Written by Sam Slovick (from LA Yoga Magazine July 2010)
Vaastu Shastra, the ancient Vedic science of construction and architecture is a pre-Feng Shui, traditional Indian practice derived from knowledge dating back some 5,000 years. In Sanskrit, Vaastu means dwelling, Shastra means scientific treatise. Vaastu teaches us how to live in harmony with nature and influence nature for our benefit. The principals of Vaastu inform us on the best places to live in and the best way to live where we dwell.
Raymond Prohs, the author of Mystic Living; The Principals of Vaastu for the 21st Century, practices a tradition called Kaleshwara Vaastu, which is he says, named for “The knowledge and wisdom brought to us through Sri Kaleshwara, an amazing saint who refers to knowledge from ancient palm leaf books that are two to three thousand years old written by amazing divine souls. It’s a sacred science.”
Grounded in the elements with an impeccable sense of direction, Raymond arrives at my home in a remote canyon near Los Angeles for a consultation. He is decidedly exacting in his assessment.
“There are four fundamentals in Vaastu; height, weight, direction and open space. In the context of the direction are the influences of placement; where you place your homes, where you place your rooms inside your home, where you sleep. Also influenced is where you place your entrances and exits on your property and in your home: your doorways, windows, driveways and garage. Those are all very important to maintain a positive auspicious flow of energy,” he says.
I follow Raymond, his compass in hand as he walks the property taking in my exterior Vaastu, checking the flow of energy. The directional pull of the magnetism and its relationship based on exact location in relationship to true north makes a difference.
“We start outside first to see the energy of the property and how it influences the people who live in the home. Once we check out the positive and negative points we come inside,” he says. “The energy in the southwest is commanding energy. If you’re in a room, in a house or on a property, the southwest has the strongest commanding energy. The energies that come from different directions have their own characteristics. If you’re sitting and having a meeting or conversation you should know where the southwest is and that’s where you should sit. The most receptive energy comes from the northeast.”
My home is the southwest corner of the property, which means that it is the commanding energy on in the property. “All the inhabitants of the property have a great inspiration to listen the person living here and support what he’s doing,” Raymond informs me.
Just outside my door are a hill and a slope that go from the southwest to the northeast. “That’s a perfect Vaastu slope,” he says, “You go to the northeast where the beautiful divine energy comes from; the wisdom and light and abundance. You want as much clear and open space as you possibly can there. You want to protect from the energies that come from the southwest.”
“In a world of duality the material and spiritual work in synchronicity. You can improve your spiritually at the same time as you’re improving your material life. They are not separate, rather enhance each other. Having auspicious entrances where the positive energy comes in and blocking off inauspicious energies is also important.”
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