The Chakras

Leadbeater, C. W. [Charles W.] The Chakras. Wheaton, IL: The Theosophical Publishing House, 1927; repr., Quest Books, 1980.

9780835604222;

Charles W. Leadbeater's The Chakras (first published in 1927) was the first book to introduce the ancient Hindu concept of chakras to a mass Western audience. While the concept of chakras existed in ancient Indian and more modern Theosophical traditions, Leadbeater's work was the first English publication to focus exclusively on them

Leadbeater, who was a renowned clairvoyant and prominent member of the Theosophical Society, described the chakras from his own "etheric" or psychic visions, detailing their location, appearance, colors, size, and functions.  These detailed descriptions, including color illustrations, were a novel approach to the subject.  His illustrations, we should note, are quite different from our contemporary ideas of chakras.  Other ideas that Leadbeater introduced in this text were a focus on just the seven major chakras, that each related to a specific color, and that each chakra was linked to various aspects of human life, physical health, emotions, and spiritual growth.  Last, he explained how the chakras act as conduits for universal life force energy (prana).

This book has remained continuously in print since 1927 and is considered a foundational text for the modern western understanding of the Chakra system. 

Charles W. Leadbeater (1854–1934) was a highly influential, yet controversial, English occultist, author, and leading figure in the Theosophical Society.  He was a close associate with Annie Bessant.  He has written many books on esoteric subjects and clairvoyant investigations.  He also co-founded the Liberal Catholic Church.

NOTE: this is a "used book."  This is the 3rd Quest Books printing (1980), with a Jane A. Evans cover.  While it appears to have been unread, it is still tight and unmarked and still has the original marketing postcard from the Theosophical Society asking you to join its mailing list back when mailing lists were actually sent through the mails, it is showing its age.  It has some shelf wear to the covers and bottom edge and some fading/discoloration to the edges.

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