Vastu Shastra
The kitchen and the element of fire
Why the south-east is the classical home of the kitchen, and how to work with a kitchen that sits elsewhere.
Vastu assigns each direction to one of the five elements. The south-east, ruled by Agni, is the zone of fire. That makes it the natural place for the kitchen, where fire is used every day.
The classical placement
- The kitchen in the south-east of the home
- The cooking platform along the south-east of the kitchen
- The cook facing east while cooking
- The sink and water away from the stove, ideally towards the north-east of the kitchen
When the kitchen is elsewhere
Many modern flats place kitchens in the north-east or north-west. A north-east kitchen brings fire into the zone of water, which is the combination most often corrected.
In such cases the stove and the sink are separated as far as the layout allows, colours that support fire are used around the cooking area, and specific elemental remedies are placed to restore the balance. Rebuilding the kitchen is rarely necessary.
Small habits that matter
Keep the stove clean and in working order, avoid storing medicines in the kitchen, and do not keep the cooking area directly in line with the main entrance.