What is Kundalini Awakening?
Kundalini activation is the process of waking up the coiled, serpent-like energy called Kundalini, resting at the base of the spine. It is said to go up through the chakras or centers of energy in the body once it is aroused, leading to several physical, emotional, and spiritual experiences. Some common signs of kundalini awakening are:
- Much warmth or flow of energy in the body
- Involuntary movements or shaking
- Altered states of consciousness
- Heightened intuition and psychic abilities
- Emotional releases by way of crying, laughing
- Deep insights and realizations
- Feelings of bliss and ecstasy
Descriptions of having a kundalini awakening paint it as a transformative process in which one is able to gain deeper insight into the self, get personal growth, and bring about spiritual enlightenment. It can also be quite challenging and intense, though, and needs to be guided and supported.
A Brief History of Cannabis Use in Spiritual Practitioners
Cannabis has a millennia-long history of application in spiritual and religious practices. In ancient India, it was considered a holy plant and was applied in several Hindu and Buddhist rituals and ceremonies. The Indians thought it helped a man to meditate and see the hidden, and so it was often consumed as a beverage called bhang during different religious festivals.
Elsewhere, cannabis was similarly applied, in the Middle East and Africa, for judicious and spiritual intentions. The ancient Egyptians used the plant in their religious ceremonies, and it was mentioned in the Hebrew Bible as an ingredient in holy anointing oil.
More recently, cannabis has been associated with many countercultural and spiritual movements, including the hippie movement of the 1960s and the Rastafarian religion that developed in Jamaica. Members from each of these groups often revere cannabis as a holy substance capable of augmenting the intensity of mystical experiences while providing feelings of oneness and brotherhood.
The Science of Cannabis and the Endocannabinoid System
Knowing a little about the science behind the plant and how it interacts with the human body can be helpful in understanding how cannabis might affect kundalini awakening.
Cannabis contains more than 100 different compounds known as cannabinoids. The major ones, however, are only two: THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol). These compounds interact with the endocannabinoid system in the human body, which is a complex network of receptors and neurotransmitters that helps in regulating several physiological and cognitive processes.
The ECS is involved in functions such as pain perception mood sleep appetite and immune response. Some researchers have also suggested that the ECS may play a role in the regulation of the chakras and the flow of kundalini energy although more research is needed in this area.
When cannabis is ingested, cannabinoids bind with receptors in the ECS and can have a multitude of effects depending upon the exact compounds involved and their dosage. THC is the primary psychotropic ingredient of cannabis, which includes altered perception and feelings of euphoria, while CBD is not psychoactive and has recently been under scrutiny for possible therapeutic properties such as anxiolysis, antibiosis, and anti-inflammation.
How Cannabis Can Help in Kundalini Awakening
How, then, can cannabis be effective in kundalini rising? Here are some possible advantages that have been reported by some spiritual practitioners:
- Improved meditation and introspection: Cannabis has been used for thousands of years to facilitate the process of meditation and introspection. For some people, the ability to quiet the mind and allow a relaxed awareness to prevail allows one to attend and concentrate on the practice at hand.
- Body awareness and sensitivity: Cannabis can sometimes enhance sensory perception and body awareness, helping one to tune into the subtle energies and sensations involved in the process of kundalini awakening.
- Emotional releases and healing: Many of the people who experience kundalini awakening may tend to experience unresolved emotional traumas and blockages. Cannabis can sometimes be a very supportive gently-aware tool to help access and release these emotions.
- Alleviates stress and relaxation: At times, kundalini awakening gives the experience which feels very overwhelming and intense. Cannabis is known for promoting relaxation, reducing stress, and anxiety and can really help in integration and grounding during the experience.
- Increasing awareness and perception: Perhaps the most significant number of inhaled effects of cannabis are reported on the alteration of perception and heightened consciousness. For some individuals, this can allow them to be attuned to divine connections and have a deeper realization of reality.
It needs to be underlined that all such benefits are highly individual and won’t necessarily be obtained by everyone. In a few cases, a person might come across some negative effects of cannabis on their spiritual condition or might experience certain unwanted psychoactive effects. Like other tools and substances, cannabis should be approached with intention and discernment, and should be left to your own inner guidance.
Precautions and Considerations
If you think to use cannabis as a means of helping to raise your kundalini there are some precautions that should be taken along with important considerations:
Begin with a low dose and go slow. Cannabis effects can be unpredictable and overwhelming, especially to the sensitive and inexperienced.
- Pick a place where one will be safe and feel supported. Kundalini awakening sometimes can be a strong and delicate process, so it is very important to feel safe and have a nurturing environment while exploring and integration of such experiences.
- Always practice under a qualified teacher or guide at your side. The process involved in kundalini awakening is complex and multifaceted one; hence, proper guidance and support is important. It’s important to work with a qualified teacher or guide so that you get personal instruction and help in case of any miseries.
- Indications of potential complications or contraindications. Cannabis usage contains risks and contraindications, more so in people with previous or family-prevalent mental health illnesses. It implication needs to be highlighted and individuals with concerns need to consult a professional in the health field.
Conclusion
Finally, while cannabis may have the potential of helping with the kundalini-awakening process, one must tread this subject very cautiously and discriminately. The awakening of the kundalini is an utterly individual and very complex process that is in dire need of guidance and support. If you would like to work with cannabis in your spiritual practice, first research it, begin slowly, and study with a qualified teacher or guide. In the end, the most vital thing is to believe in your wisdom and follow a path that is authentic and aligned for you.
