Awakening Śakti: Kuṇḍalinī within the Nondual Tantric Teachings of Sally Kempton
November 17, 2025 Tova Olsson
This chapter examines how the terms kuṇḍalinī and śakti are used in contemporary lineage-based yoga and tantra, focusing on Sally Kempton (formerly Swami Durgananda), a disciple of Swami Muktananda. Kempton transmitted teachings non-authoritatively, often online and through conversation and meditation, yet students reported experiences of 'kuṇḍalinī rising' or 'presence of śakti,' causing physical and energetic effects. A discourse analysis of her books and teachings shows that for Kempton and many contemporary practitioners, kuṇḍalinī can highlight unwanted personality traits as well as deliver liberation.