Eastern Body, Western Mind: Psychology and the Chakra System As a Path to the Self

Bought it on a recommended, brilliant book, very down to earth language and explanations. Easy to understand complex subjects. I'm more familiar with the meridians than Chakras, well i was until I read this book! Very enlightening, I've already recommended it to friends.

This book has been a great help in my understanding my own mind and body connection. It breaks down the Chakra system in conjunction with psychological theories such as Jung, somatic therapies, childhood development and metaphysics. Discussing how each chakra is impacted by the above and what can be done to heal the relevant chakra. It has helped me to understand more thoroughly why and how and informs my daily practices. One to read and refer to regularly.

I asked the woman who had just given me a phenomenal massage if there was one book you would recommend to read what would it be and she said this one so I bought it, and wow yes although it is a few years old now, and I have been vaguely familiar with chakra theory and fairly well versed in western psychology over the years this was a great synthesis which made me realise just how "disembodied" a lot of western psychology has been, or treating the body as a kind of sideline. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in either eastern energy-body theories or western psychology--a brilliant synthesis which has vastly expanded my understanding.

There are a number of things that Western Science (and certainly many scientists) dismiss -often on theoretical grounds- yet when asked for details about they seem to know little. The Chaka System is one such thing. A system which might be described as a psychosomatic system of medicine, though this in itself does not do it justice. To be fair sometimes Western proponents are not always the best advocate for this either, talking vaguely about "energy" and "balances." There is also another problem in assessing this, because it comes out of a culture with different assumptions to my own. So why bother? Firstly, the fact that the Chakra System has been used for possibly thousands of years by a large number of people does, at the very least, suggest there is something of value in it. True this is not infallible, but then nor is anything else. In training to become a psychotherapist, I have found also that sometimes, for example, people complaining of aches in the heart area may be having emotional problems, and people with throat problems may have problems communicating their thoughts and feelings. This is consistent with what the Chakra system might indicate. Of course what is on offer is much more sophisticated than what has just been said here. It is some of this sophistication that Annodea Judith provides in this book. This is, by far, the most scholarly account of the Chakra system I have encountered. Using various tools from Western Psychology, especially Jungian, she gives an account of the system explaining how the various Chakras on the body can reveal emotional and psychological problems that unfold in physical symptoms. Jung's psychology is, of course, controversial with some people, including those from the East who feel he misunderstood much from that direction. Yet for me, whatever mistakes he may, or may not, have made, his ideas and those of other thinkers such as Maslow and Wilber (also mentioned in the text) have provided a vital bridge into being able to understand what Eastern ideas may add to a more complete picture of the mind and body. There are too many more ideas to discuss in a short review. But Annodea Judea also provides tables, diagrams and quotations to help understand how the ideas she is bringing might be applied. It is a very rich seam to mine. But to help finding the gold that is here, one could not be in more thorough or capable hands. Neither Western of Indian Medicine will ever be perfect. Something made by human beings never is. This book shows beautifully what the Chakra system might offer to Western thought, if only we are willing.

This is a good book, and well worth reading. I can certainly recommend it. I have two reservations. In the first place there is a lot more about western mind than there is about eastern body. Focusing so exclusively on the chakra system is a bit like reducing the physical body to the spinal column and central nervous system. The subtle anatomy is huge, and the energetic circulations involved run every which way, including from person to person. I also appreciate that the subject of “Eastern Body” is so enormous that any book that tried to encompass it would become unmanageable. I think it is something, however, that the author might acknowledge in the introduction. My other criticism concerns the frequent references to finding meaning in life. I found this irritating. Words have meaning, as do symbols and dreams. Life, however, is just – life. It is itself, and has no meaning beyond that. This did slightly colour my appreciation of a book which is otherwise a very good read, and with a lot of observations and insights which I found to be invaluable.

Worth every penny - very useful background reading for my yoga class/personal development. Interesting models of thought

This book is great. Is always in my list for good presents for my friends. Thank you

Super helpful book thank you

Great book. Bringing worlds together.

extremely well, packed with lots of information

Me gustó mucho el contenido del libro, pero el tiempo de entrega es largo.

Must read for inner work and healers. Am a fan!

Amazing book ! Everything you need and want to know about the chakras!