Jim,
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Scott, going with the flow is an awesome attitude, and one I wholeheartedly endorse. Last thing we want to do is micromanage the purification work being done on us by the divine. However, I've had overload symptoms that if I'd just "let happen", I might not be alive right now.
Same here, and I do agree with you that
something must be done with overload issues. But what exactly must be done, is the issue...
I will put in my perspective on your suggestions...
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1. again, cut back on duration of any spiritual practices you're doing (and don't do anything to cultivate more energy!)
This is good advice. For some people, they may need to stop having anything to do with spirituality ENTIRELY for however long it takes for things to calm down. I don't know if that's the case for Marie or not...that's up to her to decide what she needs or doesn't need. But I agree with this piece of advice, to self pace.
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2. long long walks
Another good piece of advice, although I've found that this isn't as effective as people say. If you're having intense overload symptoms, this will not make them go away soon. In fact, I've found there's not really a "cure" for overloading, except to wait it out.
Yes, walking is sort of "grounding", but these intense spiritual energies can't just be grounded so simply. It takes a lot of time and coaxing.
Walking should be included in everyone's routine, in my opinion. But it shouldn't be thought of as a cure for overloading symptoms, because for some (like myself), it really may not be that simple.
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3. eat heavy (in richness and in quantity)
Another thing I've found which isn't so important, though I do agree with it. Basically, a person should eat until they're full, and eat every meal of the day. Sometimes spiritual folks tend to have the tendency to eat very little, and keep themselves hungry...that's the only thing to be avoided. There's no need to eat a TON of food. It makes little difference in terms of overloading. Eating meat does help a little bit more, though, too.
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4. standing asanas and/or tai chi
I know this is suggested to establish proper pathways for the energy to flow...but what this is really going to do is throw someone over the edge!!! These practices increase energy.
What the energies are doing by themselves is establishing their proper pathways...like you said, Jim, we don't need to micromanage the divine working in us. It does it by itself...so why the need to establish its pathway?
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5. sexual orgasm (not to excess, though)
I think this also increases energy...at least it does for me. I'd say leave sex alone as long as you're overloading. Go find something productive to do and keep busy. If you end up having sex, cool...at least you're doing something, and not having sex in order to control your kundalini. Live life like a normal person...not someone running scared from inner energies.
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6. lots of engagement with the world...talking, bustling around, etc. This is not the time to go monk-ish...we're trying to roll back spiritual energy, not cultivate it!
I agree with this 100%. This is the best thing any yogi can do, overloading or not. But it does work really well for overloading. Go be around people...it'll take your energy level down to their level.
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2. practice AYP spinal breathing (see the "main lessons" link above), which also means you should practice AYP meditation, which balances the spinal breathing. They're easy and simple to learn, and the spinal breathing is all about creating a straight-and-narrow pathway. **BUT** if you do commence on these practices, you'll need to cease other practices, because combining practices can lead to unpredictable energetic result. And if the tingling increases, decrease the duration.
I know this is always suggested, but I don't see how such a powerful practice can ever help someone who is overloading. It's just something I personally have never agreed with. Although, I do agree that this intense practice shouldn't be mixed with other practices, besides what AYP recommends. And even then, for some people, it may be too soon or it may just not jive with them.
So yeah, my position on it is: don't even think about spinal breathing. Let the energies calm down again, and get back onto your balanced practices.
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3. if you're someone with good power of attention, gently try to "favor" the upper RIGHT quadrant of your head. Energy follows attention, and you can perhaps coax a more symmetrical result. If you can manage it, try to focus dilating, warm, loving energy to the center and right side of your head.
This is the one thing I mainly disagreed with, which compelled me to write. This would be a prime example of micromanaging, when it's not going to be useful at all. With deep meditation, the energies are purifying our body so that it is balanced...so why disrupt that process, by taking the balancing act into our own hands? We don't know what needs to be done internally. Best to "keep it under the hood". Especially when it comes to a practice like this, which hasn't been time tested by other yogis, and is just something thought up.
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4. remember (having read the AYP lessons I suggested above) that ajna, between (and slightly above) the eyebrows, also called the third eye, is your friend. That's where you want this energy leading to. That's the target for this wayward jolting. Practice sambhavi mudra (again, it's in the lessons) during pranayama. Don't do it extreme, because that might cultivate more energy. But do it and hold it dear, because that's what will, in the end, draw this wayward energy back into a healthy pathway. If symptoms worsen, or other weird assymetrical stuff happens, try to have a fast sambhavi mudra reaction, and do it with that love dilation attitude, rather than fight jolts with jolts (if that makes sense to you).
Sambhavi mudra is an advanced practice as well. Therefore, I also wouldn't recommend this to someone who is having problems...whether they consider themselves advanced or not. It still imbalances the nervous system, by placing your attention there. The attention will naturally flow there in a perfect manner with correct meditation practice.
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By the way, Marie...I would also strongly suggest seeing a neurologist! Your issue sounds like it really could be neurological. Please explain everything you did here to the doctor, and also anything else you left out! Mention your spiritual practices, too. Good luck.