CSF is a clear, colorless saline fluid in the spine that is fast in transporting feedback to the brain from the nervous system and transporting nutrients and hormones from the glands and brain. It also functions as a shock absorber for the brain that reduces the effective weight from 1.5 Kg to 25-50 grams.

Besides the biological function, this conductive fluid is also a highway for bioelectric information within the body. According to many protocols, creating pressure differentials through diaphragmatic and pelvic muscle engagement – such as with breath work – can lead to a buildup of subtle energy that can burst open the subtle body’s channels once it’s released. This then can lead to all sorts of supernatural abilities as the person becomes able to read information from the energy field as well as modulate reality by translating thoughts into bioelectric currents that affect matter at the subatomic level.

A possible scientific explanation is that the CSF activates the pineal gland. This organ is known to be sensitive to pressure and fluidic changes. A change in CSF pressure is likely to change the melatonin levels secreted by the pineal gland and melatonin is molecularly very similar to DMT, with only a different number of oxygen atoms. And DMT is considered the God Molecule, as it produces experiences similar to what’s known as enlightenment.

Biological overview

·       Production: Primarily by the choroid plexus in the brain's ventricles.

·       Volume: About 150 mL in adults at any given time, but the body produces ~500 mL/day, indicating continuous turnover.

Flow pathway

1.     Produced in lateral ventricles → Third ventricle → Cerebral aqueduct → Fourth ventricle

2.     Exits via median and lateral apertures into subarachnoid space

3.     Absorbed into venous blood through arachnoid granulations

Importantly, CSF acts not only as a mechanical cushion for the brain/spine, but also as a critical neurochemical transport system.

Neurochemical transport roles

i. Homeostasis & Nutrient Delivery

·       CSF delivers essential nutrients, ions (e.g., Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺), and glucose to neurons and glial cells.

·       CSF maintains ionic balance critical for neuronal excitability and signaling.

ii. Waste Clearance (Glymphatic System)

·       CSF removes metabolic waste, excess neurotransmitters, and toxins from the interstitial fluid of the brain.

·       It also facilitates interstitial-CSF exchange, especially during sleep, via the glymphatic system.

iii. Chemical Signaling

·       CSF acts as a medium for neurotransmitters, hormones, and neuromodulators to be distributed across distant areas of the CNS.

iv. pH and Osmotic Buffering

·       CSF regulates pH in the CNS to ensure optimal conditions for enzyme activity and ion channel function. It also helps buffer against sudden osmotic or chemical changes.

Clinical relevance of CSF

So far, the evidence indicates that CSF is far more than just a protective fluid—it's a dynamic medium that supports the brain’s biochemical environment, facilitates communication, and clears waste, effectively acting as a biological logistics and sanitation system for the central nervous system. However, the clinical significance of this fluid may reach even further beyond what is known:

“For a long time, the essential function of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was considered to be that of a fluid envelope that protects the central nervous system. Recent data derived from molecular biology show that CSF plays an essential role in homeostasis of the interstitial fluid of the brain parenchyma and regulation of neuronal functioning. Disorders of CSF hydrodynamics and composition are responsible for the major alterations of cerebral physiology observed in hydrocephalus and dementia, reflecting the importance of exchanges between CSF and the neuronal environment.”[1]

CSF analysis (via lumbar puncture) is essential in diagnosing meningitis, multiple sclerosis, subarachnoid haemorrhage, etc. Further, altered CSF composition can indicate:

o   Infections (↑ white cells, protein)

o   Neurodegeneration (e.g., tau proteins in Alzheimer's)

o   Inflammation (e.g., in multiple sclerosis)

To summarize its biological functions, CSF is “a vehicle for the transmission of information to the brain, a transporter of nutrients and hormones to the central nervous system, an instructor of stem cells on whether to proliferate or differentiate, a manager of circadian rhythms, a regulator of appetite, an eliminator of waste, and a shock absorber for the brain, pineal, and pituitary glands.”[2]

Hypothesized Bioelectric Function of CSF

Does (and if yes, how does) a link exist between the bioelectric flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) along our spinal column and the activation of an enhanced state of awareness leading to superhuman abilities, aka kundalini awakening?

Here we tackle an intriguing question that bridges neurophysiology and esoteric spiritual traditions. As explained above, from a medical and neurobiological standpoint, CSF is a clear, colourless fluid that circulates within the ventricles of the brain, the central canal of the spinal cord, and the subarachnoid space. Its primary roles include cushioning the central nervous system (CNS), maintaining intracranial pressure, clearing metabolic waste, and facilitating the transport of neuromodulators and signaling molecules.

Crucially, however, CSF is also conductive and plays a role in distributing the bioelectric fields generated by neurons. Through these conductive properties, CSF can transmit information from light, vibration, movement, and molecules. In esoteric views, this fluid is considered to be the carrier of qi (pron. chi) or prana and is thus called the soma rasa, the elixir of life. This makes CSF, in the spiritual sense, the very substance of awareness which causes consciousness to arise and be maintained.

The best lens to understand the hypothesized bioelectric functioning of CSF could be through the concept of kundalini, a term derived from ancient Indian yogic traditions. It refers to a latent psycho-spiritual energy, often symbolized as a coiled serpent at the base of the spine. The awakening of kundalini is said to catalyze profound shifts in consciousness, physiological sensations, and even perceptual capacities. Practitioners report phenomena ranging from intense heat along the spine to altered states of awareness and mystical insight.

So how might CSF play a role in this awakening?

Though the yogic lexicon does not reference CSF explicitly, it is remarkably consistent in its emphasis on the central channel (called sushumna nadi) that corresponds broadly with the spinal cord. During deep meditative states or specific pranayama (breath control) techniques, there is evidence that the movement of CSF can be modulated via pressure differentials created through diaphragmatic and pelvic muscle engagement.

The 19th-century Indian yogi Swami Vivekananda elaborates on this physiological relevance of CSF in Chapter IV (“The Psychic Prana”) of his book, The Complete Book of Yoga:

 According to the yogis, there are two nerve currents in the spinal column called Pingala and Ida and a hollow canal called Sushumna running through the spinal cord. At the lower end of the hollow canal is what the yogis call the lotus of the kundalini. They describe it as triangular in form, in which, in the symbolic language of the yogis, there is a power called the kundalini coiled up. When that kundalini awakens, it tries to force a passage through this hollow canal, and as it rises step by step, as it were, layer after layer of the mind becomes open, and all the different visions and wonderful powers come to the yogi. When it reaches the brain, the yogi is perfectly detached from the body and mind, and the soul finds itself free. The left is the Ida, the right Pingala, and that hollow canal which runs through the center of the spinal cord is the Sushumna, where the spinal cord ends. In some of the lumbar vertebrae, a fine fiber issues downward, and the canal runs up, even within that fiber, only much finer. The canal is closed at the lower end, which is situated near what is called the sacral plexus.

This account finds a striking reflection in the work of a Harvard researcher, Mauro Zappaterra:

It is my hypothesis that the biological occurrence of a kundalini awakening is the rising of sacred energy from the sacrum to the head through the cerebrospinal fluid. […] The kundalini in yogic theory is a primal energy located at the base of the spine – some say residing in the sacrum, like a sleeping serpent waiting to be awakened. From yogic practice, kundalini is awakened and physically moves up the central canal, the Sushumna, to reach the third eye [pineal gland – the Agnya chakra]  and subsequently the crown chakra, for awakening to occur. Could the CSF be a transporter for this primal energy?[3]

Possible biological mechanisms for CSF activation

While empirical research on kundalini activation remains unsurprisingly sparse, there may be 4 plausible biomedical mechanisms involving CSF that could explain the link:

1. Intracranial pressure modulation

Yogic practices—especially deep pranayama, bandhas (muscle locks), and inversions—can exert mechanical influences on CSF flow:

·       The routine practice of forceful exhalation, paired with kumbhaka (breath retention), has been found to increase intrathoracic and intra-abdominal pressure. This in turn may increase venous pressure, slowing down venous return from the brain and thereby raising intracranial pressure (ICP).

·       CSF is influenced by ICP gradients, so such pressure shifts (accompanied by phase shifts in the brain) may momentarily accelerate CSF movement between ventricles and along the spinal subarachnoid space.

Biomedical implication: Enhanced CSF flow could influence mechanotransduction—the conversion of mechanical stimuli into biochemical signals—at regions like the pineal gland and ventricular walls.

2. Pineal gland interaction

The pineal gland, biomedically, is responsible for

·       Melatonin synthesis, regulating circadian rhythms.

·       Rich vascularization and innervation by the sympathetic nervous system.

·       Exposure to neuroactive molecules in CSF, possibly including serotonin and precursors for tryptamine derivatives.

The pineal gland is often described in mystical terms as the "third eye." It contains piezoelectric crystals and is sensitive to pressure and fluidic changes. Thus, any enhanced CSF circulation may, speculatively, impact pineal function, including melatonin secretion and perhaps even endogenous DMT release. For instance, ample evidence exists on the website of DMT Quest. Such endogenous DMT release could explain the incidents of superhuman efforts we encounter.

Biomedical implication: Disruptions or modulations in neuroendocrine feedback loops might help explain the altered states of consciousness associated with kundalini-type experiences.

3. Autonomic nervous system regulation

Kundalini practices consistently engage the autonomic nervous system (ANS)—specifically through:

·       Activation of parasympathetic tone via slow breathing.

·       Periodic sympathetic surges due to intense physical-energetic arousal during awakening episodes.

This ANS modulation could affect:

·       Cerebral vasculature tone, indirectly influencing CSF dynamics.

·       Glymphatic flow, the waste-clearance system of the brain that depends heavily on CSF-interstitial fluid exchange, and is most active during sleep and deep meditation.

Biomedical implication: Efficient CSF movement during meditative states might facilitate toxin clearance, correlate with enhanced mental clarity, or even produce psychoactive experiences via altered brain homeostasis, leading to superhuman feats.

4. Mechanical stimulation of spinal cord structures

The spinal cord and its meninges are surrounded by CSF. Certain practices like mula bandha (root lock), which contracts pelvic floor muscles, can produce upwards pressure in the dural sac—a fluid-filled sheath around the spinal cord.

Possible effects:

·       Upward mechanical wave transmission through the CSF column.

·       Stimulation of baroreceptors or stretch receptors along the spinal axis, leading to altered afferent signals.

Afferent signals are sensory signals that travel from the body's sensory receptors to the central nervous system, primarily the brain and spinal cord. These signals convey information about the external and internal environment, such as touch, pain, temperature, taste, smell, sight, and sound. Essentially, afferent signals are the way our nervous system "receives" sensory input.

Biomedical implication: The change in afferent signals produced by active CSF flow could initiate non-cognitive states or "energetic" sensations perceived along the spine—central to the kundalini narrative.

Summary Table: Biomedical Pathways Potentially Involved in Kundalini Awakening via CSF

This is not to claim that kundalini phenomena are reducible to CSF mechanics, but rather to offer a biomedical substrate upon which such experiences might act. The subjective effects—visions, vibrations, euphoria—may be emergent properties of deeper neurophysiological shifts.

According to Dr. Zappaterra, CSF flow can be enhanced by “any sort of parasympathetic activity, such as rest, meditation, craniosacral therapy, massage, movement such as dance, exercise, yoga, vibrations such as sound and light, visualized intention, and love.” Additionally, as a study's title proclaims, “Clinically-derived vagus nerve stimulation enhances cerebrospinal fluid penetrance.”[4]

However, it is not a one-time movement. For most of us, the CSF's upward movement is blocked, with blocks sometimes present as soon as the second chakra (abdomen) or the third (solar plexus). In the case of such blocks, the kundalini force remains dormant, and there is no bioelectric modulation to alter CSF flow.

Influence of Respiration and Visualization on Bioelectric CSF Flow

Breathing, especially slow and deep breathing, creates mechanical pressure changes in the thoracic and spinal regions. These pressure changes affect the rhythmic flow of CSF, particularly through the spinal canal and base of the brain. This is sometimes called the craniosacral rhythm, distinct from but interrelated with the cardiac and respiratory rhythms. Breathing techniques (e.g., pranayama, buteyko) can modulate autonomic nervous system activity (parasympathetic/sympathetic balance). They can also influence CO₂ levels, which can subtly affect intracranial pressure and CSF dynamics.

In addition, as mentioned earlier, CSF is conductive and plays a role in distributing the bioelectric fields generated by neurons. These electrical fields are associated with brain wave activity and may influence how signals are coordinated across different brain regions. Some speculative and emerging theories suggest that mechanical forces (e.g., breathing, posture) might affect bioelectric flow via CSF and connective tissue (like the fascia and dura mater), which may have piezoelectric properties.

Further, visualization practices (e.g., meditation, mental imagery) activate specific cortical regions, especially visual and emotional centers. They also change the brain wave state (e.g., from beta to alpha or theta) depending on the depth of relaxation or focus. These altered brain states affect CSF flow. For instance, brain states associated with deep meditation or sleep (e.g., theta or delta waves) are linked to enhanced CSF pulsatility. During deep sleep, CSF flow increases significantly, aiding in waste clearance via the glymphatic system.

Here's a possible mechanism for how the above elements may work together in a loop:

Breathing techniques → modulate CSF flow → influence brain wave states → enhanced with visualization and intention → affect bioelectrical coherence → feedback into brain-body state and awareness.

Some Practical Steps

The above biomedical pathways/mechanisms can perhaps be mapped to a combination of two specific yogic practices that may suit even beginners on the path of enhancing CSF flow:

1. Locking the Bandhas

The yogins discovered, through experiment not theory, that “energy escapes like steam from an unsealed engine”. The practices of mula bandha (root lock), uddiyana bandha (abdominal lock), and jalandhara bandha (throat lock) may help direct pranic energy: very waveforms of CSF upward along the central axis.

2. Moving the Energy with Spinal Breathing

According to kundalini practitioners, a refined breath—carried not only through the lungs but imagined as spiraling along the spine—can guide both prana and awareness up the sushumna nadi, that central channel which runs like a hidden aqueduct within the spine. For practice, visualize the breath traveling from base to crown on inhale, and back down on exhale. Let your awareness move the CSF like a leaf upon a stream.

Final Notes

The kundalini awakening process is a gradual one, but each step builds upon the last. Our aim must not be to produce fireworks, but to awaken a finer order of being—a life more integrated and more attuned to our very nature. It seems that such an awakening is indeed possible, for the sacred and the scientific may yet find common ground in the cerebrospinal tides that flow through the CNS.

[1] https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anorl.2011.03.002   

[2] https://www.theosophical.org/publications/quest-magazine/the-esotericism-of-the-spine-and-the-cerebrospinal-fluid 

[3] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55QythvgRRk

[4] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32388045/