Outdoor Meditation: Nurtured by Nature

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Create a Peaceful Place

To make your own special outdoor sanctuary, begin by closing your eyes and imagining yourself in a setting where you feel comfortable, even serene. Picture a soothing garden perfect for practicing yoga, or create a place that immediately transports you to a tranquil shelter. Then use these ideas to make that place a reality.

• Give it shelter. Choose a location protected from the elements—on a porch or under a pergola, canopy, patio umbrella, or shade tree. For privacy, select a spot that’s screened by shrubs, fencing, or trellises.
• Make it inviting. Create an entrance with a graceful arbor, a decorative gate, or a threshold flanked by upright evergreens or large, potted plants. Post a bell or wind chimes for visitors to announce themselves.
• Provide seating. Include a bench or chairs; add cushions for comfort. Set up a swing or hammock if you need a little coaxing to relax. Add a second lounge chair if you want to share your shelter.
• Add visual appeal. Statuary or other artful elements enhance the view and inspire a contemplative setting. A soft floor of moss, creeping herbs, or other groundcover tickles bare feet.
• Set the mood with water music. The trickling of a fountain or small waterfall soothes the soul. Still, reflective water in a pool or birdbath sets a serene, contemplative tone.
• Create floral aromatherapy. Delightfully fragrant plants (roses, herbs, flowering shrubs, and other bloomers) bolster relaxation when you take deep whiffs of their heady scents.
• Play with color and light. Use calming colors—blue, gray, violet, green, pink, and white—to your advantage by incorporating them into planting plans. Keep in mind that shade feels quieter than sunny spaces. Plan to enjoy your refuge after sunset, too, and heighten its magical atmosphere with candles or low-voltage lanterns.