"Sacred gardens" are spaces endowed with artistic, spiritual, cultural or religious significance (intentionally created or naturally occurring). These gardens often serve as places for art, meditation, worship, reflection or ritual and may be associated with specific beliefs, myths or traditions. Their design and use often reflect their creators/preservers, e.g. by referencing their symbols, values and cosmologies.
Characteristics of Sacred Gardens
Spiritual Purpose: Sacred gardens provide a connection to the divine, nature, or the cosmos. They often encourage mindfulness, contemplation, and a sense of peace.
Symbolism: These gardens frequently include elements that symbolize spiritual or religious concepts, such as:
- Water or lack of water (representing purification or life).
- Stones or mountains (symbolizing permanence or sacred ground).
- Specific plants (like lotus flowers in Buddhist traditions).
Design Features:
- Geometric patterns (as seen Islamic paradise gardens).
- Naturalistic or wild arrangements (to reflect harmony with nature, as in Shinto sacred forests).
- Use of paths and spaces to guide movement and contemplation (eg. in the vitra. Oudolf Garden.)
Cultural Influence: Sacred gardens vary widely across cultures and religions:
- Christianity: Monastic gardens or biblical-themed gardens often include symbolic plants and are spaces for prayer.
- Islam: Paradise gardens (charbagh) use water, symmetry, and lush greenery to represent an ideal heavenly abode.
- Hinduism and Buddhism: Temples may feature gardens with sacred trees, flowers, and water features for meditation and rituals.
- Indigenous Traditions: Sacred groves or forests are often preserved as holy sites, believed to house spirits or deities.
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