| Kundalini is a Sanskrit word, literally meaning | | | | breathing in and out, in and out rhythmically - once |
| "coiled." It is envisioned, in Indian yoga and | | | | again, inhaling through the nose and exhaling |
| meditation, as an unconscious force. This force is | | | | through the mouth - is widely reported to be the |
| believed to sleep coiled at the base of the spine, | | | | best method of calming the mind and banishing |
| like a snake. As a spiritual experience, kundalini has | | | | mental chatter. |
| parallels to many of the world's great mystical | | | | The rising-upward flow of kundalini meditation |
| traditions, thus testifying to its wide appeal. | | | | often employs visualization of a pink bubble. As a |
| Christian Pentecostalism, Quakerism, Judaic | | | | thought comes into mind, the subject puts it in |
| torso-rocking prayer, Islamic dervishes and the | | | | the bubble and then releases it into the air, |
| flowing movements of tai chi are among the | | | | watching as it floats away. Up and out goes the |
| practices with similarities to kundalini. | | | | flow of all negative energy, all chatter and clutter, |
| Breathing is very important during kundalini | | | | as the body lightens and the spirit along with it. |
| meditation. Many of its practitioners find it helpful | | | | Next, the subject should picture her- or himself |
| to inhale through the nose and exhale through the | | | | surrounded by a white sphere of light. From the |
| mouth, as this helps them focus on their breathing | | | | base of the spine, a tiny root is imagined to be |
| and assures enough oxygen to the brain to aid | | | | growing. It will continue to grow from back and |
| alertness. The aim, in kundalini, is to let energy and | | | | head down into the earth, continuing on down to |
| strength flow upward in the body from the base | | | | the earth's white-hot core. Then will the core's |
| of the spine. Thus is good posture also very | | | | energy travel back up that root, through the |
| important. The straighter the spine, the better. | | | | body, and right up through the top of the head. |
| Tightness in the muscles is to be avoided. Before | | | | Pain and discomfort should leave the body as the |
| even beginning actual meditation, exercises are | | | | light visualized flows upward and outward. Kundalini |
| recommended to relax the muscles. In Kundalini | | | | meditation has been very successful in ridding |
| this relaxation is done in the direction opposite the | | | | migraine sufferers of their pain. Other painful |
| upward flow of energy, or from the top of the | | | | illnesses that may benefit greatly from this type |
| head to the tips of the toes. Next, the mind must | | | | of meditation include arthritis and fibromyalgia. In |
| be quieted, calming the busy flow of thoughts | | | | kundalini meditation, the pain is often visualized as |
| that might otherwise crowd out peaceful | | | | a black mass, surrounded by the light, reduced to |
| meditation. If music is used to help in relaxation, | | | | the size of a tiny spot and borne out of the body |
| only soothing songs, without lyrics, should be used. | | | | through the top of the head. |
| If distracting chatter from the mind is still a | | | | The creative visualization process of kundalini |
| problem, it is recommended that attention be | | | | meditation can help its practitioners to literally think |
| returned to breathing. Simply focusing on | | | | themselves well. |