I will be offering a workshop in Ashland Oregon on May 14, and 15.2011 titled "Living With the Kundalini Process". This is a two-day event providing information useful to anyone experiencing kundalini energy or who works with others who experience it. The second day will allow time for personal exploration of your process. Ashland is a great town to visit and is famed for its theater and parks. There are many places to stay here. So contact me by April 30 if you plan to be here. My email is kundinfo@mindspring.com. The event will be $80 if prepaid. I can also be available for private sessions the Monday following if you request this.

The arising of kundalini energy can be a life-changing event. For some it is felt as a very positive and beautiful opening which heightens the senses and the ability to clear the mind and feel great joy and gratitude in life. But eventually for most it triggers a de-construction of our way of perceiving our world, our concepts and belief systems. It supports a shedding of old ways of being and old patterns locked in our system from our conditioning and the difficult experiences of our past. We can feel like we are coming apart and losing our sense of self -- which we are. In some people this energy movement and the subsequent deconstruction is a very gradual process, supported by our meditation process and even psychotherapy if we are involved in that. But for others it seems sudden and chaotic and therefore frightening. It helps greatly to have an understanding of how this process works to our greater benefit, and to discover that at the core we are not the personal self we have tended to identify with. When we realize what we truly are it is called "waking up" or "self-realization" -- it is the realization of what really exists behind the personal self that is not ever going to change or dissolve. But it can be very disarming for the mind to get glimpses of this because the mind's functioning as director of our lives is threatened. We begin to see we are not our thoughts and become less inclined to believe them, less likely to be distracted when they arise. Something else that is indefinable arises within us that is much more attuned to the moment, to the impersonal experience of now.

When someone awakens out of the dream of the separate self the kundalini process works more subtly in the background, and if there are energies releasing, or burning off old conditioned blocks in our psychic system we feel appreciative and curious rather than frightened, because we can clearly see the function is to make us more free and open and harmonious within.

Eastern spiritual systems set up this process of awakening as a goal of all practices, and see it as the greatest gift in any life. Buddhist monks take a vow to liberate all beings. Why would we need to be liberated? Because this is the only way to clearly see the source and radiance of all existence and to live in harmony with it. This lack of clear perception, and our entanglement in all the fears, rages and greed that overwhelms the planet, is the cause of suffering. Getting free of it is not an easy task, but our energy bodies are designed to lead us there. Eastern practices deliberately aim at opening these bodies along with shifting us out of our mind so that we can see the Truth. But thousands of people have this energetic opening without any conscious attempt to trigger it -- it happens for many reasons that the energy activates and begins the process of transmuting itself into a new clarity and presence in the world.

It is clear that some people write about kundalini as a danger or a dark force. This is because they do not understand the highest potential for transformation that it offers, and instead see only the destructive experiences it brings for some. Also, like any energies on the planet, a few people work to use it for power and manipulation of others. There are specific dark techniques for this, and those who use them generally end up in trouble psychologically, spiritually, physically and karmically. They are not happy and useful contributors to the society. They have twisted their lives out of fear and a drive for power, in the same way that nuclear energy has been used for total destruction out of fear and a drive for power.

If you are in an experience of intensified and rising energy it is not inherently dangerous. It is a neutral force of transformation and change. If your intention is health, well-being, freedom, love, and above all the longing to know what is True this energy will support those changes.

If you are driven by fear, anger, revenge, and a need for power over others the energy may end up wearing you down completely and distorting the true potential of your life. This is not to say that some fear in the process is natural. But to the extent you can turn it to curiousity, or even trust in the vast potentiality of the universe it will become only another energy to release, letting you become vulnerable to the grace of knowing who you really are.

Hello Friends,

I have been traveling for nearly a month so haven't offered any posts lately but finally have returned.

It is true that many people awaken kundalini due to practices that use energy movement or healing modalities and for many other reasons, and without a clear understanding of what spiritual awakening is really about or without spiritual guidance the challenges of dealing with the energy can be more complicated. In addition even those who are seeking a spiritual awakening often have misconceptions about what this entails. Eventually it means the releasing of all formerly held concepts and perceptions and even the sense of a personal "me" who can be enlightened. No one really expects this so when it starts to happen it can be very disturbing, unless there is someone around for support who really understands it. Enlightenment is not an accomplishment to be added to the list of things we have attained in this life. It is what remains when all thoughts and personal goals are released and we begin to experience who we are without the personal mental world that has been accumulated since early childhood and is based on all our experiences, impressions, desires and disappointments.

Freedom is freedom from "me" which means we can live more fully as just presence in any moment. We are already doing this which is why so many teachers say everyone is already enlightened, but we are overlaid with all the personal phenomena which clouds are capacity to truly experience our natural self and the stillness/wisdom/love it has to offer.

It is not uncommon in meditation for the stirring of energy or the arising of energy to occur, sometimes with heat, sometimes with bliss, sometimes just energy moving upward through the body. This may be the opening of kundalini or another phenomena called prana-tattva where the pranic energies of the subtle body are just moving and reorganizing themselves. Regular mediation eventually impacts the subtle energy field, the chemical system and the brain, as if we are slowly restructuring our internal field in preparation for the awakening it can bring.

In some people challenges arise along with this energy such as the release of old memories or emotions, or disturbances in the digestion system or heart area; in others it can be smooth and pleasant and just a gradual opening. If you can trust the benevolence of the process and listen to your heart and not be overly concerned about any phenomena the process moves more smoothly.

I have another new blog site at shantiriver.wordpress.com if you wish more of my comments on the awakening process.

Blessings to all of you.

Hello to my readers,

I have just begun a new blog focused more generally on non-duality and awakening, and I plan to keep a schedule of Ashland events and other programs I may be involved in on that site, so do check it out if you are interested in my ramblings. The address is www.shantiriver.wordpress.com.

This blog is a good place to send me general questions related to your kundalini process. It's helpful to me when you ask questions if you include general information about your spiritual practices, your age, and specifics about any particular problem you are inquiring about.

If you are interested in filling out a form for a personal assessment you can write to me through my website www.kundaliniguide.com and I will send you the form. I expect to be busy however until after the Christmas holidays so there may be a delay in doing the assessments until January 2011. I will keep up with blog comments and questions however on both blog sites.

I am beginning to explore the differences I see between enlightenment as it is said to happen in eastern traditions and as it happens to westerners, because I see many inconsistencies in the process in the way it opens here and the way it is described in eastern spiritual texts. I suspect this is because of the differences in how it is approached in the west, with little true preparation, without strong guidance, and within many distractions that are unavoidable in the typical western lifestyle -- work, family needs, the bombardment of media, the pace of life, diet, social pressures, etc.

In the eastern perspective one lives a very moderate life totally dedicated to hours a day of energy practices or meditation, within the context of complete trust and obedience to a teacher or guru, with a very bland diet and daily physical work within the setting of an ashram or monastery. I cannot say what the statistical odds of realization are in such a setting, or if they are any better than here, only that in such settings there is a projected gradual movement of the psyche toward an enlightenment that is stable, may include siddhis (temporarily), and leads to life of devotion, service, inspiration and/or peace. In the west people may have a glimpse of truth, for a brief or extended period of time, but generally this is followed by months or years of facing the internal tendency of the ego structure to reassert itself, to become engaged once again in all the mundane activities of the human struggle, and to enter into a resistance to being where one is. This resistance may take the form of regretting one has not stayed in what seemed an expansive and interconnected state of consciousness, or resistance in the form of wishing things were different in one's life. Sometimes there has been an illusion that awakening would make life perfect or oneself perfect, and one must see through this illusion before one can regain a sense of freedom. No matter the form it takes, most westerners will enter a long phase of seeing the separate self arise again and again, before awakening becomes stable.

Dear Anshu,

You recently sent me an email inquiring about how to learn kundalini yoga.  I tried to respond but your email address did not work so I am sending my response here in case you read this blog.

 I suggest you contact the Bihar School of Yoga in Bihar for the name of a kundalini teacher in your area if you are wanting some kundalini guidance.  There is a man named Dr Dina Nath Rai in Lucknow who has the Kundalini Research Institute who went to the Bihar School and is a teacher and a psychologist there.I do not teach kundalini yoga but instead work with people who have had an awakening of the energy and want some help with some of the problems it can cause.  But if you have a qualified teacher there you should be okay with it.  Best wishes for your journey...

And to all Readers --

I have a new blog site called at shantiriver.wordpress.com that you might like to look at if you wish to keep up with my latest thoughts on spiritual awakening, kundalini, consciousness and similar themes.
I will keep this site for specific questions on kundalini but plan to write more extensively on the broader nondual process of the awakening of consciousness on the new site.

Hello Readers,

For those of you in the Oregon area, if you are interested in the satsang programs and day-long intensives I hold please contact me through my email to be on my email list. I have also recently opened Shanti River Center in Ashland, where I hold regular satsang, discussion groups related to non-dual teachings (especially those of Adyashanti), Adyashanti video nights and other events.

Kundalini is really a process that deconstructs our identity, bringing up old patterns and disturbing places where we are energetically or emotionally blocked so that we can become more and more open to the spaciousness that we truly are. It is as if our energy field has awakened itself and now wants to reorganize the system so that we can know ourselves more clearly as pure spirit or consciousness or presence, living this life in a more immediate and radiant way. Although it can be strange, disorienting and fear-inducing for the little ego structure when all these changes take place, the long term impact can be great peace and joy and comfort with who you are, just enjoying BEING, rather than feeling compelled to DO and to ACCOMPLISH and take on all the demands of the old egoic drives. It is very helpful to find a community of people who share your spiritual orientation, or to just sit with in inner silence, seeking the common place of stillness which can be felt very deeply within community. A regular meditation practice -- a simple practice like just being present as stillness -- can be a great support during these changes, and if you are someone who just cannot meditate, then a walking practice somewhere in nature, just being present there, or practices like Qigong or Tai Chi which teach one to rest internally in movement can be a good substitute. Have faith in the blessings of this process and know it is simply your own deeper Self moving you forward toward a more peaceful and harmonious life, even though the journey may at times be difficult.

I recently contributed a chapter, along with 20 other people, to a book called "Kundalini Rising" put out by Sounds True. Look for it in your bookstores or order it on amazon.com.

I also have a few copies left of my book "Energies of Transformation: A Guide to the Kundalini Process" which is now out of print. Send me an email for information about ordering it directly from me if you would like a copy.

With warm wishes for your deepest realization of truth, Bonnie

Welcome to this Kundalini blog.
This blog is created to provide a place for people who are experiencing the challenge and blessing of a kundalini awakening to communicate with each other or ask general questions related to their experiences. Many people are experiencing this intense awakening of energy and consciousness because of spiritual or energy practices, and others find themselves in this process for no reason they know of, and without any understanding of what is happening to them. This blog accompanies the website www.kundalinguide.com, designed to give you basic information about the experience. I am the author of this website and blog (Bonnie Greenwell) and I will read all of your blog notices and respond here to general questions. I have found that people in this process are greatly helped by knowing others who are also experiencing it, so this is a place for you to talk about your experiences and meet others who will understand. You may also include references to other relevant websites, and books you have found helpful. My intention is to edit this site periodically, removing old messages, and information that is not appropriate.

The function of kundalini awakening is to clear out the stress, blockages and contractions in our subtle energy fields, making us more open vehicles for the movement of pure consciousness. This is a spiritual process, that enables our consciousness to make radical shifts in orientation, and gradually opens the heart and mind to a direct experience of our true nature. Kundalini awakening may occur before spiritual realization, initiating a process that leads toward it. But it also can occur after a direct perception of Truth, or a realization that you are One with the whole of life, and in this case the kundalini process begins the clearing in order that the awakening you have had can become embodied. An experience of awakening is limited if you are never able to live from this new perception of who you are.

There is no advantage in forcing a kundalini awakening through vigorous practices as this can lead to complications if you open up too fast. It is more useful to focus on developing a quiet and deep meditation practice, sincerely longing to know what is true, and who you are. To rest in the question"Who Am I?" and not go to thought for answers, seeing all the roles in your life as if they were garments, and all the conditioning as if it were clutter in open space, and seeking to rest in the non-knowing, is a direct and gentler approach to realization. I encourage you to explore my website for a better understanding of this process.