“If you are doing the Kundalini Meditation, allow the shaking – don’t do it! Stand silently, feel it coming, and when your body starts a little trembling, help it, but don’t do it! Enjoy it, feel blissful about it, allow it, receive it, welcome it, but don’t will it.” –Osho

What is Kundalini?

Kundalini is a Sanscrit term from ancient India that identifies the arising of an energy and consciousness which has been coiled at the base of the spine since birth, and is the source of the life force (pranic energy, chi , bio-energy) that everybody knows.

The definition of Kundalini can be found in a series of Sanskrit ‘phonemes’ more correctly pronounced Kh’u’N’Dh’A’li’n’i

Kh’ a dot (black stone); hollow, aperture, the cup; the yoni as the feminine symbolised

u’ the moon calling to the sun

N’ wave (as of the ocean) ebb and flow of consciousness

Dh’ virtue, merit, true wealth as in receptive, assuming focus of that which is inner

A’ the concept of going inward, within or in; the feminine of the firstsound (sruti) (hidden) from which all words are formed and from which all life emanates as a bidirectional action

li’ to adhere and to hold; to rock, pulse, sway, tremble, vibrate

n’ the lotus plant; the pearl; the primal mother; seed; naked

i’ to pervade as perception or consciousness; to go beyond; to grow; to evolve;

Kundalini is, thus, the energy of our natural physical beingness – the life energy of each cell of the Physical Body — particularly the ‘stem cells’.

Kundalini (Sanskrit kuṇḍalinī, कुण्डलिनी, “coiled one”), in yogic theory, is a primal energy, or shakti, located at the base of the spine. Different spiritual traditions teach methods of “awakening” kundalini for the purpose of reaching spiritual enlightenment. Kundalini is described as lying “coiled” at the base of the spine, represented as either a goddess or sleeping serpent waiting to be awakened. In modern commentaries, Kundalini has been called an unconscious, instinctive or libidinal force, or “mother energy or intelligence of complete maturation” Wikipedia

It can be said that Kundalini is an energy that exists in everyone’s body, usually in a dormant state. This means that most people never feel it and never know it is there.

Let me take you from your own experience of life because the stories about Kundalini are many. In your house, there is a plug-point in the wall. This plug-point does not actually produce any power. There is a huge power station elsewhere that is producing power, but it cannot give you that power directly. It is the plug-point that gives you access. Though most people have not even thought about the power station and have no concept of what it is, they know that if they plug an appliance into the plug-point, the appliance will run.

“(Kundalini is) the creative potential in the man.” (Kundalini, Evolution and Enlightenment, edited by John White, Paragon House, 1990, p. 25)

Kundalini chakras

At the base of the spine is the foundational chakra, muladhara, which holds you into a sense of having a body, of being a separate person, a connection and agreeement that spirit is making with existence. Three qualities are rooted here — the tendency to lethargy (tamas), activity (rajas)or harmonious balance (sattva). We each have a mix of these. Sometimes you can see them clearly in the temperament of a new-born infant. Here also our spirit becomes identified with the limitation of time and space, and we know we are part of the earth. Our life force is rooted here and active, because we feel we are alive and pranic energy is moving throughout our body. Kundalini is said to be the residual energy that is stored here, holding us in stasis, unless or until it is jolted into awakening and winding upward through our bodies.

Kundalini energy awakening, spirit, and experiences

It’s said that the awakening of kundalini energy is the only way to become enlightened and experience bliss. When this energy goes through your crown chakra, you become aware of your connection with the entire universe and therefore understand the truth. You attain the divine wisdom and your consciousness expands infinitely.

When the kundalini energy is released into the universe, you completely understand yourself and your purpose. You become filled with joy, limitless knowledge and unconditional love of the whole universe.

But I want to add here a little reminder:

Kundalini energy awakening is a natural process which usually starts when you start engaging in spiritual activities. If it’s not rushed, you can only slightly feel this powerful energy and you can easily tolerate the changes that you go through.

However, if you rush in the Kundalini energy awakening process, it can cause serious problems which are likely to scare you and even make you mentally ill. Therefore you should only awaken this energy when you’re spiritually strong and you feel that you’re ready to experience the expansion of your awareness.

The Kundalini Awakening signs and symptoms

Kundalini awakening of energy has nothing to do with a person’s culture, religion, or country of origin. While the kundalini experience is general described in yogic texts, it’s also known of and referred to in other spiritual traditions. It is the natural evolution of the human being, awakening to higher levels of consciousness.

The signs and symptoms of Kundalini Awakening are different for everybody, and it depends largely on the energy blocks in the person’s physical, emotional, mental and spiritual bodies. The kundalini signs and symptoms generally relate to the blocks, and as these blocks are worked through and released, the kundalini awakening symptoms dissipate.

The Kundalini syndrome refers to the symptoms experienced by people as the raw, life force energy known as “kundalini” rises in the human body. Raising root chakra energy, known as Kundalini rising, is a spiritual awakening process

Signs & Symptoms can include:

Energetic sensations like electricity in the body or internal lightening bolts

Shaking and jerking in the body, usually totally out of the control of the person

A sensation of insects or snakes crawling on the body, often along the spine

Feelings of cold in the body, and conversely, feelings of intense heat in the spine or in specific chakras

Spontaneously arising kriyas (yoga practices), mudras (hand gestures), Bandas (body locks), asana or pranayama. Usually the person has never studyed or learned any of these spontaneously arising practices.

Waves of intense pleasure

Big emotional shifts or mood swings, well beyond the normal

Sensory overload – sounds, lights, noise – everything becomes too much

Strange internal sounds that no one else can hear like buzzing, musical instruments, or thunder

Waves of apparent wisdom or insight into the way reality actually is

Heightening periods of creativity

How to Practice Kundalini Meditation

How to awaken kundalini? To get the most out of your Kundalini Meditation you need to do them everyday. The best practice for this meditation is one time in the early morning for about 15-20 minutes and again in the evening. After a week or so you will notice yourself being a lot more relaxed and being very slow to anger.

Before starting, if you are new to meditation, you can take a look What is Meditation!