Kundalini:

“More and more of us are becoming electro-shamans, modern alchemists.”

  Timothy Leary and Eric Gullichsen

My brother Paul had read, that in the East – and especially in India – the raising of pure consciousness energy known as prana (also known as the “Kundalini Serpent” or Liquid Fire) up through the spinal column to the top of the head – is the desire of most adept Yoga practitioners. The goal of the Yogi is enlightenment, which amongst other things, is often experienced as an “explosion” of bright white light in the head. Going back to what Paul had said about his first experience, we can see that this brief description fits Paul’s experience precisely.

  Kundalini is an ancient Sanskrit word meaning “coiled-up.” What is actually said to be ‘coiled up’ within the body is energy – the pure ground-state energy of consciousness itself. The coiled Kundalini energy is metaphorically described as a “serpent” or “snake” that lies “coiled up” as if “asleep” at the base of the human spinal column. Gopi Krishna, himself an experiencer of Kundalini, describes it thus:

‘Kundalini is a divine energy represented by the ancient Indian Masters in the form of a serpent, coiled three and a half times, lying asleep until it is awakened, after which it can, in some cases, bestow superconsciousness. Kundalini has been called a goddess, who is guarding a mighty dormant force in the human body, located at the base of the spine. Actually, it is both a force and the controlling mechanism of the force.’ [1]

This “serpent” is an imaginary creature which symbolises the powerful primordial energy within Man – and again, we could say that it is the energy of consciousness in its purest form. However, it’s not the primordial energy that is “asleep” or “dormant,” as the metaphor of the “coiled-up serpent” implies, but we, ourselves. As said, we are unconscious and ignorant of this abundant energy reserve within us, which is infinite and limitless, and cannot be measured – even though we are “tapping” this energy/information [energy is synonymous with information] from the centre of our consciousness every instant so as to create the reality around us.

  Serpent and Dragon symbology is worldwide, inferring that our distant ancestors (Shaman adepts) were more conscious of this energy and understood the ‘energy phenomenon’ associated with it. These adepts understood Kundalini well enough to have been able to magickally utilise their experience of it in many ways – and this is something we will look at much later in this work.

  Kundalini is associated with the human spinal column and central nervous system. As we discovered later, it is from the spinal cord that one’s patterns of reality are being processed and generated via the vital-pumping energy centres known as the Chakras.

  As stated by most metaphysical traditions; like the seven frequency levels of an atom, there are seven major chakras in the human system – each is positioned at certain levels along the spinal axis, from the base of the spine to the top of the head – each one associated with one of the body’s seven endocrine glands.

Chakra is an ancient Sanskrit word meaning ‘wheels of light.’ The chakras are really fist-sized vortices; cyclonic whirlpools or “storms;” each consisting of positive and negative energy that is rapidly swirling outward (negative) and inward (positive) around a centre – each centre of a chakra being the same ‘One Centre’ – obviously Paul’s “Eye of the storm.”

  Using physics terminology; the centre of a chakra could be described as a non-local, non-dimensional, blackhole with a whitehole at its centre.

  More importantly, the energy within these centres is Neutral or Zero – meaning that it cannot be measured – and is known by the Hindus as prana – meaning ‘life force’ or ‘vital essence’ – and the Chinese as C’hi – again, pure consciousness energy.

  The energy surrounding these centres is the same neutral energy made impure by being divided in two – i.e., negative and positive.

  This polarity is due to the same energy continually flowing outwards from the centre and at the same time inwards again, as in ‘alternating current.’ Again, (and need I say it), in Chinese Taoist philosophy, these opposites are known as yin and yang, and the Centre known as the Tao.

As described in my essay From the Void Comes a 1000 Things, everything is oscillating at different rates of frequency, which means that the manifestation of reality and everything within it, is due to this ‘alternating current’ of energy moving between the two extreme ends of a pole or axis and at different rates of frequency creating a wide variety of interference patterns – and this is why the ‘duality’ expressed in the Taoist philosophy of (yin and yang) is everywhere, and in everything; in both our perceptions and experiences.

  In brief, my own insight is that the spinal column is like a ‘pole magnet’ and acts like a measuring device regarding one’s energy and the measure of information that one is open to and is experiencing.

  This energy/information is being “tapped” every instant from the Centre of one’s consciousness, which expresses itself at different levels and through the centres of each of the seven chakras. In other words, each of the seven chakras control and regulate the flow of energy/information that one is experiencing every moment!

  [Some metaphysical systems state that there are eight or even ten major Chakras.]

We could say that each individual is rapidly processing and generating the patterns of reality at an ‘unconscious’ level and then just as rapidly reabsorbing these patterns at both a “negative”-subconscious and “positive”-conscious level through experience.

  The spine is like a ladder, and has been depicted as such in many esoteric traditions. If we could see each ascending level of the spinal column, we would note that each chakra vortex is spinning and oscillating at a higher rate of frequency than the one below it, accounting for all the frequencies within our particular bandwidth of reality – and even those frequencies that lay way beyond it. One is able to experience these higher frequencies when one’s level of consciousness reaches the higher chakra levels close to the Primary Centre known as the Siva Bindu or the Void – which the Eastern mystical traditions say is located just above the head – which is why the metaphor of a cartoon light bulb is used to signify a flash of insight.

  The chakras then, show the ‘level’ one’s consciousness is working from – i.e., how near or how far one’s level of consciousness is as regards the Primary Centre. Of course one’s level can change every moment with every thought, emotion and experience.

  In very rare circumstances – experienced by only a few individuals during a lifetime – one’s level of consciousness will quickly climb through each of the seven chakras and reach the highest level – the Primary Centre, where the energy and information of the whole universe is All One at a point. Again, this experience is the ‘Kundalini Awakening.’

Putting it simply, we could say that during the ‘Kundalini Awakening,’ the individual actually experiences the primordial centre of the universe and the first moment of its creation – the so-called “Big-Bang.” We could say that this ‘primordial centre’ is the same as the Centre of one’s own consciousness and that of the collective. This experience is the apotheosis of enlightenment – known in the East as ‘Nirvana,’ ‘Satori,’ or ‘Samâdhi.’

  As stated by Dr. John C. Lilly, (Again, see Quote on this page) during this experience one’s consciousness has gathered together at the “Centre of the Cyclone,” the “Eye of the Storm” – the Primary Centre or Source of consciousness itself, being the ‘Deity’ or ‘God’ within.

  Such a dramatic leap in levels will of course ‘transform’ the consciousness of the individual and will eventually transform the patterns of his or her reality; for during the experience, more energy will have been released, and as energy is information and information is energy, then more information will also have been released, and this extra information gives one more insights into the true nature of the surrounding reality and one’s own consciousness from which the surrounding reality is being created. Moreover, each awakening is a leap in evolution – not only for the individual but also for the collective as the individual’s experience, and the transformation he or she goes though as a result, will surely have an effect on the consciousness and reality of others.

I later discovered that Kundalini is associated with the ancient art of Alchemy, known as the Magnus Opus (“The Great Work.”)

  Those of us who are familiar with this ancient art would be aware that there are two “Great Works” associated with Alchemy – each reflecting the other. One of these is the transmutation of base metals to gold and the making of the ‘elixir of life.’ These processes are well known by those interested in the occult, and are associated with the external process.

  The other is less known in society but more important; being one’s work upon the self – the transformation of the self from base human to “perfect being.” This is the inner process, which, if successful, guarantees one’s immortality. It is this inner process that is associated with Kundalini.

Now, going back to Paul’s own description of his ‘core-experience,’ we were aware of something that only those who have a low sex drive would have overlooked. Again, Paul said that he had felt a “powerful energy” concentrated along the spine and that this energy was moving up and down the full length of his body; gaining in speed – finally ending suddenly with a bright white “explosion” in the head.

  Paul’s description of this “energy phenomenon” certainly did something for the imagination! It was as if throughout the experience, his body had acted like a large, man-sized penis, which had been masturbated to a climactic orgasm!

  The reader is allowed to laugh – but I would ask the reader to keep in mind that one’s climactic experience of this ‘energy phenomenon’ known as Kundalini is indeed comparable to sexual orgasm. Why? Because again, Kundalini – like the act of coitus (the sexual fusion between male and female) is the ‘fusion’ of the male and female energies within one individual.

  For a brief moment, one is androgynous and is in-dividual in the true meaning of the word – i.e., non-divided.

  This fusion in consciousness between one’s mind and body, and also between one’s masculine (animus) and feminine (anima) halves, is many times more intense than any sexually induced orgasm. This is the ultimate “having sex with oneself” – something that is several levels above the ‘self abuse’ we would associate with a quick “one off the wrist.”

  We could say that while in this state, we have also fused together the opposites associated with particle-wave duality  – meaning that the ‘quantum field’ where both these opposites are cancelled out must be quite orgasmic in its experience – which of course accounts for the ecstatic ‘rapturous’ experiences associated with enlightenment – also the shamanic ekstasis.

Its no wonder then, that this experience – which is close to the ‘quintessential state of perfection’ often apprised in Alchemical literature, is also – and to all intents and purposes – the aim of Tantra or Tantric Yoga, which utilises sexual intercourse in such a way that one can experience the ‘ecstasy’ (the Shaman’s ekstasis) often associated with trance, altered states of consciousness and spiritual enlightenment.

  In Chinese Alchemy, the external process – i.e., that of making Gold and discovering the elixir of life (known to the Chinese Alchemists as the Pill of Immortality) is known as wai tan (pronounced ‘way dan.’)

  The internal process associated with the Hindu Kundalini – in which ancient sexual techniques are also used – is known as nei tan (pronounced ‘nay dan.’)

  The sex rituals associated with the darker side of the occult, as in ‘Black Magic,’ is a more debased corruption of these ancient Chinese and Hindu-Tantric principles in which people will often use the energy for evil intents and purposes.

  Most important to remember, is that in its pure state, the powerful energy of consciousness itself is neutral – neither masculine (yang) or feminine (yin) but something that is a composite of both – known in China as C’hi, in India as prana, and in some esoteric schools of thought as the ‘Third Force.’

  Once “tapped” and released from its Source, this neutral energy can be used either positively or negatively.

  As stated, one of the many insights that came to me is that we are all “tapping” this energy every moment from the Centre of our consciousness so as to create the reality around us; but the amount we “tap” is fixed within certain parameters. Again, these parameters can be overridden, whereby an abundance of energy can be released all at once and in a very short time and this is the Kundalini experience associated with enlightenment. This is why in the East it is thought that ‘Nirvana’ or ‘Samâdhi’ (enlightenment) gained through the Awakening of Kundalini, can really only be achieved by the hard disciplined work associated with Yoga.

Now the above is only a brief summary of Kundalini – most of it as described by the mystical traditions of the East. The information regarding the energy levels of the spinal column and the idea that the information patterns of our surrounding reality are being generated by the Chakras at these levels, stems from my own insights. I am aware that at this early stage these descriptions and the insights being put forward may seem confusing if not questionable or unbelievable to the reader – especially the reader who is more scientifically-minded.

  It’s true that this phenomenon – along with people’s accounts and descriptions of it – is something that does not “fit in” with the reality of most people – especially those of us in the West. Hopefully this confusion will be lessened to some degree when I give more of my own insights into the Kundalini phenomenon – most of which had come to me after my own experience of it in 1993.

  These insights into the strange nature of Kundalini make this “evolutionary phenomenon in Man”[3] easier to understand – especially as I have now connected it to many other subjects of enquiry that are now familiar to most of us. Again, these insights will be given throughout the course of this work.

  Having to summarise most of the information I have gathered together – just for this introductory essay on Kundalini, has not been easy, as one thing leads into another, and then another, and so on. I have had to exclude a lot of the more important connections I have made so as to make this introduction short but also stimulating enough to capture the reader’s interest, and so all these things will be dealt with in other ways and in more depth in other articles on this site.