It's a feeling unlike any other. Many of those who have experienced it have been fascinated and terrified all at the same time. The sensation often begins as a sudden surge of energy that starts at the base of the spine and rapidly moves upward, giving an individual the clear experience of being plugged into the wall and lit up like a Christmas tree.The rise of "Kundalini Energy" is as ancient as history itself. It is also called "The Serpentine Fire" as it makes its way up the spinal canal (also called the sushumna) in an alternating spiral that would resemble a pair of intertwining snakes if it were seen clearly for any length of time.
We see the rise of the Kundalini portrayed very aptly in the design of the Staff of Hermes, also known as the Caduceus. The modern medical profession has adopted this symbol as their standard---two snakes intertwined around a pole that is lifted high for all to see.
The power that comes through the lower part of the body is what energy healers call "Earth Energy." It is the primal self, the physical self, as it connects to the elements: the tides, the winds, the animals, the soil, and the very rhythm of life upon our planet.
The human body is, quite literally, designed to be a *channel* for this energy. In a sense, each of us is a fragment of the total Planetary Soul which is reaching towards the sky. This process of reaching, however, is not without its perils or its fears. Since time began, there has been a certain sense of dread and apprehension about our connections with what's "up there." As we work, as we play, we also *wonder.* We reach for the heavens, but we also shrink back at the same time. From the moment the body begins to move on its own, the muscular and nervous system begin to compensate for this conflict between curiosity and fear. A child begins to run with complete trust and abandon. He reaches for everything, and nearly drives his parents crazy! However, there are those times when his reaching produces painful results instead of pleasant ones. Perhaps his hand inadvertently touches a flame, or maybe a careless turn causes him to take a nasty tumble that breaks an arm or bruises a leg.
When the child encounters difficulty as a result of his exploration, he can learn to respond in a number of ways. Certainly, he can choose to shrink back and never explore again. Many people have learned to become very passive because of some trauma they suffered within their early childhood. On the other hand, resistance or hardship encountered in his exploration can make a child become very *determined* as well. Like a caterpillar pushing its way out of a cocoon, many children learn to become tenacious about getting what they want and doing whatever they desire, no matter what the consequences!
The balance between determination and hesitancy sets a "tone" in the life of each person. Each of us exists as a crystallization of matter which portrays this tug-o-war between two opposing forces. Some of us embody complete courage and almost foolhardy bravado. Others represent the other end of the spectrum, rarely leaving our houses for fear that something awful will happen to us. Most, however, exist somewhere in between....read more...