Why is Vasthu Sastra and Feng Shui important when constructing, choosing or occupying a property?

According to the ancient study of Vasthu Sastra, when building, staying or working in a building or property, one has to be in tune with the five elements - ether, air, fire, water and earth - which influence our environment. Only when we are in harmony with these natural forces will we enjoy wealth and happiness. Failure to do so can bring misery and misfortune.
Theory of the five elements has it that they are present in every atom of the universe and they need to be present in abundance within the home to make it vibrant and filled with positive energy. A critical study of fundamental Indian beliefs states that the elements have an interactive influence on all dwellers of a house. Our body comprises the same five elements in the form of the five senses - hearing, touch, sight, taste and smell.

According to Vasthu Sastra, if a property is built according to the five elements, the internal energy currents in the bodies of those living there will be in tune with the universal energy, thus resulting in good health, wealth and happiness for those residents. Just like feng shui, the underlying principle of Vasthu is to live in harmony with our environment so that the energy surrounding us works for us rather than against us. It is based on the arrangements and balancing of the five elements in their proper order and proportions.

Feng Shui on the other hand is a Chinese meta-physics study that looks at how mankind is affected positively or negatively by the environment. The environment is not limited to nearby geographical features such as mountains and rivers but also astronomical forces exerted by the planets.
Ideally we want to be located in on area where life supporting ‘qi’ gathers. Feng Shui and its many rules (with regards to soil quality, mountains and rivers etc.) can help you find such a location.
The ‘qi’ or energy distribution within a house can be determined by the orientation and completion date. Having the places such as main door, bedroom, kitchen and living room in the good sectors can affect our fortune. In this case, Feng Shui can help you determine the ideal orientation of the house as well as adjust the main door facing and bed directions for example to match the birth charts of the occupants. When the occupants are in harmony with the house, they can then expect better luck.

The importance of the orientation (facing or sitting) of the house and how it affects the quality of the house.
After choosing a house, it is important for the dweller to check the ideal designation of rooms and activities. Rooms that are not in tune with the five elements of Vasthu Sastra will bring misery to the occupants. For instance, south-east is the fire corner in a house and this is where the kitchen should be located, not ideal for a couple’s room. If they choose to make it their bedroom then they will constantly be in disagreements, evoke anger and engage in quarrels.
In Feng Shui however, the orientation determines the quality of the house as well as the auspicious and inauspicious sectors within the house. In the Flying Star system for example, houses built during period 8 (between 2004 and 2024) facing SW1, NW2, NW3, NE1, SE2 and SE3 are given the name ‘Prosperous Mountain, Prosperous Water’ These houses are good for wealth and health and especially so if they are backed by mountains and faces water. Houses facing S2, S3, W2, W3 and E1 are given the name ‘Double Facing’. These houses are good for money but not so great for health and relationships. The quality of these houses is increased if there is water in front of the house and mountain in the distance.
Houses that face S1, W1, N2, N3, E2 and E3 are called ‘Double Sitting’ houses. They are good for health and relationship but unfortunately not so great for wealth. The quality of these houses is increased if there is water at the back of the house and mountain further back.
At the other end are less desirable houses with names like ‘Locked’, ‘Reverse
Mountain, Reverse Water’ and the ‘Fu Fan Yin’ charts.