According to the philosophy of Yoga and Tantra, there are two forces of nature within us: to be and to become. To be can be thought of as our static consciousness (also known as Shiva, or our masculine energy) while to become is the dynamic energy within us that needs to move and manifest (also known as Shakti, or feminine energy).
Kundalini can be thought of as our primal, sexual, and creative energy (or Shakti) located at the base of the spine in the shape of a coiled snake. Kundalini practices are designed to “awaken” this rich energy source for the purpose of attaining spiritual enlightenment or experiencing pure bliss. This awakening involves the Kundalini rising up from the Muladhara, or root chakra, and traveling up the spine and out through the crown, or top of the head. Yogic teachings focus on awakening the Kundalini through various practices such as:
- Meditation
- Chanting
- Pranayama (breath work)
- Primal or shamanic dancing
- Asana
- Root chakra activation
The spiritual benefits of awakening Kundalini
As per yogic science, there are 72,000–350,000 energy channels running through our subtle bodies. We are always creating new energy, but 90% of what we create…