What is Vastu Shastra? by Robin Mastro

What is Vastu Shastra? by Robin Mastro

Vastu is the oldest and most complete system of architecture in the world. The reason for its recent interest in the U.S. is that Americans are demanding a better quality of life. Theres a greater awareness now that our physical environment does affect the quality of our life. The effect of our environment can make us feel peaceful or stressful. There is a great deal of stress and pressure on people these days. The pace of life is so fast. Modern architecture only addresses function, comfort and aesthetics. The aim of Vastu is to create a peaceful, healing environment that supports growth and protects from non-life supporting influences, pollution and geopathic stress.

Vastu is gaining acceptance in the U.S. both by businesses and individuals. It is not as recognized as Feng Shui, but we predict it will be the next hot trend here. There were three Vastu books published this year in the U.S. and more are coming this year. There is presently an estimated 300 million dollars of Vastu related construction going on in the U.S. Much of this is new construction related to Maharishi Mahesh Yogis recent emphasis on the positive affects of building new Vastu houses. I had the honor of being one of the architects who worked with Maharishi in the late 70s on designing meditation academies, but this concept is cost-prohibitive for a large number of people.

It is our belief at Vastu Creations that Vastu will grow more quickly when people understand that you dont have to start from scratch, constructing a new environment or totally remodeling a pre-existing one, to obtain life-changing benefits. Vastu is not an all or nothing science. Americans like economical cures that bring results. There are simple Vastu corrections that people can do to any structure, anywhere in the world, that will bring improvements in their lives.

Weve done many rectifications with wonderful results. Here are a few you might find interesting:

"In February 2001, Seattle was rocked by a 6.8 earthquake, which caused significant destruction and loss in particular to a 5-square block area of downtown known as Pioneer Square. Our 5-story building in the heart of the
Pioneer Square district was red-tagged being too dangerous to re-enter, because it sustained significant damage. The building inspectors told us that all the main support beams in the building had splintered and broken, and they were very amazed that the building was still standing. All 15 of our employees who were in the building when the earthquake struck managed to make it out safely. They told fearsome stories of the treacherous journey down 5 floors of stairs as the stairs separated from the walls swinging precariously and threatening to plunge to the ground floor at any moment. To our amazement, for some strange reason, our building was still standing when the shaking stopped. Two days before, I engaged Michael Mastro to perform a Vastu rectification in our office building in order to create a more positive and prosperous environment so that our Internet startup would survive. Thankfully, we did and the Vastu appeared to work wonders since we all surprisingly walked away without a scratch." - Jeff P., President/CEO Validity Systems, Inc.

We had another client that was a real estate broker. Shed been in the business for over 20 years. We did a rectification of her home, which included her home office. The following year, we received a phone call from her and she said, Ive been a realtor for a long time and Ive never had a year like this last one! My gross income tripled this year! I did nothing outside of having your company come in a do a Vastu rectification on my house. It changed my life!Amy D., Realtor

Another realtor was having difficulty selling several houses that had been on the market for 6 months or more. After Vastu Creations rectified these houses, they sold within weeks.

Our concerns at Vastu Creations is that Vastu will become just another fad where people utilize it for a short period of time, gain benefits and then lose sight that Vastu brought those benefits. It happens in cultures that when there are times of prosperity and comfort people forget to honor the knowledge and ritual that is an inherent part of the fabric of their society. Vastu is more than a quick fix fad, its basic premise draws from scientific roots that the physical environment is alive. Our bodies, as well as our environment, are made up of five basic elements: earth, water, fire, air and space. When these elements are in balance we experience benefits such as good health, prosperity and peace of mind. When these elements are out of balance, we experience ill health, misfortune and stress.

Honoring our environment as a support in our lives is a different way of thinking. Without this understanding, some people may call themselves Vastu experts and distort this knowledge to make it more marketable to the main stream and its essence will be lost and it will be a short-term fad. Knowledge gets distorted by personal interpretation and not staying with the scientific principles. There are some visually beautiful books on Vastu that have been recently published in the U.S. that are filled with inaccurate information that do not follow these scientific principles. If practiced, people may not get the results theyre looking for, be disappointed and feel that Vastu doesnt work. This is a disservice not only to those attempting to use this information; it also will diminish the long lasting popularity of Vastu in the U.S.


About the Author
Michael and Robin Mastro's synergistic approach successfully assists people in living in peace and harmony with themselves and others, and in creating balanced lives filled with unlimited possibilities. Visit us at www.VastuCreations.com

Transform Your Office Into A Powerhouse Of Success by Lorraine Pirihi

Transform Your Office Into A Powerhouse Of Success by Lorraine Pirihi

Did you know that the area that you call your 'office' is a direct reflection of you? If your environment is clean and uncluttered it projects that the person who works there is calm and has everything under control. Consequently if it looks like the local rubbish tip then the impression others get is that this person is disorganised, and a complete mess.

Now before any of you get upset with these assumptions, I'm just stating the fact that the way you have set up your office will greatly affect how other people perceive you.

Of course, clutter is not the only area to address if you want to project a professional image, however it plays a bit part. There are several easy to implement ideas which will have a dramatic impact on your productivity, providing you take action.

If you seriously would like to turn your office into a powerhouse of success, then take action on these tips from Feng Shui guru Debra Jarvis

The First Step
Move everything out of the area designated as the office, especially what's stored in cupboards and up on shelves. There is no place to hide from Feng Shui eyes. Bring back in only those items that are relevant. Evaluate the other stuff, do you love it, is it useful? If not get rid of it (sell, dump or give it away).

Everything in its Place
It is important that all items have a designated place to which they are returned after use. Put things used frequently in the most accessible spots. Time spent working is much more pleasant when we can easily locate and access items when required.

Set up Your Power Position
Place yourself in the power position. This is the position where you have a view of every entryway. Where you have a choice of places or directions, put your office chair in each position and sit quietly for a few minutes getting an idea of what it would be like to spend time there. The one that immediately feels right is your power position. When you set yourself up in the power position you have control in the space, your self-esteem will go up and you accomplish more. Try it for 28 days and if you don't find any benefits (including increased business) then change the position.

Clean and Clear Clutter
Maintain a clear desktop. Paperwork is relentless in its onslaught. Deal with it immediately, use TRAF (Toss, Refer, Act or File). Creating a pile to deal with later creates clutter and clutter is bad Feng Shui.

Remove Obstacles
Make your office area inviting to come into. In Feng Shui it is considered that opportunity flows to us in direct proportion to the ease of entry and the welcome that is experienced in our workplaces. This applies even when we are the only ones who ever go there. Only have items that you personally care for. Feng Shui tells us that everything is alive with memories, feelings and associations. What are the objects in your office saying to you? Question their origin, did you come by it because that's all you could find at the time, are you still in a good relationship with the person who gave it to you, would something else be more suitable?

Condition Audit
Does everything in your office work and is everything kept in optimal condition? In Feng Shui it is very important that we either attend to the repair of items immediately or where we are not prepared to do this we discard them. An item that is less than ideal is said to begin negatively impacting after 28 days.

Lighting
Use natural light as much as possible. Use incandescent electric lighting in preference to fluorescent. It is less tiring to work under especially if you are also operating a computer. Harsh white light is not optimal for working under. If you have to use fluorescent use full-spectrum (daylight) bulbs and experiment with only utilising half as many ie: where there is a double fitting only install one bulb.
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Plants
Plants absorb potentially harmful gases and clean the air. During the day they take the air we breathe out and recycle it. You can use plants in your office to improve the quality of the air to make it a more pleasant place to work. When people feel good, they perform better. It is important that the plants are well cared for and that they remain healthy and vibrant.

Water
Water features are another wonderful Feng Shui enhancement. As water symbolises opportunity and abundance, ensure that water is not stagnant and, if flowing, the fall is a full 360 degrees or towards the centre of the occupied space.

Debra can be contacted at Feng Shui Miracles, (07) 3367 0162 or e-mail: fengshui@powerup.com.au

The Final Word
It makes sense doesn't it? When you have an uplifting environment to work in, you feel good, you look good and you're more productive. Think about thishow many hours a week are you in your office? Probably more hours than you spend at home. All you need to do now is take action!

It's worth the effort to make some simple yet very effective changes so that you can powerup your worklife. All you need to do now is take action!

About the Author

Lorraine specialises in working with businesspeople showing them how to dramatically boost their productivity, reduce the stress and the mess in their lives and have more time for enjoying their life.
www.office-organiser.com.au

Feng Shui Tips for Your Home Office - Part 2 by Stephanie Roberts

Feng Shui Tips for Your Home Office - Part 2 by Stephanie Roberts

Part II: Setting up Your Work Space

The furnishings you choose for your home office - especially your desk and chair - can have a powerful influence on your ability to succeed and prosper. When setting up a home office, it can be tempting to use whatever extra furniture is on hand around the house or to economize with second-hand furnishings. Neither of these is a very good idea.

Ergonomics - how well the shape, size, and other design features of your desk, chair, and lighting work for you - is a very important consideration for any work space. Sure, using that extra kitchen chair is a lot cheaper than buying a new "executive-style" office chair, but if its not comfortable it is not helping you get your work done. A lamp thats fine on a bedside table in the bedroom may be woefully inadequate as task lighting for your workspace. If you are going to work from home, make sure your home office is working for you by investing in furnishings that make it easy and comfortable for you to focus on business.

Second-hand office furniture requires special consideration, as it often has terrible "predecessor chi." Never buy used furniture from a business that went bankrupt, no matter how cheap it is - it will fill your home office with the energy of failure, anxiety, and disappointment. On the other hand, if you absolutely positively know for sure that the previous user of your second-hand desk chair made a zillion dollars in a legal and ethical manner and is now living a life of ease in Acapulco, go ahead and take it! All those good success vibes will help you prosper as well.

Family furniture hand-me-downs will have good or bad energy for you depending on the quality of your family relationships. If you have a great relationship with your Dad, for example, and consider him a good role model, using his old desk and chair in your office can help you feel looked after, supported, and inspired.

In general, a large desk provides energetic room for expansive thinking and growth. However, too much large furniture in a too-small room will stop chi cold, and you may discover that theres no new business coming in.

A good desk chair can be adjusted to the correct height for your body and work-surface, is stable, and provides good back and arm support. Your desk chair represents your support and foundation, so make sure it is in good shape for the job.

Remember that the work you do is a form of self-expression. Although it is important that your office furniture be ergonomically suited to the work you do, don't feel you have to give this space an "office" look unless it helps you concentrate on business.

THE VIEW FROM THE TOP

In the corporate world, successful entrepreneurs are often described as being "visionaries," in reference to their ability to conceive and implement dramatically new ideas that transform entire industries. In feng shui, "vision" - both physical eyesight and imaginative power - is symbolically associated with the Fame gua, with lighting of any kind, and with the windows in your home or office.

An office that lacks windows - such as a home office stuffed into a corner of the basement - keeps you out of sight of others and can lead to feeling isolated and out of touch. For an entrepreneur working from home, a windowless office implies you could be out of touch with your clients and that you are unable to foresee where your entire industry is headed.

If your office has small, high windows or no view at all, use posters of landscapes with a far horizon to create the illusion of being able to see into the distance. If you overlook something unattractive - such as grubby garbage bins - keep the blinds closed (its best if you can use material that will allow light in while blocking an unattractive view). If you are fortunate in having a beautiful, inspiring view outside your office windows, a large wall mirror can reflect the view into the room and fill the room with positive chi.

Be aware that mirrors can be tricky in a home office. A mirror that reflects your desk can symbolically double your work. In terms of your income, this could be good. But how well will you handle the increased workload? Sometimes more work means more stress, contributes to family problems, and leads to physical or emotional exhaustion. And unless you keep your desk very tidy, that mirror will be doubling your mess and clutter as well!

To be in command of your business, sit in the Command Position: where you have a clear view of door, but are not directly in line with the door. If you are not in the Command Position in your office, this can mean that you are not in control of whats going on in your business, and that new developments (and problems!) often take you by surprise.

If you cant place your desk in the Command Position, use a mirror to provide a reflected view of the doorway. And keep in mind that a desk in the Command Position is only helpful if you are able to get in and out of your chair with ease, otherwise you may feel "backed up against the wall" by business situations.

Wherever you sit, make sure that you look at something inspiring: a photograph of your spouse and/or kids, a brochure for that exotic vacation you hope to take by the end of the year, or a mock-up of the "Entrepreneur of the Year" award you intend to win someday.

Excerpted from The
Pocket Idiot's Guide to Feng Shui by Stephanie Roberts (Alpha Books, 2004)

2004 Stephanie Roberts
About the Author
Stephanie Roberts is the author of the popular Fast Feng Shui book series. Subscribe to the Fast Feng Shui newsletter and receive fr.ee Feng Shui tips in every issue. Visit:
Fast Feng Shui.com.