Kundalini and Psychic Development
“Others casting themselves down before my feet besought me that they might be taught; but I, causing them to rise up, became a guide of mankind, teaching them the reasons how, and by what means they may be saved. And I sowed in them the Words of Wisdom, and nourished them with Ambrozian [sic] Water of Immortality.” – Hermes
“Once we open up to the flow of energy within our body, we can also open up to the flow of energy in the universe.” ~ Wilhelm Reich
Kundalini is a life force energy also known as Chi or Prana. Although there are some subtleties between these terms, they are related in meaning. The word Kundalini derives from a Sanskrit word meaning “coiling”.
Kundalini energy lies dormant at the base of the spine and is coiled, like a serpent, to eventually be activated. The coiled snake symbolism represents the powerful untapped energy that lies in wait ready to be accessed within. When the energy is activated and rises up it is called a Kundalini Awakening. A person can experience very powerful symptoms during this process.
It is possible to activate and work with this energy through various practices and techniques, including meditation and yoga, among others.
Kundalini is a deep reserve of creative or life force energy that has the power to create miracles in one’s life. It has mystical connotations and is acknowledged throughout history and various spiritual traditions as a powerful force. However, this power can be both creative and destructive, depending on how one chooses to engage with it.
Historical Roots of Kundalini
There is a wealth of information that has been gathered regarding the existence of Kundalini and practices across cultures throughout history. Here are a few points on the historical roots of Kundalini, and by no means an exhaustive exploration. You may begin to dive deeper into this concept here.
- Ancient Civilizations
- Many cultures have considered life force energy and how it is accessed and used as a form of mystical power for thousands of years.
- India
- The earliest knowledge of the existence of this energy before 3000 B.C.E. in the region of the Indus valley with the early Egyptian, and Sumerian civilizations. It was depicted in art and scripts. Sacred texts, called the Vedas speak of this upward moving energy. The ancient lingam-yoni symbol is very common in Hinduism even today. It represents the union of the female and male principles (Shakti and Shiva, or energy and consciousness), that when activated and brought into balance, resulting in enlightenment.
- Egypt
- There are parallels in symbology between Ancient Indian civilization and Egyptian civilizations. Shakti is considered the mother goddess, wife, sign of fertility and magic. The Tet symbol may have represented the spine and evidence that the Egyptians were aware of this energy. Activating and using this energy was seen as useful for the ruling class, among other reasons.
- China
- The concept of Chi, Prana, and Kundalini energy has close parallels. The meridians in Chinese medicine are related to the Nadis in Indian tradition. The power of Kundalini, named Chi is discussed in The Secret of the Golden Flower.
- Judeo – Christian
- References to Kundalini are depicted in the dual serpent symbol was seen in both the Old and New Testaments, as well as in the Jewish faith. The symbology has striking similarities to what was shown in India and Egypt.
- Alchemy and Magic
- Alchemy works with sulfur, salt, and mercury. Some believe that this corresponds with the three Nadis or subtle channels named Pingala, Ida, and Sushumna in the Indian tradition. The roots of some forms of magic go back to the ancient cultures of Egypt and Greece. There is a warning in many cultures about the use of magic for when unchecked, can lead to a thirst for power with little regard for the balance of life.
- Wilhelm Reich
- Wilhelm Reich, who lived from 1897 – 1957, theorized about the existence of a form of bio-plasma in the body that he called Orgone. Although there are connections to Prana, he never discussed it in terms of intelligence within, similar to other traditions. Rather, he offered practical examples of how to use Orgone to increase health and vitality in human beings.
Spiritual Roots of Kundalini
Kundalini is part of a tradition that is thousands of years old. There are forms of yoga, including Raja, Shakti, Bhakti, Tantra, and Kriya. These branches of yoga teach meditation and other practices as a mental discipline to enliven Kundalini.
There are other ways to access this powerful energy and create vitality. Although it is not formally recognized in scientific circles, it is deeply examined through various yogic and tantric texts.
Some practitioners have called this energy the internal Tree of Life within the body that many traditions speak of.
Kundalini is essentially a form of Prana and in a way, identical to it, however, it has some manifestations as unifying cosmic energy and is deeply related to higher self-consciousness
In psychological terms, Kundalini is often referred to as libido that lies in our subconscious mind. Although it is more than this and is often misrepresented.
Aspects of Kundalini
This vital life force energy has several manifestations.
- Para-Kundalini
- The universal energy
- Prana-Kundalini
- The combined energies of the body and mind
- Shakti Kundalini
- The consciousness that spans across both universal and body/mind energy
A simplistic way to describe how Kundalini functions is an energy that you move up and down your spinal column and chakras, increasing conscious awareness.
Kundalini and the Paranormal
Kundalini is seen as both psychic and physical, or “psycho-Physiological” that exists within human beings and is responsible for mystical experience, creativity, genius, psychic phenomena, and some forms of mental illness. One of the other side-effects of activating this energy is certain paranormal or experiences of extrasensory perception, or ESP.
There is a seductive quality in the development of abilities such as telepathy, bilocation, healing, and even clairvoyance. There is a caution in many traditions and texts to not be so caught up in these mechanisms that it leads to fragmented cognitive states and a disconnection from reality. Having a solid grounding in reality and a practical connection to these abilities prevents losing connection to the world that needs to exist.
A Psychic Perspective
When a person awakens to their consciousness and psychic awareness it can be both overwhelming and exhilarating, but it is important to not lose touch with reality. A sound and consistent practice, such as with meditation and using psychic tools for awareness, grounds what can potentially cause a person to lose a sense of self. Engaging the awakening of Kundalini, and psychic development could potentially be a natural tendency in all humans. Using it to create and maintain aspects of our life, from relationships, businesses, creative projects, health, and wealth, demystify its presence in our lives.
If you want to explore psychic tools, meditation, and psychic development, sign up for our Clairvoyant Meditation Free Open House to learn about course offerings or book a psychic reading or spiritual healing through The Psychic School.
