The Emerald Semele, Kuṇḍalinī, and the Path of Interiorized Lightning
May 8, 2021
Discover the ancient tales of lightning and their role in global mythology, especially through the story of Semele and Dionysus. The podcast delves into the concept of 'interiorized lightning,' linking ecstatic spiritual practices across cultures. Explore the transformative power of lightning in rituals, and how it symbolizes destruction and rebirth. Vibrant discussions on Kundalini energy reveal its connection to ecstatic experiences, inviting listeners to engage deeply with these traditions in a meditative space.
01:13:08
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Intro
00:00 • 12min
Lightning as a Pathway to Divine Experience
11:52 • 24min
The Cosmic Dance of Lightning and Kundalini
35:39 • 30min
The Myth of Semele and Ecstasy Through Water
01:05:10 • 6min
Exploring Kundalini Practices and Community Engagement
01:11:07 • 2min
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Stories of lightning and lightning-bearers pervade global mythology. With so many tales of mighty gods who punish mortals with lightning it can be easy to view the presence of lightning in the myths as simply a metaphor for power or brute force. Yet the lightning myths go a lot deeper than this. Across the world, the traditions most familiar with states of ecstatic rapture use a common language of lightning. This lyrical episode re-awakens the story of Semele, mother of Dionysus — herself incinerated by lightning — and uses it as an entry point into a network of global myths and traditions that sing of lightning as a central aspect of the rapturous experience. Across the globe, we find a common somatic language of interiorized lightning from the Dionysian mysteries to the Kuṇḍalinī traditions of India to the Sufi illuminationist traditions to the trance practices of the Kalahari. In an era when Kuṇḍalinī is a buzzword, Zeus is a scorned adulterer/patriarch, and the story of Semele is a scholar's footnote, this episode seeks to restore somatic sanctity to the force of living lightning that has guided ecstatic practice for millennia. Listen with headphones, preferably in a quiet meditative space, and maybe even in the dark.