|
Spiritual crisis is often also referred to as ‘spiritual emergency’, ‘spiritual emergence’, ‘Kundalini awakening’ , or ‘spiritual awakening’. In the U.S. spiritual crisis is provided for by the inclusion of ‘spiritual or religious problem’ in the Diagnostic & Statistical Manual 5 (DSM-5) used by American psychiatrists.
Spiritual crisis is sometimes understood in a generic sense and applied to any major life or religious crisis, such as bereavement or loss of faith. However, it is also used in a more specific sense to describe a range of unusual or anomalous experiences that cause concern, distress, or dysfunction in an individual’s life. If managed appropriately these crises can become an opportunity for personal growth and transformation. |
Emma Bragdon of IMHU interviewing me about how her Spiritual Emergence Coach training contributes to my work with people affected by spiritual emergency. The full IMHU video album can be found here.
|
Catherine Lucas, founder of the Spiritual Crisis Network (SCN) in the U.K., reports that the experience can make daily life very difficult for people going through it and result in unnecessary hospitalisation, isolation, and an inability to work. She lists its characteristics as: being very intense; difficult to cope with, causing confusion of inner and outer worlds, with pains and trouble sleeping, powerful emotions; a sense of loss or ego-death; ego-inflation; confused thinking; a sense of the importance of symbolism and myth; meaningful coincidences; seeing flashbacks or spirits; and feeling strong energies. This can include anomalous experiences such as kundalini, Near-Death Experiences (NDEs) and mystical states, amongst many others.
Stanislav and Christina Grof, founders of transpersonal psychology and the Spiritual Emergence Network (SEN) in the U.S., coined the term 'spiritual emergency' as a play on words to emphasise the potential for positive transformation and personal growth that can emerge from such experiences. In 1989 they outlined ten categories of spiritual emergency: i) shamanic crisis, ii) Kundalini Awakening, iii) unitive or peak experiences, iv) ‘renewal through return to the centre’, v) psychic opening, vi) past life experiences, vii) spirit communication and channelling, viii) Near-Death Experiences, ix) UFO encounters, and x) possession states.
The transpersonal understanding is that spiritual emergence is a natural part of every human being’s journey through life. Normally, this takes place slowly and without precipitating a crisis. However, in some cases something triggers a crisis during the process.
Spiritucal crisis can be associated with any of the following:
Stanislav and Christina Grof, founders of transpersonal psychology and the Spiritual Emergence Network (SEN) in the U.S., coined the term 'spiritual emergency' as a play on words to emphasise the potential for positive transformation and personal growth that can emerge from such experiences. In 1989 they outlined ten categories of spiritual emergency: i) shamanic crisis, ii) Kundalini Awakening, iii) unitive or peak experiences, iv) ‘renewal through return to the centre’, v) psychic opening, vi) past life experiences, vii) spirit communication and channelling, viii) Near-Death Experiences, ix) UFO encounters, and x) possession states.
The transpersonal understanding is that spiritual emergence is a natural part of every human being’s journey through life. Normally, this takes place slowly and without precipitating a crisis. However, in some cases something triggers a crisis during the process.
Spiritucal crisis can be associated with any of the following:
|
|
|
The symbol used at the top of this page to denote spiritual crisis is a form of the rune Hagall from the Northern Tradition. Of this rune Edred Thorsson says it:
'...is a rune of crisis and possible misfortune. But it is also the ice seed (grain). This is the cosmic seed of of the beginning of all things. It is the cosmos in seed form...If basic seed concepts are listened to and acted upon, a good outcome can perhaps be expected. The present situation must be changed - based on higher principles.' Similar ideas are conveyed by the Lightening Struck Tower card of the tarot and images of putrefaction or Nigredo in alchemy. Both of these images portray destructive stages but ultimately as part of a process of growth and transformation.
|
|
There is a controversial debate about whether spiritual crisis is the same, or different from, schizophrenia or a psychotic episode. However, for some people, these kinds of experiences can be better understood as spiritual awakening experiences. They are sometimes referred to as a spiritual crisis, spiritual emergency, kundalini awakening, Dark Night of the Soul, or as anomalous experiences. Regradless of what we call them these can be difficult and challenging experiences to manage and can be associated with depression or anxiety.
There are people who have developed a very positive relationship with the experience of hearing voices, and have managed without any psychiatric treatment or support. They have adopted a theoretical frame of reference (such as parapsychology, reincarnation, metaphysics, the collective unconscious, or the spirituality of a higher consciousness) which connects them with others rather than isolating them: they have found a perspective that offers them a language in which to share their experiences. They enjoy a feeling of acceptance; their own rights are recognised, and they develop a sense of identity which can help them to make constructive use of their experiences for the benefit of themselves and others. Understanding Psychosis & Schizophrenia (2014), P16.
|
If you, or someone you know, is affected by any of the types of experiences mentioned above, please feel free to get in touch.
It may to think of spiritual crisis unfolding in stages: pre-crisis, crisis (or acute stage), post-crisis (or integration stage).
I offer a safe non-judgemental space (face-to-face or online) where you can talk about your experiences, and provide information, advice, and signposting, during the pre-crisis or post-crisis stages. Unfortunately, I cannot provide urgent or emergency support for the acute crisis stage. If this is what you, or someone you know, is in need of please see What To Do in a Crisis. Longer-term depth psychotherapy may also be helpful during the post-crisis stage, please seek this kind of help from one of the orgnisations listed here.
If you would like a chat about your own, or someone else's, experiences, please feel free to get in-touch. I currently do not charge but you are welcome to make a donation if you feel you would like too.
I offer a safe non-judgemental space (face-to-face or online) where you can talk about your experiences, and provide information, advice, and signposting, during the pre-crisis or post-crisis stages. Unfortunately, I cannot provide urgent or emergency support for the acute crisis stage. If this is what you, or someone you know, is in need of please see What To Do in a Crisis. Longer-term depth psychotherapy may also be helpful during the post-crisis stage, please seek this kind of help from one of the orgnisations listed here.
If you would like a chat about your own, or someone else's, experiences, please feel free to get in-touch. I currently do not charge but you are welcome to make a donation if you feel you would like too.
I am a registered Spiritual Emergence Coach with the IMHU and one of the Directors of the Spiritual Crisis Network (SCN) in the UK. I assist the SCN by responding to people going through spiritual emergency, co-facilitating the SCN Sheffield peer-support group, and providing training and awareness sessions. I am also currently undertaking PhD research into spiritual emergency with the Alef Trust, the Professional Development Foundation, and Canterbury Christ Church University.
|
|
