Chosing Colors for Our New Center According to Vaastu Principals
| Before we move into our new home in early March of next year, 2016, we must repaint the house inside and out. Chipping lead paint in the buildings presents health concerns. So we plan to encapsulate the lead paint with a fresh coat eco-friendly, low-VOC paint. This allows us to beautify the space and to increase the positive flow of energy through the house by selecting colors which honor the elements according to Vaastu. Because the house is a very old historic colonial style cottage, we are selecting historic colors reproduced from Colonial Williamsburg to honor the history of the house. We are sharing this description of our selection of colors to help people understand the applied principles of vaastu in practice. |  Donate to Help us Renovate the Space |
Vaastu Doshas (defects)
 click the photo for a larger image | Overall, the property has excellent vaastu, which was one of the considerations when selecting the property. There are several vaastu doshas (defects with the layout of the buildings on the property) which we intend to address in various ways. The kitchen, which ideally should be located in the SE, is to the North. The kitchen stove introduces a fiery element to the direction governing water. This problem is compounded by the fact that the well is located to the SE, the direction of fire. So the fire element and water element are out of place and hindering one another. Our long-term plans for remediation include relocating the well to the NE where it is ideally placed. In the mean time, we intend to perform several remedies to help mitigate the troubles caused by these vaastu doshas. |
1) We intend to increase the agni element in the SE, by converting the old structure which covered the previous well into a yajnashala (space for sacred fire ceremonies). This structure is in the SE next to the current well. Here we will conduct regular homams.
2) We will convert the unfinished swimming pool into a lotus pond to help increase the water element in the NE. The swimming pool is currently surrounded by tall trees. We will clear tall trees from this area, so that the lotuses can receive needed Sunlight. This also helps open the space to the NE which is recommended by vaastu.
3) We will paint the kitchen in the North yellow to help mitigate the offense of fire being located in the direction of water.
4) We will color areas to the South red to help increase the agni element in that direction.
2) We will convert the unfinished swimming pool into a lotus pond to help increase the water element in the NE. The swimming pool is currently surrounded by tall trees. We will clear tall trees from this area, so that the lotuses can receive needed Sunlight. This also helps open the space to the NE which is recommended by vaastu.
3) We will paint the kitchen in the North yellow to help mitigate the offense of fire being located in the direction of water.
4) We will color areas to the South red to help increase the agni element in that direction.
Colors for Specific Rooms
Lower Level / English BasementKitchen - To the North of the lower level is the kitchen. Ideally the kitchen would be located to the SE. There is little we can do to change this without having a great deal of money. We have chosen to paint the kitchen yellow to help reduce the effects of the kitchen being in the wrong direction. Yellow is a color which increases wealth in the North and which stimulates digestion without overly aggravating pitta. We have the yellow accented with small amounts of teal along the molding to honor the North and Shakambhari Devi who loves plants and vegetation. |  click the photo for a larger image |
Ayurveda Room - To the South there is a large room, which we intend to use for storing Ayurvedic herbs and equipment and for Ayurvedic practice. This room will be painted red which is a color of health, vitality, and healing. Painting this room red will also help to increase the fire element in this direction which is weak due to the well being placed in the SE. To avoid overly increasing pitta, we have chosen a dull, almost purplish red which will be somewhat less heating. The wainscot will be painted a cool cream color as well for this reason.
Pantry - bellow the porch on the 1st floor is a pantry where food will be stored. It is located to the East. We intend to paint this area a cream color which is ideal for the Eastern direction and which helps to purify foods stored there.
Hall - the hall in the lower level we intend to paint in two shades of green. Light greens are authentic to historic colonial homes and this colors honors Shakambhari, the Goddess of the forest and vegetation. The majority of the walls will be a very light (almost white) green which honors the energy of the brahmasthana (the center of the house). Molding and paneling will be painted a slightly darker green.
Laundry - The laundry area is located to the West on the lower level. We intend to paint that white which is a suitable color for cleansing and purification and which honors the energy of that direction.
Pantry - bellow the porch on the 1st floor is a pantry where food will be stored. It is located to the East. We intend to paint this area a cream color which is ideal for the Eastern direction and which helps to purify foods stored there.
Hall - the hall in the lower level we intend to paint in two shades of green. Light greens are authentic to historic colonial homes and this colors honors Shakambhari, the Goddess of the forest and vegetation. The majority of the walls will be a very light (almost white) green which honors the energy of the brahmasthana (the center of the house). Molding and paneling will be painted a slightly darker green.
Laundry - The laundry area is located to the West on the lower level. We intend to paint that white which is a suitable color for cleansing and purification and which honors the energy of that direction.
1st Floor / Main Level
Puja (prayer) Room - On the main floor of the house, the puja room will be located toward the North. Vaastu recommends NE for a puja room and this room falls in the NE portion of the house. The sannidhi (altar) we are constructing for the Goddess will be installed in this room. This room will be decorated with yellow floral, chinoiserie wallpaper. This type of wallpaper is traditional for Colonial Georgian design, and its floral design honors the Goddess Shakambhari. The yellow color increases spiritual wisdom. Yellow is the color ideal for the NE. The wallpaper will be offset by light green molding and paneling. Light green honors Shakambhari because green is the color of vegetation. This is the ideal color for the Northen direction. Ornate, light blue curtains with valances will be included to make this the most formal and beautiful room in the house. Light blue will help increase the water element in the NE which is weakened by the placement of the kitchen to the North.
Exterior Porch - Due East is the exterior porch. Vaastu recommends East facing entryways for buildings as ideal when possible. The porch here, provides an extension to the East which is auspicious according to vaastu. The colors we have selected for the outside of the house are based upon the existing colors. White for the house is a color of purity and spiritual light. Green for the shutters, honors the Goddess Shakmbhari.
Foyer / Hall - The foyer, hallway, and staircase will be painted a light cream color with a light mustard yellow molding and wainscot. Painting the chair rail and the areas below a different color from the walls above is typical of Colonial Georgian-style interior design. We have selected historic colors, antique-style furnishings, and are following many principles of Colonial design to enhance the natural beauty of the historic Colonial house. Mustard yellow and off white are a typical Colonial color choice. These colors are used repeatedly throughout the house to bring a unity to the design of the house. These colors also increase the energy of the Moon and Jupiter, the two most auspicious planets in Swamiji's astrological chart. They are suitable for an ashram building because they bring about purity and spiritual wisdom.
Parlor / Library - to the South on the 1st floor, there is another large room which will be used as a parlor for meeting and greeting people and a library. This room will be a space for guests to meet with Swamiji, and for people to relax , or to relax and enjoy a cup of Ayurvedic herbal tea or sit and study our extensive collection of books on Vedas, Ayurveda, astrology and other subjects. This room will be painted a brick red color to help increase the agni element to the SE. The molding and mantel will be painted yellow as in other areas of the house. The wainscot will be painted brown for a grounding energy. Light green curtains and upholstery will be used to accent the browns and reds and to honor Shakmabhari, the Goddess of the forest.
Shop - to the West is a small room which we will use to display herbal teas, puja items, books and other items we sell. This room will be painted light blue with molding and shelving a slightly darker blue to honor Varuna, the Lord of the West. Light blue is a color which increases devotion, which is the object of offering such items for sale.
Exterior Porch - Due East is the exterior porch. Vaastu recommends East facing entryways for buildings as ideal when possible. The porch here, provides an extension to the East which is auspicious according to vaastu. The colors we have selected for the outside of the house are based upon the existing colors. White for the house is a color of purity and spiritual light. Green for the shutters, honors the Goddess Shakmbhari.
Foyer / Hall - The foyer, hallway, and staircase will be painted a light cream color with a light mustard yellow molding and wainscot. Painting the chair rail and the areas below a different color from the walls above is typical of Colonial Georgian-style interior design. We have selected historic colors, antique-style furnishings, and are following many principles of Colonial design to enhance the natural beauty of the historic Colonial house. Mustard yellow and off white are a typical Colonial color choice. These colors are used repeatedly throughout the house to bring a unity to the design of the house. These colors also increase the energy of the Moon and Jupiter, the two most auspicious planets in Swamiji's astrological chart. They are suitable for an ashram building because they bring about purity and spiritual wisdom.
Parlor / Library - to the South on the 1st floor, there is another large room which will be used as a parlor for meeting and greeting people and a library. This room will be a space for guests to meet with Swamiji, and for people to relax , or to relax and enjoy a cup of Ayurvedic herbal tea or sit and study our extensive collection of books on Vedas, Ayurveda, astrology and other subjects. This room will be painted a brick red color to help increase the agni element to the SE. The molding and mantel will be painted yellow as in other areas of the house. The wainscot will be painted brown for a grounding energy. Light green curtains and upholstery will be used to accent the browns and reds and to honor Shakmabhari, the Goddess of the forest.
Shop - to the West is a small room which we will use to display herbal teas, puja items, books and other items we sell. This room will be painted light blue with molding and shelving a slightly darker blue to honor Varuna, the Lord of the West. Light blue is a color which increases devotion, which is the object of offering such items for sale.
A crude sketch of the puja room with altar to the left
2nd Floor
Master Bedroom - in the main house, the master bedroom will be occupied by Swamiji's student Kevin, who is the teacher and practitioner of Ayurveda for the Soma Matha. He will be managing the house. The SW is the direction recommended by vaastu for the head of the household, and this room is located to the SW portion of the house. The room will be painted yellow, with red wainscot and teal trim. The colors evoke images of Tibetan Temples, which honor Kevin's love for Tibetan Buddhist practices. Red is included to help increase the agni element in the SE. Teal is included to honor Goddess Shakambhari. Yellow has been chosen as the main color to give strength to Jupiter, who is the most auspicious planet in Kevin's astrology.
Bathroom - the bathroom is located between the 1st and 2nd floors to the West. It is being painted teal with plans for gold-colored tiles to be added in the future. The inspiration for this room is the beautiful greenish blue and gold of a peacock. Green honors Shakambhari Devi. A bluish tint to the green honors the Western direction. Green is a suitable color for purification (bathing) and to promote health and a love of nature. Gold brings spiritual illumination.
Geust room - located to the North will be a guest room. This room will be used to house people for a short time who come to help with renovations to the property and other projects. It will also be used to house visitors who donate to spend a short retreat at the space. This space is decorated a light blue to honor the energies of the NW where Vaastu recommends placing guest rooms. This room will be decorated with a beautiful floral damask wallpaper. We have chosen to wallpaper only two rooms in the house, both located the North, the direction of Kubera. Lord Kubera is pleased by more-expensive decorations like wallpaper. The light blue color will increase spirituality and devotion for those who visit. Blue in this direction will also help to balance the effects of the well in the SE and the kitchen in the NE by increasing the water energy in the NE. The cool blue wallpaper will be offset by a more warming cream color molding and wainscot as to not be overly cooling to guests. Light blue is a color of detachment and this will help prevent guests from overstaying their welcome.
Interior Balcony - the interior balcony to the East will overlook the gardens. We intend to place a few seats in this srea for visitors to relax. This area will be painted a cream color with yellow molding as is the foyer bellow. Blue colored upholstery will be used to tie this area to the guest room visually and to bring about spiritual thoughts.
We hope this article has helped to illustrate the principles of Vaastu in practice. Please donate to help us buy paints and supplies. To volunteer to help us paint the house, February 2016, please email info@somamatha.org
Bathroom - the bathroom is located between the 1st and 2nd floors to the West. It is being painted teal with plans for gold-colored tiles to be added in the future. The inspiration for this room is the beautiful greenish blue and gold of a peacock. Green honors Shakambhari Devi. A bluish tint to the green honors the Western direction. Green is a suitable color for purification (bathing) and to promote health and a love of nature. Gold brings spiritual illumination.
Geust room - located to the North will be a guest room. This room will be used to house people for a short time who come to help with renovations to the property and other projects. It will also be used to house visitors who donate to spend a short retreat at the space. This space is decorated a light blue to honor the energies of the NW where Vaastu recommends placing guest rooms. This room will be decorated with a beautiful floral damask wallpaper. We have chosen to wallpaper only two rooms in the house, both located the North, the direction of Kubera. Lord Kubera is pleased by more-expensive decorations like wallpaper. The light blue color will increase spirituality and devotion for those who visit. Blue in this direction will also help to balance the effects of the well in the SE and the kitchen in the NE by increasing the water energy in the NE. The cool blue wallpaper will be offset by a more warming cream color molding and wainscot as to not be overly cooling to guests. Light blue is a color of detachment and this will help prevent guests from overstaying their welcome.
Interior Balcony - the interior balcony to the East will overlook the gardens. We intend to place a few seats in this srea for visitors to relax. This area will be painted a cream color with yellow molding as is the foyer bellow. Blue colored upholstery will be used to tie this area to the guest room visually and to bring about spiritual thoughts.
We hope this article has helped to illustrate the principles of Vaastu in practice. Please donate to help us buy paints and supplies. To volunteer to help us paint the house, February 2016, please email info@somamatha.org
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