Burning prickly meditation

[The Cloud]

I was meditating last night, letting go of my attachments. Then I got this impression of a gray blank slate, and a strong burning prickly sensation spread throughout my upper body in a similar pattern to the chills you get when someone walks on your grave (it's an expression, I'm not dead). I say spread, but it was more like an eruption, a fountain of prickly lava spreading over my arms and chest. I have never felt anything remotely similar to this sensation in my life (aside from similar patterning to chills). I think it was an interesting experience, and I wanted to share it.

Edit: I did a bit of research, and apparently a hot prickly sensation is strongly correlated with Panic Disorder. I guess I was just panicking .

[SonoranBob]

Originally Posted by The Cloud

I was meditating last night, letting go of my attachments. Then I got this impression of a gray blank slate, and a strong burning prickly sensation spread throughout my upper body...

(chuckle) At the moment this topic came up right above "effects of porn" ... interesting synchronicity ...

--Bob

[Eisho]

Originally Posted by The Cloud

I was meditating last night, letting go of my attachments. Then I got this impression of a gray blank slate, and a strong burning prickly sensation spread throughout my upper body in a similar pattern to the chills you get when someone walks on your grave (it's an expression, I'm not dead). I say spread, but it was more like an eruption, a fountain of prickly lava spreading over my arms and chest. I have never felt anything remotely similar to this sensation in my life (aside from similar patterning to chills). I think it was an interesting experience, and I wanted to share it.

Edit: I did a bit of research, and apparently a hot prickly sensation is strongly correlated with Panic Disorder. I guess I was just panicking .

Can I ask if you are breathing deeply while you meditate?

It may be a sensation of ki/chi being generated and spreading through your body. There is a key node in the center of your chest. Did it originate from there? And the feeling shouldn't be painful.

Cheers,

Eisho

[The Cloud]

Originally Posted by Eisho

Can I ask if you are breathing deeply while you meditate?

It may be a sensation of ki/chi being generated and spreading through your body. There is a key node in the center of your chest. Did it originate from there? And the feeling shouldn't be painful.

Cheers,

Eisho

Actually, I noticed that my breathing was the shallow quick kind associated with panic, although I didn't actually feel panicked. I suppose it came from somewhere around my central chest area. It was not painful, just odd.

[The Cloud]

Originally Posted by SonoranBob

(chuckle) At the moment this topic came up right above "effects of porn" ... interesting synchronicity ...

--Bob

Lol just when you thought it was safe to watch porn...

[Eisho]

Originally Posted by The Cloud

Actually, I noticed that my breathing was the shallow quick kind associated with panic, although I didn't actually feel panicked. I suppose it came from somewhere around my central chest area. It was not painful, just odd.

Generally ki/chi is generated from deeper than regular breathing. It may be that, but I am not a doctor so can't advise you if it is anything serious.

Do you have any unusual sensations in the palms of your hands and/or soles of your feet?

Cheers,

Eisho

[testac]

Hello The Cloud,

I just had a similar experience. For two days in a row I've entered the deepest meditative state I've had in a while, and both days I felt a burning/bubble from my chest. It almost felt like someone rubbed Bengay on my chest and I noticed some of my pectoral muscles to begin to twitch but I'd more describe the feeling like a fountain of lava like you do. I had been cycling deep breathing with a short shallow breath at the times when it occurred. I didn't associate it with panic, and the feeling was isolated to that region (no tingling in hands or feet.) The second day I tried to spread the sensation throughout my body with mild success before my alarm went off, but the feeling still lingers minutes after my meditation ended.

Meditation is wacky but I believe it's awakening something inside of me which I was unaware of before. Any update from your experiences?

The best,
Chris

[The Cloud]

Originally Posted by testac

Any update from your experiences?

Sort of. I've experienced the sensation a couple more times, although not as intense as the original feeling. I haven't bothered with it for a long time though, because I don't know that there is any use in exploring it further unless I learn some new information that would help me explain it better. My thought is that I somehow tapped into the center in the brain responsible for the physical experiences of panicking, but I'm by no means certain and don't have the equipment to validate my hypothesis.

I've also had a new physical sensation, which I've had for months now. It's a raw feeling in my chest, almost like I've had a dry cough for a while. Kind of an itchy, raw sensation in my lungs right at the center of my sternum. It happens whenever I'm feeling particularly "detached." I don't know how to explain it, but it appears only when I'm in a certain state of mind that there's not really a word for.

I haven't found out more about it because I get tons of irrelevant medical crap whenever I try to google it, and I'm sure I'd just get "your heart chakra is opening" or some equally useless explanation if I asked about it on the forum. Not saying I disapprove of chakras or anything, but unless somebody has a deep understanding of the subject I don't care to hear simpleminded explanations like that. Anyways, that's my update.

[themaster]

While I have not felt what you have felt in a meditation.. I was surprised to feel what felt like little bugs on my skin during my teacher’s meditation last saturday.. meant to put you in contact with some new type of guides..

(I don't know if this one is known about or not)

[kittyet]

Hi, this is my first post.
Meditation, TM, certain forms of yoga, energy work, breath work, reiki, rebirthing, Qi-gone, Shati-pat (deeksa - the same thing), shamanic activity, various healing methods, & various other east/west practices & modalities can trigger or activate (artificially, as apposed to it occurring naturally on its own) "a first time kundalini", causing a wide variety of sensations, difficulties, physical illnesses and diseases, mental & psychosis and neurological problems, as well as a whole host of psychic and/or psycho-spiritual manifestations (seemingly wonderful and/or awful and frightening).

Kundalini is known to mimic various diseases, illnesses and mental problems.

Some of the physical, mental & psychic problems & difficulties related to kundalini awakening can be:

Prickly (or pricking feels like needle pricks or sharp bug bits) sensations, sensations of crawling bugs under and on the skin, thumping sensation, mudras and krias, body jerking, muscle contractions, spasms, twitching, tremors, and pin pricking sensations anywhere on the body even in eyeballs, terribly painful stiff neck, headaches, gastrointestinal problems, electrical sensations and shocks, vibrations (in all strengths and degrees), heart racing/palpitations, panic attacks, chest pains, heartburn, ringing in the ears & ear sounds, making animal sounds, exhaustion & fatigue, blurred vision, insomnia/sleep disorders, memory problems, sensations of burning, numbness in the fingers or toes, white coating on tongue, heightened psychosis, agitation, confusion, anxiety, depersonalization, localized and wondering "pain" anywhere in body, cramps, hair loss, hots spots, or feeling heat, movements and thumping in the brain and anywhere in the body, increased skin sensitivity, hearing voices (seeing masters, angels & others that may or may not be genuine but counterfeit), and/or spiritual and psychic phenomenon (both wonderful and awful and terrifying). Some people have ended up in mental hospitals. Bonnie Greenwell says "The symptoms can mimic conversion disorder, epilepsy, lower back problems, multiple sclerosis, heart attack or pelvic inflammatory syndrome" and more. These are just a few.

"There is a great danger in raising Kundalini in the first place: it may not turn off or the state it produces may become addictive. Having taught upward meditation for decades, I have seen many cases of aborted careers, broken marriages, disassociated psyches and neurological illnesses that I believe were caused by kundalini." ~ Puran Bair



Any kundalini symptoms or side-effect can come and go, stop, only to come back at a later time. Symptoms or side-effects can be localized and/or wonder throughout the body. One can have one sensation/side-effect or several that overlap one another.

There can (be for some people - not all) a wide range of symptoms, side-effects, sensations, psychic manifestations, and a wide range of heightened activity, suffering, illness etc. and/or pain (on a scale from 1 to 100).

While side-effects or first activation of kundalini can occur right away (such a slight jerk, twitch, lights etc.), effects are often delayed, and may not occur for minutes, hours, days, months, or even many years later. That is why some people do not associate their kundalini side-effects and symptoms to kundalini. They end up making rounds of doctors, hospital & therapist etc. trying to find out what is wrong with them. As a last resort some people will go to well meaning healers for help, only to find that they will "re-trigger' symptoms that will become far worse and more intense.

If one is experiencing "active" kundalini side-effects or symptoms or sensations, the literature suggest to refrain form practices etc. for a short time, but many of us have had to stop all practices and modalities indefinitely. The reason for this, it "after first initial activation/triggering", kundalini will "lay dormant for periods of time", this is when she is temporarily asleep and one feels no sensations or side-effects. When she is active she is considered "up and running" and/or in an active state" when one feels sensations etc. So, kundalini can be re-activated or re-triggered either way - when she is slumbering or awake.

Continued use of these same various practices and modalities can cause (in some people) a "re-triggering or re-activation" after ones kundalini has been initially triggered/activated a first time. The effects can occur within a 12 to 48 hr. period afterwards. And effects can become far far worse and more intense, and new side-effects etc. can occur then or at a later time.

Kundalini is not well known in the east/west new age community. Most only know what they have read or learned from popular books on chakras that only gives part of the whole truth. Most just have little knowledge on this subject. But more and more info. is coming out, because hundreds of thousands are having light to severe problems with it.

I have been going thru this since the mid 1980's and it is awful, contrary to what some say and write about kundalini. Although Kundalini is known as a purifier, she is also known as a destroyer, and is like opening "Pandora's Box. And is known as "A Blessing and A Curse" to those going thru this. Even the eastern master have warned and suggested that people not do anything to rouse kundalini. She is a phenomenon that most are not disciplined or prepared for, or is strong enough in mind and body to handle her sometimes extreme and volatile intelligent energies. All religions in the world have warned about delving into phenomenon that we know nothing about nor are ready for.

Some people may never experience kundalini rising/awakening, while others only a little, still others like myself end up suffering and experiencing awful pain and other things for many many years off and on.

While kundalini problems can be short for some, for others kundalini can last for days, months, and for many years even up to 30 or 40 years off and on.

Most who delved or learned some of these practices and modalities had no clue originally that these things could happen. We were not forewarned. Teachers of some east organizations were told not to share information on problems with kundalini, and that is sad.

Many of my friends and acquaintances are suffering and have been for months or years, like myself. Most of us would never want to experience these things again, no matter how much kundalini is said to be a purifier.

I had most all of the symptoms above. Right now I am experiencing prickly, thumping and crawling sensations again and some others again.

While all of us going thru kundalini may have different symptoms and side-effects, we all have many of the same one and effects that are similar, such as the way these things come and go and stop, only to come back later. Often the effects occur and are seemingly worse in the evening though they can occur during the day too. If anyone wants any other information, please let me know.

If you are in kundalini "Spiritual Emergency" "crisis" (DSM-IV, V62.89).... try to find a reputable therapist or someone who has gone thru kundalini and is knowledgeable and genuine and can help. But buyers beware. I can tell you from experience that most healers and others who say they know all about kundalini have not real clue as to what to do and can make things worse. So far I have not been able to find anyone who can help my friends and I.

[dhethic]

kittyet,

I don't contest that you and people you know have had a very negative experience involving kundalini. That is unfortunate. Because of this, I'm sure you have conviction on the topic. Considering your unfortunate experience, your conviction, and the fact that this is your first post, I apologize for disagreeing with some of your points as vehemently as I do, but, your post states that this is, or will be, the case for the majority of other people who experience kundalini. I patently don't believe is the case, and, if nothing else, serve as one counterexample.

I worry that your presentation may be off the mark, as if rising kundalini is a disease that should be treated and thus prevented, one that can be triggered or artificially activated simply by being exposed to non-western philosophies. If this were the case, then why is this not an epidemic sweeping the planet? The majority of the planet's population is non-western.

Your post reads as if eastern philosophy is a cult to fear. Of course it is not, except to evangelicals clinging to a lifestyle by imposing it on others and defaming anything contrary, which is far more cult-like behavior, but I digress.

There's a lot of millennium era, well-intentioned fear, uncertainty, and doubt in what you posted, reading like the side effects of a miracle drug that no one needs. Even if it is based on nuts-and-bolts, objective studies by western professionals, there is a whole lot of misunderstanding going on.

I would request citations, but I don't have any to offer in return, as most of the information on these topics does not come from books written by respected academics pursuing doctorates. Looking for information on these topics in acadamia is futile unless you're specifically looking for FUD.

While there definitely are some people who will have problems with their kundalini rising, sometimes even severe problems, it's not a negative event or even necessarily a negative experience for everyone. Most people who do go through it don't know it's happening until it's almost finished, which it does, without incident.

Opening one's kundalini is a spiritual progression. Not everyone is concerned with truly spiritual things every incarnation. For those that are, it's a tool. We decide before we're born what kind of progress we intend to make with kundalini, if any, and about what period of our life we intend to go through the process. If we get to that period and we're not ready, spiritually, then it won't naturally occur. It can be forced, but that's different. It's an important difference and that difference seems to be the center of your position.

If you're talking about enthusiastic practitioners who lack training and are inadverdently or even deliberately inflicting this on people, then that is truly unfortunate. On this topic, you are entirely correct. Forcing the kundalini can cause terrible things, from aches and pains to cancer and death, psychoces, trauma, and broken relationships. If forcing the kundalini is becoming a widespread occurrance, then we definitely should start raising awareness, but you have to be careful not to throw the baby out with the bathwater. Just because some aspects of kundalini can be negative does not mean that all aspects of kundalini are always negative. Your post is accurate if you narrow its focus and applicability.

Kundalini rising is perfectly natural. It is akin to puberty, but not everyone needs to go through this particular "puberty". Some people have problems with normal puberty, and I'm sure some people have problems with kundalini even without forcing it.

For people experiencing problems or "side effects", I personally wouldn't go to a western doctor for treatment. This is a spiritual issue, not a secular one. They know nothing of the cause, and we all know how just treating symptoms goes. The real "cure" is to talk to your guides about it. Follow your intuition. Trying to tackle this from a perspective of fear only makes things worse.

Now, this was a really lengthy post. I'm no expert on the kundalini, but I know enough about it to say that this has been blown way out of proportion. The reason I'm being so pedantic about it is that a lot of people find this website from search engines. For the topics it covers, it's pretty well ranked, and rightly so. Your post has lists of terms in it that will pop up for many searches unrelated to the topic at hand, so it wouldn't be a stretch for your post to be ranked higher in results for people searching specifically for kundalini. My concern is that your post is superficially definitive at first glance, easily instilling its fear, uncertainty, and doubt for any poor travellers happening upon it. I want to make sure people are well informed before drawing conculsions.

Again, I apologize for strongly disagreeing, and particularly for belaboring my points. I mean no ill will. I simply disagree.

[dhethic]

davidchung pointed me towards Kundalini-teacher.com - Warning and legal disclaimer

That's a very good, practical warning, without the unnecessary FUD.