Shakti means power or empowerment and is the primordial cosmic energy and represents the dynamic forces that are thought to move through the entire universe. Shakti is the personification of divine feminine creative power.  She is sometimes referred to as "The Great Divine Mother" in Hinduism. On the earthly plane, Shakti most actively manifests through female embodiment and creativity or fertility.  Not only is Shakti responsible for creation, she is also the agent of all change. Shakti is cosmic existence as well as liberation.  

 

Her most significant form of being is in the Kundalini Shakti.   This is an spiritual energy that can be awakened in order to purify the subtle systems of the body and ultimately to bestow the state of Yoga or Divine Union upon the seeker of truth  The Yoga Upanishads describe Kundalini as lying "coiled" at the base of the spine, represented as either a goddess or sleeping serpent waiting to be awakened.  Kundalini awakening can result in deep meditation, enlightenment and even feelings of bliss. This awakening involves the Kundalini physically moving up the central channel  to reside within the Sahasrara Chakra above the head. This movement of Kundalini is felt by the presence of a cool or, in the case of imbalance, a warm breeze across the palms of the hands or the soles of the feet.  Many systems of yoga focus on the awakening of Kundalini through meditation, pranayama breathing, the practice of asana and chanting of mantras.