Unfortunately, the ability to relax is necessary in order to be able to regenerate and remain productive. Some people maintain aquariums in their home, feeling that the activity of fish in an attractive setting provides a release from stress. This is thought to be true, but sometimes it’s just not possible to sustain an aquarium with a busy lifestyle, or there are some people who don’t like fish. However, the concept is a sound one; creating a tranquil setting that is designed to alleviate stress and promote well-being. Such is the purpose of the Zen garden. Actually this Japanese garden design involves much more than simply creating an aesthetically pleasing view, but Zen gardens are generally equated with peace and well-being.

Traditionally, Zen gardens encouraged the contemplation of nature and its forms and processes. They would serve to quiet the mind and encourage introspection. However natural they would seem, these gardens were, (and are) artificially cultivated and constructed with designs calculated to achieve the desired effect. (Not unlike the cultivation and shaping of bonsai trees) Simplicity and association are an integral part of the Zen garden, where small ponds can represent oceans, rocks can represent mountains, and anything is possible within the imagination of the beholder. Many of these gardens incorporate sound, such as the trickle of water or the breeze through foliage, as well as the visual stimulations. Although this art form is hardly a western tradition, more and more people are discovering the benefits of such relaxing features.

Silver Creek Lodge in Canmore, is referred to as a Zen Mountain Retreat, and incorporates many Japanese elements in order to enhance the recreational experience. Japanese gardens, eucalyptus steam rooms and yoga meditation rooms inspire reverence and harmony, throughout the lodge imitating the Zen experience. However, not all Zen gardens are composed of running water, flowers and foliage. Many Zen gardens consist of large areas of meticulously raked sand or gravel, forming delicate shapes and designs. Often amidst this amazing display of dedication and devotion to precision, are rough textured stones of differing shapes and sizes with the smoothness of the sand in stark contrast to the roughness of the rocks. Quite often the sand and the designs that are raked into it represent flowing water, but whatever the intended effect, these gardens invite thought and reflection.

Unfortunately, with Calgary’s weather it would be very difficult to achieve an outdoor Zen garden, but not entirely impossible, just seasonal. However, in condominiums where space may be limited, the appearance of miniature Zen gardens has been well-received by some with an affinity for the art form. Varying in size, but usually small enough to fit on a table or shelf, an attractive wooden or ceramic tray is filled with fine-grained sand and includes river stones, and a miniature rake. Alternatively, you can build your own Zen garden using materials that you can find just about anywhere. Coloured or neutral sand and any kinds of stones can be used, and even a twig can serve as a rake. You can create and cultivate this miniature Zen garden, helping you escape the tensions of ordinary life, even if only for a short while. Raking the smooth sand into wave-like patterns in swirls around the river rocks will allow you to contemplate something other than your hectic day, and help you to understand the Zen philosophy of serenity in simplicity. Shops such as Rubaiyat on 17th Avenue carry miniature Zen gardens ready-made, and so if you aren’t ready to build your own, you can pick one up and start cultivating yours right away.  CL