| Vastu (Vah-stoo) was "created" in India many | | | | only comes into play when determining dates for |
| thousands of years ago, pre-dating the Hindu religion. | | | | various construction projects. Once the space is |
| Ancient Vedic texts have described this philosophy | | | | complete, then only the cardinal directions come into |
| with Vastu also becoming known as "Vedic | | | | play. |
| Architecture". The Vedic texts are "records of the | | | | Feng Shui is concerned with room AND furniture |
| vibrations, or laws, of nature" and it's according to | | | | placement to help increase/decrease energy. Vastu |
| these vibrations, that the ancients built their buildings. | | | | only concerned with room placement w/in the space. |
| In Vastu, buildings are to be oriented to the EAST | | | | Feng Shui traditions state that the person's intentions, |
| (i.e. the FRONT ENTRYWAY of your space should | | | | emotions and activities play a part in their fortunes |
| face east) to be in accordance with the path the Sun | | | | health. Vastu takes the position that if the space is |
| travels daily. It is off of this main directive that the | | | | built according to Vastu principles, then good health |
| placement of all other rooms is based. Now, there | | | | fortune will be had regardless of belief. |
| are other "teachings" of Vastu (like the 3 schools of | | | | In Feng Shui, there are "cures" or "tweaks" as I call |
| Feng Shui) which are based off of different family | | | | them, that you can apply to your space to create |
| lineages, although they are not "formal" schools as | | | | positive energy flow & make your space work for |
| they are referred to in Feng Shui. | | | | you. Vastu does not-it is either built accordingly or it's |
| Front door placement: | | | | not. Vastu is of the mind that it is better to tear |
| E = enlightenment | | | | down & begin again instead of "tweak". |
| N=happiness & prosperity | | | | In BOTH traditions, proportion is important. Your own |
| Bed placement: | | | | space, surrounding buildings/landscaping...all come into |
| E and S is OK for the headboard to be placed | | | | play to ensure proper energy flow. |
| On a scientific, or "Western" note, neurologists have | | | | BOTH are also concerned with the surrounding |
| found that those studied who FACED EAST showed | | | | influences of the neighborhood-neighboring homes, |
| more coherence & cognitive activity! Heart disease, | | | | noise, landscaping, water features... |
| depression & anxiety are also being studied in terms | | | | You CANNOT use BOTH traditions in the same |
| of the affect direction has on the person and their | | | | space. Although it has been done, you must be sure |
| recovery... VERY interesting! | | | | that the schools are compatible! Meaning, you could |
| Feng Shui vs Vastu: | | | | use the Black Hat Sect school of thought as long as |
| Feng Shui (compass & Black Hat Sect) use a Bagua | | | | the home lined up with the E for the front door. You |
| Board to "activate" Life Areas and help determine | | | | could NOT use together if using the Compass School |
| spac-plan, color, accessory. The Compass School uses | | | | & you're a "W" oriented person...Confusing, YES! |
| the person(s) & the building's birth dates to | | | | Research, find a philosophy that corresponds to you, |
| determine good/bad directions & then orients the | | | | your lifestyle & values. |
| Bagua according to that...BHS does not. Bagua is | | | | Here's more info on Jon Lipman, our guest, and his |
| oriented to the entryway of the space. Vastu only | | | | company Fortune Creating Buildings: 641-472-7570 |
| orients to the E, or in some cases N, cardinal | | | | The website has portfolio pictures (beautiful!), articles |
| direction. The "birth" dates of the space's owners | | | | and more information about Vastu. |