chakra - The Skeptic's Dictionary

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<div class="logo"> <img src="_images/logo_01.png" alt="The Skeptic's Dictionary" width="270" height="60" border="0" />           <br /> by <a href="http://skepdic.com/refuge/bio.html">Robert Todd Carroll</a> * est. 1994 </div> <div class="slogan"> <img src="_images/slogan_01.gif" alt="A Collection of Strange Beliefs, Amusing Deceptions, and Dangerous Delusions" width="362" height="30" /> </div> </div> <div class="menu"> <ul> <li></li><li><a href="http://skepdic.com/">Home</a></li> <li><a href="http://skepdic.com/news/">Newsletter</a></li> <li><a href="http://skepdic.com/feedback.html">Feedback</a></li> <li><a href="http://skepdic.com/faq.html">FAQ & Interviews</a></li> <li><a href="http://skepdic.com/tour.html">Site Map</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="middle"> <div class="left"> <h2>Topical Indexes</h2> <ul class="nav_1"> <li><a href="http://skepdic.com/tialtmed.html">Alternatives to Medicine</a></li> <li> <a href="ticriticalthinking.html">Critical Thinking</a></li> <li><a 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href="http://skepdic.com/contents.html#Z">z</a></li> </ul> <webContent><h1>chakra</h1> <p style="text-align: left"><font face="Arial" size="3">According to kundalini yoga, a chakra (pronounced <i>chuckrah </i>and<i> </i>meaning <i>wheel</i> or <i>circle</i> in Sanskrit) is a center of <a href="prana.html">prana</a> or <a href="energy.html">energy</a>. It is said that there are several of these that begin at the base of the spine and end at the top of the head. Kundalini yoga uses physical postures and concentration to increase and focus prana to make union with the Absolute.</font><p style="text-align: left"> <font face="Arial" size="3">In <a href="theosoph.html">theosophy</a>, the chakras are said to reside in the <a href="astralbody.html">astral body</a>. </font> <p style="text-align: left"><font face="Arial" size="3">New Age gurus think chakras have <a href="http://www.liteweb.org/ark/aura.html">colors</a> and give rise to <a href="auras.html">auras</a> that reveal one's spiritual and physical health, as well as one's <a href="karma.html">karma</a>. The "third eye," or chakra known as<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chakra#Ajna:_The_Brow_Chakra"> ajna</a>, is thought to be the way to <a href="esp.html">ESP</a>.</font> <p style="text-align: left"> <font face="Arial" size="3">The alleged energy of the chakras is not scientifically measurable, though <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chakra">some</a> have tried to connect the chakras with physical organs such as the pineal gland and the thymus.</font> <p style="text-align: left"><strong>See also</strong> <a href="http://skepdic.com/acupuncture.html">acupuncture</a>, <a href="http://skepdic.com/auratherapy.html">aura therapy</a>, <a href="http://skepdic.com/crystals.html">crystal power</a><a href="http://skepdic.com/crystals.html">,</a> </strong><a href="http://skepdic.com/kirlian.html">Kirlian photography</a>, <a href="http://skepdic.com/magicalthinking.html">magical thinking</a>, and <a href="zenreiki.html">zenreiki</a>. <p style="text-align: left"> <font face="Arial" size="3"><b>further reading</b></font> <p style="text-align: left"><font face="Arial" size="3"><a href="http://skepdic.com/essays/energyhealing.htm">Energy Healing: Looking in All the Wrong Places</a> by Robert Todd Carroll</font> <p> </webContent>Last updated 20-Dec-2015 </p> <p> </div> </div> <div class="right"> <div class="right_it"> <div class="search"> <form method="get" action="http://www.google.com/custom" target="_top"> <input type="hidden" name="domains" value="skepdic.com" /> <input type="text" name="q" maxlength="255" value="" size="20" /> <input type="submit" name="sa" value="Search" /> <br /> <div class="search_2"> <input type="radio" name="sitesearch" value="" /> Web     <input type="radio" name="sitesearch" value="skepdic.com" checked="checked" /> Skepdic.com <br /> <img src="_images/logo_google.gif" alt="Google" width="48" height="19" /> </div> <input type="hidden" name="client" value="pub-3542920166946725" /> <input type="hidden" name="forid" value="1" /> <input type="hidden" name="ie" value="ISO-8859-1" /> <input type="hidden" name="oe" value="ISO-8859-1" /> <input type="hidden" name="cof" value="GALT:#008000;GL:1;DIV:#336699;VLC:663399;AH:center;BGC:FFFFFF;LBGC:336699;ALC:0000FF;LC:0000FF;T:000000;GFNT:0000FF;GIMP:0000FF;FORID:1;" /> <input type="hidden" name="hl" value="en" /> </form> </div> <div class="center"> <p align="right"><a href="http://skepdic.com/authorpage.html"><strong>Books by R. 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chakra - The Skeptic's Dictionary - Skepdic.com