An Excerpt from “The Way of Vastu”

By Michael & Robin Mastro

Within the Vedas, there is a sacred science of building called Vastu Shastra (vastu means building; shastra means science). It explains how to create an environment in accordance with the laws of nature, so that one experiences support and prosperity in life. It is the science that reveals why we feel uneasy in some environments and why, in others, we are uplifted.

In 1922, archeologists under the direction of R.D. Banarjee, began excavating Mohenjo-Daro, an ancient city in the Indus Valley. It was determined that the city was at least 5,500 years old and that it had been built using the principles of Vastu. Mohenjo-Daro had been an advanced and prosperous civilization featuring elaborate architecture and sophisticated works of art. Streets were set up in a grid system running north-south, east-west, at right angles to each other, with open space and a temple at the very center of the city. The homes were built according to a rectangular design with an open, central courtyard containing a cooking area in the southeast.

As a result of a series of foreign invasions the knowledge of Vastu was lost. For thousands of years, portions of this valuable knowledge were retained for the exclusive use of the upper echelon of India’s society. Recently, as Westerners have begun seeking out new ways to improve the quality of life, the enormous benefits of Vastu have once again become available through Vedic translations to people worldwide.

The far-reaching influence of Vastu can be seen in great architectural monuments that have withstood the ravages of time and the elements: the Egyptian and Mayan pyramids, the Roman Coliseum, the Greek Parthenon, and the Taj Mahal. In every respect these monuments were built according to the principles of Vastu: in shape, proportion, measurements, and alignment to the Cardinal Directions.

About three thousand years ago, monks crossed over the mountains from India to China, carrying with them this ancient Vedic knowledge. In China the science of Vastu Shastra was adapted to local climatic and cultural conditions. In this way, Vastu gradually evolved into the various schools of Feng Shui, the ancient Chinese art of placement and design that results in improving the energy of an environment.

The seers and sages of ancient India carefully observed the effects of the five elements (earth, water, fire, air, and space) on the human organism and environment. In a natural environment, all five elements are in balance. As soon as the environment is altered by the introduction of a structure, however, this balance is disturbed. Any such disturbance then affects the health, wealth, and happiness of those who live and work inside the building. Over thousands of years the sages collected such observations of natural balance and imbalance within environments. The resulting body of knowledge is the science of Vastu Shastra.

Using the principles of Vastu, you can bring any building into balance, attract beneficial energy, and enhance prosperity and abundance. In this way your home or office will become a haven; a sanctuary where you feel productive, healthy, and at peace.

In any structure, the five elements must be in balance to gain the support of nature. Each of these elements is associated with a particular direction (earth: southwest; water: northeast; fire: southeast; air: northwest; space: the central area). The interplay between these elements and the directions affects you on every level of existence. Each of the five elements, together with the directions north, south, east, and west, has a specific planetary influence as well, making a subtle but profound impact on your daily life.
The ancient seers observed that every building is a living organism having its own energy field. They called the spirit of the building Vastu Purusha.

People seldom think of their homes as living entities, but the benefits of understanding this premise are truly life-changing. Vastu Purusha is affected by energies that come from different geographic directions. These energies are of two kinds. The magnetic energies of the north and the solar energies of the east (ultraviolet rays) exert positive, supportive influences, while the south (infrared rays) and the west (gamma rays) exert influences that are not life-supporting.

For this reason, in ancient India, buildings were designed to receive the abundant, life-enhancing energies from the north and east, while shielding their inhabitants from the gamma and infrared rays of the west and south. The positive energies from north and east flowed around the structure without obstruction and collected in the southwest area of the building, where they supported the health and well-being of the people inside.

Over time, people lost touch with the importance of living in harmony with the natural environment. Our homes and places of work have gradually become filled with unnecessary stress and strife. Very simple adjustments, using tools that return the five elements to balance, will often alleviate this stress. Such adjustments can be made economically, without disturbing your environment. When you honor and enliven Vastu Purusha, the spirit of your building, the result is greater health, prosperity, and happiness for all who enter.

The Way of Vastu speaks of the laws of balance and harmony, which can be felt through the natural flow of universal forces. Most cultures recognize these unseen forces—forces that shape the world of the seen and the unseen—understanding that life is an intricately woven pattern of energy and form. Life-force energy permeates the cosmos, our earth, and nature (including our bodies) with its essence. The Japanese call this life-force energy Ki, and the Chinese call it Chi. In India it is called Prana.

The Romans called it Spiritus and the Greeks knew it as Pneuma. It is known in Hebrew as Ruah and in Arabic as Rhor. This energy, known throughout the world by many names in many cultures, can become blocked or stagnant within an environment. When blocked it causes stress, leading to disease and limitation in the body, mind, and emotions. Such life-energy blockage wreaks havoc with our ability to manifest prosperity, and prevents us from feeling productive in the world.

The science of Vastu links the body (the microcosm), and the universe (the macrocosm) together with the five elements. The body occupies space; it comes from the same subtle level of possibility and consciousness that created the universe. The lungs fill with air, life-force energy. Fire, in the form of heat, brings warmth and stimulation to all systems of the body. The body is composed of 80 percent water. This water, in the form of bodily fluids, creates vitality and harmony through the blood and bodily secretions. Earth gives the body shape through bones, tissues, muscles, skin, and hair. According to Vastu, then, we are each a blueprint of the universe as seen through the five elements.

In many parts of the West, especially, the importance of living in harmony with the natural forces is an alien concept. We have moved ever farther away from understanding how the elements affect us, as throughout history we have attempted various means of controlling our environment and the forces of nature. As the human race transitioned from natural environments to man-made structures, our connection to the natural world was lost. Over time we created congested, artificial environments filled with synthetics, which were designed to add ease and comfort. Vastu was the first science to encourage green building and the use of natural materials.

We now understand the dramatic destructive effects that technological advancements have had on our world. Global warming and deterioration of the ozone are creating high levels of skin cancer and severely affecting plant and animal life all over the planet. When we disregard our connection to the natural laws of our world and universe, we create stress and dis-ease, both in our bodies and in Mother Earth. In contrast, the Way of Vastu honors the interconnectedness of all things: healing stress and dis-ease in the microcosm of our bodies and homes also heals Mother Earth, the macrocosm.

The Energy and Power of Money
Money is energy. It is the result of your actions—your karma and free will—and the environment where you live and work. A harmonious environment aligned with the forces of nature easily supports your financial growth. As you evolve in life and become more connected with the universal flow, you will find fulfillment in being in alignment with your true nature. Such fulfillment may come in the form of money, or it may manifest as other opportunities that allow you to grow and to feel more abundant. Money is not the only form of abundance the universe offers, but for many people it is an important symbol of success and worth in the world.

When the flow of money is disrupted, many areas of your life begin to break down. This can create stress, but it is also a fertile time for self-inquiry and reflection. Any challenge can create growth when it is seen as an opportunity. If you experience obstacles to creating stability and continued growth around money in your life, take time for meditation, for contemplation. Assess your focus in the world. Are you aligned with your true nature? Is your environment supportive of growth, abundance, and fulfillment? If not, then your thoughts will not be aligned with the source of universal abundance, and you will experience dis-harmony.

Michael and Robin Mastro’s synergistic approach successfully assists people in creating balanced lives filled with unlimited possibilities. For more information, call 206-661-1117 or 206-328-0122.