Transcending the Serpent: A Non-Dual Understanding of Kundalini

From the moment of our birth, there is a subtle presence within each of us, a ‘coiled serpent’ lying dormant at the base of our spine. This serpent, often referred to as kundalini, is both the embodiment of our ego and the essence of our deepest lessons in this lifetime. Like the ego, it is what we are here to understand, learn from, and ultimately transcend. The serpent’s presence can be felt in our bodies in various forms - even when we are still children - such as inexplicable blockages or various underlying ailments. These are subtle indications of kundalini's existence, waiting to be recognised and consciously understood.

The Serpent Awakens: Adolescence 

During our early years, the serpent remains mostly dormant, shaping itself as the ego—our sense of separateness and individuality. It lies in wait, subtly influencing our development. As we enter adolescence, the serpent begins to stir more noticeably. Hormones like testosterone surge, and with them come heightened emotions, desires, and a stronger sense of self. This awakening often corresponds with a root chakra that is increasingly tensing up, which can manifest as concerns about self-esteem, a fixation on what others think of us, feelings of insecurity, and a pervasive sense of being unsafe or unsupported. The ego-serpent becomes more active and assertive, influencing our thoughts and actions. This period is often marked by a profound interplay of extremes—intense highs and deep lows—mirroring the serpent's rising energy and the dualistic nature of the ego.

The Garden of Eden and the Knowledge of the Serpent

The ancient story of the Garden of Eden symbolises this fundamental choice we all face: the serpent offers us the knowledge of good and evil, the dualistic mind, and the egoic sense of self. This knowledge, while necessary for the development of individuality and discernment, also binds us to a cycle of dualities—pleasure and pain, gain and loss, right and wrong. In coming to this Earth, we have already bitten from the apple; we have entered into the world of duality and separation, and our journey here is to unwind the false beliefs that keep us bound to this cycle. To accept the serpent’s knowledge is to engage in the world of form and separation, forgetting our true nature of presence and natural peace.

Yet, the serpent also represents the potential for awakening. As we become more conscious through practices like meditation, we begin to see the serpent for what it truly is: a force that guards the threshold to our deeper awareness. In meditation, as our consciousness expands, the serpent becomes visible; it rises to the surface, often becoming defensive. This is the ego fighting for its life as it clings to its identity and its perception of reality. The serpent’s visibility marks the beginning of the kundalini energy awakening—the journey of seeing through the illusory dualities, unwinding the false beliefs that we are here to transcend, and remembering our innate wholeness.

Transcending the Serpent: Paths to Liberation

The serpent's influence is strong, but there are ways to transcend its grasp and return to our True Self. Here are some paths that can help in transcending its hold:

1. Meditation:
   Meditation is the practice of turning our attention inward, away from the distractions of the ego and the external world. As we become more conscious and aware, the serpent rises, revealing itself in our thoughts, emotions, and sensations. This rising is not to be feared but embraced as a natural part of our awakening. By witnessing the serpent’s dance without attachment, we begin to let go of clinging to highs and resisting the lows, thus transcending joy and sorrow. Equanimity emerges as we recognise the transient nature of all experiences. 
   
   
2. Dowsing:
   Dowsing is an ancient practice of tuning into the guidance of those who have transcended this realm. By connecting with these higher beings, we align ourselves with a wisdom that is beyond the limitations of the ego and leads us back to the all-embracing Awareness that we are, on all levels. 
   
   
3. Being in Nature:
   Nature is the great teacher, the original mirror reflecting our true state of Being. In its pure presence and natural cycles, nature stands untouched by the mind's fears and complexities. The serpent represents the tree of knowledge, which seeks to lead us away from this purity into tensions, beliefs, and cycles of opposites. However, when we immerse ourselves in the natural world, we reconnect with the essence of life beyond the serpent's grasp - we are reminded of our innate state of pure Awareness and are gently guided away from the mind’s endless chatter and conflicts.
   
   
4. Abstinence from sex:
   Sexual energy is kundalini itself. It is the life force that drives creation and passion. By choosing to abstain from sex & self-pleasure, even temporarily, we redirect this potent energy inward, using it to fuel our spiritual awakening and to let go of blockages rather than dissipating it through physical release. This conscious redirection can help us rise above the serpent’s allure and connect more deeply with our true nature, which ultimately leads to actions & creations that are more aligned with Truth, and to having more energy and improved overall well-being. 

The Path of Equanimity and the Transcendence of Duality

As we walk these paths, we begin to understand that the serpent is not an enemy but a necessary aspect of our journey. The highest highs and the lowest lows we experience are reflections of the serpent’s movement through our consciousness, highlighting the dualistic nature of the ego. It is through these experiences that we learn to cultivate equanimity, embracing all things without attachment or aversion.

The journey of kundalini is the journey of self-transcendence. Our task is not to fight the serpent as it whispers its un-truths, but to understand its nature and overcome its influence.

In this awakening, we return to the Garden—not as naive beings unaware of knowledge, but as conscious individuals who have integrated the serpent and found peace in the eternal presence of being. The serpent’s knowledge has served its purpose - all that it had to say has been processed - and the transfiguration process has been completed to reveal the Body of Christ. We are now free to live in the peace and simplicity that is our true essence.

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