What are the Akashic Records?

The concept of the Akashic Records is an ancient idea that has seen a surge in popularity recently, especially among those interested in Eastern religions, New Age ideas, and those interested in alternative spirituality. Most scholars believe the idea that there is a spiritual, celestial record of all events was originally a Hindu concept. The oldest human records indicate the idea of a spiritual record of all living things arose in and around the subcontinent of India and was eventually adopted by other Eastern religions.

A celestial record, or history, about everything, is mentioned in the Vedas. The Vedas is a collection of spiritual scriptures which form the foundation of Hinduism. In written form, The Vedas are thought to have appeared around 1700–1100 BC. However, the Vedas were first preserved by an oral tradition which was passed down from teacher to student for centuries, which makes many scholars believe the Vedas may be as much as 7000 years old, if not older.

Today, it can be a little difficult to grasp what exactly someone means when they speak about the Akashic Records and, in truth, different speakers sometimes have differing definitions. At their core, however, the Akashic Records are envisioned as a kind of compendium of the entire history of the universe, along with every single being in it. It is useful to think of the Akashic Records as a supercomputer that stores all of the data of the universe. Another way to think of the Akashic Records is that it is the DNA of the universe – a living recording every word, thought, event, deed, and emotion of every being that has ever existed (or ever will exist).

The Akashic Records Throughout History

In the unlikely event you were to read the Hindu Vedas scriptures, you would discover there is no mention of ‘akashic records’. Rather, you would read of a spiritual being who has kept, and continues to keep, an exact record of all that has happened. The importance of this record is to insure that everyone has access to the precise truth about anything, thereby allowing all beings a chance to continue to develop towards perfection. But, the term ‘akashic records’ is not in the Vedas, nor in any ancient scriptures.

It was Rudolf Steiner, a Theosophist, who coined the term "Akashic Records". In fact, it was the late 19th century Theosophists who popularized and expanded on the idea of the Akashic Records. Writers such as H. P. Blavatsky, Alfred Percy Sinnett, and C.W. Leadbeater were some of the first to begin talking about a sort of energy of the universe that could be clairvoyantly accessed. A philosopher and professor of anthropology, Steiner claimed that he had access to a spiritual world, an ability that he believed everyone could develop. One might think of the Theosophists as the ‘New Agers’ of their times. Unfortunately, the ‘traditionalists’ of that period considered their works occult and worked at discrediting their spiritual explorations.

The word Akashic comes from the Sanskrit word akasha which can be translated as something like "sky," "space," and even "luminous." More than simply the sky or space of the physical world, akasha is better thought of as a spiritual ether that pervades the physical plane. Akasha can also be thought of as the underlying ‘nothingness’ from which all ‘somethingness’ arises. No matter how things change, the ‘nothingness’ or ‘space’ remains and holds a record of all that has take place within it.

In Hinduism, akasha is a fundamental element. When most of us think of the basic elements, we think of earth, fire, water, wind and so forth. If you are into physics, you would think of the elemental table or the basic elements from which all material things are made. Hindus see akasha the FIRST element. It is the element which is the basis for all the other elements and forces in the universe. Jainism and Buddhism (as offshoots of the Hindu religion) generally hold a similar idea of akasha. Akasha is considered it to be both the infinite space of the physical world, and the spiritual ground of all other physical phenomena.

This fundamental element, akasha, also has an additional, important feature: It records all that occurs. It is as if Creation itself remembers all that occurs and keeps a record of itself within the very fabric of creation. Although we tend to think of the Akashic Records as some ancient historical mythology which began in India, and that Hinduism created a spirituality around it, there are those who feel the Akashic Records has always been there for anyone, any culture, to access it … and maybe they did.

Many writers, historical scholars and spiritual researchers have put forth that the Akashic Records have been accessed by other cultures, such as the ancient Egyptians, the Celtic Druids, and even the early Christians. These different cultures and religions likely didn’t call this spiritual dimension of recorded knowledge the Akashic Records (especially since the term didn’t even enter into common usage until the late 1800s). But, a rose is a rose by any other name.

The Phoenicians and Babylonians believed there to be a celestial record kept by the Creator about everything which took place on earth. Within ancient Jewish scriptures are numerous passages about a record being kept about everyone’s life. In Islam, it is believed there is the Kiraman Katibin, the two angels who record everything good or bad, every word, thought or action by each person. Something similar is mentioned in the Bible called ‘The Book of Life’ which has recorded all the events in everyone’s life (references to the recording of people’s lives appear in the books of Exodus, Psalms, Philippians and Revelations). In Psalms, King David speaks openly about how God has kept a record of his life, both good and evil. Just a few of the other names for the Akashic Records, based on culture or religion, are: The Infinite Mind, Cosmic Mind, Book of Life, Hall of Records, Universal Mind and Eye of God.

Throughout ancient human history, every major religion had a doctrine about a spiritual being who keeps a record of all human activity, good and bad, for the purpose of evaluating every soul and it’s worthiness. In Hinduism it is the deity Chitragupta recording everything; in Islam Allah assigns the task to two angels; in Buddhism the Akashic records are considered real and tended by celestial beings; Christianity has the ‘Book of Life’ and/or God Himself keeping track of all human actions.

Clearly, the idea that there is an absolute historical record maintained in some spiritual fashion is not novel. Though the term ‘Akashic Records’ may seem occult, or some unique idea by an ‘alternative spirituality’, the truth is, the idea of some sort of Akashic Records is nearly universal in all religions. What is ‘new’ or ‘novel’, is the idea that the Akashic Records, or celestial records of history, is some sort of energy and/or a unique dimension and is accessible by anyone who is worthy … but that is a story for another time …

Would you like to talk with someone who has an appreciation for the Akashic Records? Give Psychic Kay a call at 1-866-407-7164 (toll free US and Canada). Kay works with a number of different forms of divination and loves helping clients find the answers they need.

Resources You May Appreciate:

Akashic Records Course
Akashic Transformation
Muslum Angels – Record Keeping
Reincarnation and Akashic Records
Hindu Dieties – Record Keeping