An extract from the soon to be released Aromatherapy and Chakras book by Salvatore Battaglia:
The aromatherapy and chakras workshop that I have been teaching for over 20 years has always been one of the most popular workshops. It is an excellent way to incorporate my passion for essential oils within a holistic framework that promotes personal and spiritual growth.
However, I have often found the history and origin of chakras a little perplexing. Chakras are based on the teaching of Indian Tantra. Why is this rarely discussed in many of the contemporary books written on chakras? My first encounter with chakras was after coming across a book published by the Theosophical Society. Why is this rarely acknowledged in many of the New Age books on chakras? Why are there so many inconsistencies in the assignment of colours or the endocrine glands with the chakra centres?
A little while ago I discovered a book, Rainbow Body – History of the Western Chakra System from Blavatsky to Brennan by Kurt Leland. This was my “ah ha” moment. All of a sudden, everything that I had known about chakras made sense. Leland does not attempt to justify the existence of chakras, what they are or how they interact at a physical, emotional, spiritual or subtle level. However, what he does effectively do, is present us with a detailed history of chakras, or more accurately the Western chakra system.
I did note a hint of cynicism when Leland describes his experience browsing through the local food co-op and discovering a brochure promoting a range of chakra balancing aromatherapy blends. He states:
Several half-amused questions came to mind: could a scent really ”open the floodgates of compassion and understanding” associated with the heart chakra. Why was the “empowering” third chakra associated with “delicate citrus blend” ? How would a fully enlightened being smell when wearing all seven scents at once?
I could be cynical and state that Leland may not understand how essential oils work at a subtle level. However, he does have a point. How did something that has its origins in ancient Indian spiritualism and Tantric practice come to this? He explains that when you look into the traditional teachings involving chakras in India, scent was not involved or the idea of chakra balancing was never mentioned. This, claims Leland, was the catalyst to write a book for people who want to know the real history of the Western chakras.
This made me question what have I been doing all these years. Had I fallen under the spell of the New Age movement and perpetuated many of the Western constructs associated with chakras?
But then I said to myself: Hold on, I have seen, time and time again, how so many people’s lives have been profoundly changed when they use essential oils and how essential oils have empowered them, acted as a catalyst to improve their health or simply provided clarity and direction in their life.
While Leland has written a book that traces the true history of chakras, I felt it was important to write a book to help us to understand a holistic approach to using essential oils within the framework of the Western concept of chakras as psycho-energetic centres and energy medicine.
To celebrate the arrival of Aromatherapy and Chakras book, Salvatore will be conducting a special masterclass examining the relationship between aromatherapy, biofield energies and chakras.
By the attending the masterclass, you will also be amongst the first to experience the Limited Edition Chakra Essential Oil blends collection, created by Sal.
ADELAIDE: 2nd May 2020
MELBOURNE: 16th May 2020
BRISBANE: 23rd May 2020
SYDNEY: 30th May 2020
CANBERRA (book launch only): 28th May 2020
