Kundalini awakening is the rising of consciousness in the body from the base of the spine—the root chakra—through the central channel of the spine (sushumna)—and passing through each chakra—as well as through and left and right channels (ida and pingala) and eventually through all the energetic meridians in the body. Once kundalini reaches the crown it may take months or years to open and connect to the chakras above the head. This awakening is intended to remove any blocks that remain in our path to reaching spiritual liberation.
The seed of kundalini exists within us all, although it is dormant in most people. It can awaken— either temporarily or permanently—after years of meditation or spiritual practice, or through intense spiritual experiences such as plant medicine ceremonies, silent meditation retreats, breathwork, or tantric sexual practices. It can also awaken through shaktipat—but this awakening is often temporary. It can awaken after a dark night of the soul, an accident, a near death experience, or the birth of a child—and finally, it can awaken totally spontaneously.
In Sanskrit kundalini means “circular, annular” and it is a noun for “snake.” The energy can feel like a snake pushing up through the central channel in the spine. Kundalini is also like a snake in that it forces us to release every layer of ourselves that keeps us from spiritual liberation and union with the Divine, and it is a continual process that keeps happening over and over again—just as a snake sheds its skin.
In Hinduism kundalini is also known as the Divine Feminine Shakti energy. When most Westerners, including yogis, think of kundalini awakening, we usually associate it with India and the Hindu traditions that originated there such as Shaktism and Tantra. However, there is also a kundalini tradition in the West but it is veiled and largely confined to esoteric magical and occult traditions. Some of us in the West may have ancestors who participated in these traditions, which can perhaps explain why some of us experience spontaneous awakenings.
It is generally believed that kundalini energy rises in the etheric body rather than the physical body, but it does affect the cerebrospinal fluid in the physical body. This moving fluid can often be felt by those with awakened kundalini.
When kundalini awakens prematurely and causes debilitating symptoms, it is referred to as kundalini syndrome. When this occurs, it is often best for the individual to cease or slow down all spiritual practices and focus on activities that are grounding, such as walking in nature, exercising, eating grounding foods, and spending time with family and friends. Occasionally, kundalini can be so debilitating that an individual must remain in bed for several days. The process unfolds differently for everyone.
My intention in creating the Kundalini Awakening Support Group is to foster a space where anyone experiencing any aspects of kundalini awakening can share their personal experiences and perhaps request support or encouragement from others. It is also a group in which you can ask questions of myself as the facilitator or of other participants in the group. Kundalini has been a 13 year journey so far for myself and I can empathize with the journey feeling disorienting, alienating, and challenging, as well as awe-inspiring, life-changing, and transforming in a myriad of ways.
Our next Kundalini Awakening Support Groups will take place on the following Mondays—May 13, June 10, and July 15—at 7:00PM Pacific Standard Time—Los Angeles.
There is no charge for the event but you are welcome to donate here. If you would like to sign up or ask any questions, please email jen@jendeer.com
The following books are helpful for understanding kundalini:
Chakras: Energy Centers of Transformation by Harish Johari
Kundalini Tantra by Satyananda Saraswati
Kundalini: The Evolutionary Energy in Man by Gopi Krishna
The Serpent Power: The Secrets of Tantric and Shaktic Yoga by Arthur Avalon
