Cobol Dangerous?, ...possibility of developing the Kundalini Syndrome? Options

OK, so that's what concerns me - I added Circulation of the Body of Light to my daily ritual work more than a month ago. Since then I've been wondering if I'm doing it right and if I'm not hurting myself. Why? When I perform the Ritual of the Middle Pillar, the energy (the light) descends only a bit reluctantly while it ASCENDS (during the ending part of CoboL) very reluctantly. I used to kinda force it up - which reminds me of the warnings that any work Kundalini raising should not be performed unsupervised or too early.

Okay, a short pause for some side notes. 1.) yes, I do realize that exercises from different traditions shouldn't be compared, but we do have only one energetic system, no matter what path (if any) we follow; 2.) I found two version of the ending part of CoBoL. I use the one that resembles Kundalini raising (just a pillar of brilliant white light ascending, of course starting from Malkuth, the feet rather than just from the root chakra) because I simply can't synchronize 'the Mummy' version with my breathing, as wrapping in energy takes me too long, making me pump myself with unnatural amounts of air (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Right, here we go again (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Isn't forcing the energy harmful? Isn't there a possibility of developing the Kundalini syndrome with the practice of CoBoL? Yeah, I now it would be best to have a teacher, but I don't think it's possible while I live here. I was thinking about abandoning this exercise for some time but some idea occurred to me... Maybe I was forcing the energy because I was moving it TOO consciously? What I mean is, I practice New Energy Ways by Robert Bruce. It teaches how one can easily feel and manipulate the energy in one's energetic body. So... I realized I'd been subconsciously using some of N.E.W. techniques while doing CoBoL and I was possibly too efficient with it. Now, I concentrate on NOT using those techniques and I try to merely visualize everything. The light ascends more freely but I'm afraid the efficiency of the whole exercise is lower now as I don't feel the energy moving, don't feel dizzy as I used to feel during and after CoBoL etc.

What do you think and what would you recommend?

Greetings Iampagan!
I'm going on my first impressions here...but, slow it down! You are really pushing things, In My Humble Opinion (IMHO), too fast.
You are mixing and blending a number of different systems here. If you were to work each of them separately you would notice the subtle variations of results.

2.) I found two version of the ending part of CoBoL. I use the one that resembles Kundalini raising (just a pillar of brilliant white light ascending, of course starting from Malkuth, the feet rather than just from the root chakra) because I simply can't synchronize 'the Mummy' version with my breathing, as wrapping in energy takes me too long, making me pump myself with unnatural amounts of air

You're not breathing properly. Hyperventilating is not what you want to do! It will produce symptoms as you describe and accomplish little toward your intended goal. Pranayama isn't something that is mastered overnight. Some spend their entire lifetime perfecting it.

Forcing anything energetically can be potentially harmful. Not that it is in this case but you may take the time to meditate on the why and how of the energy flow of your body. I am not an expert, by any means, of energy circulation. It appears to me that you are rushing things. I would suggest that you find a system of energy exercise and stick to it, leaving the others for awhile until you have mastered the first. It is frustrating when you are all worked up to GO but improvising and synthesizing energy working systems should be taken slowly, adapting various practices with your own bodies needs and functionality. So much for the canned speech. Conclusion: slow down. Meditate on your energy centers and discover any blockages you may have. Try to resist the temptation to combine various systems until you are aware of what each one does. Know thyself.

This may or may not have been helpful. I'm sure that someone else will add their perspective and I urge you to take the time to consider your options. Good journey! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Thanks for the reply and for the advice, bym. I'm not quite sure, though, if I fully understand it. Let me ask for details.

You are mixing and blending a number of different systems here. (...) Try to resist the temptation to combine various systems until you are aware of what each one does.

OK, I understand that this unvoluntary 'blending' - using so different techniques in the same time - was wrong. And I think managed to eliminate it. But, if I get it right, you mean that even performing exercises from various systems one after another or with some longer interval is still not so good - which is something I do not understand. Why is that so?

You're not breathing properly. [while performing "the Mummy" CoBoL ending] Hyperventilating is not what you want to do! It will produce symptoms as you describe and accomplish little toward your intended goal. Pranayama isn't something that is mastered overnight. Some spend their entire lifetime perfecting it.

It's another thing that needs explaining. So how should I perform this? I guess it doesn't require lifetime's practice - otherwise Kraig wouldn't put it in chapter three (each chapter - or 'lesson' - is supposed to be exercised for one month...). Should I make my air intake much slower or practice to speed up the wrapping process? Well, besides... I've always had problems with avoiding hyperventilation while using any techniques involving moving the energy in the body. I believe breath and the flow of the energy have some kind of connection...?

I'm going on my first impressions here...but, slow it down! You are really pushing things, In My Humble Opinion (IMHO), too fast.

Hmm, I'm afraid you're right. I think I won't have enough time to include anything else in my day plan (no meditations, LRH or anything...) especially now that the academic years is about to start (1st October). The thing is I want to accomplish various things that require various skills. I want some general magickal development, so I follow Kraig's Modern Magick (LBRP+MP+CoBoL and tuning to elements), have a strong desire to perform evocations in the future (Konstantinos and his Summoning Spirits exercises, mere visualizations right now but later there's going to be scrying etc.) and also wish to be capable of astral projection in the next several months (and here goes Robert Bruce and this New Energy Ways system that I'd written about).
Bym, you were once a beginner and you surely understand my enthusiasm - and you can also guess how confused I am about which points to drop if all of them can bring me so wonderful results... OK, you can call me impatient. Sure, probably I am impatient, but on the other hand this amount of work gives me strength and confidence. Confidence that if I work that hard I'm going to accomplish at least one of those things within 1-1,5 years, because that is my 'patience time', so to say. What I mean is I don't think I could go on like this much longer if I don't get any results - and I don't want this effort to be wasted. And why does it give me strength? Because I feel I finally gave up 'magickal laziness' - I'd been dabbling for 5 long years (trying everything out without sticking to one system/technique longer than a month) and now I practice every day.

Oh, and besides...

Meditate on your energy centers and discover any blockages you may have.

NEW gives me that, I believe. It makes aware of blockages and, generally, energy flowing within my body, for instance while MP I can feel Malkuth quite well now that I've finished exercises with feet. So I guess I cover this point...
But sure I could use a somewhat more... relaxed and 'mindful' approach.
Your post made me rethink some matters but also made me a bit confused, to tell you the truth... as I partly lost the confidence in what I'm doing...

EDIT:

Vagrant Dreamer, you replied in the meantime so I'll just edit my post. Tthanks to you too. Especially for reassuring me that everything's fine. Hmm, you seem to have a different approach and different suggestions (no forcing vs. force it 'till it squeals (IMG:style_emoticons/default/13.gif)). What I meant was Kundalini syndrome which is a broad concept (you call it in English an 'umbrella term', don't you?) and doesn't really have to do anything with Kundalini itself. "This psychosomatic arousal and excitation is believed to occur in connection with prolonged, intensive spiritual or contemplative practice, such as meditation or yoga, or a near-death experience, or as a result of an intense personal crisis or experience." [wikipedia] So, partly, it's possible, I reckon, to develop some light forms of it as this 'roller coaster', as you call it, covers some of KS-related phenomena. It's just a matter of terminology, I guess (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Thanks a lot again, guys.

This post has been edited by iampagan: Sep 26 2008, 03:10 PM