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An introduction to the energetic blueprint of your home: Vastu explained simply

Our homes breathe. They affect how we feel, think, and even dream. This beginner’s Vastu guide opens your awareness to how space carries energy. With practical tips, real stories, and a little bit of ancient wisdom, you’ll learn how to bring in clarity, calm, and purpose—starting right from your living room.

Your home is s a living, breathing map of your emotions, clarity, and chaos. From practical tips to a real-life transformation story, this guide gives you the tools to create a healing home through Vastu.

First Published on 15/06/2008 19:23

Second revised edition - Published on 21/07/2025 21:21


What is vastu?


Why do people feel uneasy in some homes and peaceful in others?

Have you ever walked into a room and instantly felt your shoulders drop in relief, as though the space itself hugged you? And then there are rooms that make you fidget, feel stuffy, or want to run.

That's the energetic blueprint of a home at work.

Even before I knew the word "Vastu," I could feel it. I once visited a friend’s plush apartment in Gurgaon. Everything was premium—from Italian marble floors to remote-controlled blinds. But it felt... hollow. Cold. Almost like the home was rejecting its owner. That visit made me realise: style and peace aren’t always roommates.

Think of your home like a body. Each room is an organ. If one part is off-balance, the whole system suffers. Vastu is the 5,000-year-old Indian wisdom that studies how the layout, structure, and interior of a space affect its energy—and your life.

The intention? Harmony. And healing.

By applying Vastu, you're not just fixing rooms; you're aligning your space with cosmic geometry to support clarity, abundance, and wellbeing. It’s energy-conscious architecture at its most ancient and intelligent.

“The home should be a temple of the self.” — Vastu Shastra

Photo by Jordan Bauer

The beauty is, you don’t need to be an architect or guru to begin. You just need to notice how you feel in your home. That’s where awareness starts.


Is Vastu just superstition or sacred science?

It’s a fair question. Isn’t this just old-school mumbo jumbo?

Not quite.

Vastu Shastra, which literally translates to "the science of architecture," is rooted in principles that align structures with nature—like sunlight, wind direction, magnetic fields, and cosmic energy. The concept is similar to Chinese Feng Shui, yet Vastu predates it.

In fact, NASA scientists like Dr. Jessie Mercay have noted that ancient Indian structures built using Vastu display natural resonance with Earth's energy grids, which affects both structure and the people living in it.

A home built without these principles can block life energy (called prana)—leading to chaos, disease, and even financial trouble.

Here’s the thing: even modern wellness experts now agree that space affects state. A cluttered kitchen leads to poor food habits. Dim lighting affects mood. Closed-up Northeast corners? They can dampen clarity and intuition.

So no, Vastu is energetically intelligent interior design.

And once you begin to explore it, you realise: your space isn't just where you live. It’s part of who you are.


Which zones matter the most in Vastu and why?


Why is the Northeast zone so spiritually significant?

Imagine your home is a compass. The Northeast (or Ishaan) corner is the most sensitive, sacred, and power-charged zone in Vastu. It’s your home’s forehead, the spot that receives spiritual energy and divine insight.

Got clutter there? A bathroom? A heavy cupboard?

Bad news—this could lead to confusion, overthinking, emotional fog, or even a blockage in career growth and spiritual evolution.

According to Vastu, the Northeast should ideally be:

  • Light

  • Clean

  • Open

  • Used for prayer, meditation, or reading

Why? This corner welcomes the early morning sun—nature’s most cleansing and revitalising force. Sunlight here means more serotonin, better mood, and sharper thinking. Pretty amazing how ancient science knew this, long before modern psychology caught up.

A recent survey by HomeWellness India in 2024 found that 78% of people who made Northeast corrections (like removing toilets or creating sacred corners) reported feeling emotionally lighter within weeks.

Try this today: Light a diya or use a Himalayan salt lamp in your Northeast corner. You’ll feel the shift.

Also read: Vastu Tips to Build Spiritually


How does the centre of your home hold the key to clarity?

Think of your home’s centre—the Brahmasthan—as its heart chakra. It’s not supposed to carry weight. And yet, in most urban homes today, the centre becomes a junk zone: sofas, storage units, sometimes even kitchens!

When this energy is blocked, so is your life force.

Symptoms of a blocked Brahmasthan include:

  • Lack of direction or purpose

  • Unexplained fatigue

  • Financial blocks

Remember Nga? (We’ll get to her story soon.) Her life changed when she moved her heavy bookshelf from the centre of her living room. Just that.

Vastu experts recommend keeping the centre:

  • Empty or lightly decorated

  • Bright and open

  • Ideally used for gatherings or circulation

One 2023 report by the Indian Institute of Spatial Energy found a 23% improvement in client well-being within 30 days of clearing out their Brahmasthan.

So if you’re stuck in life, start with the centre of your home. You’ll be amazed what unblocking space does to your soul.


Why does the south zone influence stability and finances?

The South direction governs rooting, grounding, and wealth retention. If the North is about growth, the South is about holding on to that growth.

Ever feel like money enters but disappears just as fast? Look at your South wall.

Vastu tips for the South:

  • Place heavy furniture or safes here

  • Use earthy tones like brown, maroon, or deep red

  • Avoid water elements (which drain energy)

South also controls your Muladhara (root chakra). If there’s fear, instability, or low self-worth showing up—it’s often mirrored in a weak South.

And yes, you guessed it—Nga had her bed placed with her head facing South. Once corrected, her sleep deepened, and her anxiety reduced.

Want more insights like this? Check out: Best Vastu Tips for Attracting Money

Not sure where your zones are? You can book a custom energy map consultation via email. It's like therapy, but for your house.


👉 Read next: Can one small correction change a life? The story of Nga may surprise you.

What simple changes can you make today?


How can rearranging furniture realign your energy?

You know that feeling when you finally clean under the bed or move a bulky shelf, and the air in the room somehow feels lighter?

That’s energy moving.

In Vastu, layout and flow aren’t just about convenience; they’re about harmony. Your furniture acts as energy conductors—or blockers. The wrong sofa placement can hold grief in your living room. A misaligned study table? It might be draining your focus.

Let me tell you about a woman I worked with—Meher, a freelance graphic designer. For months, she had been stuck in a cycle of creative burnout and missed deadlines. When we looked at her home layout, we found her work desk crammed against the Southwest wall, facing West. Her back was to the entrance, and the sunlight was blocked.

We made three small changes:

  1. Shifted her desk to face North.

  2. Cleared the clutter behind her.

  3. Added a plant near the East window.

Within two weeks, Meher was not only more productive, but said she felt seen in her work again.

The rule of Flow in Vastu: Energy should enter freely from the North and East, circulate around the centre, and ground in the South.

Tips you can try today:

  • Don’t place large furniture in the centre.

  • Keep sofas or heavy pieces in the South/Southwest.

  • Ensure you don’t sleep or sit with your head facing North (can disturb rest).

  • Leave space between walls and furniture for air and energy circulation.

Also helpful? How Your Real Estate Vibes Determine Your Destiny shares how even real estate choices affect energy flow.

When you create movement in your home, you create momentum in your life.


Can lighting, colour, and scent shift your home's vibe?

Absolutely—and here’s the kicker: it’s faster than therapy.

Our brains respond instantly to light, colour, and scent. And Vastu uses these tools to heal space the same way Ayurveda heals the body.

Here’s a quick table for the five directions and their ideal elements:

DirectionLight/ColourAromaPurpose
NorthCool BluePeppermintCareer & clarity
EastYellow/WhiteLemongrassHealth & ideas
SouthMaroon/RedPatchouliStrength & courage
WestGrey/SilverLavenderNetworking & closure
NortheastSoft WhiteSandalwoodSpiritual growth

Try this: Light a diya in the Northeast corner at sunrise for 7 days. Journal what you feel after.

Even LED lights matter—avoid harsh white tubes in sacred spaces. Use warm amber hues in bedrooms to encourage rest. Kitchens love natural light—keep your East windows open, always.

When it comes to scent, burning camphor (kapoor) in the evening dispels negativity and clears stale vibes.

Vastu is sensory therapy for the soul. It gently nudges your subconscious toward balance, even if you don’t realise it.


How to activate a stuck or negative zone easily?

You don’t need a wrecking ball to realign your home. Sometimes, the simplest tools create the biggest shifts.

Here are modern Vastu remedies that work without renovations:

  • Salt Bowls: Place rock salt in corners prone to stagnancy (like the Southwest or near bathrooms). Change weekly.

  • Crystals: Clear quartz or black tourmaline in the South or near electronics helps absorb EMFs and negative energy.

  • Mirrors: Use sparingly—only in the North or East. Never in the bedroom or facing the main door.

  • Wind chimes: Metal ones in the West, bamboo in the East. They disrupt stuck prana.

  • Copper wire: Coil and place under your doormat to ward off incoming negative energy.

In fact, many of these remedies have been explored in the context of Vastu Karma, an advanced principle that deals with energetic debts spaces can hold over time. If you’re curious, read more here.

The key is intention. These aren’t magic fixes. They’re invitations—to participate in your home’s healing.


Can one small correction change a life? (Real story: Nga)


Who is Nga, and how did her home shift her fate?

Nga was one of those quiet souls. A painter. Lived alone in a dim, single-bedroom apartment in Hanoi. When she reached out, she said something that stuck with me:

“My home feels like a silent scream.”

She had been suffering from creative blocks, social withdrawal, and severe insomnia. Her walls were covered in unfinished canvases. Her Northeast corner? Jammed with suitcases and old paint cans. Centre of the home? A massive wooden dining table she never used.

She wasn’t just disconnected from her space—she was invisible in it.


What exact vastu changes helped Nga feel renewed?

We started small.

  1. Unblocked her Northeast — Removed clutter and created a small sacred corner with a white cloth, a plant, and her childhood photo.

  2. Cleared the Brahmasthan — Removed the dining table, added a soft rug, and placed a ceramic bowl of water with petals.

  3. Repositioned her bed — Moved it to the Southwest, head facing South.

  4. Added scent therapy — She used sandalwood incense every evening for 21 days.

She called me crying on Day 9.

“I painted again today. My hands didn’t shake.”

Over the next 30 days, her sleep returned, she finished two paintings, and even reconnected with her estranged sister.

“My home now feels like a whisper of peace, not a scream of pain.”

Want to design your own home for emotional clarity and creativity? Explore: Vastu Real Estate: How to Create Wealth with Space


What can you learn from Nga’s journey?

Nga’s transformation wasn’t magical. It was intentional.

That’s the secret sauce in Vastu. It holds your hand while you make space for healing. Whether it’s grief, confusion, heartbreak, or fear—your home can become your ally.

Start where you are:

  • Find one corner that feels heavy.

  • Ask: What does this space say about me?

  • Clear it. Light a candle. Sit with it.

If Nga can reconnect with her soul through her space—you can too.

📌 Need guidance? Book a personalised Vastu consultation—let’s realign your space to support your story.

What’s your personalised vastu checklist?


How can you quickly audit your space?

Have you ever walked into your home and felt its mood before even noticing the decor?

That’s the first test. Before we jump into technicals, let’s start with what your space is trying to tell you. Just like people carry moods, your rooms do too.

Here’s a self-audit quiz you can take in less than 10 minutes. Be honest. Your home will thank you.

🔍 The 7-Point Vastu Awareness Check:

  1. Do you wake up tired even after 8 hours of sleep?

  2. Is there a part of your house you avoid without knowing why?

  3. Are your finances often fluctuating without obvious reason?

  4. Does your Northeast corner feel congested or ignored?

  5. Is the centre of your home blocked by furniture or appliances?

  6. Do guests seem uncomfortable without explanation?

  7. Are there corners you haven’t cleaned or acknowledged in months?

If you nodded yes to more than 3 of these—your space is out of sync. That’s not an insult. It’s an invitation.

When I began tuning into homes energetically, I noticed how they behave like people. They hold memory. Some rooms are still grieving. Some are trying to protect. Others scream for attention.

So how do you start?

Print out a floor plan. Mark:

  • The Northeast (Ishaan)

  • Centre (Brahmasthan)

  • South and Southwest zones

Then, move around slowly. Let your body react—not just your eyes.

This isn’t about perfection. It’s about becoming conscious. Awareness is the first real Vastu correction.

Need a checklist template? Follow me on Instagram @TusharMangl or download from the upcoming guidebook: Vastu for Inner Peace.


What are the non-negotiable vastu dos and don’ts?

We all want flexibility. But in Vastu, some rules are firm—not because they’re rigid, but because they are rooted in natural law.

Here are 10 non-negotiables. Think of them as soul anchors for your home:

✅ Must-Do:

  • Keep Northeast uncluttered and light.

  • Sleep with head facing South or East (never North).

  • Ensure main entrance is well-lit and clean.

  • Place heavy furniture in the Southwest zone.

  • Use soft, earthy colours in South; vibrant ones in East.

🚫 Never-Do:

  • Don’t keep broken objects or mirrors in the bedroom.

  • Don’t have toilets in the Northeast or Centre.

  • Don’t place mirrors facing beds or main doors.

  • Don’t store junk under beds—it affects sleep and intimacy.

  • Don’t ignore stuck energy corners—they fester emotionally.

Remember, Vastu isn't rigid. It's rhythmic. You're not being policed; you're being protected.

Also, for a deep-dive into how real estate decisions carry energetic influence, check: 


What’s the emotional cost of ignoring your home’s energy?


Can space cause stress and emotional fog?

Yes. And it’s more common than we admit.

In 2023, the World Health Design Council released a report on “The Impact of Spatial Layout on Mental Health.” The findings? Homes with poor light flow, blocked central areas, and excessive noise had:

  • 40% higher cases of chronic fatigue

  • 37% increased anxiety markers

  • Lower serotonin levels in inhabitants

But you didn’t need a study to know that, did you?

You’ve felt it.

The heavy kitchen that reminds you of arguments. The storage room that holds grief in cardboard boxes. The bathroom no one talks about, yet somehow, everyone avoids.

Your home doesn’t just reflect your mental state—it can create it.

Vastu, when approached gently, becomes therapy. You learn where your wounds hide—in the creaking hinges, in the dusty corners, in the forgotten South wall.

When we ignore these signals, we pay in emotional currency:

  • Irritability

  • Procrastination

  • Overwhelm

  • Loneliness, even when not alone

The solution isn’t renovation. It’s recognition.


How can Vastu support emotional healing?

Vastu helps you meet your home not as a structure, but as a story.

And healing begins when you rewrite that story.

For someone who’s lost a loved one, the Northeast becomes a place for spiritual reconnection. For those struggling with financial instability, South becomes the anchor.

The power lies not in grand gestures, but small, sacred acts:

  • Burning camphor at dusk to cleanse pain.

  • Placing your baby’s first shoes in the East.

  • Hanging wind chimes where joy feels lost.

The truth? Your home wants to help you. But it needs your cooperation.

As Tushar Mangl writes in Burn the Old Map, “Some maps are meant to be burned. So you can begin again—not elsewhere, but deeper in.”


How does “Burn the Old Map” tie into Vastu insights?

Tushar’s work is deeply rooted in inner architecture—a term not many use, but one that fits perfectly.

Just like you build a home, you build a self.

And just like broken walls need patching, broken beliefs need space.

Burn the Old Map isn’t just a book. It’s a permission slip. To question. To unlearn. To move the furniture of your soul.

When you combine his writing with Vastu insights, you start to see:

  • The trauma in your South corner isn’t just a leak.

  • The cluttered Brahmasthan is your indecision manifest.

Buy the book here. Read slowly. Let it whisper. Let it scream.


What is the “energetic signature” of a home?

Every home has a unique energetic signature—like a fingerprint, but made of memory, matter, and movement.

It’s created by:

  • Who built the house

  • What happened in it

  • How it was loved (or neglected)

  • What objects it holds

Two identical apartments can feel worlds apart. Why? Because emotion charges space. Joy sticks to walls. So does trauma.

When you design with intention, you don’t just decorate—you heal.

Designing peace and power starts with asking:

  • What feeling do I want this space to give?

  • What part of my story does this room reflect?

  • What energy needs releasing?

Add intention to your space today:

  • Write a one-line blessing and place it in the Brahmasthan.

  • Light a diya with the prayer: May this home hold me gently.

  • Let go of one item that holds heavy emotion.

A home designed with intention is not just functional. It’s alive. It becomes your co-therapist, your witness, your sanctuary.

Space + flow + symbolism: How do you align the unseen?

Let’s strip this back to the beginning—before tools, before diagrams, before you rearranged a single piece of furniture.

Vastu isn’t just about correcting flaws. It’s about remembering who you are through your space.

You see, every home is made of three ingredients:

  1. Space – the physical canvas, the skeleton

  2. Flow – the movement of energy, emotions, and events

  3. Symbolism – the unspoken meanings behind colours, corners, and clutter

And the magic happens when these three align.

Think of it this way:

  • A bedroom facing Southwest provides more than sleep—it offers emotional stability.

  • A water feature in the North doesn’t just add aesthetics—it draws career energy.

  • A cleared Brahmasthan doesn’t just look tidy—it allows your life purpose to land.

Symbolism matters because our subconscious reads the room long before we do. A cracked mirror says “fragmentation.” A broken clock says “I’m stuck in time.” A dying plant whispers, “hope is running out.”

You’re not decorating. You’re encoding your home with meaning.

That’s how you build a legacy. Not with architecture alone, but with intention + awareness + ritual.

As you walk through your home tonight, ask:

  • What does this space say about who I am becoming?

  • What parts of me have I stored where no one looks?

  • What do I want this room to remember when I’m gone?

Let your home become your prayer. Your resting place and your re-launchpad.


🏁What if your home is your soul’s greatest mirror?

When you stop treating your home as a storage unit and begin seeing it as an energetic partner, everything shifts.

You realise that clutter is more than mess—it’s indecision.

That dark corners aren’t bad luck—they’re unfelt emotions.

That space can hurt—or heal—depending on how we hold it.

You don’t need a new house to start. You just need a new conversation with the one you’re in.

So light a candle. Whisper your truth. Rearrange one thing with love. Open one corner with clarity.

Because when your space flows, you flow.

And a flowing you? That’s unstoppable.

🌱 Ready to build not just a house—but a healing legacy? Start with a personalised Vastu session, or get the book Burn the Old Map. Make peace your compass.


Frequently asked questions

1. What if I live in a rented space—can Vastu still help?

Absolutely. Vastu corrections don’t always require demolition. You can make energetic corrections with lighting, symbols, placement, intention, and simple fixes like salt bowls or directional facing.

2. How fast does Vastu correction work?

Some people feel the shift in days; others take weeks. Just like therapy, it depends on your openness, the depth of correction, and emotional readiness. Consistency and sincerity accelerate results.

3. Is Vastu religious?

No. Vastu is a science of energy, not religion. It aligns you with nature’s rhythms—sunlight, magnetism, movement. While it has roots in ancient Hindu texts, it’s fully accessible to all belief systems.

4. What if my house faces the wrong direction?

A “wrong” facing isn’t a life sentence. Through strategic placement, elemental balance, and directional remedies, we can neutralise most Vastu issues. What matters more is flow and use, not fear.

5. Can I do Vastu myself, or do I need a consultant?

You can begin on your own using checklists and intuitive corrections. But for deeper healing, especially if your space carries trauma or energetic stagnation, a personalised consultation is transformative.


👤 Author

Tushar Mangl is a counselor, Vastu expert, and author of Burn the Old Map, I Will Do It, and Ardika. He writes on food, books, finance, mental health, Vastu, and the art of living a deeply balanced life.

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Hi everyone!

My name is Reeti Roy and I'm a student studying English Literature.I read Everything that I can get my hands on-from Comic books to Magazines to classics.I remember reading this book called Pearl Harbour(some of you might be familiar with the film of the same name starring Kate Beckinsale,Ben Affleck and Josh Hartnett),where Danny can feels words singing and dancing in his head.Words are like music to me.And music is another longstanding passion.I'm a classical musician and have been training for the past fifteen years.One day,I hope to be able to write my own book and also create my own music.I'm also very passionate about swimming and I love meeting people that are curious,intellectually.I just can't understand how some people just sit back and want to know Absolutely Nothing.

A big Thank you to Tshhar for adding me onto this blog and I've promised to contribute everytime I have something interesting to say!

Comments

Tshhar Mangal said…
It was nice knowing you Reeti.I heard
english literature is a nice course to study.
ANd you deserve all those thanks,for joining us,and contributing so much.
God bless you
Keep Reading
Keep Writing :-)

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