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You are probably already familiar with the concept of Kundalini awakening. Kundalini awakening is commonly described in the yogic tradition as a transformative moment in which a person experiences a sense of connection or “oneness” with all beings in the universe, both known and unknown.
Depiction of what actually occurs during such an awakening varies from euphoric euphoria to uncontrollable erratic movements, as if possessed by a demon. According to many, this event marks a turning point in life, after which nothing changes. So what does such an epic moment feel like? There’s no single answer.
Kundalini Rising: Exploring the Energy of Awakening ‘ is a collection of essays by doctors, scholars, and spiritual teachers who have experienced Ani’s awakening. Each story contained within is unique. Dr. Dorothy Walters recalls: “Suddenly I felt a mass of frenetic energy in my lower abdomen. And within seconds these energies seemed to rush up towards my head. I felt the ecstatic energy rush into my skull. I felt it flowing into me, and my very brain was filled with joy. When the crown opened, I felt like ‘a thousand petals were spreading out’, just as described in the ancient texts…”
Penny Kelly compared her Kundalini awakening to:[uncontrollable] I have an orgasm in my head. ” A not-so-pleasant experience awaited the person, identified only as Sherry, who “felt pain and anxiety on the left side of her body.” [my] body. [I] thought [I] He was having a heart attack. ”
Others in this book describe Kundalini awakening as a “near-death experience” or even “psychosis,” and other yoga practitioners describe the moment as a “complete and perfect peace that can only be described as bliss.” “The feeling of “.
These different experiences can sometimes raise more questions than answers. Including “What can be given?”
What is Kundalini Awakening?
In Sanskrit, kundal It means “coiled serpent”. Kundalini refers to the energy that, in the tantric yoga tradition, is believed to exist within each of us from birth and is coiled around the base of the spine. Kundalini energy is the ultimate life force and is considered the source of our creative power, spiritual gifts, and Shakti, or divine feminine energy.
Tantric yoga tradition holds that when dormant Kundalini energy is released through awakening, it flows upward through the seven chakras (energy centers) to the crown of the head, balancing the energy body and accessing expanded consciousness. It is being
It is believed that your entire being – mind, body and spirit – undergoes a massive energy shift that causes you to live your life in a completely different way. Kundalini awakening is a powerful experience in which self-awareness is strengthened. According to tradition, awakening can cause long-term changes such as:
- feeling of bliss
- enhanced mental abilities
- More compassion and empathy
- Increased creativity
- Increased spiritual connection
- I feel organized and in flow.
How does Kundalini awakening occur?
Yoga practitioners have traditionally spent years preparing for the long-awaited event of awakening. Although it can occur through practices such as meditation, pranayama (breathing techniques), yoga, traditional Indian dance, and prayer. Or it can happen without warning. However, unlike the mystical melody of the snake charmer that hypnotizes the cobra, it cannot evoke the awakening of the kundalini. In the yogic tradition, it is believed that you cannot control when or if your Kundalini energy awakens.
According to tantra master Alan Finger, who has taught yoga philosophy for over 50 years, the way to release shakti is to: Avidya, or “ignorance.” Finger describes avidya as the beliefs of the mind that keep you bound. These misconceptions are obstacles to stepping into your authenticity because you are observing from the heart rather than from the soul.
Finger explains that Kundalini energy is released gently and gracefully through regular daily practice. sadhana in Sanskrit. “[Daily sadhana teaches people] “To find your way out of the mind and into the soul, find Brahman, or cosmic consciousness.”
Kundalini yoga practice, although not required, is one tool for expanding consciousness and reaching states of lightness and infinite love. The first known mention of Kundalini Yoga is in the Upanishads, a Sanskrit scripture written around 1000 B.C., which focused on the metaphysical connection between humanity and the universe. Movement in the late 1960s, Yogi Bhajan, an Indian Sikh, brought a set of meditation, breathing exercises, chanting, and devotional practices to the West, essentially combining ancient knowledge with modern practicality. He claimed to have created it and called it Kundalini Yoga.
Opinions and advice on creating the conditions for Kundalini awakening vary, but Finger suggests simple practices such as asanas, pranayama, and sensory attunement. Some people have to practice hard for years, and for others it happens spontaneously. This process is individual and often unpredictable.
What are the signs of Kundalini awakening?
There can be various signs that indicate your Kundalini is awakening. It is said that when you experience Kundalini “symptoms,” that energy knocks on your door and gathers your attention and awareness so that you can make the changes your soul desires. When that happens, you become who you were meant to be and fulfill your highest calling. These symptoms include:
- Experience heightened awareness of intuition
- A deep sense of purpose and destiny
- urge to change life
- Physical and emotional changes such as sleep disturbances, anxiety, increased energy, and tremors
Whatever symptoms you experience, try not to get hung up on whether or not it is Kundalini or why Kundalini exists. Instead, focus on letting the energy pass through you and release any unpleasant symptoms. The less you resist these feelings, the faster they will pass. Take me where I need to go. That’s your teacher.
After all, only you can know if you are experiencing any kind of awakening. And your awakening may not be an amazing “brain orgasm” but a quiet calm. Use your insight and self-awareness to understand and process what you are experiencing. Trust yourself.
Is Kundalini Awakening Safe?
Google searches for “Kundalini Awakening Yoga Is Dangerous,” and you’ll find some pretty outlandish information, including a website that claims Kundalini Yoga is an occult practice tied to dark forces. Other sources warn against releasing such powerful energies without professional guidance.
Meditation teacher Sally Kempton experienced an intense Kundalini awakening in her late twenties. She acknowledges that the experience of divine feminine energy can be scary for those who don’t have an experienced teacher to guide them, but believes that awakening is a gift. . “In our tradition, we honor Kundalini,” she says. “Her energy is trying to awaken you, expand you, and get you in touch with your own deep energy. This is an essentially benign process.”
But Kundalini awakening is rare in Western students because yoga is practiced in a non-voluntary manner, according to Kempton and Stuart Sovatsky, a psychotherapist who specializes in spiritual work. “People are trying to hold a pose in a certain way, rather than in a pose that releases specific energy blocks in their body,” Sovatsky says.
Many teachers warn against attempts to induce awakening through intense pranayama or other methods. Instead, it should happen naturally when your body, mind, and soul are ready. Finger agrees that a slow and steady approach is best. “Experiencing a big bang kundalini awakening is not a good thing,” he said. “You often hear that Kundalini awakenings have gone awry… It means that the Kundalini energy has gone into the wrong channel, leading to feelings of sadness, fear, introversion, and an unwillingness to talk. This can lead to a variety of adverse effects, including
Everyone’s experience is unique. For some, this experience can be filled with feelings of bliss and a sense of the interconnectedness of all things. For others, it can feel like a severe drug addiction, or even a psychotic break that causes changes in sleep patterns, personality changes, and the onset of depression. This contradiction has led many Westerners to think of a snake coiled around the spine as something terrifying, as if it was about to attack.
Kundalini awakening reminds us that consciousness is more expansive and subtle than most of us imagined. Sovatsky said people who wake up in a so-called psychotic state usually have a history of instability, high levels of stress, and lack of psychological support. Both Sovatsky and Kempton recommend seeking support if you’re concerned about the troubling side effects of Kundalini awakening.
There is yet another interesting aspect to this question. It’s about whether Kundalini awakening is safe for the current state of your life and society as a whole. Self-awareness and spiritual growth can often disrupt our lives, making us reconsider our own values, goals, relationships, and careers. At a systemic level, it can prompt us to rethink the structures of society as a whole, especially in terms of caring for others, sharing resources, and dismantling tools of oppression. Awakening should change your life, and it probably will. Are you ready for that?
Is Kundalini Awakening Necessary?
What would you do if you practiced yoga all your life and never experienced a Kundalini awakening? Are you wasting your time?
Absolutely not. The purpose of the practice is not awakening or what many people call “enlightenment” or what the Yoga Sutras call samadhi. Samadhi means transcending the ego and ending mental suffering. While these are noble pursuits, they are fairly lofty and specific expectations that encourage an obsession with results rather than process.
The purpose is the practice itself, understanding where you need to put your energy, when you need to find more compassion for yourself and others, and how to become more aware of your own needs. Helpful.
Awakening your own Kundalini can be as soft and gentle as sitting quietly for 15 minutes, meditating, and experiencing more peace than ever before. Or you may think that you are experiencing a psychotic episode. Or various experiences in between.
What is important is not the actual moment when Kundalini is awakened. It is a continuation of consciousness that accompanies it. Keep practicing.
First published on May 4, 2021. This article has been updated.
