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Kundalini Awakening

Kundalini Awakening

A Gentle Guide to Chakra Activation and Spiritual Growth
by John Selby 2009 234 pages
4.02
100+ ratings
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Key Takeaways

1. Kundalini Awakening: Unleashing the Dormant Energy Within

Kundalini meditation is a powerful, and pleasurable, way to wake them all up.

Dormant energy. Kundalini is a powerful lifeforce energy that lies dormant at the base of the spine. Through specific meditation techniques, this energy can be awakened and channeled up through the body's energy centers, or chakras. This process leads to heightened awareness, spiritual growth, and a deeper connection with one's inner self.

Gradual awakening. It's important to approach kundalini awakening gradually and with respect. Rushing the process or using extreme techniques can lead to imbalances or overwhelming experiences. The goal is to gently and consistently practice kundalini meditation, allowing the energy to rise naturally and harmoniously through the chakras.

Benefits of practice. Regular kundalini meditation can lead to:

  • Increased vitality and energy
  • Enhanced creativity and intuition
  • Greater emotional balance
  • Deeper spiritual insights
  • Improved overall well-being

2. The Seven Chakras: Balancing Your Energy Centers

Thus from the most lowly, as the Chinese proverb states, we rise to the great heights.

Energy vortexes. The seven chakras are energetic centers aligned along the spine, each associated with specific physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of our being. From bottom to top, they are:

  1. Root Chakra (Muladhara): Survival, grounding, stability
  2. Sacral Chakra (Svadhisthana): Creativity, sexuality, emotions
  3. Solar Plexus Chakra (Manipura): Personal power, will, confidence
  4. Heart Chakra (Anahata): Love, compassion, connection
  5. Throat Chakra (Vishuddha): Communication, self-expression
  6. Third Eye Chakra (Ajna): Intuition, wisdom, insight
  7. Crown Chakra (Sahasrara): Spiritual connection, enlightenment

Balanced flow. The goal of kundalini practice is to create a balanced flow of energy through all seven chakras. When chakras are blocked or overactive, it can lead to physical, emotional, or spiritual imbalances. Through meditation, breath work, and other techniques, practitioners aim to clear blockages and allow energy to flow freely through the entire system.

3. Breath as the Gateway to Spiritual Awakening

Breathing is in fact a breath meditation.

Conscious breathing. The breath is a powerful tool for accessing higher states of consciousness and awakening kundalini energy. By bringing awareness to the breath, we anchor ourselves in the present moment and create a bridge between the conscious and unconscious mind.

Breath techniques. Some key breath practices for kundalini awakening include:

  • Alternate Nostril Breathing: Balances the left and right hemispheres of the brain
  • Breath of Fire: Rapidly energizes the system and stimulates kundalini
  • Kumbhaka (Breath Retention): Builds internal energy and focus

Energy pump. Conscious breathing acts as an energy pump, drawing kundalini energy upward from the base of the spine and circulating it through the chakras. Regular practice of these techniques can lead to profound shifts in awareness and spiritual growth.

4. Mantra Chanting: Vibrations that Unlock Consciousness

"He who knows the secret of the sounds knows the mystery of the whole universe."

Sacred sounds. Mantras are sacred sounds or phrases that, when chanted, create specific vibrations in the body and mind. Each chakra is associated with a particular sound, known as a bija mantra. By chanting these mantras, we can activate and balance the corresponding chakras.

Chakra mantras:

  • Root Chakra: LAM
  • Sacral Chakra: VAM
  • Solar Plexus Chakra: RAM
  • Heart Chakra: YAM
  • Throat Chakra: HAM
  • Third Eye Chakra: OM
  • Crown Chakra: Silence

Vibrational healing. Chanting mantras not only helps to balance the chakras but also has a purifying effect on the mind and body. The vibrations created by chanting can help to clear mental and emotional blockages, reduce stress, and induce a meditative state.

5. Visual Meditation: Harnessing the Power of Mandalas

Mandala artwork serves the primary purpose of helping us to focus deep within our own minds through focusing on a visual rendering that aids in spiritual balancing.

Sacred geometry. Mandalas are geometric designs that represent the cosmos and serve as tools for meditation and spiritual growth. Each chakra is associated with a specific mandala design, incorporating colors, shapes, and symbols that resonate with that energy center.

Meditative focus. When meditating on a mandala:

  1. Begin by observing the overall design
  2. Focus on the center point
  3. Allow your gaze to soften and take in the entire image
  4. Notice any thoughts, feelings, or sensations that arise

Integrative practice. Combining mandala meditation with breath work and mantra chanting creates a powerful, multi-sensory approach to kundalini awakening. This integrative practice engages multiple aspects of consciousness, leading to deeper insights and transformative experiences.

6. The Heart Chakra: Centerpoint of Love and Transformation

Love transforms will, and will empowers love.

Balance point. The Heart Chakra (Anahata) is the central point of the chakra system, bridging the lower, more physical chakras with the upper, more spiritual chakras. It is the seat of love, compassion, and transformation.

Integrating opposites. The Heart Chakra plays a crucial role in:

  • Balancing masculine and feminine energies
  • Harmonizing the physical and spiritual aspects of self
  • Transforming lower chakra energies into higher vibrations

Compassionate action. By focusing on the Heart Chakra, practitioners learn to act from a place of love and compassion, rather than fear or ego. This shift in perspective can lead to profound changes in relationships, decision-making, and overall life experience.

7. Overcoming Fear: The Path to Spiritual Expansion

Fear is the great enemy of spiritual growth.

Contraction vs. expansion. Fear causes contraction in the body and mind, blocking the flow of kundalini energy and limiting spiritual growth. Conversely, love and trust allow for expansion and openness to new experiences and insights.

Facing fears. To progress on the kundalini path, it's essential to:

  1. Identify and acknowledge personal fears
  2. Develop trust in the natural unfolding of the spiritual process
  3. Practice techniques that promote relaxation and openness

Gentle approach. A gradual, gentle approach to kundalini awakening helps to build confidence and reduce fear. By consistently practicing breath work, meditation, and other techniques, practitioners can slowly expand their comfort zone and embrace deeper levels of spiritual experience.

8. Balancing Masculine and Feminine Energies

We have made a great error in our interpretation of the American Constitution in this regard. We have assumed that religion and sixth-chakra spiritual intuition are the same, and thus have thrown out the baby with the bathwater.

Yin and yang. In the chakra system, masculine (yang) and feminine (yin) energies alternate:

  • Root Chakra: Masculine
  • Sacral Chakra: Feminine
  • Solar Plexus Chakra: Masculine
  • Heart Chakra: Feminine
  • Throat Chakra: Masculine
  • Third Eye Chakra: Feminine
  • Crown Chakra: Beyond duality

Cultural imbalance. Many modern societies overemphasize masculine qualities (logic, action, control) at the expense of feminine qualities (intuition, receptivity, nurturing). This imbalance can lead to personal and collective disharmony.

Holistic integration. Kundalini practice aims to balance and integrate both masculine and feminine energies within the individual. This integration leads to greater wholeness, creativity, and spiritual growth. By honoring both aspects of our nature, we can achieve a more harmonious and fulfilling life experience.

9. The Third Eye: Merging Duality into Unity

As the Buddha was quoted saying in the beginning of this book: true enlightenment means letting go of even the concept of Enlightenment itself.

Beyond duality. The Third Eye Chakra (Ajna) represents the point where duality merges into unity. It is associated with intuition, wisdom, and spiritual insight.

Transcending concepts. To fully awaken the Third Eye:

  1. Let go of rigid concepts and beliefs
  2. Cultivate a state of open awareness
  3. Allow intuitive insights to arise naturally

Balancing intuition and logic. The Third Eye Chakra helps to integrate intuitive wisdom with logical thinking. This balance leads to more holistic decision-making and a deeper understanding of reality.

10. Effortless Bliss: The Ultimate Goal of Kundalini Practice

You can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink.

Spontaneous awakening. The ultimate goal of kundalini practice is to experience the blissful state of unity consciousness associated with the Crown Chakra (Sahasrara). This state cannot be forced or manufactured; it arises spontaneously when the practitioner is ready.

Preparing the ground. While we cannot directly cause the experience of bliss, we can create favorable conditions for its emergence:

  1. Consistent practice of kundalini techniques
  2. Cultivation of present-moment awareness
  3. Letting go of attachment to outcomes

Living in grace. As kundalini energy rises and chakras become balanced, practitioners may experience moments of spontaneous bliss in everyday life. The ultimate aim is not to constantly seek extraordinary experiences, but to live with grace, awareness, and appreciation for the inherent beauty of existence.

Last updated:

Review Summary

4.02 out of 5
Average of 100+ ratings from Goodreads and Amazon.

Readers find Kundalini awakening useful for meditation and personal growth. Some praise its methodical approach to chakra meditations, pranayama, and mantras, while others appreciate the breathing and visualization exercises. The book receives high marks for its potential to radically change one's life through spiritual growth. However, some readers find certain sections long-winded, particularly when connecting energy centers to physics. Overall, the book is well-received, with an average rating of 4.02 out of 5 based on 122 reviews.

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About the Author

John Selby is a multifaceted individual with a diverse background. Raised on a California ranch, he studied psychology at Princeton and conducted EEG brain research. He became a Presbyterian minister and spiritual therapist before pursuing screenwriting in Hollywood. Selby later worked as a therapist, wrote self-help books, and developed audio/video content for meditation and emotional growth. He has lived in various locations, including Guatemala, Europe, and Hawaii. Currently residing in Santa Cruz, Selby continues to write fiction and non-fiction, develop mindfulness apps, and assist other authors in publishing their work.

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