My kundalini experience

At the start of the year, I set an intention to deepen my connection with the spiritual world. I love magic and I’ve always been open to the understanding that there’s so much more than the 3D reality we’re sequestered in.

I yearn to learn what we’re not taught in mainstream schooling. I want to be in tune with my intuition, be receptive to the spiritual reality that surrounds us (whether that be from nature, the collective unconscious, or ancestral spirits) and use these understandings to help others who also want to embark on a spiritual journey.

So far, my intention to increase my spiritual awareness has led me to a reiki level one course, and now I’m undertaking an advanced certificate in energy healing. This has been some of the most enriching learning of my life. I’ve started to unlock my energy healing capabilities and am perceiving the world differently.

Recently, a lovely lady, whom I met during my energy healing studies, invited me to join a close-knit group for a kundalini workshop. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but the leap in my heart told me it was something I needed to do.

Before I get ahead of myself, let’s be clear on what kundalini is.

What is kundalini?

The term “kundalini” is a Sanskrit word which translates as “coiled snake”. It’s often described as a form of divine feminine energy that’s located in the base of the spine, within the root chakra.

Originally, the concept of kundalini was closely linked to Hindu philosophy. It’s now permeated an array of modern spirituality and new age thought - kundalini yoga is a popular association.

Regardless of the intellectual or spiritual paradigm kundalini is considered, it’s a lifeforce energy we’re all born with. Even those who are unaware or have no interest, have kundalini dormant within.

Kundalini is awakened either through spiritual transmission by a teacher or through spiritual practices like yoga and meditation. Once activated, kundalini lifts the energy dormant at the base of our spine and flows through the chakras (energy centres of the body) in an upward motion. This harmonises our chakras and energetic bodies.

How does kundalini feel?

If kundalini is awakened through spiritual transmission by a teacher, which it was for me, the awakening process is one of surrender. We relax into our bodies, release ourselves from expectation and allow for the energy to travel through our being.

On the day I went to the kundalini workshop, I felt extremely exhausted. I half expected to fall asleep during the activation…

Throughout the workshop hour, music played. It wasn’t the soft, slow-placed lullabies commonly associated with meditation. It was fast-paced, and avant-garde. Nestled amongst a swath of pillows and a blanket, my heart raced.

Surrender. Surrender. Surrender. I closed my eyes and intended to be open. I wanted to allow myself to experience whatever was to happen. I didn’t want to block.

After I received my first activation during the workshop, I no longer felt like lying down. My sleeping position was starting to make me sick. I had to get up and release the energy that was now overflowing from me.

Heat raced through my spine. My body started twisting and swirling in ways I’d never moved before. Within seconds, I erupted into dance. My mind had no understanding of what I was doing, but my body knew exactly.

As I danced, I distanced from the inhibitions that come with adulting. I didn’t care how ridiculous or strange I looked doing this foreign dance. I was fully present in my body and enjoying the visceral connection with the kundalini energy.

I then started to sing. An explosion of exclamation and unintelligible lyrics. Like a baby learning to use their vocal cords. It was the freest I’d felt since being a child.

When I reflect on how I felt during the kundalini activation, the metaphor of the serpent comes to mind. That of shedding skin and an unveiling of the raw, primal self. All my overthinking and emotional baggage melted away as I danced and sang. It was no longer relevant. I was fully in the moment, and it was great.

As the workshop finished, a lightness surged through me. I felt an overwhelming gratitude to be alive and a love for humanity. I hope I can learn to help others feel this way.

Are there any dangers?

Over the past few years, kundalini has been a topic of contention, where some believe it to be dangerous. I’m no doctor, but I think, as is the case with many other spiritual pursuits, kundalini can be a negative experience if the individual is either reluctant or not ready. It’s also my understanding that anyone who is under the influence or experiencing psychosis should also avoid engaging in kundalini.

Ultimately, if the individual has an interest in deepening their connection with the spiritual world, is in good health and willingly participates in a kundalini workshop, I don’t believe any harm can come of it.

A wise friend once said, religion is about believing in other people’s experiences, but spirituality is about having your own experiences and trusting the wisdom that’s imbued in them.

So, if there’s anything you take away from this blog post, I warmly encourage you to do just that. Have your own experiences and do what feels right for you.