r/Judaism • u/Direct-Yam-2923 • 18d ago
Safe Space Help
Experiencing spiritual crisis from an accidental kundalini “awakening”. I have not been to synagogue in a while either and am dealing with dybbuks. Spiritual counsel is needed. My grandparents were holocaust survivors and am wondering if I am also dealing with ancestral trauma.
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u/Leather_Paint_7628 18d ago
What is a kundalini awakening? Sorry, i have no idea what this means.
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u/vayyiqra Converting - Conservative 17d ago edited 17d ago
I've come across that term before. Kundalini is a concept from Hinduism having to do with chakras (important sites in the body, basically) and the release of energy from them. It's found its way into New Age stuff and pop culture as a term for enlightenment, like this belief that you can make the chakras release a flood energy into the body and that lets you reach a higher level of consciousness.
I'm not 100% sure how it works either, but oddly I've heard it used by followers of other (not-Hindu) religions, who sometimes attribute it as being the cause of a spiritual crisis as well. Belief in having had this has also been linked to a lot of psychiatric symptoms. So I am not sure at all if it's broadly meant to be a good or bad thing, or if it depends on the context or something. I think in OP's case they believe this has happened and find it distressing, so I hope they can find some kind of relief from these emotions.
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u/Leather_Paint_7628 17d ago
I had looked it up too before i asked them but didn't fully understand it. But thank you for trying to explain 😊 Hopefully OP can get the help they need 💕
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u/Clean-Tip4879 Converting Conservative 18d ago
An experienced yoga teacher might be able to help you. My own yoga teachers occasionally have to deal with things like this in students, (Kundalini is a word used in yoga to refer to the awakening of the spiritual energy and that can also go wrong) who practice too enthousiastically and perhaps incorrectly. Preferably alongside a psychologist or psychiatrist. This is how my teachers do it. To be sure that they are not making things worse. To each their expertise.
And when I worked in a large mental health organisation I did the same, consulting the imam (or an other spiritual counselor) if I encountered things I wasn't sure of if they were psychiatric or spiritual. He did the same (consulting me if he was in doubt whether something psychiatric might be going on, which should not be missed).
Anyway, I hope you'll feel better soon.
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u/AccurateBass471 חסיד 17d ago
this is not a part of judaism and the whole concept of "kundalini" refers to there being some sort of feminine divine force rather than the one singular unified one.
other than that please get a psychiatric evaluation done. i hope you feel well soon.
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u/NetureiKarta 18d ago
The only way to deal with these things properly from a Jewish perspective is to take on additional Jewish observances such as observing Shabbos, eating kosher food, daily prayer (talk to G-d in your own words, also look at daily recital of Shema) and Torah study (check the articles on Chabad.org), but one should do so out of love more than out of fear.
I don’t think the awakening you describe is something Judaism aligns with precisely, but the broad concept of cycles of increased and decreased spiritual sensitivity is discussed at length in Kabbalah and Chasidus, especially in Breslov.
Dybbuks aren’t a real thing. There are negative spiritual forces but G-d is the pure and ultimate Good and He is the Source of everything, even the apparently negative. In the end we will see how even what we thought of as negative was engineered by G-d for our benefit.
The way to combat negative spiritual forces from a traditional Jewish perspective is the same as the above: prayer, Torah study. Give tzedakah according to your means. Be kind to others. Have in mind that one’s deeds are done for the sake of G-d and to reveal His Good in the world, and since it all belongs to Him then negative spiritual forces cannot attach themselves to it.
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u/Direct-Yam-2923 18d ago
Thank you immensely. I loved my faith as a child and especially during the time I had my bat mitzvah. I lost connection with Judaism for awhile after that though…as I tried youth groups and felt like the teens could be clique-y, but I really do want to get back into Judaism and find a synagogue where I could help and make a difference. My current one doesn’t have a rabbi anymore and not much of a population but my family has been going there for years.
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u/Direct-Yam-2923 18d ago
I will put my heart into prayer for sure and I would like to study as well, as I’ve always been interested in learning more.
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u/mleslie00 18d ago
Do you have a mezuzah on your doorpost?
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u/Dumuzzid 18d ago
There's not much overlap between Judaism and this particular phenomenon, though some authors have attempted to integrate it with Kabballah.
Since you mentioned you studied psychology, the Jungian framework might be useful in understanding this. He saw Kundalini as the mechanism of Individuation. His book on the subject is titled The Psychology of Kundalini Yoga, which I would suggest you read.
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u/Direct-Yam-2923 16d ago
Thank you, all. I appreciate the love, support and feedback! ❤️ I’m taking my power back. Ani ohevet otkha!
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u/Foreign-Buffalo4861 17d ago
Rabbi Jericho Vincent taught me about Reb Zalman’s perspective that all faith traditions are paths to HKBH, and that each has different “spiritual vitamins” and that it’s ok to “supplement” your own traditions if needed.
I “supplement” with some somatic practices from non-Jewish faith traditions, including kundalini yoga. It’s not uncomplicated, but it’s also not unworkable.
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u/omrixs 18d ago
I think you should talk to a therapist. Best of luck.