In this rich and wide-ranging episode of Cura Medicina, Derek welcomes Cynthia Abulafia, author of Embodying the Goddess, advocate for goddess lineages, and longtime student of yoga, tantra, non-duality, Sanskrit, and sacred texts. Together, they explore the living presence of the Divine Feminine, the transformational force of Kundalini awakening, and the deeper meaning of Kali as both void and pulsation.
Cynthia shares how a powerful Kundalini awakening and her personal transformation journeys in her twenties opened her into a long mystical process—one she later came to understand as the movement of the Goddess herself. She describes how Kali entered her life not as an abstract symbol, but as a specific, living doorway into both destruction and liberation. The conversation moves beyond simplified ideas of “the Goddess” and into the paradox of the particular and the universal.
A central theme of the episode is non-duality through a Tantric lens. Cynthia challenges the idea that spiritual realization ends in the void, stillness, or transcendence. Drawing on Tantric Shaivism, Utpaladeva, Abhinavagupta, and the Kali traditions, she offers a profound reframing: true non-duality is not only the dissolution of self into emptiness but also the return into life, body, sensation, relationship, and sacred pulsation.
Through the dedicated practice of kundalini yoga and intentional breathwork, seekers can begin to stir the metaphorical serpent at the base of the spine, initiating a profound kundalini awakening. This process is not merely about physical yoga; it is a deep spiritual journey of healing and transformation that clears the energy centers and aligns the chakras. By integrating meditation and mindfulness, you can learn to channel this rising energy to expand your consciousness and reclaim your inner power. Ultimately, this path leads to greater balance, enlightenment, and a heightened sense of presence, proving that a true kundalini experience is a gateway to the soul's highest evolution.
Connect with Cynthia
https://www.cynthiaabulafia.com/
https://www.instagram.com/cynthiaabulafiayoga/
00:00 Introduction to the Divine Feminine Journey
04:10 Personal Awakening and the Goddess Connection
06:57 The Shift from Analytical to Spiritual Perspectives
09:56 Exploring Non-Duality and the Goddess
12:52 Faith, Curiosity, and the Nature of Reality
15:43 Understanding Kali and Her Many Forms
18:31 Non-Duality: Perspectives and Philosophies
21:12 The Intersection of Pulsation and Stillness
23:47 Tantra and the Dynamic Nature of Existence
33:37 The Power of Naming and Perception
34:31 The Journey of Spiritual Traditions
35:40 Death and Dying in Spiritual Practices
38:29 The Concept of Mahasamadhi
41:00 The Spiral of Existence
43:21 Kundalini Awakening Experiences
51:33 The Role of Sacred Texts
57:17 Devotional Practices and Rituals
01:06:32 End Clip Youtube.mp4
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My Vision & Prayer
May all beings be happy.
May all beings be free.
May all beings find their way home.
~ Om Mani Padme Hum
TAGS: transformative healing experiences, spiritual awakening, spirituality and wellness, kundalini, personal transformation journeys, kundalini yoga, wellness and spirituality podcast, spiritual curiosity, cynthia abulafia, cura medicina, kali, goddess, non duality, divine feminine, rituals, devotional practices, spiritual traditions, tantric, serpent, chakras, tantra
