Shiva's Descent

Many yogic lineages put a strong emphasis in the rising of Kundalini, but put almost no emphasis on the descent of the Shiva energy down the spine. I believe Shiva's descent is equally important to Kundalini Ma's ascent, though a bit more difficult to achieve.

Kundalini is a vast powerhouse of primal energy, and the Shiva current is the stillness of awakened awareness. From a Kriya yoga perspective, the Kundalini brings the energy and
blockages in the lower centers up to the light of day to be transformed, and the Shiva energy brings that enlightened awareness into the worldly realm, creating heaven on Earth, and a deep abiding peace.

When we are really spiritually awake, we come to the realization that spiritual reality completely interpenetrates our entire existence.. There is no separation between the worldly and the spiritual. Many spiritual traditions emphasize getting beyond worldly existence, when we are already in Eden, but have lost the eyes to see it. The Shakti or kundalini current purifies the vehicle. The Shiva current merges with that energy and imbues it with awakened awareness. Together, they can help us to remember our sacred wholeness.

So what is this Shiva energy, and how do we open ourselves to it?
The Kundalini and Shiva currents travel up and down the spinal nerve from root to crown, and crown to root. More specifically, in many tantric techniques, the upper chakra focus is actually on the third eye, as the crown chakra opening is a result of all the lower chakric centers opening. So perhaps it would be more accurate to say from the root to the third eye, and back down.

Part of the trick to allowing the Shiva energy to flow down the spinal nerve, is in opening the "Shiva's Smile," which is located at the juncture of the spine and the skull in the occiput, and more specifically, the Medulla Oblongata, which is located in the dent between the two occipital lobes. To open the Shiva's Smile, place a little Mona Lisa smile on your face, and then transpose it back to the occipital ridge. You can actually move the bones back there with this exercise. When the Shiva's smile is activated, it opens the flood gates so the energy may descend back down the spine when you place your attention on it. When the Shiva energy is flowing, you might experience a rush of warmth moving down the spine, and a sense of alert relaxation. When it descents back to the root, you may even experience a rush of sexual energy, and the kundalini begins it's ascent again.

Sometimes people get headaches or a sense of "burn out" when they get a lot of Kundalini energy cranking up their spine. When you allow the energy back down the spinal nerve, it quiets the nervous system. It is very nurturing to the entire system. A lot of "kundalini burn out" symptoms are due to too much energy moving up to the head without balancing the flow back down to the root.

Sylvia Brallier
Director of The Tantric Shamanism, Institute

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