THE CHAKRAS

The Chakras (1927) by Charles Webster Leadbeater is one of the foundational texts of esotericism and theosophy. In it, the author presents his vision of the body's energy centers, known as chakras, drawing on Eastern traditions but reinterpreting them from a theosophical and Westernized perspective.



Leadbeater describes in detail the main chakras: their location, colors, shapes, and functions, as well as the ways in which they influence the physical, emotional, and spiritual health of human beings. Through his narrative, he presents the chakras as energy vortices connected to the nervous system and to the evolution of consciousness.



The book also includes illustrations showing how, according to the author, chakras appear when perceived through clairvoyance, making it a pioneering work for offering graphic representations of these energy centers.



More than a practical manual, The Chakras is an attempt to connect Eastern mystical knowledge with the intellectual framework of early twentieth-century Western theosophy. Its influence has endured to the present day, and it is considered a classic text that helped popularize the concept of chakras in the Western world.



Charles Webster Leadbeater (1854–1934) was an influential Anglican clergyman turned theosophist, writer, and British clairvoyant. A close collaborator of Annie Besant in the Theosophical Society, he wrote numerous works on spirituality, occultism, and extrasensory perception. His work, though controversial, helped popularize Eastern concepts such as the chakras in the Western world.