But one experience that many people have had in their lifetime occurs when they move to a new house or office and feel like something is not quite right. Everything looks good – the lighting and room arrangements seem fine. But something does not sit right with the environment.

This may be just pure luck. In the Vedas, however, it is believed that there is more to it than meets the eye – the presence of a spatial energy imbalance within that particular environment. This is precisely why a Vastu consultant is hired.

What Is Vastu Shastra?

The science of Vastu Shastra is one of the oldest forms of architecture and spatial science in India. The name of the concept can be found in old scriptures which pre-date many other ancient architectural practices around the world. The term ‘Vastu‘ means dweling and ‘Shastra’ means science or system of knowledge, both of them originate from Sanskrit language.

There is only one basic idea that is central for all Vastu Shastra: the notion that each place has an energy field of its own and when this field is aligned with the natural elements – five elements (Pancha Bhuta), cardinal points and the position of the sun – then people who dwell in such space feel well-being, prosperity and happiness. When this balance is disturbed, the negative consequences can be seen in health, wealth, relationships and in overall quality of life.

These ideas are highly practical – Vastu principles define which way the entrance door should be placed, what is the best place for cooking, how one should sleep for maximum comfort, where the money matters should be considered and how natural light should flow throughout the house.

What a Vastu Consultant Actually Does ?

A Vastu consultant is a professional who studies the space – be it house, flat, office, business premise or piece of land – in relation to Vastu Shastra and advises how to utilize it efficiently.

Here’s what a typical consultation involves:

Site or floor plan analysis: The consultant reviews the floor plan or visits the property in person. They assess the orientation of the building (which direction it faces), the placement of key rooms, the position of the main entrance, the location of the kitchen, bathrooms, bedrooms, and work areas, and how these align with the Vastu Purusha Mandala — the sacred grid that maps directional energy across a space.

Direction and element mapping: Each of the eight cardinal and ordinal directions carries specific elemental energy in Vastu. North is associated with Mercury and water – ideal for finance-related activities. South-east is associated with fire – the traditional zone for the kitchen. North-east is considered the most sacred direction, associated with clarity and knowledge. A Vastu consultant maps where these directional energies fall in your specific space and how your current layout aligns with them.

Identifying imbalances: Most spaces have at least some degree of Vastu imbalance – a toilet in the north-east, a bedroom in the south-east, an entrance facing the wrong direction. The consultant identifies which imbalances are present and assesses how significantly they may be affecting the occupants.

Practical recommendations: This is the most valuable part of a consultation. A good Vastu consultant doesn’t just list problems – they provide a clear, prioritized set of recommendations. Some are structural (if you’re building or renovating), others are non-structural adjustments to room use, furniture placement, colours, and spatial organisation.

Vastu for Homes vs Vastu for Businesses

While the underlying principles are the same, the focus of a consultation differs significantly depending on whether it’s for a residential or commercial space.

Residential Vastu centres on health, sleep, relationships, family harmony, and financial stability. The most scrutinised areas are the master bedroom (orientation significantly affects rest and the energy of the couple sleeping there), the kitchen (fire element placement has a direct bearing on health and nourishment), the main entrance (considered the mouth of the home – how energy enters), and the north-east zone (water and clarity – keeping this free of clutter and heavy objects is consistently emphasised).

Commercial Vastu focuses on productivity, business growth, cash flow, and leadership. The placement of the owner’s desk, the direction the team faces while working, the location of the cash counter or safe, and the energy of the entrance are all examined carefully. Many businesses that struggle despite strong fundamentals find that spatial imbalances are adding unnecessary friction – and that addressing them shifts the working environment in measurable ways.

Does Vastu Shastra Work for Modern Spaces?

This is an issue that inevitably arises during every first discussion on Vastu, especially when it concerns people living in apartments, high rises or contemporary open floor plan houses which have little resemblance to the traditional houses described in Vastu books.

The answer is that Vastu applies to all constructed spaces, but the implementation of Vastu principles in contemporary buildings requires adjustment and knowledge. An apartment located at the 14th floor of a building in Sydney or Melbourne has other limitations compared to a stand-alone house where orientation possibilities are not restricted. A person who is a Vastu expert will know about these limitations and adjust to them by working only with what can be changed.

Vastu is not about perfection. All places are somewhat unbalanced. What the Vastu expert tries to do is to determine the largest imbalances, find out their influence and make the best possible adjustments to them.

When Do People Typically Seek a Vastu Consultation?

Most people come to a Vastu consultant at one of a few specific moments:

• Before buying or renting a property – to assess a space before committing to it
• During construction or renovation – the most powerful time to apply Vastu, when structural decisions can be made with it in mind
• After moving in – when something feels persistently off and other explanations haven’t resolved it
• During a difficult period – when finances, health, or relationships have been consistently challenging and the person wants to understand if the space is contributing
• Before starting a business – to set up a commercial space in a way that supports growth from the beginning

What to Expect From a Good Vastu Consultant

A comprehensive Vastu assessment is a detailed, specific, and practical one. The difference between a true Vastu specialist and a general overview lies in the possibility to analyze a particular space in all its uniqueness, its orientation and layout according to the principles of Vastu Shastra and provide the advice which can be implemented within the particular space.

It is also good to know that a professional Vastu consultant does not find everything wrong with your house. The purpose of a serious analysis is to define priorities – the problems which should be tackled first and not just to confuse you with an exhaustive list of all possible problems.

If you live in Sydney or Australia and want to have a Vastu analysis of your house or office – either personally or via the floor plans remotely – the experts from Astro Rishie will be happy to help you with their Vastu analysis.

Frequently Asked Questions About Vastu Consultants