Full Description
Powerful centres of subtle energy, the chakras have fascinated humanity for thousands of years. Llewellyn's Complete Book of Chakras is a unique and empowering resource that provides comprehensive insights into these foundational sources of vitality and strength. Discover what chakras are and how they work. Explore how to work with chakras for personal growth and healing. Examine the ways our understanding of chakras has transformed through history and across cultures. Lively and accessible, this definitive reference explores the science, history, practices, and structures of subtle energy systems. With an abundance of illustrations and a wealth of practical exercises, Llewellyn's Complete Book of Chakras shows you how to use subtle energy for healing, attracting what you need, obtaining guidance, and expanding your consciousness.
Contents
Contents
Introduction 20
Section 1: Chakra Fundamentals and Basic Practices 26
Part I: What Are Chakras? A Pocket Guide to Your Body's Points of Light 27
Chapter 1: Your Spinning Wheels of Light 31
Chapter 2: What Is Kundalini? The "Rainbow Serpent" That Activates Our Chakras 72
Part II: The Hindu Chakra System 89
Chapter 3: The Stories Inside You: The Hindu Chakra System 91
Chapter 4: Muladhara—The First Hindu Chakra 118
Chapter 5: Svadhisthana—The Second Hindu Chakra 137
Chapter 6: Manipura—The Third Hindu Chakra 153
Chapter 7: Anahata—The Fourth Hindu Chakra 168
Chapter 8: Vishuddha—The Fifth Hindu Chakra 187
Chapter 9: Ajna—The Sixth Hindu Chakra 203
Chapter 10: Sahasrara—The Seventh Hindu Chakra 225
Part III: Fundamentals of Chakra Medicine 260
Chapter 11:Why Are Chakras Important? The Benefits of Chakra Medicine 263
Chapter 12: Chakra Medicine Methods I: Preparation and Analysis 280
Chapter 13: Chakra Medicine Methods II: Healing 312
Chapter 14: Chakra Medicine Practices: Eastern Methods 335
Chapter 15: Chakra Techniques: From Mantras to Gemstones—and Everything in Between 368
Section 2: Chakras in Depth—Historical, Scientific, and Cross-Cultural Understandings 405
Part IV: The History of Chakra Knowledge Through the Lens of Ancient India 407
Chapter 16: Ancient Vedic Scripture: The Four Canons 409
Chapter 17: Chakras Taking Form—Divining Three Movements from the Upanishads and Other Early Sacred Texts 434
Chapter 18: Following the Light of Tantra and Yoga 465
Part V: The Science of Subtle Energy 487
Chapter 19: Your Energy Primer: Understanding Physical and Subtle Energy (And a Few Matters in Between) 490
Chapter 20: Chakras as Part of the Subtle Energy Anatomy 555
Chapter 21: The Science and Structure of Chakras 596
Chapter 22: Kundalini Rises—The Chakra Serpent 650
Part VI: Chakra Systems of Asia 701
Chapter 23: Chakra Systems of India 703
Chapter 24: Tibet: Indian Tantra Meets Buddhism 732
Chapter 25: Other Asian Chakra Systems 771
Part VII: Ancient Chakra Systems Across Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas 797
Chapter 26: The African Continent 800
Chapter 27: Chakra Systems of Old Europe 817
Chapter 28: The Middle East 840
Chapter 29: Chakra Medicine in the Americas 864
Part VIII: Modern Western Chakra Systems 914
Chapter 30: Early Western Mystics and Esoteric Orders 918
Chapter 31: The Theosophical Society 949
Chapter 32: Chakras Come of Age in the West 990
Part IX: Chakras "Et Cetera:" Natural and Unusual Chakras 1048
Chapter 33: Chakras in Nature 1050
Chapter 34: The New and Unusual Chakras and Chakra Systems 1086
Conclusion: Your "Great Perhaps" 1114
Glossary
Endnotes
Index
