Whether you’re just beginning your spiritual journey or are well along the path, the Unalome offers both guidance and reassurance. It reminds us that every twist in the road serves a purpose, and that the ultimate destination – unity with divine consciousness – awaits us all. Read on to learn more about the symbolism of the Unalome – and check out my new painting featuring this sacred symbol of spiritual ascension.
Recently, while discussing my 2021 mystic painting “Transcending Polarity” (formerly “Divergence”), a viewer shared something remarkable: they had been spiritually guided to draw and tattoo the exact symbol represented by the white snake in my painting three years ago – very close to the same time period in which I had envisioned and completed the painting. What makes this synchronicity even more fascinating is that neither of us initially knew we were working with the Unalome, an ancient spiritual symbol representing the journey to enlightenment.
What is the Unalome?
The Unalome is a sacred symbol used in both Buddhism and Hinduism that beautifully illustrates the path of spiritual awakening. At its core, it consists of three main elements:
- A spiral at the base
- A meandering path that eventually straightens
- Often, three dots (or a lotus flower) at the summit
While variations exist – some featuring elaborate loops like my new painting “Unalome I: Jade & Gold” – while others, like my snake painting, show smoother curves. Each version tells the story of spiritual transformation in its own way.
Image: My new painting Unalome I: Jade & Gold, watercolor & acrylic, 2025 by Ona Christie Martin
The Science of Spiritual Awakening
To truly understand the Unalome, we must first grasp the concept of Kundalini Shakti, a fundamental principle in spiritual awakening. Drawing from Joan Harrigan’s illuminating work “Kundalini Vidya,” we can explore this concept through both ancient wisdom and modern understanding.
Understanding Shakti: The Divine Power
At the heart of all existence lies what many traditions call the Law of One – the unified consciousness or absolute reality that underlies everything. In Vedic philosophy, Shakti is the universal sacred power that enables manifestation from this one source. It’s the divine force that permeates all things, from the physical to the ethereal, known in various traditions as the Holy Spirit or life force.
What makes humans unique is our capacity to serve as vessels for this energy’s expansion and awakening. While Shakti resides in all things – even seemingly inanimate objects – humans possess the special ability to consciously participate in its elevation and transformation.
The Spiritual Journey Mapped in Symbol
The Unalome’s design brilliantly maps the stages of spiritual awakening:
The Spiral Base
The journey begins with the coiled spiral at the bottom of the Unalome symbol, representing Shakti in its dormant state. In Eastern teachings, this is often visualized as the Kundalini energy coiled at the root chakra. As Joan Harrigan explains, this spiral symbol appears in spiritual traditions worldwide, from Cambodia to Egypt, North America to Mexico. It has many variations and is often depicted as a sacred serpent.
The Winding Path
When awakening occurs – whether through meditation, trauma, or divine timing – the energy begins its ascent. The winding section of the Unalome represents this journey, which can take various forms:
- Some versions show dramatic loops, illustrating the “two steps forward, one step back” nature of spiritual growth
- Others display smoother curves, representing a more direct path
- Each variation acknowledges that spiritual awakening rarely follows a straight line
The Straightening Path
As the meandering lines straighten, we reach what’s known as the Makara Point – a crucial stage where consciousness transcends ordinary mind and prepares for divine union. This transition from winding to straight symbolizes the shift from seeking to finding, from confusion to clarity.
The Summit
Many Unalome variations feature dots at the top, representing the phases of transcendent experience. These dots acknowledge that enlightenment often comes in waves – moments of complete unity followed by returns to ordinary consciousness, until eventually, full spiritual realization is achieved.
Personal Journeys, Universal Symbol
What makes the Unalome so powerful is its acknowledgment that spiritual awakening takes different forms for different people. While some rare individuals might experience an almost instantaneous awakening, most follow a more gradual path. Those fortunate enough to work within established wisdom traditions might find their energy rising smoothly through the central channel (Sushumna), while others might experience more complicated routes.
The symbol reminds us that regardless of the path’s specific shape, each journey is valid and sacred. Whether your awakening feels like a gentle unfoldment or a dramatic transformation, the Unalome represents the universal truth that all paths ultimately lead to the same destination – union with divine consciousness.
Modern Resonance of an Ancient Symbol
Today, the Unalome continues to call to spiritual seekers, appearing in art, jewelry, and yes, even as divinely inspired tattoos. Its enduring appeal lies perhaps in its honest depiction of the spiritual journey – acknowledging both the challenges and the ultimate grace of awakening.
As a meditation tool or artistic focus, the Unalome serves as a reminder that our spiritual journey, with all its twists and turns, is not just a path we walk, but a sacred process of becoming. In its graceful lines, we can see our own story reflected – the story of consciousness returning to its source, of the divine serpent rising, of the soul coming home to itself.