How to Create a Mini Zen Garden

A miniature Zen garden added to your home or office can provide you with a sense of calm and an outlet for stress and anxiety. Zen gardens are a traditional Japanese landscape used for meditation, primarily within Buddhist monasteries. If you do not have the time or money to create a full-sized Zen garden, you can construct a small-scale version and incorporate some relaxation and meditation into your busy and hectic life.

Small to medium box (wood, cardboard, metal)
Sand
Smooth stones (varied colors)
Small wooden or plastic rake

Instructions

- 1
  Determine the best location and ideal size for your miniature Zen garden. This item will contain loose sand, so you want to ensure it is not in a location where it can be easily bumped or turned over by children and pets.
- 2
  Fill your chosen box halfway with sand. Fine white sand is the best for a Zen garden, but you can also use coarser tan sand that you find at the beach.
- 3
  Arrange the rocks or smooth stones in an aesthetically pleasing manner on the sand. You can use an array of colors, or use all black or white stones for a minimalist look. Do not overcrowd your box with rocks; a Zen garden should not be cluttered or overwhelming.
- 4
  Rake the sand with your small wooden garden rake, plastic fork or a similar object. Try making soft ripples and designs in your sand, which represent calming thoughts of water or the ocean. The act of raking itself is also calming and allows time for thought and reflection.

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