The Akashic records are the sum of all knowledge past, present and future and more stored in the ether on a spiritual plane. Every thought, experience and emotion of every living thing from humans to plants is kept in this cosmic library, which can be accessed by going into a state of unconsciousness through dreams, trance or meditation, though also near death experiences. Akashic is often interpreted from the Sanskrit as meaning ether, sky or cosmos. And has formed a part of many ancient belief systems and cultures. In Hindu mysticism Akasha, the substance, which the events are recorded on, is what the basic elements of nature earth air fire and water are made of. The Akashic records have many different names and have been adopted in many different forms by various religious groups. Alternative names for the Akashic records include collective unconscious collective subconscious the cosmic mind and many believe this is what psychics tap into in order to read others minds, talk to the dead and know about events which they couldn't other wise know about past and future. Many believe that it is the Akashic record of our life that is used to judge us, or by which we judge ourselves, when we die and which determines our eternal fate. This is often associated with the idea of karma and we need to have accumulated more positive than negative karma during lifetime.