Akashic

Akashic is an adjective derived from the Sanskrit akāśa, meaning ether, space, or the sky. In Indian philosophy, akasha is conceived as the all-pervading medium of existence and a fundamental element in some cosmologies. In English usage, akashic describes things related to this concept of space or to esoteric ideas associated with universal knowledge.

In Theosophical and New Age thought, the Akashic Records are described as a non-physical library or field that contains all events, thoughts, and experiences throughout time, encoded in the ether. Proponents claim the records can be accessed through meditation, psychic sensitivity, or clairvoyance, yielding insights into personal history, past lives, or potential futures. The concept has been influential in spiritual and literary contexts, but it remains unsupported by empirical evidence and its claims are not verifiable by mainstream science.

Other uses of the term include references to an alleged universal memory or information field sometimes called the akashic field, used metaphorically to discuss collective or cosmic memory. In various religious and esoteric traditions, akasha appears as a backdrop for sounds, forms, and events, and the adjective akashic is adopted to describe related ideas, practices, or writings.

Criticism and reception: Scholars generally treat akasha and the akashic records as mythological or metaphorical rather than scientific concepts. While the idea resonates in devotional and symbolic contexts, there is little consensus beyond its role in spiritual or literary discourse. The term remains common in spiritual literature and popular culture.