For many gardeners, their garden is the next thing to a church or a temple. Gardens can be deeply spiritual places – and not just for the people who spend so much time and energy working on them. And religious garden statues can be an important aspect of a good garden.
This isn’t necessarily a matter of religion either. Whether you are a Buddhist or Christian, a Pagan or a Muslim. It seems to be a universal law – there is something sacred in the space of the garden, where things grow and die, and often attain great beauty in the mean time.
When looking for the right religious statuary to fit your garden, start by considering your garden itself. What does it need – a big statue right in the center? Or something more subtle and quiet off to the side? After you have nailed that down, think for a moment or two about the spiritual message you want to convey. This might be a direct consequence of your particular religious beliefs, or it might be something more abstract.
Take the Buddha, for example. Many gardens feature a classic Buddha statue – sitting in the full lotus position with a quiet enigmatic smile on his face. Even if you’re not spending hours on a zafu every day, the Buddha can be a deeply pleasing and calming statue for your garden.
You might also consider a Saint Francis statue, for example. A Catholic monk of the middle ages, Saint Francis was renowned for his grace with animals and his gift for working with simple living things like flowers and bushes. Many people find his image in the garden a statement about how human beings ought to interact with Mother Nature. He functions as a de facto patron saint of ecological sensitivity. There are even Saint Francis statues where the saint has an outstretched hand on which birds and butterflies can rest!
Garden religious statues come in so many sizes and materials that choosing one can be difficult. Consider your budget and consider what your garden’s aesthetic needs are. Some statues are crafted from cement or marble while others are carved from wood. Be sure to choose a statue that speaks to you personally, and helps set off your garden in a favorable light.