The Cosmic Serpent, Astrology, DNA, and Miraculous Powers

by Frederick Hamilton Baker, author of Alchemical Tantric Astrology

After contemplating the various threads of knowledge contained in my book Alchemical Tantric Astrology for more than 40 years, various insights have become apparent. Perhaps the most exciting has come from the profound symbolism of the cosmic serpent. I wanted to understand how astrology, alchemy, and yoga functioned together, which kept wrapping me in the coils of a giant snake or dragon . . . by which I mean that the symbolism of the serpent kept appearing, and in turn led me to the serpentine DNA double helix and beyond.

DNA AND THE CHAKRAS

The Alchemical Tantric Arrangement (ATA) of the signs of the zodiac accents a central axis between Capricorn and Aquarius at the base of the astrological wheel and between Cancer and Leo at the top.

The Alchemical Tantric Arrangement (ATA) of the Astrological Signs, Chakras, and Planets

The ATA allows us to discover a progression of seven ruling planets from Saturn to the Sun and thence to associate the seven alchemical metals from lead to gold and finally the seven chakras of tantric yoga. The seven traditional planets, alchemical metals, and chakras represent a developmental path from highly conditioned behavior to wisdom and freedom. With the introduction of yoga in the larger sense of the eightfold path of ashtanga yoga, expanded realms of psychological and spiritual development are revealed. One suggestive example of this revealing multidimensional connection involves the serpent theme, which incorporates the Cosmic Serpent of mythology and anthropology, the kundalini serpent of tantric yoga, and the serpentine double helix of the molecular DNA crystal.

DNA AND YOGIC POWERS

Several thousands of years ago in India, it was already known that via practices of yoga, certain powers or siddhis could be expected. Patanjali is credited with writing down the primary information of yoga in the form of the yoga sutras around 400 CE in four chapters or books called padas. The third chapter or pada, entitled Vibuti Pada, with fifty-six sutras, is focused on the yogic powers or siddhis the yogi can expect to appear and contains a warning not to use the powers because they can lead the serious aspirant away from the final goal of yoga, which is total union.

Although we are warned not to take advantage of these siddhis (there are about twenty-one listed in the yoga sutras), these amazing powers are very seductive, to say the least. How many yoga students have fantasized about having some of the storied abilities of great yogis?

Knowledge of these siddhis has led me to review several unique experiences in my own life when highly unusual or even miraculous events occurred. Of particular interest was the time around my thirtieth birthday, on the Spanish island of Formentera, when I heard “the music of the spheres.” Many years ago when I was first pondering the questions that led to writing my book, the following two profound queries presented themselves: What were the causes? And how did the complex astrology of the time contribute?

The first question is related to the Yoga Sutra’s treatment of siddhis or yogic powers and the amazing effects of extreme situations like kundalini yoga and physical stress. The second question pointed over time toward the importance of certain astrological ingredients that resulted in the Alchemical Tantric Arrangement (ATA) of the zodiac that brings together the three systems of alchemy, the tantric yoga chakras, and astrology. 

Of great symbolic interest is the fact that the ATA reveals the correlation at the base of the spine of the coiled Kundalini serpent, the central channel of chakras, the zodiac signs of Capricorn and Aquarius and their rulers Saturn and Uranus at the edge between the visible and invisible, and many other astrological indications of completion of the old and awakening of the new. When important planets transit over the cusp between Capricorn and Aquarius, powerful kundalini type energy is activated. Throughout the year 2020 many major planets were moving over this symbolically charged point, so I recognized some time ago that we could expect powerful change during that year.

A further important point is the similarity symbolically between the mythology of the Cosmic Serpent, the DNA molecule, and the staff of the messenger divinity Hermes/Mercury. Symbolically DNA is another way of talking scientifically/chemically about what was called the kundalini serpent power alchemically. What if the DNA crystal, like many other crystals, has the ability to hold information, and what if this crystal, from its travels throughout the cosmos, could be fantastically knowledgeable, might we even say super wise? What if the DNA molecule, or more precisely, the 125 billion miles of DNA in a human body, has a type of intelligence allowing it to assess an intense situation and deem it worthy of activating the extra abilities required to survive or excel? What if, in extreme situations and especially at certain astrological times, the 97% of our DNA that is not presently understood could be activated to bring about miraculous experiences and powers? The ancient yogis knew how to do this, and perhaps Alchemical Tantric Astrology is a way to rediscover the best times for these powers to be awakened.