Book excerpt: The science of Vastu or Indian Architecture was developed thousands of years ago and continues to be used in home and building design today. The Principles of Vastu explains the need to achieve harmony and balance between the place where one lives or works and the forces of Nature. This insightful introduction to Vastu shares traditional methods for selecting building sites and layouts to work with the cardinal directions of the Earth and align with its positive influences. Readers will learn how to create beneficial relationships between the spaces we inhabit and the complex energies that surround us.