Little Zen Garden

Zen Gardens or dry gardens "kare-sansui" are large outdoor gardens found near temples or monasteries in Japan and are thought to encourage inner contemplation. The sand represents the ocean and the rocks, mountains or islands; the rake is used create ripples in this ocean.

In this instructable I will show you how to make little indoor Zen Gardens that can be kept on your desk at work or in your home to relieve stress and help create a calm and clear mind.

I have also included an unorthodox version more suited to the daydreamer than the meditator which I call the Zen Beach. It is good for remembrance of summers past or tropical getaways we dream of taking(but can't afford). In this version there is no symbolic meaning to each of the elements -the sand is just the sand and the beach ball is merely a beach ball. Drinking a few margaritas or mojitos may enhance the experience.

Step 1 Materials:

What you need:

• Saucer -I used a 12cm diameter (and 1cm deep) terracotta saucer from a terracotta plant pot ~50cents each
• Bamboo skewers
• Craft paint and paintbrush
• Sand and pebbles -you can get these at a craft store, gardening store, pet store, or a beach or playground
• Glue
• Knife or scissors

Beach version

• Cocktail drink umbrellas (I got mine at the dollar store)
• Fabric - not very much, just about 2X3 cm square
• a bead
• blue and white paint, brushes and felt pens

Comments

[anibioman]

in the first picture they look black and purple instead of green and blue

[ChrysN]

The pictures were taken under different lighting, it's a light blue and a dark green.

[Whales]

Would non-white sand work? I have a massive amount of brown-ish sand.

[ChrysN]

Yes, that would work too!

[aglaranna]

This is really cute! I love the Zen Beach :)

[ChrysN]

Thanks, I live in Canada, so in the winter, it's nice to daydream of a nice sunny beach.

[SasquatchKid]

Nice hope you can visit the Jersey shore some time

[blodefood]

I did one like this in a small jar with some fine white sand from a beach I frequent.  I added some small shells, a feather, some small stones and a drink umbrella.

Nice instructable on miniatures.

[ChrysN]

Thanks!

[soulcalibur]

lol just looks like an ash tray filled with sand and rocks to me :P

[DennyTom]

I made something similar few years ago. I is really nice decoration, but has one big disadvantage - it is nearly impossible to dust off without damaging the scenery. I also recommend to not trying to blow the dust off, you will only end with sand all over your place.

[ChrysN]

Yes, unfortunately, that's true.

[itisjustmelorrie]

Awesome! (Maybe I should go throw the toys out of the grandkids sandbox out back when they are not here,but would have keep my kitties of of the new "litter box" lol. )

[ChrysN]

Yes better keep the kitties out, lol!

[Creativeman]

Inspirational! Thanks. Cman

[cwhelan74]

The sand must be as fine as possible for smooth flow and elegance. Onegaishimasu.

[headlessbubble]

Good idea. I want one!

[addictinganimal]

Great idea! I just made one and put in a plastic hermit crab toy.

[daniel!]

Why not take some chicken wire with tiny holes in it and make a fence around it and use something for the top and then put a real hermit crab in it? You could call the crab zen master or think up some buddhist monk name for it.

[ChrysN]

Zen master crab, what a cute idea.

[daniel!]

Yeah I should try that some time

[FaqMan]

This is classy and yet peaceful thank you for making this.

[ChrysN]

Thanks!

[TheMoonMaster]

I have the same awesome fish ruler.

[ChrysN]

Yah it's a cute ruler and it was free, bonus!

[halo99]

nice instructable! i'll make one for christmas for my friend!!!!

[Yakeyglee]

Wouldn't it be better to use a finer sand? The scale is smaller so the sand should to to better create good lines...

[ChrysN]

True, it would look nicer, but I just used what I had on hand.

[jdtwelve12]

desktop paradox: a mind assuaged and calmed through peaceful ripples invoking summer, a whimsical craft begets desktop vacations

[NinjaSloth]

nice

[jdtwelve12]

Thanks!

[ChrysN]

Nice haiku!

[jdtwelve12]

Thanks!

[hcold]

"Sand from the craft store" "Pebbles from the aquarium" Haha, Capitalism is lovely. What next? "Water from the supermarket"

[NinjaSloth]

clever

[ChrysN]

Lol, it does seem silly to buy this stuff.

[toekneebullard]

My wife thinks I'm weird cause at the end of the day I almost always use my son's sand box as a little garden. I use his sandbox toys as stones. It really is quite relaxing.

[ChrysN]

That makes a nice size zen garden.

[wilsonater]

I really like this idea but I think it would be even better if you got one of those little air plants that you just spray with a little water once in a while, it'd make it look really natural but still minimalistic.

[ChrysN]

That's a good idea, I think a lot of the large outdoor zen gardens have plants in them.