I would like to know if most Wiccans and witches explore Chakras? Do Chakras have any connection to the Celtic tradition? Thanks in advance for sharing your knowledge.
I’m not sure of any Celtic origins, but Chakra is a Sanskrit word. The Norse have a similar belief system called Hvel which are the spinning energy wheels in your body and look like small suns.
The chakra system is used in Nordic witchcraft to align the runes into your personal energy. This is very different to how they are used in meditation.
It is my understanding the most widely understood chakras would be the Indian method originated in the Vedas.
@MeganB maybe able to help with any Celtic similarities.
As far as Wicca is concerned, I think @Amethyst is Wicca?
I know that at least one Celtic pagan here has explicitly mentioned not using the chakras, as they are in no way connected to the Celtic traditions
This is my understanding as well. The chakras are focal points in the energy body, also known as the subtle body. They’re used extensively in the yogic and tantric traditions for meditation and energy work. I think I remember reading that there are thousands (or at the very least hundreds) of chakras in the energy body, wherever energy channels (nadis) cross over each other. The 7 or 8 or 12 (depending on the system) located along the spine and the main energy channel (sushumna nadi) are the largest ones. Mostly I’ve seen the 7 chakra system used in western magical and healing traditions.
I’m fascinated about the Wiccan connection as well. My guess would be that the chakras (and in relation, kundalini and/or prana) were introduced through yoga either directly or through energy healing practices such as reiki.
Reiki comes from Japan (through its founder Mikao Usui), and a lot of cultural exchange has happened between the neighboring countries Japan and China, as well as China and India. As far as I know traditional Chinese medicine uses the meridian system for energy, but I’ve sometimes heard of chakras in the context as well.
(Are chakras used in traditional reiki? I’ve heard of hand chakras in the context, but it could’ve been a different tradition. I know there are practitioners here who know better than I do )
I don’t know if Gerald Gardner, Doreen Valiente, or any of the major Wiccan figures ever wrote anything about chakras, or if it was later witches who created the connection. It does seem a well established one either way, things like which colors and crystals resonate with which chakras seem like foundational witchy knowledge
This is just my thinking, but I’m pretty sure the chakras aren’t a Wiccan thing, unless a Wiccan decides to work with them. There was nothing much about them in the beginners books I read. Admittedly, that was a while ago, but still.
But if you’re Eclectic Wiccan, go for it! Knowledge is never a bag thing!
I’m just making a note here for myself to come back and answer this tomorrow when I have some more brain space especially regarding a connection for chakras to any Celtic tradition. The short answer is no, there is zero connection between them.
Okay, as long as my headache stays away I should be good now I can pop in and answer your questions!
I can’t say that most Wiccans and witches explore chakras but they are very prevalent in New Age belief systems.
This one is easy - nope! There is no energy system in Celtic belief like there is with Chakras in Hindu belief. Some have made a connection between the Cauldrons of Poesy and Chakras but that would be incorrect and a vast misunderstanding of the Cauldrons.
You can read more about those here: :witch_cauldron: Weekly Witchy CHALLENGE - A Witch's Cauldron - #77 by MeganB
And the original source of my post is here: https://www.seanet.com/~inisglas/cauldronpoesy.html