Scary Expanded States - Tips On Navigating Them
Throughout the Kundalini process, it is not uncommon to experience influxes of Kundalini that lead to scary expanded states. These influxes can occur after spiritual practice, a period of bliss, or sometimes spontaneously on Kundalini’s watch.
A challenge that people tend to encounter with expanded states is that, during the expansion, unconscious material containing anxiety, fear, or even terror can come up to be processed. These experiences can contain various narratives that feel very strong and visceral, such as:
“I am dying.”
“I am leaving the body.”
“I will disappear.”
“I will float away.”
“I am being taken over by a dark force, energy, force outside of me…etc.”
I’ve experienced every one of these narratives earlier in my awakening, and I can tell you with a humorous wink that I am still here 😉 and am quite comfortable when I experience expanded states nowadays.
While all of the feelings and narratives from the unconscious mind can feel very real, I can assure you that only the egoic self feels these feelings and creates these faulty manifestations of the mind.
Because I know this experience to be quite universal, I thought it would be helpful to share some tips on what I’ve learned to help navigate it:
TIPS ON NAVIGATING “SCARY” EXPANDED STATES, OR EXPANDED STATES PAIRED WITH ANXIETY, FEAR, OR TERROR
TIP #1 - THE FUNDAMENTAL GROUND - Getting well acquainted with the essential part of you, which is the expanse of the universe, will be fruitful. This can take time, but it will ultimately be essential that you gently, over time (and in your own time), deepen into the trust that your true essence is infinitely wise and compassionate and that you can trust in the fundamental ground of pure consciousness, or the truth of who you are. This part of you can wisely and compassionately witness and love you through anything and everything that arises from your unconscious mind. It can love you with all of your weaknesses and problems.
TIP #2 - SLOW DOWN, RELAX, DEEPEN INTO LOVE - If you are very expanded and experiencing fear, anxiety, or terror, try to slow down, relax and deepen into love with your body and mind as soon as you can. This means slow your body movements and breathing, be sure that your body is as comfortable as possible. If sitting upright, you might be sure that your chest is open so that you can attune to and calm your breathing. The mind will respond more positively to the body when it reflects gentleness, relaxation, and compassion.
TIP #3 - AFFIRMATIONS OF SAFETY, GENTLENESS, LOVE, TRUST - Affirm your safety aloud. Like a deeply compassionate and loving divine parent, speak to yourself, affirming your safety. Any part of you that feels unsafe is simply a part of the ego, even if the sense of unsafety feels very real. The more real the part feels, the more it might need handholding while it is being processed. You can gently move to a private location to do this if necessary. Further, if you speak to yourself to self-connect, soften your voice in a way that expresses this gentleness so that the body and mind can attune to it. Some people might use different affirmations on different occasions. Feel free to affirm what feels most useful, but always do so attentively and in a way that attunes to the body, the mind, and its want for safety.
Some affirmative phrases can be:
I am/You are safe.
It is okay.
It is safe for me right now.
I am grounded.
I know it is scary but you are safe. I promise.
This will pass.
I am grounded and safe in this experience.
Feel free to make up affirmations and speak to yourself in the most resonant way that your most loving self would to all of your frightened or anxious parts. The most important part is being able to love and relax.
TIP #4 - SOFTEN/SLOW THE VOICE/GENTLE RESONANT TOUCH - While vocally affirming safety and connection, some people can respond very positively to hugging themselves or simply bringing their hand to a body part or energy center that feels safe/attuning/resonant. The heart can be loving, the solar plexus can feel peaceful, and the hara/navel chakra can feel grounding. Don’t feel embarrassed or ashamed to do so.
TIP #5 - CALLING UPON THE BIG JOBS - You can also call in the assistance of a high-being you trust wholeheartedly by attuning to your connection to them. You can repeatedly say various affirmations to the high being, as long as needed, until you feel safe, calm, or peaceful again.
A few affirmations you might explore are:
”I rest in your care/grace/peace/love..etc.”
”I embrace your love/I am embracing your love.”
”I am held in your grace.”
”I trust your grace/peace/love..etc.”
”I am receiving your grace/peace/love.”
”I request your grace/peace/love..etc”
Feel free to come up with your own affirmation. You might speak your affirmation in front of a photo of the high being to focus more deeply on the presence of their wisdom and compassion. I’ve done this, and it has helped me to deepen into the fundamental ground and attune to my true essence with greater trust. Over time, it got to the point where I could simply look at the photo, and any challenging feelings would dissolve. You might engage with the high-being in another way, such as imagining them wrapping you in a blanket of light or gently and softly requesting that they assist you with your experience and attuning to their infinite compassion for you. Every mentor I've worked with has commonly suggested or encouraged relying on the assistance of a high being. This speaks to the effectiveness and benefits of doing so.
TIP #6 - ASK FOR HELP - Sometimes, it can be fruitful to simply call someone you trust to share this experience with as it's happening, who won’t judge you and will be present with you as you center into and attune to a sense of safety again. You can let them know that you are feeling quite expanded and would enjoy having a presence to sit with you until you feel grounded. If you don’t feel comfortable sharing the experience, you might go and spend time with someone you can simply be around without needing to tell them the details of your experience. The more calm, trustworthy, and safe the person feels, the better. If possible, it’s not recommended to bring these experiences around people with whom you might feel very sensitive or uncomfortable. With expansion can come greater sensitivity.
These are just a few tips that I can offer you. Hopefully, they are helpful. Feel free to experiment with them, listen to your inner wisdom and explore what works best for you. Remember, the journey of Kundalini awakening is deeply personal, and what resonates with one person may differ for another. Trust in your process, be gentle with yourself, and seek out support when needed. Your expanded states are a part of your unique spiritual journey, and navigating them with compassion and patience will help you integrate these experiences into your life more harmoniously.
If you ever feel overwhelmed or unsure, don’t hesitate to reach out to a Kundalini therapist or join support groups where you can share your experiences and receive guidance from others who understand.
Best wishes and many blessings,
Morgan
