When it comes to meditation, positive minds and a positive way of living, you really do need that little extra step along the way sometimes. Meditation is a key to success for me, though when I am busy I sometimes forget to or run out of time. Having a zen garden not only clears the negativity from my home but reminds me to meditate daily. If you want to know how to make your own, keep reading.

With a little research and about an hour of putting together. That is when you have all the things to make your own, it is the quickest, easiest and most effective thing to have in your home.

List of things you will need:

1. A medium size dish (mine is from Tesco).
2. Soil.
3. 2 plants, from the cactus/succulent area of your local garden centre.
4. The ability to make your own candle or purchase one with scents you believe will help you meditate. ( I will show how to make one in a minute).
5. Up to 10 crystals of your choice. This is where you need to do your research.
6. *A statue of Buddha.
7. Floristry pebbles, colour of your choice.

To make the candle you will need:

1. Soya wax.
2. Essential oils of your choice. (Again research which will help your needs).
3. Pre-waxed wick.
4. A microwave.
5. A microwaveable bowl.
6. Container for candle.
7. Wick holder.
8. Fridge.

Making candles are really easy. All you need to do is melt a little wax in the microwave. 3 minutes maximum. Stir in your essential oils. Place the wick in the middle and the holder to secure. Put in the fridge for an hour to cool. Cut the wick to about 3cm above the candle.

Back onto making your zen garden.

First up add a layer of soil to the bottom of your dish. Mine is square but you can have any shape you would like. Enough soil to plant the 2 plants you brought. For me I got a cactus and a plant from the succulent area. For me I wanted them to add colour to my zen garden. That is why I went for the pink tones.

We planted these in opposite corners, knowing I wanted buddha to sit in the back corner of the diamond. Again that is personal choice.

Place your candle in the middle of your garden. This is to set the zone and centre focus to the candle and buddha. Make sure you plant the candle container into the soil so its level with the plants.

We then added a little of the floristry pebbles, enough to place buddha in the corner and positioned level with the rest of the features in your garden already. Before you add more of the pebbles, make sure your plants have enough water.

Fill the rest of the dish with the pebbles. Make sure its spread round everywhere and covered enough to meet what you vision. Add more than you think you would need so that the crystals lay need on the pebbles.

Add your crystals around the candle. These are the ones I have picked and their meanings.

Amethyst – helps relieve headaches and fatigue. Promotes good dreams and good skin. Supports bone joints.

Rose Quartz – helps relieve stress and frustration. Eases anxiety.

Green Aventurine – maintaining energy and optimism in challenging times, Energy of spring, luck and prosperity.

Citrine – use to boost concentration. Boost memory and sparks creativity.

Agate – Detoxifies and eases anxiety.

Aquamarine – helps relieve stress, brings peace, heals emotional trauma and helps with acid reflux and gastrointestinal disorders.

Opal – increases inspiration and creativity. It also helps with PMS and headaches.

Clear Quartz – cleanses and restores the organs and the soul. Helps us to see things more clearly. Helps to clear mental blocks and improves focus. A great stone to be used with meditation when searching for clarity.

To maintain your zen garden, remove all crystals and place in sunlight weekly. Whilst they are in the sun recharging, water your plants. Your crystals don’t like or appreciate water.

That is it. I have been using mine for a good 2 weeks now and can see a difference already. The only other thing I have is a Himalayan salt lamp sitting next to my zen garden. I believe this is a really good product to have and use daily also.

Would you make a zen garden? Do you have an actual garden you could make this in, or would you make an inside one like me?

Meditation is so good for anyone and the zen garden is showing a positive change to my daily life also. The crystal that seems to have the most seen power for me is the Opal. Its orange and red when I pick up and when I lay it back into the garden its baby blue.

The smell of the candle as well makes an amazing difference when you are meditating.

Products marked with an * means that if you click on this link and buy the item, I get a small portion of the profit made.