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| back to feng shui | REFLECTING CONSTANTLY CHANGING VIEWS An important element is that space must be organised in such a way that the entire garden cannot be seen in a single glance. In walking through, the visitor must be able to experience constantly changing views, with highlights to focus on. There must also be many contrasts and repetitions to as to add to the variation. Gardens usually, very strongly, involve the water element. Some of Suzhou’s main gardens are up to 35% water by surface area. The Chinese consider that where there is water, spiritual energy is present, and that water affects and influences intelligence. The Water element rules among other things communication, the brain, transport, philosophy, emotion and the blood. Water is also the Moon and tides and the ocean. A powerful element in a landscape in any environment. We visited the Humble Administrators Garden on the first day in Suzhou. It was begun around 1509AD by the retired Imperial Inspector Wang Xianchen. The name came from a Chinese essay stating that “To cultivate my garden and sell my vegetable crop…..is the policy of the humble man.” The garden was listed as a national cultural relic in 1961. For myself with my first experience of a true Chinese garden in China the scenery was overwhelming. The delicate play of colours, light, plants, pavilions, water, walkways and bridges was simply a wonder. DRIFTING FRAGRANCE Some of the pavilions of the Garden has the most attractive names. We visited the Magnolia Hall, the Floating Green Pavilion, the Pine Wind Pavilion, the Far Away Looking Pavilion, the Hall of Drifting Fragrance and more. Each is positioned in such a way as to take advantage of the view, the flowers or breezes from their immediate surroundings. We found the perfect spot in the garden in a far corner where a circular stone pattern surrounded a small raised stone circle wall with climbers growing from the centre. The stone pattern on the ground consisted of smooth quartz pebbles turned on their sides to present this beautiful foot-massaging experience. We dropped off our shoes and stood in a circle, hands joined around the low wall to meditate. The energy surges coming up through the ground as we meditated were extraordinary. I, and several others had a powerful connection with the land mass of China and saw a huge visual display map of China at which we gazed. The energy rose as the sound of the cicadas around the garden rose. The pitch of their sound became intense as our meditation reached a climax and the links to China’s essence flooded over us. When we opened our eyes, the area where we stood was surrounded by German and American tourists and their tour guide was saying to them that the ancient Chinese always took their shoes off to massage their feet in this spot on the garden! I’m not sure, but is seemed like this enterprising young guide was making it up as she went along. Good yarn for the tourists! During the meditation I contacted what seemed to be the spirit of a Chinese warrior/soldier who made his acquaintance with me at rather close quarters. It was a bizarre experience and he didn’t leave easily. It took a meditation with a powerful Luvulite stone the next day to get him moving on his way.
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