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Originally posted by Phil:
What Are Some Ways to Cope with and Integrate Awakened Kundalini Energies?<br />by Philip St. Romain�<br />from "Kundalini Energy and Christian Spirituality"<br /><br />- those of you with additional suggestions, please add to this thread by sharing what has worked for you - <br /><br />1. Don�t panic! Fear only colors the energy darkly. There is nothing to fear if you cooperate with the process (or at least don�t frustrate it too much).<br /><br />2. If you have disturbing physical symptoms, get your doctor to check them out. Maybe it's not kundalini you're struggling with.<br /><br />3. Find someone to talk to about what is happening to you �preferably someone who knows about kundalini or spiritual growth.<br /><br />4. Accept the process as a sign of growth. Be grateful for the growth that is taking place within, painful though it may be.<br /><br />5. Do not work against the process. Pay attention to what hurts, and back off on activities that seem to frustrate the process (e.g., heavy reading, drinking alcohol, using drugs, smoking, immoderate sex, even too much meditation). Learn to �go with the flow.�<br /><br />6. Keep your intent of consciousness focused on BEING HERE NOW IN LOVE.<br /><br />7. Let the various states of consciousness produced by kundalini come and go. Experience and explore them, but do not attach to them. The True Self is not to be found in any particular state of consciousness.<br /><br />8. Surrender yourself into the care of Christ, Whose Spirit is capable of guiding your kundalini energies toward a wholesome integration. Trust that a Higher Guidance is at work in the process. Ask for this Guidance when confused; listen for the answers.<br /><br />9. Accept the pains that come and willingly cooperate with asanas and compulsions to meditate. These all pass away in time.<br /><br />10. Practice yogic asanas for at least fifteen minutes a day to help fadlitate the movement of the energy. Also consider using Tai Chi, massage, and/or movement therapies, especially when the energy seems to be blocked.<br /><br />11. Learn to breathe abdominally.<br /><br />12. Practice the mahabandha lock under the supervision of an experienced guide. Tuck the chin into the chest, drawing the navel inward and upward during exhalation while gently contracting the anal sphincter and perineal muscles. Keeping the chin tucked in, relax the muscies during inhalation drawing the navel outward to pull the diaphragm downward. Gently repeat this pattern of contracting and relaxing muscles while exhaling and inhaling deeply, attaching a spiritually focused mantra (e.g., �Come, Lord�) to the breathing pattern.<br /><br />13. Eat a balanced and nutritious diet, avoiding red meat, eggs, spicy foods, alcohol, coffee, and empty calorie sweets. Eat more fruit, vegetables, brown rice, grains, nutritious pastries, cheese, milk, yogurt, tofu, and nuts. These healthy foods probably do play a vital role in producing maximum nutrition and minimum pollution to a body undergoing physiological changes.<br /><br />14. During times of strong energy upheavals, keep food in the stomach. A small snack such as bread and butter every three hours will help to minimize burning sensations in the stomach.<br /><br />15. Avoid all forms of willful, competitive activities that generate fear and anger, for these will contaminate the energy with painful emotions.<br /><br />16. Learn to deal with feelings as they arise through proper communication skills.<br />- (note: see [i]Lessons in Loving[i/] workshop series under Internet Programs link from Shalom Place home page)<br /><br />17. Males should be especially careful about sexual expression. Although the research on kundalini and sexuality is only in its infancy, the experiences of many (the author included) point up a definite relationship between kundalini energy and sexual energy. Genital sexuality should not be divorced from love, or else one�s spiritual energy and physiological responsiveness will be lowered.<br /><br />18. Creative outlets of expression help to ground the energy. This was a turning point in Gopi Krishna�s experience of kundalini, and many others have noted the same. Activities such as dance, song, art, poetry, sculpture, gardening, and even long, quiet walks are helpful.<br /><br />19. When you don�t know what to do to cooperate with the process, it is better to do less than too much. For example, it is better to cut back on meditation than to meditate too much. It is easier to awaken a sleeping serpent than to tame an angry one.<br /><br />20. Above all, you should be careful about Egoic inflation, especially in the early stages. In certain states of consciousness, you may experience profound psychic gifts and feel like a great spiritual genius. You are still human, however. Even though it is not commonly observed, thousands of people throughout history have gone through this process. It�s just a part of our human development � that�s all!<br /><br />21. Get a good night�s sleep. If the ears hurt, sleep on your side with the ear hurting most (probably the right ear) downward.<br /> <br />22. If symptoms become too uncomfortably strong and painful, suspend meditation, eat more food, and get more exercise. Gradually resume meditation when uncomfortable symptoms have subsided. If this does not help, seek professional guidance.