Marleen Thaler

In this lecture, I will explore kundalini, a tantric energy notion and goddess whose origins can be traced back to medieval tantric and yogic texts and practices. Over the centuries, multiple distinct yet interconnected interpretations of kundalini emerged. Initially, these ideas were confined to South Asia and rooted in Hindu and Buddhist traditions. However, in the late nineteenth century, kundalini began to captivate occultists, esotericists, and Hindu reformers, leading to profound transformations in its meaning and significance.
The Theosophical Society – one of the most important occult organizations of all times – played a key role in this process; particularly Madame Blavatsky and South Asian Theosophists contributed to the revival and reinterpretation of kundalini, which became widely known as the “Serpent Power”. Although Theosophists initiated this discourse, kundalini soon transcended its Theosophical origins, gaining prominence in popular culture, alternative religious movements, and esoteric circles. As a result, kundalini took on various roles and was frequently framed as an occult energy force. This lecture will highlight two key examples that illustrate this transformation.
First, I will examine Theosophical interpretations of kundalini as electricity. In theosophy, the extension of the concept of “electricity” beyond the sphere of science played a role from at least 1877 when Blavatsky published her Isis Unveiled. Blavatsky’s use of the term “electricity” in her writings was strongly inspired by mesmerism and the contemporary hype resulting from recent scientific developments, such as ideas by Michael Faraday and Thomas Edison. In her The Voice of the Silence (1889), Blavatsky described kundalini as ‘electro-fiery occult power’, using the metaphor of electricity to conceptualize kundalini. As I will discuss, this association between kundalini and electricity became widespread in Theosophical circles from the 1880s onward.
The second example of kundalini’s modern transformation pertains to its role as a terrestrial energy force. Within the holistic milieu and certain branches of eco-spirituality, the notion of a planetary subtle energy system has gained traction. In these frameworks, the Earth is often portrayed as a sentient being – revered as Mother Earth or Goddess Gaia – interwoven with theories about terrestrial energy currents and earth chakras. Kundalini, in this context, is envisioned as a colossal serpent-like energy, imbued with transformative and healing powers for the planet. One of the most notable proponents of this idea is Drunvalo Melchizedek, whose concept of the “Serpent of Light” exemplifies this belief system.
By means of these examples and a broader introduction to the concept of kundalini, this lecture argues that kundalini underwent profound transformations throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Furthermore, I will demonstrate how the growing global fascination with kundalini prompted key occult and esoteric thinkers to reinterpret the serpent kundalini as a genuine occult force, significantly contributing to its modern reawakening.

Marleen Thaler holds a PhD in Religious Studies (2024) along with additional degrees in Social and Cultural Anthropology and Oriental Studies – all from the University of Vienna. She has been a research fellow in Zurich and Santa Barbara, CA, served as a scholar-in-residence at the Esalen Institute in Big Sur, CA, and studied at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Currently, she is a research fellow at the Department of Religious Studies, University of Vienna, and is also employed at the university’s research center, “Religion and Transformation in Contemporary Society”. In recent years, Marleen’s expertise in alternative religion has led to multiple invitations for public lectures, media appearances, and participation in academic and cultural events. Her current projects include an edited volume on subtle energies (Brill, 2025) and her monograph on John Michell’s Sacred Place Theory (Equinox Publishing, 2026). Additionally, she is co-organizing the annual conference of the European Academy of Religion (EuARe) and contributing to a television series on the origins of world religions for Austria’s national broadcaster (ORF). Her main areas of research include global religious history, the transformation of religion, alternative religious currents, the modern history of yoga, religion and technology, eco-spirituality, religious traditionalism, esoteric studies, and religion and drugs. Marleen is a passionate traveler who loves exploring sacred sites and monuments, delving into esoteric and occult obscurities, and discovering the treasures of the museums of the world.