Dr Harshit Kapadia approaches vastu differently — by emphasising that mindful practices and not fear can help cleanse your space. Rightly called Conscious Vaastu, he says vastu is not a one-size-fits-all rigid formula. It is more about aligning your inner energy with the energy of the space. In an interaction with The Free Press Journal, he explains what Conscious Vaastu is, offers simple tips for cleansing the energy of our space, and talks about key factors to consider for 2025.
Excerpts from the interview:
You have designed the concept of Conscious Vaastu. Are you challenging the rigid rules of existing vastu experts?
First, when you talk about vastu, you immediately come to your door. Whether the door is north-facing, south-facing, etc, this confuses people as they are unaware of how to see the door, whether to see from inside or to see from outside. Many are convinced that south-facing doors are bad and north-facing ones are good, etc. Take, for example, our homes. Let’s assume it’s a 20-floor tower where all units are the same layout. The entrances are in the same direction, the bedrooms are in the same direction, etc. Assume you have been staying in that house for the last 15 or 20 years. Now, what we say is that if a door is facing a particular direction like south or southwest, which is a so-called wrong direction, it leads to problems in life. Say you do an analytical research from the ground to the 20th floor, with the same layout, same door, same bathroom, same bedrooms. Does everyone have the same problem mentioned in the vastu book? This is the question that was running in my mind that led us to explore a completely different perspective.
Is it a more customised approach then?
It’s not a one-dimensional but a three-dimensional approach, which includes space, time and consciousness. Space is the property where you live or work. Then comes time. That means the space is in sync with the current time. We have to understand that this is all based on the five elements or Panchamahabhoota — Air, Water, Fire, Earth and Ether or Space.
How is it based on the five elements?
It means when our property – space element – is in sync with Mother Nature, each property has a timeline, which you check with a detailed compass. The element – Air, Water, Fire, Earth and Space – changes over time. You have to be in sync with the current time.
Give us an example of this?
If I am outdated, can I be successful right now? I have to upgrade myself with time. My property can be 100 or 500 years old, doesn’t matter as long as the energy of the property is in sync with the current time. The third thing is your inner energy or consciousness. When these three things are in sync, that is complete vastu.
What is the biggest myth of vastu?
The biggest myth is that vastu is limited to spaces. We keep thinking our bedroom and door should be in a particular direction. We have to understand that ‘vastu iti hi vastu’, which means everything that exists in the universe, tangible and intangible, has vastu.
So it’s not just about direction – north, south, east, west – then?
That’s one aspect or philosophy that integrates with architecture or interior design. But it is much beyond that. What is the smallest particle? It is an atom. Any particle is the correct balance of three energies – positive, negative and neutral. Electrons, protons and neutrons — when these three frequencies are in balance, the particle is correct. You can’t just have positive energies. Positive doesn’t mean good, negative doesn’t mean bad, neutral doesn’t mean neutral. All three energies are essential.
Do you think a lot of current-day vastu practitioners are not following this approach of balancing three energies?
A lot of practitioners only emphasise positive energy. They fill up space with positive energy. Agreed, that’s good. But sometimes excess energy is not good.
Some people get obsessed with vastu compliance. They consult several people and keep making changes. Isn’t that fear-driven?
If you change anything in your space because someone has imposed something on you, that’s a compulsion, and it’s not going to work. Vastu doesn’t work with compulsion. Vastu works with choice. If I do something with compulsion, the output will be limited. Your inner energy should be in sync with what you are doing.
