Kundalini?

[mermaidcafe.livejournal.com]

Hi all--

I think I'm experiencing a Kundalini awakening (sadly, not a Kundera awakening) and I've heard a lot of horror stories about what can happen if you don't know what you're doing. And I don't know what I'm doing. Can someone recommend someone locally who knows lots about this? And maybe a Kundalini yoga class?

If you know a lot about it but don't deal with it professionally, feel free to reply anyway.

Thanks!

Comments

[janusirsasana.livejournal.com]

Soni Yoga, in North Cambridge, offers a Kundalini yoga class on Tuesday nights. I don't know much about it, otherwise, but the first class at the studio for newcomers is free if you want to check it out.

[mermaidcafe.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[derekp.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the chuckle.

[mermaidcafe.livejournal.com]

Right. Because there is nobody who does yoga and understands there is rampant and disgusting cultural appropriation happening from Kabbalah bracelets to dream catchers but still believes it to be a good way of exercising and developing the body's potential.

Also, I hear they only allow rich white suburban folks through the door of any yoga class.

[mermaidcafe.livejournal.com]

Yep. Pretty much.

I'm planning to also read from the Qur'an at my wedding and start celebrating Yom Kippur. Just because I can. I thought I'd keep you informed since it's your business how I choose to spent my Planned Weekly Cultural Appropriation Time.

Mod Note

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

Dude, chill.

You're welcome to snark all you want, but please try to keep it to davis_snark. This isn't b0st0n and we don't want it to become so.

[ron_newman]

Wouldn't it be less judgmental to call it "cultural hybridization" or "syncretism" instead of "appropriation"?

[mermaidcafe.livejournal.com]

And by the way, nice presumption about my race. That's a good way to build tolerance.

[mermaidcafe.livejournal.com]

I am white; I don't haave dreads (just a lot of hair). But if you have any evidence of my upbringing as a rich suburban kid, go for it.

[mermaidcafe.livejournal.com]

The one where I said I didn't want that?

You know, if you made a post asking where the Stop Cultural Appropriation club meets, I wouldn't make a personal attack on you. I would just not respond.

I'm going to stop responding because I don't need this negativity, and I doubt you do either.

[sonofabish.livejournal.com]

Wait, those names sound pretty damn .... foreign. What's the matter- no good white boys like yourself to draw a parable from, that you have to appropriate a story from a culture different than your own?

Thus, the Circle of Snark is complete. Thanks for the chuckle. I needed one.

[daft.livejournal.com]

This cat would have a lot more bite if feralnerd were actually white.

[contradictacat.livejournal.com]

Aww, don't be so hard on the poor little snowflakes...they don't have a culture of their own. After all, their ancestors came here and took everything from the natives- it's only fair that their children continue the practice.

[teko.livejournal.com]

Except that, as you point out, it's a public forum for people to ask questions and trade ideas. Nobody's forcing you to reply, snark or otherwise. And it's certainly not your place to tell folks on this forum to keep their beliefs and ideas to their goddamned selves.

[jspazzer.livejournal.com]

This is an announcement
For the transcendental run
The train now standing
Leaves for higher planes
Due to a derailment
There will be no other train
So why not hop on this one?

All aboard the Express Kundalini

[mermaidcafe.livejournal.com]

I'm suddenly feeling unbearably light...

[yagagriswold.livejournal.com]

http://www.amarjityoga.com/

[mermaidcafe.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[viellen]

Amarjit is great! I took her classes a few years ago when I was a Healthworks member. She's very welcoming and I remember the classes were great for all levels.

[glowroper.livejournal.com]

If you do not find a class setting that meets your needs (since Kundalini isn't trademarked, anyone can use it for just about anything!), you might want to speak with a counselor or bodyworker who does energy work. Kundalini awakenings can bring up a lot of emotional stuff and one might feel like they are in a bit of a crisis. One on one guidance from a therapist might be a good adjunct to group work.

Good luck.

[mermaidcafe.livejournal.com]

Thanks! That's a good idea.

Heh. I'm a trademark researcher. I know all about the joys of generic branding.

Well, i'm a Santeria man myself, but...

[zmgmeister.livejournal.com]

Have you tried singing along to "Union of the Snake" by Duran Duran?

[hoppzor.livejournal.com]

http://users.aol.com/ckress/symptoms.html

um. what the fuck?

[zmgmeister.livejournal.com]

Some people think that song is about Kundalini rising.

[spacehawk.livejournal.com]

I don't have an answer to your question, but it's a question I very much would like an answer to myself. Kundalini is so poorly understood in this culture that it can be quite a problematic transition for folks. First you have the simple hurdle of being believed and taken seriously, before you can even address what is happening and what one should do about it!

/Sympathy/ If you find someone who is helpful, or if you know of any serious, non-fluffy energy workers in the area who would be willing to train someone, please let me know.

[mermaidcafe.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry I just noticed this--I skipped out after all te nastiness. Thank you so much for this wonderful message--you deifnitely get it. I never found any energy workers, sadly, though I got a name of someone. A lot of my symptoms dwindled or became more manageable, so I'm not so worried now.

But belated thanks for (gasp) being nice! If you have questions about kundalini stuff, I did a lot of reading and you're welcome to send me a message.

[spacehawk.livejournal.com]

I'm glad to hear things are more manageable for you now. I am generally curious about kundalini and other experiences. I am also so sorry that these discussions online so often turn into, as you (perhaps accidentally!) put it, "teh nastiness"- such responses make it very hard for folks with serious issues to get honest, straight answers, or at least some support.

One of my personal goals is becoming a point person for "esoteric" phenomena- having at least one serious, knowledgeable, non-scam-related resource/contact/referral for as many experiences as possible. It's a work in progress and I expect it will always remain so.

In general I am unimpressed by what the internet has to offer on these subjects- for the experiences that people write about, I find the material to usually be unhelpful (for various reasons), and, for one to determine the useful information from the useless information usually requires a level of expertise that if you had it, you wouldn't be going to the internet for advice. ^_^

The only death is to be forgotten

[bevalasvegas.livejournal.com]

So this thread may be dead, considering my tech posting skills that's about right. But you folks are HILARIOUS. The "non-fluffy" energy worker? As in someone who isn't a furry? How about that Union of the Snake? Thank heavens for iTunes so that I can set the mood for this post, give me strength.

So it started out as a serious question about spirituality and became a cross cultural exchange. Cross as in angry of course. The streets would be overloaded if all the people posting to the internet left the house. Apparently, the internet provides both spiritual and personal interaction.

Thanks for the entertainment and education :)