Spontaneous Spiritual Awakenings: Phenomenology, Altered States, Individual Differences, and Well-Being

Abstract

Spontaneous Spiritual Awakenings (SSAs) are subjective experiences characterised by a sudden sense of direct contact, union, or complete nondual merging (experience of oneness) with a perceived ultimate reality, the universe, “God,” or the divine. These profound transformative experiences have scarcely been researched, despite extensive anecdotal evidence suggesting their potential to catalyse drastic, long-term, and often positive shifts in perception, world-view, and well-being. The aims of this study were to investigate the phenomenological variances of these experiences, including the potential differences between SSAs and Spontaneous Kundalini Awakenings (SKAs), a subset of awakening experiences that the authors postulate may produce a higher likelihood of both physical and negative effects; to explore how these experiences compare to other altered states of consciousness (ASCs), including those mediated by certain psychedelic substances; and understand their impact on well-being. Personality trait absorption and temporal lobe lability (TLL) were assessed as predictors of Spontaneous Spiritual and Kundalini Awakenings (SSA/SKAs). A mixed within and between-participants self-report survey design was adopted. A total of 152 participants reporting their most powerful SSA/SKAs completed questionnaires measuring nondual, kundalini, and mystical experience, as well as depth of ASC, and trait absorption and TLL. Spontaneous Kundalini Awakenings were found to be significantly more physical, but not significantly more negative than SSAs, and overall, both sets of experiences were perceived to be overwhelmingly more positive than negative, even in cases where the experience was initially challenging. The phenomenological distribution of SSA/SKAs was similar to other measured ASCs although greater in magnitude, and appeared most similar in distribution and in magnitude to drug-induced ASCs, particularly classic psychedelics DMT and psilocybin. Temporal lobe lability and trait absorption were found to predict the SSA/SKA experience. The limitations and implications of these findings are discussed.

Psychedelic replications in virtual reality and their potential as a therapeutic instrument: an open-label feasibility study

“…Psyrreal mainly imitates the audiovisual and narrative phenomenology of psychedelic states but also implements elements from pharmacologically induced and spontaneously occurring mystical experiences, deep meditative states and awe-inducing experiences. The phenomenological elements and concepts used in the experience (Table 1; also SM7) were selected after careful study of the available literature on psychedelic 59,60,[69][70][71][61][62][63][64][65][66][67][68] , meditative [72][73][74][75] and mystical 29,66,[76][77][78][79][80][81][82] experiences, written reports 60,62,77,[83][84][85][86] and visual replications 62,71,87 of such experiences. The experience includes a total of 19 distinct visual levels which incorporate and combine various psychedelic effects.…”

Characteristics of Kundalini-Related Sensory, Motor, and Affective Experiences During Tantric Yoga Meditation

“…None of our participants reported this pattern of activity. Other research (Corneille and Luke, 2021) found that three KAS Physical symptoms questions referring to "unusual cold" in the body were among the least likely experiences to be reported on the KAS. As Woodroffe's description was not from empirical investigation, his claims seem to not be supported by current empirical data.…”

“…They received reports of "tingling or creeping sensation" in relation to "energy rising up the spine" from 40% of all participants, and 65% reported "unusual flows of energy. " In another study examining sudden profound spiritual experiences (Corneille and Luke, 2021), 40% self-identified as having a "spontaneous kundalini awakening" rather than a "spontaneous spiritual awakening. " In contrast, only 19% of our participants (n = 15) reported either rising somatosensory or temperature experiences including the back and spine (representing the KRSM variable), but we did not require our participants to have had a "spiritual awakening" or "kundalini awakening" experience.…”

Spiritual awakening in 12-step recovery: Impact among residential aftercare residents.

“…Through repeated spiritual practice in a residential environment and encouraged by principles outlined in 12-step groups (e.g., meditation and prayer as encouraged by AA's step 11; AAWS, 2001), an individual may move further toward awakening. Spirituality and spiritual practices, it should be noted, are associated with experiences of spiritual awakening; individuals who have reported spiritual awakening experiences frequently report their spiritual practices and beliefs as triggering factors for their awakening experience (Corneille & Luke, 2021). Therefore, residential treatment environments are ideal environments to both encourage spiritual awakening, as well as be benefitted by the potential positive outcomes of the experience.…”