This is where many people start to consider vastu. They might be correct in doing so. Vastu Shastra is the study of energy flow for the placement of rooms in a house in the Indian culture. There can be small issues in a house that can impact sleep, finances, and relationships before one looks to build design issues.
We will discuss seven of these issues and design principles of vastu that outline the cause and simple solutions that don't require construction.
What Vastu Actually Looks At
Vastu is framed around five elements (earth, water, fire, air, and space) and eight directions and is concerned more with the path of sunlight and airflow and the way magnetic energy interacts with a structure over a span of time. Based on the relativity of sunlight and magnetic energy, if a kitchen is placed in the wrong direction, for example, the flow of prana (positive energy) is disturbed; and, according to Vastu, it impacts the family in a number of ways, including poor sleep, low energy, constant tension with family members, and a number of other issues Vastu will not name.
These problems have little to do with one another and go unnoticed for months (or years) until someone is finally motivated enough to find a solution.
7 Signs Your Home May Have Bad Vastu
1. You Never Get a Good Night's Sleep
If you always start the day feeling like you didn't sleep a wink, you may have a problem with the direction you've been sleeping in. Vastu believes the direction of your bed determines how your body responds to the magnetic field of the earth throughout the night.
The fix: The vastu sleeping direction is recommended to be either South or East, while the head facing North is discouraged since it is believed to be against the body's natural magnetic alignment. People are free to choose to believe this mind you magnetic alignment of the earth is the same in Australia and in any other country in the world. Many people have found that changing the bed direction works so well that it shows positive sleeping results in a couple of weeks.
2. You Have a Never Ending Money Cycle
Some families earn well and still feel like they are constantly catching up financially. Surprisingly, in most consultations, this pattern can be traced to the location of the family safe, where cash is stored, or even where the home office is positioned in relation to the house entrance.
The fix: Vastu recommends placing your valuables or safe in the south-west corner of your house, facing north. You should not place your cash in the position directly opposite your main door. In this spot, energy and your cash might just flow out of your house. To learn more about fixing this concern, check out our article Vastu Tips For Financial Growth.
3. Small Arguments Start to Occur Frequently.
You may have a calm household that suddenly begins to fight about everything. Vastu may suggest looking at the south-east and south-west parts of your house. These sections are associated with fire and stability. Clutter or structural problems in these areas may be impacting the balance of your household.
The fix: The first step should be removing clutter from these areas, but also look to see if your kitchen (which is associated with the fire element) is in the north-east. This position is meant for calm energy in the house and is a reserved location for meditation.
4. Your Main Entrance Is Awkward, Dark, or Blocked
When you walk in your front door, you should pay attention to how it actually feels. A dark, cramped, or blocked entrance is a sure sign of bad Vastu. The main entrance is the first and most important place that energy enters the house, and if the entrance is blocked, it can create an issue.
The fix: Keeping your entrance unobstructed and plenty of light is important. Having storage, shoes, or a trash can in your entrance is going to create problems. If you can, position your entrance to the north, east, or north-east. These are the most favorable places for a main door.
5. You Are Often Tired for No Reason
Feeling tired for no reason can't always be explained by how much you work or how much you sleep. It can come from the location of your toilet or bathroom. Bathrooms located either to the north east or the center of your house can cause problems.
To fix the problem, try to keep the bathroom door closed and place a small indoor plant or mirror outside the bathroom.
6. Your Guests Don't Want to Stick Around
If your guests seem to be avoiding being around you, check where all of your furniture is located. Heavier furniture should ideally be located in the south and west parts of the room to leave the east and north parts of the room more empty.
To fix this problem rearranging the living room so the heavy furniture is placed in the south or south-west of the room.
7. Your House is South Facing and You Are Wondering if That is a Problem
This is something we always get asked and we will give you answer to this now.
Are South Facing Houses Bad in Vastu?
Not inherently. South facing houses aren't bad in vastu. However, they do require special consideration for placement of the entrance, the arrangement of rooms, and balancing the fire element as south is the direction of Mars and is more aggressive and energetic. A south facing house can be as effective as any other direction house with these adjustments.
Addressing Some Vastu Misconceptions
- Most Vastu changes are not as big as you think. Moving/removing walls or rooms is not what the majority of Vastu changes look like. Adding plants or a mirror may be a better example of a Vastu change. It may also change the way you use a space.
- A lot of people think the principles of Vastu are only used in Indian homes. The ideas of Vastu (sunlight, airflow, Vastu magnet direction) are used in homes across Australia, even in Melbourne and Sydney.
- One incorrect Vastu element does not mean your house is completely compromised. Vastu is very much about balance. One corner may not be perfect, but you may have a completely balanced layout for the rest of your house.
- Vastu and interior design are not the same. Interior design focuses on a home's look. Vastu focuses more on harmony of elements, direction, and the flow of energy. There are overlaps, but these fields are not the same.
Your Home Vastu Checklist
- Preferably the main entrance is on the north, east, or north-east.
- Locate the kitchen in the south-east, not the north-east.
- Place the bed, so the head is towards the south or east when sleeping.
- Position heavy furniture in the south and south-west.
- Keep bathroom doors closed. Especially if they are in the north-east or center.
- Position the safe or valuables in the south-west and facing north.
- Clear clutter from the south-east and south-west corners.
If your home has been quietly working against you in ways that are hard to put into words, it may be worth having someone actually look at your layout rather than guessing from a checklist. Astro Shivang offers personalized vastu consultations for homes across Melbourne, Sydney, and the rest of Australia, combining traditional Vedic principles with a practical understanding of modern Australian homes, so any corrections suggested are ones you can realistically make.
