The Chakras

Chakra (Sanskrit, "wheel") refers to the ancient Hindu concept of seven vortices of energy located on the spine from the tailbone to the crown of the head. These centers define the physical and spiritual contact points in the human body. In yoga they are bridges to higher consciousness symbolizing the journey from the material world to the divine. Alternative-medicine healers recognize them as a dynamic resource for health.

First published in 1927, this pioneering book by famed clairvoyant C. W. Leadbeater was the first to introduce the chakras to the West. With great clarity, he explains what each chakra means regarding our well-being, insight, and personal power, his color illustrations showing the chakras as they actually appear to those who can see them. Anyone can perceive the chakras, he says. We must merely become sensitive to vibrations finer than those to which we normally respond.

The book has sold hundreds of thousands of copies and remains a classic. The new material by Anodea Judith and Kurt Leland emphasizes its relevance for today.

Chakras, in Hindu metaphysical tradition and other belief systems, are centers of Pra a, life force, or vital energy. Chakras correspond to vital points in the physical body i.e. major plexuses of arteries, veins and nerves. Texts and teachings present different numbers of chakras. Their name derives from the Sanskrit word for "wheel" or "turning". The concept of chakra features in tantric and yogic traditions of Hinduism and Buddhism. "The Chakras" by C. W. Leadbeater was first published in 1927 and to this day continues to be the fundamental reference work on chakras for a Western readership. Of special note is the inclusion of a section of color photographs. Now made available to a whole new generation of appreciative readers, this Quest Books edition is enhanced with an informative foreword by Anodea Judith and features annotations by Kurt Leland. Also available in a Kindle edition ($10.59), this 180 page paperback compendium is highly recommended for both personal reading lists and academic library Metaphysical Studies reference collections. --The Midwest Book Review, June 2013

C. W. Leadbeater was a highly developed clairvoyant and the author of over thirty books on the spiritual life and on the psychic nature of man. He unfolded and perfected his own psychic faculties under the guidance of his Adept teacher and in 1893 began his clairvoyant investigations, on occasion collaborating with Annie Besant, the second President of the Theosophical Society. His worldwide lectures presented a new viewpoint to thousands of people.