Understanding the Nature of Kundalini Energy
Kundalini energy is known by many names—Kundalini Shakti, Serpent Power, Mother’s Force, Sekhem, Chi, and more. In Hindu traditions, it is often called Kundalini Shakti, a name passed down through ancient teachings and scriptures.
At its core, Kundalini is the Divine Feminine energy that creates and sustains all of life. It is the force behind the cosmos, the Earth, nature, and even our own bodies. More than just energy, Kundalini is the essence of our true being. When awakened, it expands our awareness and helps us remember who we really are—divine beings in human form.
Kundalini exists all around us and within us. When we are in the womb, this sacred energy guides our development, starting from the top of the head and moving downward. Once our body is fully formed, Kundalini settles at the base of the spine, coiled three and a half times in a resting state. In this dormant form, it keeps our basic bodily functions running but also keeps us unaware of our true divine nature.
When we activate Kundalini, we awaken this energy, allowing it to rise. Instead of keeping us in ignorance, it becomes the key to our spiritual awakening. Enlightenment, in this sense, is realizing that our deepest nature is Love—that we are all expressions of the Divine Mother, playing and learning through life.
It’s important to understand the difference between Kundalini activation and full Kundalini awakening. Activation means waking Kundalini from its resting state, while full awakening happens when it rises all the way to the brain and merges with Shiva, bringing a deep and complete awareness of our divine essence.
“When you succeed in awakening the Kundalini, so that it starts to move out of its mere potentiality, you necessarily start a world which is totally different from our world. It is the world of eternity.” – Carl Jung
The Symbolism of the Serpent in Kundalini Energy
As you explore Kundalini energy, you’ll often come across the symbol of the serpent. Kundalini Shakti is associated with a serpent because, in its resting state, it is coiled at the base of the spine. When activated, this energy rises up through the central channel (Sushumna), sometimes depicted as two interwoven serpents. This represents the balance and movement of Feminine and Masculine energies within us.
Our body has two main energy channels, or Nadis—the Ida Nadi and the Pingala Nadi. The Ida Nadi is linked to the Feminine (Lunar) energy, while the Pingala Nadi corresponds to the Masculine (Solar) energy. The goal of Kundalini activation is to bring these two energies into harmony. This is why the two interweaving serpents are such a powerful symbol, showing the union of these energies as Kundalini rises.
The Kundalini energy is most commonly stirred or activated in the Root chakra, to varying degrees—subtle to intense—through spiritual practices, meditation, Yoga, chanting, prayer, contemplation, sexual experiences, drug use, trauma, or the presence of someone with a powerful and radiant Shakti energy.
In some cases, these experiences can temporarily stimulate the Kundalini, leading to mystical phenomena, deep peace, restlessness, intense emotions, spontaneous movements, or profound meditative states.
However, this activation is often short-lived. Within hours, days, or weeks, the Kundalini may return to dormancy, and the spiritual phenomena experienced during that time may fade. In such cases, the Kundalini was stimulated but did not fully awaken.
There are two main ways to activate Kundalini energy: the Right Hand Path (Masculine) and the Left Hand Path (Feminine).
The Right Hand Path is the approach many people are familiar with. It includes practices like intense meditation, breathwork, and Kundalini Yoga. This path focuses on using your own will, discipline, and effort to awaken the Kundalini energy. While it can bring results, it can also feel tiring and take time, because it relies on the idea that you’re in charge of making it happen.
The Right Hand Path isn’t wrong, and it’s helpful to have some structure in your spiritual practice. But it’s also important to remember that, no matter how much we try, we need to surrender and trust the process to fully connect with Shakti
The Left Hand Path, though less well-known, has been around for thousands of years and is becoming more popular today. It’s about surrendering to the Divine Mother Force that’s already present within and around us, rather than relying on our own effort.
The left Hand Path was how I was introduced to Kundalini. I found it to be a powerful and profound experience which has led me to become a Kundalini facilitator.
How the Autonomic Nervous System is Involved in Left-Hand Path Surrender
When our bodies are mainly in a Sympathetic nervous system response—also known as the fight/flight/freeze mode—our inner environment tends to block the flow of Kundalini Shakti. Many of us live in this state more often than we’d like, due to stress from things like financial worries, work pressure, past traumas, relationship struggles, and more.
The Sympathetic nervous system is linked to Masculine energy, which is focused on protection and survival. When we’re constantly feeling unsafe and defensive, it leaves no room for our inner Feminine energy to rise, nor for the Parasympathetic nervous system to activate.
Kundalini Shakti, which is Feminine by nature, is connected to our ability to relax into the Parasympathetic response. When we feel safe—both inside ourselves and in our outer world—we can better access this calming state. This allows the energy of Kundalini to naturally awaken and rise.
Day-to-Day Benefits of Kundalini Activation
Kundalini activation can bring a variety of benefits to your everyday life. Here are some of the tangible changes you may experience:
Within Yourself:
- A deep, calm confidence that allows you to speak your truth, express your desires, and be your authentic self without fear or pretences.
- Greater self-awareness, especially when your mind starts to race. You can observe your thoughts and fears without identifying with them, creating a healthy distance between who you are and what your mind is telling you.
- Expanded self-compassion, allowing you to honour your emotions without judgment. When you feel sadness, make mistakes, or feel confused, you embrace these feelings without making yourself wrong, which helps you bounce back quicker.
- An increase in life force energy gives you the vitality to engage in activities that bring you joy rather than feeling drained or exhausted.
In Your Purpose & Work:
- Clearer insight into your life’s purpose and the direction you want to take, with a sense of ease in making decisions that align with your true path.
- A boost in creativity may show up as a desire to express yourself through art, writing, music, or other forms of creation that excite your soul.
- Deeper trust in yourself and life makes it easier to take action without overthinking—whether that’s starting a new project, leaving an unfulfilling job, or sharing your unique gifts with the world.
Through Relationships:
- The ability to see situations from multiple perspectives leads to more harmonious conversations and less need for “right” or “wrong” opinions.
- A sense of freedom and connection in your sexual energy allows for deeper intimacy and self-expression with your partner.
In Your Life as a Whole:
- More ease in surrendering to the Divine Mother and trusting that everything is unfolding as it should.
- Becoming a magnet for synchronicities and miracles, as your energy vibrates at a higher frequency and aligns with your desires.
… and so much more. The benefits of Kundalini activation extend into every aspect of your life, helping you feel more aligned, energized, and in flow