Energy (esotericism)

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Proponents and practitioners of various

There is no scientific evidence for the existence of such energy,^[2][1] and physics educators criticize the use of the term "energy" to describe ideas in esotericism and spirituality as unavoidably confusing.^[6]

The concept of esoteric energy has appeared in various cultures and spiritual traditions throughout history. Although interpretations differ, many traditions describe it as a

In ancient civilizations, esoteric energy was frequently associated with

Similarly, in Hindu and Buddhist traditions, prana (प्राण, prāṇa; the Sanskrit word for breath, "life force” or "vital principle")^[15] was described as the breath-based life force that moves through nadis, subtle channels that distribute energy throughout the body.^[16] In Hindu literature, prāṇa is sometimes described as originating from the Sun and connecting the elements.^[17] The practice of pranayama, a form of breath control, was believed to balance and enhance pranic energy. In Tibetan Buddhism, lung (རླུང་) refers to a form of wind-energy that plays a key role in meditation, visualization, and tantric yogic practices.^[18] Japan also adopted energy concepts from China, referring to ki (気) as a life force that could be harnessed for healing, as seen in the development of Reiki.^[19] Practitioners of Reiki believe that qi is transmitted to the client via the palms of the practitioner’s hands. In yoga, Ayurveda, and Indian martial arts, it permeates reality on all levels, including inanimate objects.^[20]

Western esotericism has incorporated energy concepts into its mystical and occult traditions. Medieval and Renaissance alchemy often described an inherent vital force that could transmute base materials into gold and refine the human soul.^[21] In the 18th century, Franz Mesmer ignited debate with his theory of animal magnetism, suggesting that an invisible magnetic fluid pervades living beings and could be manipulated for healing.^[22] Attention to vitalism grew in the 18th and 19th centuries.^[1][2] In the 19th century, the Theosophical Society introduced theories of etheric energy, the astral plane, and subtle bodies, which became influential in later esoteric and New Age movements.^[23] In the 20th century, Wilhelm Reich expanded on these ideas with his concept of orgone energy, which he claimed to be a fundamental cosmic force that could influence health and psychology.^[24]

Many indigenous and shamanic traditions also describe energy in ways that influence their spiritual and healing practices. Native American belief systems frequently refer to a medicine energy that connects all living things, often associated with the guidance of spirit beings.^[7] In African spirituality, particularly among the Yoruba, aṣẹ is regarded as a divine force that animates life and can be channeled through ritual and invocation.^[16] Similarly, in Polynesian traditions, mana is seen as a powerful spiritual energy that exists in people, objects, and the natural world.^[9]

As biologists studied embryology and developmental biology, particularly before the discovery of genes, a variety of organisational forces were posited to account for their observations. German biologist Hans Driesch (1867–1941), proposed entelechy, an energy which he believed controlled organic processes.^[25] However, such ideas are discredited and modern science has all but abandoned the attempt to associate additional energetic properties with life.^[25]

It is not the scientific concept of energy that is being referred to in the context of spirituality and alternative medicine. As Brian Dunning writes:

That's all that energy is: a measurement of work capability. But in popular culture, 'energy' has somehow become a noun. "Energy" is often spoken of as if it is a thing unto itself, like a region of glowing power, that can be contained and used. Here's a good test. When you hear the word "energy" used, substitute the phrase "measurable work capability". Does the usage still make sense? Remember, energy itself is not the thing being measured: energy is the measurement of work performed or of potential... Thus, this New Age concept of the body having an "energy field" is fatally doomed. There is no such thing as an energy field; they are two unrelated concepts.^[26]

Despite the lack of scientific support, spiritual writers and thinkers have maintained ideas about energy and continue to promote them either as useful allegories or as fact.^[27] The field of energy medicine purports to manipulate energy, but there is no credible evidence to support this.^[3]

Esoteric traditions have developed various conceptual models to describe the nature, flow, and function of energy within the human body, the natural world, and the cosmos. These frameworks often include subtle bodies, energy centers, and channels through which energy is believed to move. Many of these ideas are found in religious, mystical, and alternative healing traditions, forming the foundation for practices such as yoga, meditation, alchemy, and energy healing.

The concept of subtle bodies appears across many traditions, referring to layers of existence beyond the physical body. In Hindu and Buddhist thought, the astral body (sūkṣma śarīra) and the causal body (kāraṇa śarīra) are described as non-material sheaths that house consciousness and energy.^[16] Theosophy expands on this idea, describing multiple energetic layers such as the etheric body, which is said to interface between the physical and astral realms.^[23] The aura, often depicted as a luminous field surrounding the body, is another widely recognized concept in spiritual traditions, believed to reflect an individual’s emotional, mental, and spiritual state.^[19]

Energy is often thought to flow through structured pathways within the body. Hindu and Buddhist traditions describe

Energy centers, often referred to as chakras, are believed to serve as focal points where energy gathers and transforms. Hindu and Tantric Buddhist traditions describe a system of seven primary chakras, each corresponding to different aspects of human consciousness and physiology, from the Muladhara (root) chakra at the base of the spine to the Sahasrara (crown) chakra at the top of the head.^[16] Each chakra is associated with specific elements, colors, and vibrational frequencies, and practices such as mantra recitation, visualization, and breath control are used to balance these centers. Western occultists, including figures from the Theosophical and Hermetic traditions, have adapted the chakra system into their mystical frameworks.^[23]

The role of breath is emphasized in many traditions as a means of controlling and directing energy. In