Perceiver

Boy I had a crazy experience tonight!

I normally do the MCO during the day, but tonight I did the exercise before bedtime. I was very concentrated while doing the exercise, and I could really feel the chi ball moving up my body - I had visualized it to cover most of my torso, and as it went up my body it caused small muscle/nerve jerks along the way. It was not unpleasant in any way. It actually felt quite good. I did the cycles quite slow, and I made the ball spin around its own axis very slowly. I was deep into the exercise and very concentrated. I felt like I was in total control of this exercise.

After about four cycles, my head started rocking spontaneously as the ball neared the head. It just wouldn't stop. I knew I could force my head to stop, but that would mean I couldn't relax. So I let it rock and bounce back and forth. As I moved the ball down my back I started feeling really funny. I felt light inside my body. I almost felt excited, energized, adrenaline-struck. And I had to stop the exercise, as I couldn't concentrate. When I tried to focus mentally on the orbit, I almost felt nauseous - like on a bad trip.

So I stopped the exercise, and I felt very much "awake" afterwards. I've done a session of triple warmers and ocean breathing now to calm down, and it has to worked to a certain degree. But it feels like I'm not getting any sleep tonight at all..

Anyone has an idea of what an earth just happened? Did I just manage to open and connect the front and back channels? Or was it maybe my semi-dormant kundalini that reacted?..

Stop doing the MCO/Small Universe! Thats what I did.

 

I now only practise the SFQ active exercises. The MCO will knock you down if you aren't ready for it. You will lose your hunger and drive.

 

I now eat better, I read again, I play music. These things were absent for a month or two. My brain fog and headaches are gone.

 

Read this guy's opinion!

 

http://flowingzen.com/1461/the-small-universe/

 

2-3 years he says. I've got a number of physical injuries that I still need to heal. At the current rate, 2-3 years seem like the right mindset/goal, since I've been doing qigong for 6 months already.

Okay, what are the SFQ exercises?..

Hi guys

Ok I tried to do the exercise today, based on some of the instructions I got here.. I did the following:

- I tried to rclear out bad chi first using the 6 healing sounds together with the five animals

- I took 36 deep abdominal breaths

- I relaxed myself by using the inner smile

- I did the MCO in reverse, and with slow cycles, as one person suggested

And the result was interesting: I feel much less hyper. I feel good, and I even felt like taking a nap afterwards.. Maybe this is the way to go .. I will keep you updated..

And by the way, I agree that this thread has been slightly hijacked by the two gentlemen with the heated discussion . Please try and have that discussion in another thread, thanks ;-)

Okay so here's my list of ideas to get my situation back on track..

Stop doing the MCO and get some sleep

Good point. Friday night I was unable to sleep at all (!). And boy did I feel tired Saturday.. I didnt do the MCO, and Saturday night I was fortunately able to sleep 8 hours. Thank god.. Will see how it unfolds the coming days..

Only do the MCO exercise in the dantien - don't cycle through the orbit

Could be a good idea.. Might have to try doing that exclusively for a week and see how it goes..

Focus on closing the MCO properly

Good point. I don't do anything specific to close it - only spin the peal around in the belly for a minute or so. That might not be enough..

Clear out your bad Chi first

Yes, I've also considered doing the six healing sounds first (mantak chia).. Maybe that would work

Walk barefoot in the grass and go hiking, exercise etc to ground the energy

I live in the cold North, so going barefoot is not an option .. Exercising in my opinion has only given a short-term reduction in the energy - if I keep reading the following days, the energy will build even more. Cardio training for some reason seems to make the energy more hyperactive? - Although it does reduce muscle cramps and nausea..

Hiking might help, but I doubt it's enough if I want to read and write 8-10 hours per day (which I do). - Because then the energy slowly starts building..

I don't normally call out threads for thread drift. It's the internet and it happens and some of the best information comes out when a thread has "derailed."

 

But really guys, are we trying to help the OP, or compare inner door ? sheesh.

 

To the OP:

 

Get "Opening the Energy Gates of Your Body" by Bruce Kumar Frantzis and practice the dissolving techniques and the three swings.

Hey there. Thanks.. Could you perhaps explain (briefly) how the "dissolving techniques" and "the three swings" would help ground the energy?.. I am completely new to qigong, - that's why I ask..

Have you found the thread helpful yet?

 

This might be helpful, but really, this should be assessed in person so this might miss the target really good.

 

Why did Gerard and myself recommend Hsing-I?

Because Hsing-I, taught under an acceptable proficient teacher, will teach you to close down and ground your body and your energy gates before you open up. Santi and five element training will connect and mend an energy system that is, instead of using a better term, "broken".

Hi there. What Hsing-I?.. I haven't heard about before..

In MCO its imperative that you bring the energy back to the LDT in order to close the form and make sure energy isn't swimming elsewhere in the body where it can do harm. Are you closing?

What exactly is the lower dantien?..

I visualize that my energy is a pearl the size of my belly - touching the perineum, ming-men and navel. I cycle this through the orbit and then I bring it back to the belly, still the size of the entire belly and then spin it around. When done, I open my eyes.. Would that be considered adequate?..

Hi guys

Thanks for all of your answers. It's incredible that so many will spend time on helping me, when you don't even know me or receive any payment. I feel some good vibes in here ! :-)

Maybe I should start out with elaborating a bit more on how I experience the nasty side effects: Since I had the kundalini experience, it seems like something has been triggered in me which will activate an energy imbalance whenever I use concentration exercises. My qigong teacher actually referred to my kundalini syndrome as being more of an energy imbalance, which sounds right in my opinion. So ever since then, I've avoided meditation, deep breathing, progressive relaxation, yoga and all related activities. Because they all give the same result: Once I start doing the exercise, I feel a "shift" in my body after a few minutes: It's like my heart is beating faster, I get a hectic energy inside, a slight headache, sometimes I can even feel nauseous, and I can get muscle cramps even though I haven't used my muscles. And then there's of course the insomnia, as a result of the excess energy.

I am impressed by how easily this shift happens: Even something as simple as a few minutes of vocal training will set it off. And if I read and write several hours during the day, then after two or three weeks the base of my spine starts feeling more and more tight, and I will start to develop a constant adrenaline state, with little sleep. So I've also had to stay away from concentration in general.

My qigong teacher and the people at the Kundalini Support Network forum all suggested the Microcosmic Orbit and the Inner Smile as a way to correct this energy imbalance, so i started doing this exercise 3 weeks ago.

I figured I might get some nasty side effects in the beginning, and I was right: I was probably only 10 seconds into the meditation when I felt a shift in my body and it started shaking, feeling uncomfortable etc. But interestingly, this faded after 4-5 days, and the exercise then started having a positive effect on me; it made me feel good. Unfortunately it still did not ground me. It seemed to do the opposite thing. So the insomnia is still there, which is really irritating..

But I've had a look at the advice you gave me, and will post my idea of what do now (in next post):..

What have you done for foundational practices? And for how long, also. How much do you utilize them in a given session, what portions? It doesnt sound like you have done enough of them, or kept them up enough...no offense intended, just speaking frankly.

 

See posts around here on stilling the heart mind, longevity breathing, my correlating musings on the cranials nerves even...it sounds like you need to establish a superlative deep stillness in order to more effectively integrate the energies. Then once you've felt some result from it, perhaps add back in the more active things.

 

/\

 

 

roight! I just made a post on that recently, too

http://thetaobums.com/topic/28693-attaining-emptiness-constant-reduction/#entry441496

No worries mate, none taken .

I must admit I've done 0 preparation exercises - just started the MCO 3 weeks ago as that was the one most frequently recommended to me.. And I have very little experience with spiritual practices in general.Unfortunately I can't mediate or do relaxation exercises without getting these very unpleasant immediate side effects. And can't do the MCO either, it would seem.. Maybe I should start doing the 6 healing sounds and inner smile first for a while?..

But I'm just not sure if it wou

You could try a lower, micro-microcosmic orbit, circulating only in the lower belly, and finishing very definitely in the Huiyin area. You have to close the meditation securely, no matter how you do it.

 

But, how exactly are you doing your MCO in the first place? There are a lot of approaches to this.

Could I ask what you mean by "close" the meditation securely?.. Not entirely sure what you mean?..

Thanks

Once you get the feeling of energy rising up the spine on inhale and falling down the front with exhale get rid of concentration and visualization or leading this energy. You don't need that tool any more.

 

Get a good feel for the descending channel even tilt 5% forward. Too much energy staying in the head region meaning too much attention,concentration of something that is already occurring completely natural just be aware of your energy that's all.

 

If you have negative reactions stop the exercise for now and get some sleep.

Thanks, but the thing is that this exercise is supposed to be "my way out" . I have had to put all of my dreams and ambitions on hold for the past two years, because whenever I would engage in bouts of concentration, the energy levels would rise.. I had really hoped the MCO would do the trick, as people said it would.. So I'm willing to give it some more time.. And I'm not sure how much it would help if I stopped the exercise - I tried that for a few days some weeks ago and the insomnia persisted, even worsened. It seems like the energy has been increased in power since I started training in this..

On a quick search in that group I have only found two somewhat relevant recent posts, both saying that MCO is not grounding, eg. http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/KundaliniSupportNetwork/message/21951

But I might have of course missed the one they wrote to you.

 

In KAP aka Kundalini Awakening Process course, MCO is the major part of the instructions on how to raise kundalini.

It might perhaps cure some of the kundalini symptoms in terms that it will clear blockages, but clearing blockages helps to raise kundalini.

Yep, but that post was written by a woman who has never trained in the MCO herself ;-). And yes, the MCO is the standard exercise suggested to people with kundalini in there..

My teacher had his own kundalini spontanouesly aroused in the 70s, and has used qigong to heal himself.. So that's why I thought it might work, since he recommended it for me..

You could try a lower, micro-microcosmic orbit, circulating only in the lower belly, and finishing very definitely in the Huiyin area. You have to close the meditation securely, no matter how you do it.

 

But, how exactly are you doing your MCO in the first place? There are a lot of approaches to this.

That might be an idea yeah.. What is the Huiyian area? - I'm not familiar with that..

I'm doing the MCO in the following way:

• I start by visualizing a blue pearl below my navel inside the body. I focus on it for some time and then visualize a red sphere at my heart center, which contains all of my love and compassion. I then visualize it merging with the blue pearl and say "haaa" - 3 times.
• Then I visualize a yellow sphere at my solar plexus, which contains all of my willpower. I then visualize it merging with the blue pearl and say "hooo" - 3 times
• Then I visualize the energy in my intestines and sexual organs merging with the blue pearl and say "hummm" - 3 times
• Then I visualize all 3 spheres merging with the blue pearl simultaneously and say "haa-hoo-hummm", 3 times (and one silent)
• I then start spinning the blue pearl around in a forward motion inside my stomach, where it first touches below the navel, then at the perineum, the ming-men and then navel again. I do this in a quite fast spinning motion. I gradually expand the pearl until it is spinning along its own axis and is touching all three points. I usually feel my belly area getting quite "tight" when I do this. It feels as if there's a presence there.. I also invite a white earth dragon to merge with the pearl and let the dragon do the spinning (funky stuff, I know. But that's how I was taught it..)
• Then I visualize a blue tube emerging from the pearl and going up my spine, over the head and down the front.
• I then start leading the pearl up this tube from the spine, spinning it around its own axis, visualizing it being halfway into my body. One cycle usually takes maybe a minute, and I am very concentrated while doing this. I bring it down the front and repeat the cycle
• In the end, usually after 3-4 cycles, I take it back to my belly and spin it around in a forward motion. I instruct the dragon to do it 72 times - I don't count it myself.. It usually takes a minute or so.. Then I pull the tube back in (visualize it), say "haa-hoo-humm" and then open my eyes..

Here are my own thoughts of what could be wrong:

1. Since the kundalini episode, I have always had unpleasant energy spikes after doing just about any concentration exercise. So maybe this is to be expected, and as I become more experienced, the energy will become more grounded?
2. I am using too much concentration to do the exercise. I should just try and make it simpler: Fx not visualize the spinning motion while circling the orbit, and try and relax into this exercise
3. The MCO does not actually ground energy, so this exercise is wrong for me (can this really be true?)
4. I have some sick chi that needs to be cleared out first using the 6 healing sounds. This will solve the problem
5. I am running too much fire, and need to reverse the orbit so the water element is strengthened, which will cool the energy down (= my teacher's advise..)

Stop doing MCO. It will raise Kundalini.

Okay, but I was actually informed that the MCO is an exercise that could ground the energy, as you bring it back to your belly at the end?..

 

How does that affecting your quality of life....??? Physically or mentally......??? It seems to me may be both. Can you give more details. You do not have to publicize if you so desire. Thanks.

I feel bad when I get up in the morning - my muscles have started aching from the lack of sleep. I don't feel energized, I only have energy for lying at the couch. And yes, it's affecting my mood too - I I don't have energy for doing the things in life I'd like to do..

You can try Kundalini Support Network:

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/KundaliniSupportNetwork/

they might even have a list of what to do to keep things smoother, sent upon subscription (not completely sure about this)

Thanks, but they were actually the ones who suggested me to try the MCO in the first place.. ;-). Seems to be working for other people, just not for me.. Or rather: It is working in the sense that it's giving me certain benefits, but it's just raising my energy levels and insomnia, which is the problem I've had with all concentration exercises since the kundalini episode..

Hi guys

Hope you can help me with an answer to something that is really eating away at my quality of life..

I recently started doing the Microcosmic Orbit about three weeks ago. I started the exercise as I wanted to manage my kundalini syndrome. About two years ago I got a "minor" kundalini release, and since then I have had to stay away from concentration, relaxation exercises and meditation - because they would increase the energy and give me insomnia.

I started doing the MCO as I had been instructed that it would cure this symptom by grounding the energy inside ones body. I've been doing it daily, and I must admit that it feels like it's doing the opposite: More energy is being released in my body, and my insomnia has worsened. It's at the point now where I'm unable to take naps anymore, and I sleep so bad that I don't have energy to read/write, be creative or social..

My taoist teacher has suggested I try and run the exercise in reverse - up the front and down the spine, so as to stimulate more water production in my system, to counter the fire production. Maybe this will help.. But so far the same has happened as when I've done concentration exercises before: The energy is boosted, which results in insomnia.

My question is: Is this "normal"? Is it to be expected and will it fade as I become more experienced in these exercises? Have you experienced something like this yourselves, and would you know what to do?

Any kind of help would be greatly appreciated, as it's really starting to affect my quality of life..

Valid post Perceiver.

 

And I feel the need to mention that we in the US of A have our own terrorists, home-grown, and not Moslem. Evil can be found anywhere.

That's true.

But it is however also true that countries that to some degree are characterized by a black/white, good/evil dichotomous worldview, where people are either clean/unclean (the Quran), will have a tendency to produce more nutheads who do not have to philosophize over the boundaries of morality themselves.

It is a simple form of group-morality, where responsibility is shared internally in the group - but not extended to others outside the group (non-muslims). In the middle ages and actually up until WW2, Europe was characterized by the same form of simple morality. Today, the Western world has progressed to a universal sense of morality, where responsibility is extended to all people regardless of religion, sex or race. The Muslim world has not yet seen such development. And therefore it produces more nutheads who feel they are morally justified to exact the most cruel punishments on those who are gay/christians/unveiled women, as they are not members of the "true tribe", and therefore not objects to whom your morality and concern should be extended.

I believe there are two ways of explaining this:

The first one is the "external" mode of explanation: The terrorists hate America due to its recent foreign policy, which they feel has terrorized their homelands.

The other is the "internal" mode of explanation: Terrorists hate, because they hate. If you look at history, you will see that Islamic history is full of examples where terrorists have done vile acts born out of a mix of religious fervor and hate. Terrorists in Algeria hate the secular Algerian government, and have been waging war against it for decades. Egyptian islamists hate the Christian minority in their country, and have been terrorizing and discriminating if for centuries (try and google "Egyptian Copts" and you will see). Christian schoolgirls are beheaded in Indonesia by Muslim extremists while on their way to school..

Why? Because of American foreign policy? - No. Because they hate. People with a medieval right/wrong, black/white view of morality will sometimes do fucked up shit like that.

Both of these perspectives have to be considered when analyzing why terrorists hate, in my opinion.

Thanks for the info perciever! Everywhere I inquire this is whats recomended. I guess I have yet to try it because I am afriad of the dopey feeling. When you say it has reduced your side effects does this mean you are feeling bliss and stopeed pain or does this mean it has reduced both? Just wondering... I've been looking for the answer to this question but haven't been able to find a direct answer. Maybe you can finally tell me! = D

Hi Cookie

All people have different kundalini side effects, although some are more common than others. I personally haven't had a problem with pain. The side effects I had were like a felt like a car than had been put in 2nd gear while doing 50 mph - I felt hectic, had muscle cramps, felt nauseous, had some mild headaches and shaking hands. I haven't had the blissful feeling for more than 1,5 years. I was quick to reduce my energy levels through grounding activities when all this happened - especially by avoiding concentration (reading and writing). And as a result, most of the blissful and other wild side effects soon started fading.. Only the minor physcial ones persisted, as described above..

The MCO has helped to reduce all of those side effects - except a mild insomnia. But maybe that will come once I progress deeper into this Qigong world. On top of reducing the side effects, the MCO has also given me a number of positive benefits: My internal stress levels are significantly reduced. I have more energy for being proactive in my life. And for some reason I walk around and feel incredibly confident.. I can't really explain why - but it sure is a nice feeling . It's like all of the negative feelings and internal unrest has just been washed out of the body. And this is all after just 2-3 weeks of training.. In short: The exercise just makes me feel good .

Hi Cookiemonster

If you haven't done it yet, then try and start doing the Microcosmic Orbit on a daily basis. I started it recently, and it has reduced a lot of my kundalini side effects. That being said, it takes a few days to get used too - I got some negative side effects the first few days, but they are gone now that I can relax more in the exercise..

Great great . So far no one else has signed up. But I will post this in the general forum later.. Can imagine they don't read the "beginner's forum" :-)..

Hi

Anyone interested in doing a Skype "study group"?

Briefly explained, I am looking for 4-8 people preferably with active kundalini who are using Taoist methods to manage their side effects. The purpose of the group is for us to have a "mini-conference" on Skype once or twice a month in order to share knowledge, advice and ideas as we all progress spiritually and learn to manage this energy.

About me
I accidentally released my kundalini two years ago. I don't have very strong side effects anymore, but I need to manage this energy, as it is stimulated by everyday concentration activities such as reading and writing. I have recently taken up the taoist methods for managing the energy (micro-cosmic orbit) and will continue on this path for some time. And therefore, I am very interested in connecting with people who have a similar background, in order to share knowledge and tips about how to improve our situation.

About you
You are a person who has a somewhat similar background. Preferably, you are also using specific methods to try and manage your kundalini, and are interested in connecting with like-minded people. It would be nice if you are using the taoist methods, but this is not an absolute necessity. As this group is intended for people with kundalini, then it would certainly be nice if you also have experienced this . It is however not a absolute prerequisite - you are welcome to join the group if you are just using the taoist methods to evolve spiritually and want to share knowledge with a group of likeminded people.

Ideally you are located in Europe. If you are located in the US there will be time difference, which can make it difficult to find a common timeslot. But if you are a student, working from home etc and can log on to Skype from 9-16 during the day, then that would work .

The study group - purpose and frequency
I would prefer this group to have around 4-8 participants. This is enough to facilitate a rich conversation - and not too many to make one such impossible. My idea is that we can connect over Skype once or twice a month - depending on our need - and share ideas and knowledge. Each meeting might last for an hour or more if necessary. But this is something we can always adjust once we get the group going. I already have a list of ideas for the first few meetings, and I hope that people in the group will be active in suggesting topics too.

I do not see myself as the "leader" of this group, and I expect there to be a group democracy where we all can contribute to the agendas and framework of the meetings. I will however admit people into the group depending on their relevance - ie. if you have no experience with kundalini, you are not interested in using any methods to manage it and you don't train in taoist methods, then your participation is not incredibly relevant ;-).

What to do now?
If this sounds like something you want to be a part of, then send me a PM.

In any case, thank you for reading this entry and have a nice day