How to Cultivate a Beautiful and Sustainable Garden Space 'The Beauty Way'

I learned about the Navajo/Diné "the Beauty Way" many years ago. I believe it has taken time to fully appreciate and incorporate this concept of living spiritually connected and harmonious with all life, especially the natural world. It's an active way of being, and living.

It could also be called grace, and it brings a reverent or sacred energy into everyday life, into every encounter, into every conversation, and with every breath.

Creating the Beauty way in the garden is being intentional about what plants are native to the area. Keeping your plants local is important, as they're best suited for the environment, often require less water, and will provide the best habitat for all the visiting creatures that will be drawn to your garden.

You are only limited by your imagination when it comes to adding a bit of natural beauty into your yard, yet budget can be a factor! Your garden space can be any size, and the first year you may limit it to one small area, and the next year you add more. It also can be a few planters in a sunny spot, outside your kitchen door or off a porch. Try and find a place where you can visually see the plants, enjoy the butterflies that come to visit, and be a witness to the simple beauty of nature.

Adding textures, or water elements, can offer a focal point, or highlight certain plants. Yes, having a running water feature is lovely, yet they can be expensive, so if on budget, you can create one yourself with the help of a YouTube video! Yet, I find a concrete bowl or even a curated pottery bowl of any size placed just right creates a rich environment for the birds, bees, butterflies, lizards, and even frogs may find their way to your native landscape. If you are using a deeper bowl, make sure to put a rock or two in the center, so bees can easily climb out or a little bird can land.

If your garden has a slope or natural runoff, another natural element is river rocks. When we are blessed with rain, the colors of the rocks will change. The rocks can also lead from the water bowl feature, which will spill over and offer a different feel, a natural artistry. Having your garden visible from a porch or inside window, will allow for harmony, for beauty and for your inner well-being. Moments of connectedness with nature

Just rememeber, amongst all the noise, angst, chaos there are threads of beauty streaming through, just waiting for us to weave into our lives.

Here is the Navajo/Diné traditional prayer, “The Beauty Way.”

In beauty I walk

With beauty before me I walk

With beauty behind me I walk

With beauty above me I walk

With beauty around me I walk

It has become beauty again

Today I will walk out, today everything negative will leave me

I will be as I was before, I will have a cool breeze over my body.

I will have a light body, I will be happy forever, nothing will hinder me.

I walk with beauty before me. I walk with beauty behind me.

I walk with beauty below me. I walk with beauty above me.

I walk with beauty around me. My words will be beautiful.

In beauty all day long may I walk.

Through the returning seasons, may I walk.

On the trail marked with pollen may I walk.

With dew about my feet, may I walk.

With beauty before me may I walk.

With beauty behind me may I walk.

With beauty below me may I walk.

With beauty above me may I walk.

With beauty all around me may I walk.

In old age wandering on a trail of beauty, lively, may I walk.

In old age wandering on a trail of beauty, living again, may I walk.

My words will be beautiful…

xo Christina

May we a

With dew about my feet, may I walk.