Kundalini (Sanskrit kuṇḍalinī, कुण्डलिनी, “coiled one”), in yogic theory, is a primal energy, or shakti, located at the base of the spine. Different spiritual traditions teach methods of “awakening” kundalini for the purpose of reaching spiritual enlightenment. Kundalini is described as lying “coiled” at the base of the spine, represented as either a goddess or sleeping serpent waiting to be awakened. In modern commentaries, Kundalini has been called an unconscious, instinctive or libidinal force, or “mother energy or intelligence of complete maturation.” (from wiki)
Kundalini
20×24″ | gouache, wax pastel, colored pencil, and acrylic on paper-mounted wood cradled panel | original and prints, here…
Medusa was the original inspiration for this piece. I’ve always maintained that she was just misunderstood. As I worked on her though, she emerged less as a misunderstood enemy-of-men, and more about strength, energy, and instinct. At first I thought… Eve? But I let go of my Catholic brainwashing upbringing in favor of the Sanskrit teaching about Kundalini energy. That felt right.
Whatever label though, serpentine energy runs through her, (and above, around, and behind her). I’m terrified of snakes, and not irrationally. They cause 90,000 deaths a year! They are killers. But still, there is a mysterious snake beauty – their ancient slithering motion that echoes the motion of waves and wind… they’re sensual, instinctive, and intuitive…
The part of our brain we share with snakes is the limbic brain… storing the primal, basic, reptilian part of us — pre-emotion, pre-cognition… Meditating on the snake, despite their dangerousness, connected me with the quiet part of myself, the most primal. Therein lies the lessons.
Speedy lil time-lapse as I paint:
♥ ~ Meghan Oona
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