Chinese medical practitioners call it chi. Hindu mystics refer to it as shakti. Yogis label it prana. Medical intuitives think of it as an energy field. Occultists call it an aura. Its existence has been recorded since ancient times, as primitive art clearly shows. In the Sahara desert, in the rocky massifs of that harsh terrain, paintings dating back to the ninth millennium B.C.E. depict human figures surrounded by an envelope of light. In the stained-glass windows of Europe's cathedrals, these luminous orbs are illustrated as halos.

The energy field radiates outward from the body, forming a sphere of light that can be several inches or several feet wide, depending on the individual's emotional, spiritual, and physical state at any given time. This vital energy permeates your body and enlivens you; without it, you couldn't survive. Psychics and sensitive individuals can see different colors swirling in the aura, and those colors change as your thoughts and emotions change. Blockages in the energy field often appear as black or dark spots.

In some schools of thought, this energy field is known as the etheric body. It is the energetic pattern from which the denser, physical body forms. Before problems materialize in the physical body, they exist as disturbances in the etheric body. Thus, potential problems can be healed in the etheric field and prevented from solidifying into physical matter.

The Chakras

Chakra (pronounced shakra) means “wheel” in Sanskrit. According to Eastern philosophy, seven major chakras or energy centers run down the center of the physical body, from the crown of the head to the base of the spine. Psychics and medical intuitives often describe the chakras as resembling spinning wheels of different colors.

The vital energy flows through the chakras and nourishes them. Yoga, acupuncture, visualization, sound, light, and other healing practices can energize the chakras so they function optimally. When the chakras are open and balanced, health, well being, and empowerment result. You'll find more about the energy field and energy centers in Chapter 17.

Energizing the Chakras for Personal Empowerment

Each of these chakras corresponds to a different color and function. By focusing your attention on the various chakras, you can increase the amount of energy flowing through them and remove blockages that can impede the energy.

Here's a list of the chakras and how they relate to personal empowerment.