This
week's question from a reader:
My
girlfriend informs me that over the last few months,
I've begun to tremble and shake so much while I sleep
that she has to move away from me or else it keeps
her awake. She says all parts of my body are affected,
but it's especially noticeable in my hands. She says
it feels like energy is moving through my hands continuously.
I
was completely unaware of this until she told me.
It only happens while I'm sleeping, and it doesn't
bother me. This is the only sign of Kundalini activity
I have.
I'm
wondering whether I should start some deliberate practice
to develop and channel this energy, or whether I should
just let nature take its course. Can you suggest some
things to think about to help decide?
THE FACT THAT someone is shaking at night, in the absence
of any other phenomena, would not be an indicator of
Kundalini awakening. It could be a pranic release, a
nervous condition, intense dreaming, the release in
the body from a too-stressful life, or other experiences.
However, if the person had presented me with a description
of an awakening experience, if he did exercises such
as meditation, yoga, or a martial art regularly, or
if he experienced strong meditative states where he
went beyond concentration into stillness or a sense
of unity, then I would be more likely to consider it
Kundalini.
So,
assuming this person did have all or most of the above
experiences, what should he do now? This problem of
one with active Kundalini disturbing a sleeping partner
or a sexual partner is common. It is very unnerving
for the partner who picks up the energy, is impacted
by it, but is not comfortable with it. It is very common
for the energy to run through the body at night when
the body is resting and the defenses are down. One possible
remedy, if you want to make it more calm, is to drink
some warm milk with sugar and ghee (clarified butter)
before you go to bed. (Any suggestions I give should
be considered experimental -- they work for some people
but may not work for everyone.)
Usually,
someone in the early stages of a Kundalini process needs
to learn something about the meaning of the experience
and would do well to study some of the eastern theories
and descriptions related to it. If he is not frightened
by the energy, or it is not disturbing his life (except
that his partner may need to sleep elsewhere), then
I would suggest doing a regular meditation practice,
and letting the process develop and teach him. A sincere
meditation practice, and a grounded lifestyle, best
service spiritual development. Sometimes creative activities
such as art, music, or writing help us express it. Kundalini
supports the deepening of spiritual awareness, which
ultimately leads to peace and the end of the seeker.
Many difficult phenomena may arise depending on the
person's history and lifestyle. The best support is
a balanced lifestyle and a commitment to live one’s
life in alignment with the vision it brings -- that
is, if you have a heart-opening or a visionary experience,
instead of being attached to holding onto it, ask yourself
what you can bring into the world as service to it.
(I am not referring to becoming the “next great teacher”
-- such inflation only serves the ego and cuts off the
genuine spiritual process.) Usually creativity or selfless
service is called for.
You
might also learn some basic yogic breathing practices,
which can help guide this energy through the best channels
to support your meditation. If you do practices very
intensely or push yourself too fast, some physical,
emotional or energy problems may erupt that make it
difficult to sleep, eat, think, work, or function effectively.
It is best to do these things in moderation, because
it is hard to overcome the problems once they occur.
You
might also look for ways to discharge this energy by
running, exercising, gardening, or working with something
solid like wood or clay. It seems that sometimes people
release the tension they pick up during the day through
these kriyas or shaking at night, and it is good to
allow them the time to release. You are fortunate that
they do not wake you up.
Some
people do spontaneous healing when there is so much
energy in their hands. Most yogis would tell you this
is another distraction from the spiritual path. But
if you feel it may be a calling for you, you might wish
to study with Barbara Brennan, a hands-on healer who
has written several books, or with Roslyn Bruyere, another
healer and author, or with others who know this field.
Healing can be a distraction that hooks ego and keeps
you from further development on the path, but it seems
to be a calling for some people. I do not think it is
healthy unless you know you will not pick up other people’s
energy, unless you are convinced it does not come from
you but rather from a higher source, and unless you
have some training and a great deal of patience with
others. Just putting your energy into someone else can
create problems for them unless you have a sense of
the best way to do this, and there are several systems
that provide a structure that can help.
It
is a continual challenge for people to learn to live
with the higher vibrations in their body that continue
after a Kundalini awakening. Think of it as if the amps
have been raised in your electrical system. This is
why balance, taking care of ourselves, being in nature,
and regular physical exercise all help. We may have
to change old patterns to meet the invitation to a new
kind of energy flow and engagement with spirit in our
lives.
Copyright
2000 Bonnie Greenwell. Please respect Dr. Greenwell's
copyright for all material in this column. You may download
it for your personal use, but please do not reproduce
it in any way without her written permission.
Bonnie
Greenwell, Ph.D., is a transpersonal therapist and author
of Energies
of Transformation: A Guide to the Kundalini Process,
a guide for experiencers and therapists based on her dissertation
research. Over the past fifteen years she has lectured
, trained therapists, and consulted with hundreds of individuals
who have experienced spiritual emergence phenomena. She
has training in Ashtanga and Kundalini Yoga, acupressure,
and breathwork. She is a founder of the Kundalini
Research Network. Bonnie believes no one can be an
expert on this topic -- it holds much mystery because
it is so close to the source of consciousness, and it
plays out in unique ways in various lives. Be aware that
any advice offered here should never replace a medical
evaluation, and that any comments to a question made by
email and without personal contact are limited in their
application. To learn more about Bonnie's therapy and
consulting services, programs for people in Kundalini
process, and book, go to her website at Kundaliniguide.com. |
