Shakti
Also known as: Divine feminine energy
Sanskrit: शक्ति (shakti), meaning 'power,' 'energy,' or 'capacity.'
Shakti is the Sanskrit term for divine feminine energy or creative power, understood in tantric and yogic traditions as the dynamic, active force that animates consciousness. In Kundalini Yoga, the dormant energy at the base of the spine is specifically referred to as Kundalini Shakti.
In many tantric frameworks, Shakti is paired conceptually with Shiva, representing pure consciousness, with the two described as inseparable aspects of a single reality: consciousness and its dynamic power to manifest and act. Devotional traditions personify Shakti as a goddess, and kundalini practices are often framed as an invocation of this energy.
In tantric philosophy, Shakti is described as the dynamic, active principle inseparable from Shiva, static, pure consciousness; the two are considered incomplete without each other, a pairing often depicted iconographically as the god Shiva and goddess Shakti in union. Kundalini is understood as a specific, localized form of Shakti, dormant at the base of the spine, which is why kundalini practices are sometimes described within this tradition as awakening the divine feminine principle within the practitioner's own subtle body.
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Related Terms
Kundalini
Kundalini is a subtle energy described in yogic and tantric traditions as lying dormant, often symbolized as a coiled serpent, at the base of the spine. Through practices such as pranayama, asana, and meditation, this energy is said to be gradually awakened and directed upward through the body's subtle channels.
Chakra
Chakras are subtle energy centers described in yogic and tantric anatomy, traditionally numbered at seven along the spine from the base to the crown of the head. Each is associated with specific qualities, glands, and psychological themes, and is used as a focus for meditation, breathwork, and energy practices.