SpiritualEmergenceorKundaliniawakeningbringmanyshiftsin

energyandconsciousness,workingthroughthechakrasystem.Chakras
haveuniquecharacteristicsandholdunconsciousmaterialthatwillbe
unloaded,aswellasspiritualpotentialthatwillarise.Itishelpfulfor
experiencerstounderstandhowkundaliniyogaviewstheselife-changing
openingsinordertobetternavigatethispowerfulprocess.

Essays

1 0 T H I N G YO U C A N
DOTOHLP(/10-
T H I N G -Y O U - C A N - D O - Ifyoufeelyouareinaspiritualawakeningprocess,or
T O - H L P -Y O U R -
K U N DA L I N I - P R O C / )
possiblyinaspiritualemergenceorcrisis,youmayfeelyou
HLPFULRPON
haveenoughtoworryaboutwiththephysicalchallengesthat
(/HLP-FOR-INITIAL- arise,orpsychicshiftsthatarethrowingyouintounfamiliar
AWA K N I N G / )
territory.Butwhatisreallyimportanttounderstandinthis
P I R I T UA L P R AC T I C
& T R A N F O R M AT I O N awakeningprocessisthatitisyoursubtleenergyfieldthatis
(/PIRITUAL-
P R AC T I C -
eruptingandunravelingandproducingallthechanges.
T R A N F O R M AT I O N / )
T R A N F O R M AT I O N / )

K U N DA L I N I : C H AO Onewaytoframethisexperienceandgainsomeinsight
ANDCOMPLTION istousethemodelcommontoyogis,thatmapschakras(energy
( / K U N DA L I N I - C H AO -
AND-COMPLTION/) vortices)andnadis(flowsofenergy)andvariousotherknots
PAT T R N A N D andpointsandbraincentersthatgetinvolvedinthe
POTNTIALOF
AWA K N I N G transformativeandevolutionarychangesyouareexperiencing.
( / PAT T R N - A N D - InthisessayIwillfocusontheroleofchakrasin
POTNTIAL-OF-
AWA K N I N G / ) transformationandspiritualawakening.
FLAHOFLIGHT
A N D DA R K ( / F L A H - Variousesotericsystemsseechakrasindifferentcolors,
O F - L I G H T- A N D - D A R K / )
withvariedsymbols,andascribevariouscharacteristicsand
N W V N T ( / N W-
VNT/) talentstoeach.IbelievetheyogicscienceofKundaliniTantra
CHAKRAXPRINC isthemostusefulmodeltounderstandthemanyphenomena
I N T H AWA K N I N G thatariseinaspiritualawakeningprocess.Sohere,inavery
P R O C ( / N W-
PA G / ) truncatedandsimplifiedway,arethepointsIfindmosthelpful
inseeingwhatkundaliniactivityisuptoinanygivenbody.

Themostsignificantchakrasaresaidtobeinthecenter
ofthespinebutthereareprobably50chakrasthroughoutthe
bodyandthesearepointswhereyourconsciousnessandenergy
intersect,likelittlewheelsofenergyholdingyourinvisible
energyfieldtogether.

THEFOUNDATIONALCHAKRA

Atthebaseofthespineisthefoundationalchakra,
muladhara,whichholdsyouintoasenseofhavingabody,of
beingaseparateperson,aconnectionandagreeementthat
spiritismakingwithexistence.Threequalitiesarerootedhere
--thetendencytolethargy(tamas),activity(rajas)or
harmoniousbalance(sattva).Weeachhaveamixofthese.
Sometimesyoucanseethemclearlyinthetemperamentofa
new-borninfant.Herealsoourspiritbecomesidentifiedwith
thelimitationoftimeandspace,andweknowwearepartof
theearth.Ourlifeforceisrootedhereandactive,becausewe
feelwearealiveandpranicenergyismovingthroughoutour
body.Kundaliniissaidtobetheresidualenergythatisstored
here,holdingusinstasis,unlessoruntilitisjoltedinto
awakeningandwindingupwardthroughourbodies.
awakeningandwindingupwardthroughourbodies.

Althoughkundaliniarisesfromthispointthisdoesnot
meanthechakrahasawakenedandtransformedatthetimeof
awakening.Idon'tbelievethishappensuntiltherestofthe
transformationisdoneandthesystemisreadytoembodythe
spiritualsenseofspaciouspresencethatafullawakeningoffers.
Thentheremaybeaprofoundlettinggointolivingalifeof
internalfreedom.Itfeelslikethegroundbreaksunderneathyou
andyouarestandinginspace.

THESEXUALANDPROCREATIVECENTER

Thesecondchakra,swadhisthana,isrelatedtothe
sexualorgans--thedrivetoprocreate,orthedesireforpleasure
originateshere.Thischakraisactivebutinmanypeopleitis
outofbalance,causingobsessionswithsexortheopposite
dynamic--fear,frigidity,condemnationofthebodyoroflife.
Thisareaisbelievedtobetheseatofalldesires,andthe
storehouseofthecollectiveunconscious,holdingallthedarker
energiesinthedeepsubconscious.Becauseofthisaperson
mightbecomeobsessedwithterrorordemonicimages,and
movethroughasexualorfearcrisisaskundalinimovesintoand
amplifiesthischakra.Forthisreasonmanyspiritualtraditions
emphasizeopeningorawakeningchakrasintheupperbody
first,buteventuallytheissuesrelatedtothisareawillneedtobe
addressed.Whenthisdeepunconsciousmaterialisclearedouta
personissaidtobefreefromlust,angerandgreed,tofeel
integrated,calmandfearless,andabletohaveastrongwilland
dedicationtotheirspirituallife.

THESEATOFPOWER

The3rdchakra,Manipura,locatedatorslightlybelow
thenaval,iswhereoursenseofapersonalidentitylives.Itisthe
powercenter,concernedwithsurvivalandaccumulation.The
qualityofenergyherehasagreatimpactonourdigestion,the
fireandenergythatmovesthroughallourorgans,andour
generalpsychologicalandphysicalhealth.Whenoutof
generalpsychologicalandphysicalhealth.Whenoutof
balanceapersonmaybearrogantanddemanding,feeldriven
andbeoverbearing.Attheoppositeextremetheymayfeel
weak,ineffectual,depressed,energydeficientandhelpless.

Wehavebothupperanddownwardflowingpranic
energyflowsinourbodiesthatcirculateinthe3rdchakra
centerandkundaliniyogisbelievethatforgoodhealthand
spiritualgrowththeseenergiesneedtobereroutedtomovein
tandemupwardthroughthebody,sosomeyogicpracticesare
designedtoaccomplishthis.Mostwesternershavenothada
lifepracticeofgraduallypreparingtomanagetheseenergiesso
aresubjectedtorandomproblemswhenthe3rdchakra
awaken.

Somepeopleinaspiritualawakeningorspiritualcrisis
reportchronicfatigue,listlessness,andevenbeingbedridden
foralongperiod.Thisindicatesthatenergyhaseitherburned
outorbecomedepletedinthisarea.Inmyobservationsomeof
thethingsthatmighttriggerthisdepletionareworkingwith
intenseenergy,breathingormeditationpracticesthat
concentrateallenergyintheupperchakras;payinglittle
attentiontothebasicphysicalneedsofthebodyeitherbecause
ofabeliefitisunimportantorbecauseofbeingtoobusy;or
psychologicalissuesthatledtooneofthetwoextremes
identifiedabove--livingwithgreatforcefulnessintheworld,or
feelinggreatinadequacyintheworld.

Ittakestimeandself-valuingtorepairanydamagein
Manapuraandyogissayasincerespiritualcommitmentcan
alsohelptostabilizehere.Whenthischakrafunctionswellthe
bodywillbehealthyandprobablylong-lived.Whenthis
chakraisfullyawakenedbykundalinithesenseofaseparate
identityisseenasillusory,andthereisaprofoundchangein
howthewill,spiritualintuition,andintentionisexperienced.
Thisisamajorturningpointinaspiritualawakening,andafter
manapuraisawakenedthekundaliniissaidtonolongerfall
intothelowerchakras.Sometimesbenevelentpsychicpowers
mayarisewhenthechakraisawakened.Onealsobeginstosee
beautyintheworldandenvisionnewpossibilitiesintheirlife.
Biases,andprejudicesfallaway.Itisanimportanttimetolearn
tolistentothedeeperintuitionandbecomealignedwithyour
authenticsenseofexpressionintheworld.Olddysfunctional
relationshipstendtofallaway.Occasionallymuchofaperson's
previouslifefallsaway.

AWAKENINGTHEHEART

The4thchakra,Anahata,isinthecenterofthechestin
thespine,paralleltotheheart.Ifwecouldmovethroughlife
withnodisappointmentsandnolossorgrief,thenourheart
chakramightstayopenandlovingintheworld,buteverypain
orcontractioncreatesarmoring,protectivenessand
defensiveness.Theheartchakraisassociatedwithour
creativity,ourloveoflife,appreciationofnatureandother
people,compassionandempathy.Totheextenttheseare
availableourheartchakraisbalancedandopen.When
kundalinidoesitstransformationherewemayfindthatlife
flowssmoothly,whatweneedappears,andweareemotionally
balanced.Formanypeopleaninitialspiritualawakeningisat
theleveloftheheart,triggeredbyaprofoundloveofanother
personorrelationshipwithaguru.Sometimesbeinginthe
presenceofarealizedpersonwillspontaneouslyopenand
activatetheheartchakra,orparadoxically,anexperienceofdeep
griefwillopenus.

Duringtheopeningofthischakrayoumayhearvoices
orsoundsfromotherrealms,hearbuzzingorhummingsounds
andthemusicofaflute,andfeelgreatsensitivitytothefeelings
ofothers.Youmaytemporarilyhaveclairvoyantor
psychokineticexperiences,orevenacapacitytoheal.Youmay
becomedetachedfromworldlythings,andfindoldpleasures
meaningless.Astheenergyisworkingwavesofoldgriefmight
arisetobereleased.Youcanfeelunusualsensationsinthe
heart,orhaveasuddenrisingofunconditionalloveor
compassion.Itcanbelikeanemotionalrollercoasterfora
compassion.Itcanbelikeanemotionalrollercoasterfora
while,butastheworkheresettlesoutthereisadeeppeaceand
internalhappiness.Itisimportanttothinkpositively,some
yogisreport,becauseyouarelikelytomanifestwhatyouthink
asthischakratransformsitself.Somepeoplebegintofeelthat
allthatexistsintheworldislove.

AWAKENINGTOTHEOPPOSITES

The5thchakra,Vishuddhi,isinthecervicalplexus
behindthethroat,andimpactsthroat,earsandhearing.
Shuddhimeanstopurify,buttheworkheregoesbeyond
clearingbecausewhenthechakratransformsitbringsoneto
termswiththeoppositesandallowsconsciousnessto
understandandacceptboththelightanddarkaspectsoflife.
Thisbringsthemindharmony,innerpeace,compassionanda
wiseperspective.Onebeginstorealizethatallthechallenging
experiencesoflifeareheretoteachus.Iftherearepsychic
intrusionsthepersoncanhandlethemwithdiscriminationand
notbecomedistractedoroverwhelmed.Greatercreativity,and
insightintospiritualteachings,blissandalonglifeareother
reportedbenefitsofawakeningthischakra,aswellasthe
occasionalabilitytoreadanotherperson'sthoughts.

Whenvishuddhiisoutofbalanceorblockedthe
thyroidcanbedamaged,andearsthroatandhearingmaybe
challenged.Itcanbedifficulttoexpressthoughtsandfeelings.
Sometimestherearerandommovementsorperiodicshakingof
theneckandhead.Ifforsomereasonthepersonhasbecome
attractedtopsychicpowersyogissaytheirenergycanbecome
stuck,anditalsoisblockedwhenonehaslearnedtosuppress
theirfeelingsandself-expression.

Thischakraisemphasizedinyogasthatusesoundi,e,
shabdandnadayoga,andcanbeopenedthroughmantras,
music,andchanting,especiallyifthepersonisverydevotional.
Itisbelievedthatpeoplewithremarkablespeakingskills,or
beautifulsingingvoiceswerebornwithvishuddhiopenand
active.
active.

AJNA:THE3RDEYE

Ajnameanstoknoworfollowandthischakra,located
betweenandslightlyabovetheeyebrows,isconsideredthe
commandcenteroftheentiresubtlebodysystem.Ithasbeen
associatedwiththepinealgland,whichevidentlybeginstoshut
downwhenchildrenare9or10.

Therearemanyesotericandmeditationpracticesthat
emphasizeputtingattentiononthis3rdeye,withthebeliefthat
thiswillpurifythemindandprepareonetoawakentheirentire
energysystemwithfewerproblems.Aseriesofspiritualevents
havebeenattributedtothischakra,especiallyflashesofgreat
light,fallingintolightorbliss,visions,profoundstillness,and
psychicrevelations.Itisatthistransformationalopeningone
glimpsestheunrealityofthepersonalidentity,andmayfeel
detachedfromthesenses.Asenergymovesupwardfromhere,
thesubtlebodymayriseorsinkintostatesofsamadhi,andyou
mayfeelmergedwiththeuniverse,orloseallconsciousnessof
separationfromthecosmos.

However,theopeningofAjnadoesnotmeantheend
oftheenergyprocess.Itgenerallysendsenergybackdown
throughthelowerchakrastofurthercleardeep-seated
conditionsandtoxinsandtostrengthenthesystem.Ifyou
havedonenopreparatorywork,andhavechakrasthathavenot
yetopenedfully,theentirekundaliniprocessmayactivateand
bringoutpersonalandcollectiveunconsciousmaterial.Thisis
oneofthereasonsthatspiritualtraditionshaveemphasizedthe
needforaguruorguidetohelpyouthroughthisprocess.

ATHOUSANDPETALSINSAHASRARA

Sahasrarachakraislikenedtoathousand-petallotus,
andislocatedeitheratthetopoftheheadoraboveit,
dependingonwhattraditionyoufollow.Tantraseesthisas
symbolizingunlimitedpossibilitiesandthefullrealizationof
symbolizingunlimitedpossibilitiesandthefullrealizationof
Truth--avastknowledgeofnothingandeverything,or
mergingwiththewholenessofall.Thesamadhiexperience
hereisanegodeath,amovementforeveroutofthemundane
andlimitedhumanawareness.Perspectivesoflifeandone'srole
initareprofoundlyaltered.Someesotericsystemssaythereare
numerousspiritualchakrasbeyondthecrownwhichallowone
toenterotherdimensionalexperiencesandrelationship,but
thesearebeyondthescopeofmyinterestandexpertise.

Asenergyandconsciousmoveintothebrainthereis
stillanotherlevelofclearingthatistriggered,alongwiththe
openingoflatentbraincenters.Sosomepeoplereportitching,
crawling,burning,vibratingandothersensationsintheheadas
energypenetratestheupperbody.Afewsayitislikehaving
someonedrillingintheirhead.Thiscanbeamildexperience
oraveryintenseone,andtomovethroughitrequiresgreat
detachmentandtrustintheradiantandblissfulpotentialofthis
process.

Somespiritualtraditionsdonotseecompletioninthe
blessingofasamadhistate,butencourageinsteadan
embodiment--bringingTruthbackintothebody--and
learningtolivefromtheperspectiveabsorbedinthose
moments.Therearepracticesthatbringenergiesbackthrough
thephysicalandsubtlebodies,promotingafinalclearingof
deepunconsciousmaterial,andgroundingapersonintothe
willingnesstolivewiththewholeoflife--tobeordinaryand
beofservice.

Thereareotherfactorsinthesubtleenergysystem--
knotsthatholdattachments,smallchakrasthathaveessential
rolestoplay,shiftsinhowthesenseswork,psychicopenings,
etc.Themajornadis,sushumnainthecenterofthespine,ida,
thecoolingmentalenergyandpingala,theheatingprana
energy,producetheirownphenomenaastheyawakenand
criss-crossfromthetailboneandintotheface.Sothisisa
partialandlimiteddescriptionofthecomplexitiesofourenergy
fields,whichareclearlymolecularstructuresholdingthe
fields,whichareclearlymolecularstructuresholdingthe
substanceofourlives.

Asanon-dualteacheritistemptingtosay--justshift
consciousnessandwakeuptothepureunboundpresencethat
youareandyouwillbefree.Iknowthereisaplacewithin
eachofusthatisalreadyfree,stillandcompletelyatpeace.
Thedirectapproachtoawakeningemphasizesthepossibilityof
slippingintothisTruthNOW,asitisalwayshereNOW.

Butthefactisthatmostspiritualseekers,andmany
whoaccidentallystumbleontothispathoftransformationand
realizationwithouthavingsoughtit,fallintothisevolutionary
andchaoticawakeningprocesseventually,andtheirentire
body/mind/spiritisengaged.Weliveinaculturethatdoesnot
seethisastransformation,andtypicallybelievesanybehavior
andexperiencesoutsideofalimitednormareevidenceof
illness.Sowemustgoclearbacktoveryancientteachingsto
findamodelthatvalidatesthemanyphenomenaof
evolutionarychangethatweexperience.

Thereisagreatblessingandaprofoundlypeacefuland
joyfuloutcomeavailableinthisprocess.Perhapsinafew
persons,realizationofTruthandrelaxationintolivinginthe
momentisgentleandsuddenandcomplete.ButfromwhatI
haveseenovermanyyearsitismorecommontomove
sporadicallythroughthewildandunpredictablephenomenaof
ourenergycentersawakening,balancingandtransforming
themselves.Itisuniquetoeachofus,justaspubertyhasits
uniquechallenges.Itistheanswertoourlongingtobefree.

(Muchofthedetailinthisessayisdrawnfromtheteachingsofthe
lateSwamiSatyanandaSaraswati,authorofKundaliniTantra,
andfounderoftheBiharSchoolofYogainIndia.Foradeeper
understandingofthistradition,andthepracticestheyuseI
recommendhisbooks.)

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