Samon: Designing a Zen Garden Raking Puzzle

Samon is a Zen garden raking puzzle designed to help users relax and focus. The puzzle consists of a rectangular grid of squares, each with a unique pattern of small rocks, pebbles, or sand. The goal is to rake the rocks and pebbles into neat patterns, such as parallel lines, spirals, or geometric shapes, without disturbing the sand. The puzzle is designed to be calming and meditative, allowing users to focus on the tactile experience of raking and creating order. The design of Samon is based on the concept of 'fractals,' which are geometric patterns that repeat at different scales. The puzzle's creator, gwern, has made the design and instructions available online, allowing others to try and solve the puzzle.