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Kundalini 101

© M. Williams.

There exists in each of us a latent yet dynamically powerful spiritual force. It is recognized in many cultures and traditions and is known by such diverse names as Holy Ghost, Source and Chi, among others. Within the Hindu system of belief it is known as Kundalini, the thrice-coiled serpent, the Divine Mother, and its awakening is the path to liberation and ultimate bliss.

Ancient Vedic and Tantric texts tell us that when the soul, or life force, enters the physical body in the womb, residual primordial energy, characterized by the goddess Shakti, coils itself three and a half times in the sacrum bone located near the end of the spinal column, where it usually remains dormant, save for its subtler manifestations as inspiration or psychic phenomenon. Not surprisingly, the ancient Greek and Egyptian peoples held this part of the body to be sacred as well, believing the sacrum it to be the holy seat of divine power.

When the Kundalini is fully awakened, it moves upwards from the sacrum bone and travels along the spine, passing through each of the five chakras of the subtle or etheric body-that part of our being that is non-physical and invisible to the eye. Its destination is the crown chakra, where the goddess energy will be united with the god energy, characterized in Hindu literature and philosophy as the god Shiva, resulting in a fountain of energy that erupts through the fontanel, the area at the top center of the head. The process may be gradual or sudden, but as each chakra, or energy center, represents an aspect of our human nature, and as the essence of Kundalini is that of healing and purification, this union of the divine with the divine brings about complete transformation in the individual.

An awakened Kundalini has long been the sacred goal of the yogi. By renunciation of the world, extreme devotion and intense training under the strict guidance of a master or guru, the disciple eventually comes to union with God and thus acquires intimate knowledge of eternal truth. With the advent of the Aquarian age and the resulting movement toward spirituality, however, there are a growing number of cases being recorded in which Kundalini is activated in those not actively seeking the experience. Such spontaneous awakenings are often brought about by periods of extreme physical or emotional stress, by a highly traumatic experience, or by intense spiritual practices such as breathwork or meditation.