Bruno Loff

Kate: because most activities I enjoyed now turn up the shakti tremendously. I'm finding alternatives I guess. Grounding seems to be working well, joints are opening up, I'll report back in a week or two.

Interestingly, with regards to minerals, I do feel very prone to eat nuts and fish, which I do very often! Also interesting, I was reading a book on ayurveda, and found out that a lot of the symptoms I complain about can be classified as "excess vatta." Then, reading up on the dietary recommendations for this, I discovered that many of newly acquired eating tendencies where already as indicated by the book :-) John, that advice might actually be very valuable. I have recently noticed that, moved by frustration, I overstrain while reading. When this happens I tend to really power up the focus bit, reading word by word somewhat forcefully. I was already trying to get out of this habit. Looking back, it seems that it might have something to do with not scan-reading properly! As I write this, all sort of things are happening in my legs (vibration, pains, twitches), due to the grounding exercises. In my experience this means that some opening process got started, which is a good sign. I sure hope it balanced thins up... Thank you all for your time!

Thank you for your suggestions. During the past month I have taken daily walks in the park, I've done exercise (swimming) twice a week, and I have always eaten heavy, healthy foods. I cook myself, and I know how to cook fairly healthy. I take the occasional beer. I wouldn't dream of doing marijuana, whenever I did it last year I had cosmic-level highs. I have just begun a twice-daily practice of rooting routines. Feet, ankles, knees, squats, and so on (I got myself a copy of "GETTING GROUNDED" by Michael Nagel). I will look into these supplements. I wonder, what is the rationale for taking minerals, and increasing collagen production? I have given up most activities I enjoyed :-( Music is too intense, reading is almost pointless, and I can't take more than the occasional movie. Despite this, I have managed to sustain a good humor on most days. But it gets tough, particularly if I spend five days a week trying to read without concentration, plus phd-student life is very isolated. :-( I'll keep you posted on how the rooting thing develops.

Dear bums, markern was kind enough to ask you for some advice from my part, but let me do that personally. To make a long story short: back in September 2008 I've had a serious LSD trip that seems to have awakened my kundalini. I've went through a very rough year of severe depression, during which I got into contact with insight meditation. I've done insight meditation up to stream-entry (first experience of nirvana), and now I am currently dealing with a somewhat disruptive (albeit not unpleasant) kundalini buzz. I feel a constant pulsating buzz in the base of the spine, and I have several energetic symptoms such as openings, releases, pains, buzzing in other chakras, etc. There have been quite a few changes in sensorial perception, and the whole process affects cognition in ways I can't fully understand. The feelings themselves are not unpleasant. I used to be scared by them, and then I realised that fear was making it all worst, so I practiced not being afraid, and that seems to be going well. However, albeit no longer unpleasant, the symptoms are distracting. If I am being physically active, then I am fine. But if I am doing something more quiet, such as reading, then each release, pulse, shift, and woosh, pulls my attention from what I am doing into the body. This might be ok, but the problem is that, as a phd student, concentrated reading is my everyday job! So I am finding kundalini to be highly annoying. So I tried to do concentration meditation. Now, I whenever I close my eyes I can go really deep, really!, but not in a controlled, sustained, focused way, more in a "falling into a deep well, hitting the walls" sort of way. I don't mind going along with it, but doing it seems to excite my kundalini even further! I was really inspired by the alchemicaltao.com site, and I've decided to come forth and ask advice from all you taoist bums. Anything regarding grounding kundalini, slowing it down to a friendly pace, and learning to concentrate under its powerful influence, would be welcome. Markern just sent me an email recommending I take a look at KAP. I'll do that and see how it goes. Meanwhile, I welcome any stories or suggestions :-) Bruno

Hello everyone, My name is Bruno, Back in September 2008 I've had a serious LSD trip that seems to have awakened my kundalini. I've went through a very rough year of depression, during which I got into contact with insight meditation. I've done insight meditation up to stream-entry, which seems to have cured my depression, but left me dealing with a somewhat disruptive (albeit not unpleasant) kundalini buzz. I was really inspired by the alchemicaltao.com site, and I've decided to come forth and ask advice from all you taoist bums. Bruno