The Universe is governed by the laws of balance and harmony. The Duality theory - the idea of two equal opposite energies can be traced in every aspect: Spirit and Matter, The Sun and The Moon, Male and Female. According to Shaivism, one of the major branches of Yogic Philosophy, divine masculine energy takes the form of the Shiva and a divine feminine energy takes the form of the Goddess Shakti. All of us have divine masculine (Shiva) aspects and divine feminine (Shakti) aspects to our being.
The Nature of Shiva Energy
Shiva is the yogi God with his naked torso and muscled legs, with dreadlocks and a snake around his neck. He carries a trident and has a peaceful face. Shiva is the womb from which everything is born and is the oblivion into which everything is sucked back. Everything comes from Shiva and goes back to Shiva. Shiva is the very energy on which the entire creation rests. This energy pervades the entire universe and is present within every living being. This energy is called the Shiva Tattva. Shiva represents a permanent, unchanging eternal consciousness. His energy is solid, straightforward and invincible. He gives roots to the masculine principle of the Universe. The nature of Shiva energy is steadfast, stable, peaceful, strong and totally unmoved with complete presence. Shiva represents the state of being unmoved by pain or suffering brought on by the external world. He is centered, grounded and compassionate. We can invoke his pure presence through meditation to call in the extraordinary qualities of Shiva into our own being.
The Nature of Shakti Energy
Shakti has long hair, large almond shaped eyes and delicate features. She wears a flowing silk cloth and one of her feet is raised in a dance. If Shiva is the soul then Parvati is the kundalini resting in the body. Shakti is Observation and Shiva is the Observer. Shakti is the energy and Shiva is the awareness. When Shiva embraces her, she transforms into Devi or Goddess who like a Mother provides life everything that is required to sustain it. Shakti is the feminine energy nourishing Shiva's consciousness and giving him an ability to create the world. Shakti is exquisitely beautiful with a flowing and shape-shifting quality to her — embracing reality as a dance. She is fluid, flowing and powerfully flexible. Shiva is pure being in its stillness. Shakti is pure becoming in all her flow and creativity as well as her endless opening to possibility. Shakti energy can be wildly sensual, raw and expressive. Shakti energy can be seen in everything that lives as the manifest, while Shiva energy is formless.
The Shakti energy within us can take the form of prana, that life force energy that flows through our nadis or subtle energy channels. The Shakti energy can also take the form of kundalini energy, that coiled energy that lies dormant at the base of the spine until it is unleashed. When this happens, a kundalini awakening occurs, in which the Shakti energy awakens and moves through the central channel, or the sushumna nadi, along which the seven chakras reside. This is when deep cleansing, healing and transformation takes place — and it all happens through the movement of Shakti energy within.
In union, Shiva and Shakti make up the half-woman Lord known as Ardhanarishvara. These two divinely sacred energies are equal and opposite forces. We can’t have one without the other. We can integrate Shiva and Shakti within our inner consciousness, within our entire being. These sacred powers can open us up and transform our very being. Shiva resides in the Sahasrāra Chakra and Shakti in the Mūlādhāra Chakra. When Prakriti and Purusha unite in the Sahasrāra Chakra, knowledge, knower and the object of knowledge become one. Once we have experienced this no desires remain within us because we realise unequivocally that everything we have ever yearned for is carried within us. In this state of absolute consciousness there are no polarities and therefore no more sorrows; there is only everlasting joy, unconditional love, unlimited compassion and total understanding for all living beings.
It’s said that our feminine side resides on our left side, while the masculine resides on our right side. We hold these energies within us and, when united, there’s a complete Balance and Joy within our very being. The right side is home to the Pingala Nadi, a channel carrying prana or ‘life force energy’ from the base of the spine, through each of the chakras, up to the top of the head. The Pingala Nadi represents the sun, heat, fiery energy and stimulation and we can actually enhance these energies in our own body and mind by practicing Surya Bhedana or ‘right nostril breathing’.
The left channel links to Ida Nadi, a channel dedicated to feminine energy on the left side of the body, also running from the tailbone, through the chakras and uniting with Pingala Nadi at the top of the head. When inhaling primarily through the left nostril (a techniques known as ‘chandra bhedana’ or ‘moon activating’ breath) – linked to ida nadi – the sympathetic or ‘rest and digest’ side of the nervous system is activated, lowering blood pressure and body temperature, calming stress levels and reducing anxiety.
When you’re approaching a situation that perhaps requires more ‘Shiva’ energy, practice right nostril breathing, and when your ‘Shakti’ energy is required, practice left nostril breathing. A simple way to balance the two energies, is to regularly practice Nadi Shodhana, or ‘alternate nostril breathing’.
To start tuning into the various rhythms of nature and how their Shiva and Shakti energy affects us, it’s useful to cultivate a relationship and connection to the sun (a traditionally ‘Shiva’ aspect) and the moon (A ‘Shakti’ planet). To tune into the Sun, begin a practice of watching the sunrise and sunset as often as you can. Doing this is perhaps one of the oldest rituals humans have had and is a wonderful way to come back to our more primal, instinctual selves, as well as helping the body clock get back into a healthy rhythm.
To connect to the Moon, observe the changing lunar phases, and reflect upon how the moon may be impacting your own energy levels. Many of us may recognise that a full moon can very much heighten emotions and this is a great time to think about letting go of things you’ve been holding on to over the past cycle. A new moon is a time for deep rest and introspection, planning and self-care.
