81 of 83 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Definitely the book to have on Chakras, November 22, 2003
This review is from: Wheels of Life: A User's Guide to the Chakra System (Llewellyn's New Age Series) (Paperback)
I had been looking for awhile for a good book on Chakras that was straightforward and easy to undertsand. There are so many books on Chakras and many of them (at least the ones I found) went way too deep too fast and lost me. I needed a book that went Chakra by Chakra, explaining what each represents and providing some exercises to work them. This book was perfect! Each chakra chapter starts out with a one-pager with words that help explain that chakra (e.g. 1st Chakra - earth, roots, grounding, survival, body, food, beginning, etc). Then there is a meditation. Then there is text that walks through each type of description (e.g. "grounding"). Judith connects the concepts to the body and explains how its all connected. There are yoga exercises as well as recommended reading of other books to learn more about each Chakra. Excelent book - It really lays things out in a simple way that is straightforward and unmuddied. Lots of hand drawings throughout as well as some great quotes to ponder. Gods and Godesses are also mentioned in the text which is great. Excellent book!
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78 of 80 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good book!! How can 100,000 readers go wrong??, November 18, 2002
This review is from: Wheels of Life: A User's Guide to the Chakra System (Llewellyn's New Age Series) (Paperback)
This was my first book on the Chakra system and to be quite frankly it has been one of those books I always go back to look for references. My personal opinion is that Anodea Judith, PhD, has done an excellent book, both for the beginner in working and understanding the Chakras as well as the advanced.
Each chapter is dedicated to a particular Chakra. You will learn, the Sanskrit name to each Chakra, it's meaning, location, Element, Function, Inner State, Outer State, Body Parts, color, Mantra sound, Hindu Deity, as well as other deities from other pantheons. Also each chapter has a meditation on that particular Chakra as well as Yoga exercises to harness that particular Chakra to your favor. I have been directed to other books, because people say that there are better books out there. But to be honest this book for beginners is simple and right to the point. Anodea Judith, PhD writing is down to earth, and direct. Think about it, how can 100,000 readers go wrong. If you are looking for your first book on Chakras, you will not go wrong here. This is a good book, full of a wealth of information.
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75 of 83 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Should have been called Anodea's thoughts on Chakras., October 14, 2007
This review is from: Wheels of Life: A User's Guide to the Chakra System (Llewellyn's New Age Series) (Paperback)
I bought this book , after reading all the reviews written by Yoga teachers on this page. I was kind of disappointed with the quality of information in the book in quite many ways.
This book preaches a lot of good and useful things , right from diet to exercise to visualization. I liked the concept of balancing of chakras for kids and would help guide new or to-be parents. Also the fact presented in the book that women are ignored in most yogic scriptures which explain self realization.
But, there are some major doubts on the main subject being discussed in this book.
1. The author has suggested that use of LSD or Marijuana might be good to get a glimpse of what to expect when higher chakras get excited. There is no mention of which research led her to conclude the same. Please Do not believe this!!
2. For every Chakra the author mentions the Tarot Suit, Sephira, Archangel names. But there is not mention of why is there this association.
3. There is no or very less reference to Kundalini power. I would have expected a chapter dedicated to this with detailed references to the Nadis in the appendix. Any serious book on chakras would do that.
4. Too much visualization and imagery , and a lot less information of
Mantra Yoga ( Chanting Yoga used to steady the mind ).
5. Well , Jogging a aerobic exercises have been suggested to help balance the chakras. I agree , aerobic exercises and weights are excellent workout ( I myself am a kettlebell fan ).But these activities actually
increase excitation and the author seems to have left out important information on Pranayama. Seems strange for a PHD and Yoga teacher.
6. Kapalabhati and Mool Bandha, Ashwini Mudra are for the first 3 chakras, the author mentions them only for the 3rd chakra, and that too with no mention to their sanskrit names or their meanings.
Well, I would suggest anyone who wants to seriously understand chakras , to look elsewhere.There is a wealth of information on the internet.
No book may give you all the knowledge, but atleast take care that it does not give you incorrect information. Every person find's his or her own way to self realization.
I dont believe, that to understand eastern philosophy, the author needs to mix it with western philosophy and vice-versa. They are different schools of thought and both of them can co-exist independently. A person wishing to understand either of them just needs to gain a better understanding of the perception of each philosophy before diving into the details. I am going to go further in my study to understand and realise the chakras, but I am done with this book.
Regards
sachin
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