One of the oldest and best-known theories of the human subtle energy system is that of the chakras. The concept of chakras, or energy centers, originated in India thousands of years ago. Al-though the standard vocabulary of literature about the chakras does not correspond neatly with standard medical terminology, the locations of the major chakras happen to coincide with the locations of major organs, glands, and nerve ganglia and plexuses (collections of nerves and related tissue).
The chakras may be thought of as vortexes (rotating circles) of electromagnetic energy that form a coordinating network throughout the body, reflecting various aspects of consciousness: physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual. The chakras are thought to serve as receptors of energy from the environment and as storehouses of information, functioning almost like “minibrains” located through-out the body. Some recent medical research supports this concept in that brain-like nerve tissue has been discovered in both the heart and the stomach.
Although opinions about the number and location of the chakras abound, the most commonly identified and most useful for communication purposes are the following: root, sacral, solar plexus, heart, throat, brow, and crown.