The Akashic Records (Akasha is a Sanskrit word meaning "sky", "space" or "aether") are said to be a collection of mystical knowledge that is stored in the aether; i.e. on a non-physical plane of existence. The concept is common in some New Age religious groups. The Akashic Records are said to have existed since the beginning of the planet. Just as we have various specialty libraries (e.g., medical, law), there are said to exist various Akashic Records (e.g., human, animal, plant, mineral, etc). Most writings refer to the Akashic Records in the area of human experience.

Some who believe in the Records claim that they were used by ancient peoples around the world, including the Tibetans, Egyptians, Persians, Chaldeans, Greeks, Chinese, Hebrews, Christians, Druids, and Mayans. The belief is that the pre-Buddhist priests of the Himalayas knew that each soul recorded every moment of its existence in a "book", and that if one attuned oneself properly then one could read or view that book. In Egypt, it is said, those who could read the Akasha were held in high standing and were often found advising Pharaohs on daily activities and dream interpretation. A Chinese gentleman named Sujujin was reported to need only the first name of anyone to access the Akasha and describe their life history; another Chinese seer, named Tajao, explored a variety of topics in the Records which span over two thousand years.

Believers claim that the Druid cultures of England and Wales (400–900) demonstrated the ability to access the Akasha. To gain access to the Akasha, the famous fortune teller Nostradamus claimed to have used methods derived from the Greek oracles, Christian and Sufi mysticism, and the Kabbalah. Individuals who claim to have consciously used the Akashic Records include : Charles Webster Leadbeater, Annie Besant, Alice Bailey, William Lilly, Manly P. Hall, Lilian Treemont, Dion Fortune, George Hunt Williamson, Rudolf Steiner, and Edgar Cayce.

Despite claims that the Akashic Records have been used by mystics throughout history, the term itself, along with the concept of an aetheric library, originated with the 19th century movement of Theosophy. Skeptics suggest that the concept of Akashic Records has been attributed indiscriminately and inappropriately to a wide range of historical religious figures and movements.

The theory has also been rejected by the scientific community, due to a lack of any independently verifiable evidence.

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.