking; many kinds of nut meats -shelled and unshelled also make an appearance.  Suffice it to say that virtually any herb or spice known in the world can be found at the Khan.

This is a crisp autumn day in Cairo; people are in a festive mood, anticipating the Eid al fitr celebrations of Ramadan’s end, and the spice souq is abundantly supplied for the local demand of Egyptian, and Indian spices. There’s hustle and bustle as tradesmen go about their commercial deals. I love to stand in a corner, in the background -just witnessing, learning how to haggle, how to ask and how to approach.  Somehow a few things seem to be done in different ways than I am used to.

Because of its culturally diverse background, extensive trading connections with India, and the Far East -coupled with Roman, Greek, French and British influences- Egypt has developed a taste for an array of spices that merge local and foreign traditions.

At the spice souq, vendors are friendly and willing to let you get a pinch of this, a taste of that, and a free smell, dispensing as many or as few grams of whatever spice you need.  Many delicious and interesting smells come up from the dust produced as spices are measured, some ground in front of your eyes.  It is a fragrant pleasure to be able to see and smell the varieties. I find it interesting that a spice transaction seems to be of such importance, taken seriously, in many cases husbands and wives negotiating the deal.

The spice souq positively revels in its sensuous and aromatic splendour – an ancient traditional trading place, it has none of the mysteries of a bazaar in Marrakesh or Ulan Bator; it’s neither as crowded, nor as colourful. However, the magic still exists in the execution of business in an old-fashioned manner as well as in the enticing olfactory trip, prompting people to crowd the spice area more densely than other parts of the souq.

Saturated in an atmosphere of enticing smells, I wander up and down the narrow lanes breathing in the scents of.bark and stick cinnamon, star cloves, and anise seed, cardamom pods, camomile flowers, cumin, dried coriander leaves, nutmegs, dried hibiscus, spicy ginger, multi-coloured pepper corns, small red chillies, turmeric and strongly scented fenugreek; vendors beckoning, loudly promoting their products. I enjoy the sequence of spice shops, the affable people, and the flavoured loose teas, the stacks of seed pods and nuts, with hanging herbs overhead: a feast for the eyes.  There’s also dukka, an Egyptian spice blend and containers of bright blue indigo and green henna powders.

Imported from all over the Middle East and beyond, these spices are sold from mounds neatly arranged on the stands or straight out of open bags and bins surrounding the inside and outside of the dark tiny shops. This is a special place, with its own pulse, its own heart-beat of centuries past; it possesses an exotic street life that even if somehow has lost its former lustre, it still remains a visual feast.

In its beginnings the Khan’s spice alley provided the most unique and colorful seasonings; today however, spices no longer dominate the scene; incense and perfumes of every possible scent have taken over larger areas of the souq.

Don’t leave the Khan though,  without purchasing at least some grams of dukka (Egyptian spice), a blend of sesame seeds, roasted chick peas, coriander and cumin seeds, peppercorns, salt, and dry thyme or mint ground up to form a homogeneous mix of flavors used in Egypt as a table condiment as well as a dip. Dipping bread in olive oil and then into the dukka mix will certainly inspire visions of legendary pharaohs.