Cool Breeze of the Spirit
The Cool Breeze is a universal experience described across cultures as ruach, prana, qi, baraka, and pneuma. Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi teaches that this Cool Breeze is the living power of the Holy Spirit, felt tangibly on the palms and above the head. Judith Coney’s sociological study of Sahaja Yoga affirms this phenomenon as transformative, centering, and timeless. From Genesis to Taoism, from Sufi breath to Lakota wind, the Spirit moves as breath, energy, and divine presence. This Cool Breeze is not metaphor—it is the fulfillment of prophecy, the miracle of real baptism, and the call to awaken the Spirit within.
“The result, in all three settings [Royal Albert Hall, local meeting, or private house], is that many people do feel a Cool Breeze. The coolness which is felt is usually associated with other sensations as well... Typically, the pupils of the eyes can be observed to dilate and the person will feel very relaxed and 'centred.' Shri Mataji teaches that the vibrations of kundalini can be felt as Cool Breeze on the palm of the hands and above the head.” (Coney 1999, 55)
“In Christianity the Spirit is God permeating God's own creation. According to the creation study in the Hebrew Scriptures, 'a wind [spirit] from God swept over the face of the waters' in the beginning of creation (Gen. 1:2).... Hence, the primary mission of the Spirit has to do with life, creating it, sustaining it and directing it towards its future destiny. The Spirit is the source of life, not only of the present life but of eternal life as well. The Spirit is within creation, but is not conditioned by creation.
Chinese theologians Chang Chun-shen and C. S. Song suggest that this Spirit is what the Chinese would call qi—air, breath and spirit. According to the teachings of Confucianism and Taoism, qi is the material origin of all things; it is at the same time the origin of the life-force and energy moving into action. Or rather it is in itself equipped with life-giving properties and energy for action. The following is a standard expression of qi:
Ch'i [qi] fills the space between heaven and earth. Heaven and earth themselves, all things between heaven and earth, are all constituted by ch'i. Because of ch'i everything between heaven and earth moves, changes, and functions. It itself moves and moves all things. It is the subject of changes and movements and the origin that causes them. Human beings and animal-plant life also consists of ch'i...
The qi must have something to do with the pneuma mention by Jesus. 'The pneuma [air, wind or spirit] blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes' (Jn. 3:8). This is the mystery of pneuma and qi. It is wind as well as spirit. It moves and work like wind, blowing where it wills. This actually is similar to the Old Testament concepts of 'soul' and 'breath,' ...”
Veli-Matti Karkkainen, Holy Spirit and SalvationWestminster John Knox Press (August 16, 2010) , p. 435
“The idea of chi is not unique to the Chinese. Nearly every culture in the world has a word to express this concept. Dr. John Mann and Larry Short, authors of The Body of Light, count forty-nine cultures around the world that articulate the concept of chi in one form or another.
In Hebrew, the word is ruach, and it appears in the first chapter of the Book of genesis:
In the beginning God created the Heaven and the Earth. The world was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the ruach [spirit, wind, or breath] of God was moving over the face of the waters. Genesis 1:1-2
Ruach was present at the creation of the universe, even before light. The term means 'breath of God' or 'divine breath.'
In Japanese, the term ki expands the concept of chi to include the Chinese idea of yi, or intention, indicating that our mind or will is a major influence governing the movement of chi, which is very important in meditation and in the martial arts.
In Sanskrit, the word for chi is prana. The Tibetan word is lung. In Lakota Sioux it is known as neyatoneyah. The Bush People of the Kalahari speak of it as num, which means 'boiling energy.' In the Islamic world chi is referred to as barraka. Although many cultures possess an awareness of chi, the Chinese have refined the concept and integrated it into their culture to an unparalleled degree. Chi is a pivotal factor in Chinese medicine, martial arts, meditation, science, painting, calligraphy, architecture, interior design, and poetry.”
Mantak Chia, Healing Light of the TaoInner Tradition (Jun 6 2008) pp. 32-33
The Universality of the Spirit
The phenomenon of the "Cool Breeze of the Spirit" resonates across cultures and religious traditions, symbolizing a universal connection to the divine. It bridges the gap between ancient spiritual practices and modern experiences, serving as a testament to the timeless nature of human spirituality. This experience, often described as a gentle, soothing breeze, is perceived as the tangible manifestation of the divine presence, reinforcing the idea that spiritual awakening is a common thread running through diverse traditions.
The concept of a life force or spirit, referred to as Chi, Ruach, Prana, or Baraka in different cultures, is central to humanity's understanding of the divine. As Mantak Chia explains in Healing Light of the Tao:
“The idea of chi is not unique to the Chinese. Nearly every culture in the world has a word to express this concept... In Hebrew, the word is ruach, and it appears in the first chapter of the Book of Genesis... In Japanese, the term ki expands the concept of chi... In Sanskrit, the word for chi is prana... The Bush People of the Kalahari speak of it as num, which means 'boiling energy.' In the Islamic world chi is referred to as baraka.” (Chia 2008, 32)
Judith Coney on the Cool Breeze
Judith Coney, in her sociological exploration of Sahaja Yoga, reflects on the Cool Breeze as a unique and transformative experience. In Sahaja Yoga: Socializing Processes in a South Asian New Religious Movement, she notes:
“The result, in all three settings [Royal Albert Hall, local meeting, or private house], is that many people do feel a Cool Breeze. The coolness which is felt is usually associated with other sensations as well... Typically, the pupils of the eyes can be observed to dilate and the person will feel very relaxed and 'centred.' Shri Mataji teaches that the vibrations of kundalini can be felt as Cool Breeze on the palm of the hands and above the head.” (Coney 1999, 55)
Coney also shares firsthand accounts from practitioners, such as one participant who described their experience as timeless:
“The experience was extremely timeless, because I felt that it only lasted for about five minutes but... it turned out that it was about three quarters of an hour later. And I felt a strong Cool Breeze... I felt incredibly peaceful.” (Coney 1999, 55)
Shri Mataji on the Cool Breeze
Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi, the founder of Sahaja Yoga, emphasized the Cool Breeze as the tangible manifestation of the Holy Spirit. In a public program in Rome, Italy, on September 8, 1983, she explained:
“It's the living power that does it. So as a result of this awakening within us... you become one with that Divine Power, which is All-Pervading, which we call as the Cool Breeze (Pneuma) of the Holy Ghost. We start feeling, actually, in our fingers, the Cool Breeze, and also from our head, a Cool Breeze coming up... This is real baptism.”
During the Easter Puja in London on April 22, 1984, she highlighted the necessity of being "born again":
“And He said it very clearly to Nicodemus that 'You have to be born again.'... Whatever is born of the flesh, is the flesh, but whatever is born of the Spirit is the Spirit.”
In a lecture on August 7, 1984, in Bath, UK, she further clarified:
“Actual baptism is when this Holy Ghost rises, and you start really feeling the Cool Breeze (Pneuma) on top of your head. This is a miracle. It is!”
A Universal Outpouring of the Spirit
The Cool Breeze is a shared experience, uniting humanity under the universal breath of the divine. Whether described as Ruach, Prana, or Num, it stands as a testament to the interconnectedness of all spiritual paths. This experience is not confined to any one faith but is found in ancient scriptures and contemporary accounts alike.
Throughout history, mystics and saints from different cultures have described this experience. In Sufi Islam, the breath of the divine is referred to as Nafas al-Rahman, or “The Breath of the Merciful.” The Native American Lakota tradition speaks of Wakan Tanka, the Great Spirit, whose presence can be felt in the wind. Similarly, in Buddhism, the cool and calming sensation experienced during deep meditation is associated with the presence of awakened consciousness.
This universal outpouring of the Spirit signifies the fulfillment of ancient prophecies, heralding a new age of spiritual awakening. The Cool Breeze is more than a metaphor—it is a living reality, calling all humanity to recognize their shared divinity and experience the transformative power of the Spirit.
Pariah Kutta (https://adishakti.org)OpenAI. (2025). ChatGPT [Large language model]. https://chatgpt.com
Related Articles:
The Fulfillment of God's Promise
"Nearly six decades have passed since TIME magazine published its August 5, 1966, article, Theology: Stress on the Spirit. In it, theologians speculated that Christianity was entering a new theological era, emphasizing the Holy Spirit—the long-awaited Paraclete. The promise of "God’s resurrection to all men through the Holy Spirit" was seen as imminent, and scholars anticipated a transformative spiritual movement. Yet today, the churches of the world remain barren, devoid of proof, experience, or the fulfillment of this hope of salvation."
The Divine Feminine in Biblical Wisdom Literature
The Divine Mother by Ricky Hoyt
The Divine Feminine In China
The Feminine Spirit: Recapturing The Heart Of Scripture
The Divine Feminine: The Great Mother
Searching for the Divine Feminine
Tao Te Ching: "Doorway of the Mysterious Female is there within us"
The Shekinah: Image of the Divine Feminine
The Shekinah is the Cosmic Womb
Shekinah: The Voice of Wisdom
On the Nature of the Divine Mother or Holy Spirit?
The Holy Spirit: The Feminine Aspect Of the Godhead
She is the holiest and most secret inwardness of Allah
The Indian Religion of the Goddess Shakti
The Divine Feminine is deeply embedded in us
Jesus finally restores all things to God
Divine Feminine will sooner or later begin to take its proper place
Yogic Secrets of the Dark Goddess by Shambhavi Chopra
Kali as the Yuga Shakti: The Power to Create a New World Age
Chidagni: The Goddess as the Fire of Consciousness
And they asked him in amazement: "Who is our Mother?”
Feminine Gender of the Holy Spirit
The Great Mother is Sri Veda-Janani — Mother of the Vedas
The spirituality of Tagore, Ramakrishna and Vivekananda
Grace is the benevolent, female aspect of the Transcendent
Feminine images cluster around the Spirit ... ruha, is itself feminine
Khokhmah and Sophia by Max Dashu
The Gifts from the East
The Goddess remains the esoteric heartbeat of Islam
Feminine Spirit of God is working for our providence, redemption ...