Spiritual Awakening

There is a thirst that so many of us are experiencing, driven by a strong sense of “there must be more than this”. That sensation of something missing, deep in your soul, the core of your being… a connection that remains unmet by the people we surround ourselves with, a need, unspoken, but deeply felt. Our spirituality is evolving – traditional doctrines of religion are becoming outdated and in today’s society, with the tsunami of information available at our fingertips, our exploration is opening up options that were mostly unavailable just a decade or so ago.

The Quest for Kundalini

We are energetic beings. From a scientific perspective, our whole material world is composed of energy, and many spiritual traditions speak of far subtler energies, though these frameworks serve different purposes. It was only a matter of time before the concept of Kundalini energy, written about in the Yoga Upanishads – minor Hindu scriptures written over many centuries – made it to the mainstream. The belief is that Kundalini energy is dormant within all of us, stored at the base of the spine, and when awakened, rises through the chakras and meets with Shakti energy, the divine feminine, at the crown, transporting the individual to a state of bliss and heightened levels of consciousness. Many people spend years attempting to bring about an awakening, some with success, most without. There are even adverts on social media from people who claim to be able to induce awakenings – of course, for a fee.

I am one of the lucky ones. I experienced a Kundalini awakening back in January 2024, not through any yogic practices, but through prayer and Divine will. There is no earthly sensation that can match that surge and explosion as the masculine and feminine connect, no words to describe the euphoria that was coursing within me. Even the week following, a week of intense pain and “kriya”, uncontrollable jerking movements of limbs, the true Dark Night of the Soul, was worth the outcome for me – this awakening gifted me my mobility back. Previously I was unable to walk more than three or four steps, now I am walking easily three miles a day. I do not state this as a universal outcome, or a medical explanation – just from the perspective of my own lived experience.

Consequences

There is a dark side to this energy, however. I met a dietician who told me her partner experienced a prolonged and devastating period following his understanding of a Kundalini awakening, involving severe physical and psychological distress. I have spoken to my priest, who talked about how he and some colleagues have provided pastoral care to people struggling to integrate such intense spiritual experiences. In my own attribution of meaning to these awakenings, the framework through which it is understood seems to shape how it is experienced. I interpret mine as divine in nature, others may see theirs through a different lens.

Support is Essential

Whatever your belief system may be, whether you have a concept of God, or a view of the Universe as the source of all creation, it will not be lost on anyone that there is a mixture of positive and negative energy in the world we inhabit. This dichotomy of light and dark informs our choices, our actions, our thoughts and behaviours. It is easy to let negative energy in to our lives, operating from selfish agendas, harbouring resentment and bad feelings, and of course – we are human, and that is part of the human experience. Yet if the negative energy – or dark spiritual forces depending on your beliefs – are the source of the Kundalini awakening, it will not be the experience of bliss that you are hoping for. I was lucky in that mine came from my Creator, a loving force of pure good; others are darker in origin, and it is this point that I wish to make, with no holds barred – don’t go on a Kundalini journey alone. Seek out someone with experience and knowledge, someone educated on the Yogic traditions, whose intentions are pure and not setting out to make profit from the thirst we are experiencing for spiritual enlightenment.

Your Own Path

I write from my own experience, and fully acknowledge that there are gaps in peer-reviewed science on these topics. However I believe, as many do, that we are spiritual beings housed temporarily in an energetic body, and for me, fulfilment came when I connected with my Higher Power. Wherever your spiritual journey takes you, I truly hope that you find what you are searching for – my life has changed unrecognisably as a result of this connection, and I truly wish the same for you.