How were chakras discovered?
I was teaching at an autism micro school today and one of the students asked me, when we chakras discovered? I was a bit embarrassed that I didn’t know the answer off the top of my head, yet my curiosity got me thinking back to my training, realizing I couldn’t remember the timelines or how exactly “they were discovered”.
So naturally (bless technology sometimes) I immediately looked it up.
It turns out, the chakra, while they isn’t a singular person who is coined to have discovered them, the concept of chakras originated in India and is embedded in Hundi and Buddhist traditions. The earliest written records of chakras are found in the Vedas, a large body of text originating in India, dating back to 1500 B.C. It seems to me that chakras and energy points were used well before written text, just like sound healing instruments were invented much earlier than that, with artifacts of cave walls inscribed with pictures of healing in many cultures around the world.
Long before the advent of written language, ancient cultures across the world recognized the profound link between sound and the energetic centers within the body, now known as chakras. These early healers and shamans intuitively understood that specific tones, rhythms, and vibrations could unlock blockages, harmonize the subtle energy fields, and restore balance to mind, body, and spirit. Sound isn’t just heard—it’s felt, resonating deeply within each chakra to shift stagnant energy and awaken dormant potential. This timeless wisdom laid the foundation for today’s sound healing practices, where crystal bowls, tuning forks, and vocal toning serve as powerful tools to activate and align the chakras, facilitating transformative healing experiences that echo back to humanity’s earliest sonic rituals.
The knowledge of chakras was introduced to the Western world primarily through the work of Indian yogi and scholar Swami Vivekananda in the late 19th century, who presented key elements of Eastern spirituality at the 1893 Parliament of the World’s Religions in Chicago. Later, in the early 20th century, figures like Sir John Woodroffe (alias Arthur Avalon), an English Orientalist, translated and interpreted key Sanskrit texts on chakras, making them accessible to Western readers. Additionally, Theosophists such as Helena Blavatsky and Charles Leadbeater played a significant role in popularizing chakra concepts by blending Eastern mysticism with Western esoteric traditions. This foundation was further developed mid-century by spiritual teachers like Carl Jung, whose psychological theories intersected with chakra philosophy, and by pioneers of modern yoga and New Age movements, who expanded chakra knowledge into mainstream Western consciousness.
By embracing the ancient practice of sound healing today, we tap into a powerful, timeless tool that restores harmony within our mind, body, and spirit. In a world filled with constant noise and distraction, these vibrational therapies recalibrate our internal rhythms, melting away stress and realigning energy flow. Whether through the deep resonance of crystal bowls or the primal pulse of drums, sound healing creates a sanctuary of balance that supports mental clarity, emotional resilience, and physical well-being. Integrating these sacred sounds into our modern lives is not just a nod to the past—it’s an urgent, transformative step toward reclaiming our natural state of harmony in an increasingly chaotic world.
I offer so much gratitude o the student I was with today that was unfiltered enough to ask the question and humble me to dive into this topic deeper.
If you would like to discuss with me on balancing or clearing your chakras, feel free to reach out to me or schedule a private session where we can get deep into your own chakra system.
