Hi Gumpi,
All is wonderful, now.
I started this thread a long time ago, in “AYP Years” – and never really had much more in the way of uncomfortable crown symptoms.
I still get crown activity from time to time, but after a couple of experiences of increased spaciousness in the head, especially at the crown and top of head – symptoms which felt troublesome previously, felt either good, or at least neutral.
It truly felt like the top of my head finally opened up – though I don’t want to say this was “crown opening”, mostly because I don’t like to label things.
However, the sense of spaciousness was combined with a sense of deeply increased awareness … though, like most things yogic, it took a while to kind of integrate and balance out … but integrate and balance, it did.
I’ve actually had more crown/top of head activity in the last week, than I’ve had in a long time (<- timely inquiry, Gumpi! 
) … but it’s very much “all good”.
Until the major sense of openness (end of 2007 or so), and not until after closely monitoring the integration with careful self-pacing (I remained very careful with “crown stuff” … though after the openness/opening - there was a much clearer intuitive sense of how much in the way of head/crown related practices was safe/fine … and when to back off).
As of the end of 2008 or so, I’ve been letting the energy go/flow as it seems to “want to” … and it all moves at much higher levels … meaning: more of it, seemingly … to-from above top of end, and throughout the overall system (including, at times, entire field of awareness) — though these words may make it sound more “dramatic” than it actually feels.
It doesn’t feel dramatic in the least; it feels natural, actually.
And these days, I enjoy the peace, openness and awareness more than I notice was the specific energy is doing.
Please note, though: it didn’t take decades for this to happen … but it did take a handful of years … and during that period, I managed crown practices very conservatively. The couple of times I didn’t, the results were not comfortable, and there was no particular gain.
It sounds like your intuition is “spot on” re: a bit of self-pacing, via not directing any energy to your head, for a bit.
And I’m not entirely sure how applicable grounding is … I associate the need for grounding more with transcendent/high feeling/state, as opposed to heat/energy alone … though ultimately the central nervous system seems to function via a polar/polarity dynamic, with root and crown being the opposite poles … so, hypotheoretically … redirecting energy via grounding should only help (can’t hurt).
The only grounding I’m familiar with is to do “in body” stuff … go for a walk, do some housework/yardwork, light to moderate exercise, etc.
Hopes this helps!
Kirtanman
Sri Dude, I am re-opening your crown thread (pun fully intended 
).
Although my question is for anyone who cares to comment.
Once the crown starts to open, about how long does the opening process take? I’m guessing it’s an individual thing, but is there a common timeframe that can be reasonably anticipated?
I’ve been having crown activity for maybe 8-9 months. Except for in the very beginning, it’s been rather smooth. Feeling energy in the crown is a daily experience now, but I don’t feel that the crown is open, per se.
I practice “Me Samyama”** before bed, but no direct crown practices otherwise.
Thanks in advance for any feedback.
With Love
cosmic
**Cosmic Samyama
Hi Cosmic,
I don’t think there is anything like a completely open chakra. You may have an opening and think this is it… but more layers of blocks surface and are purified and opening continues. But yes, there is a point where the openings don’t feel uncomfortable and maybe that is what you are asking here?
Also, every person is so different that if someone gives you a time frame, I would be very skeptical about anything and everything this person tells you. 
This process is ongoing and never ending. After a certain degree of purification and opening the friction is less and hence the discomfort reduces. Also after a certain point the mind has a lot to do with the ease of opening. The more you let go and not expect, the easier and faster you open. But this is not something you can make happen. All you can do is continue with your practices and open, accept and allow.
There is a good reply from Kirtanman that may answer some of your questions.
http://www.aypsite.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=6622#59275
Here is wishing you a smooth and splendid crown opening.
Hi Cosmic,
I can’t tell you how long it will take for you to fully open your crown chakra, all I can do is tell you what has happened for me so far.
I first experienced sensations at the crown chakra about 5 years ago. There was a time, maybe around 4 to 2 years ago, when things could get pretty active around the crown and I had to be careful what I did in relation to the crown, self-pacing in relation to both crown practices and overall practices. These days I get a lot less in the way of symptoms at the crown. They are never painful, and always blissful. So I can enter a state of bliss at will by bringing my attention to the crown chakra, whether it is turned upwards and open or not. I imagine, if I really worked at it, I could overdo things at the crown still, but it would take some effort and I’d rather not try.
I started crown practices just over 4 years ago after many months of testing at the crown (see lesson 199) . I believe that the crown practices I have done have helped a lot in stabilizing the bliss states that I experience (at times) now. Gradually, as the crown is purified, the weird sensations of spinning/ crawling and opening upwards, expand into states of bliss. From there, the states of bliss expand into experiences of Oneness (Divine realization) which are even more blissful.
Here is a quote from Yogani about crown experiences:
“The best crown experiences are the ones that have gone to dissolution into pure bliss consciousness, without negative after-effects. This indicates body-wide purity. As with all practice, we know it is good if we feel good in regular daily activity.”
And again:
“The crown is a sort of crossroad in all of this, one that takes a long time to purify completely, because to do so, everything else has to be purified, and that cannot be done overnight, no matter what has been promised. The good news is that all the purification we achieve in the sushumna (spinal nerve) and throughout the nervous system with our daily deep meditation, spinal breathing pranayama and other practices is crown opening by proxy. When everything is purified and opened, the crown is open too. In that sense all the practices we do are crown practices. We are just being cagey about it to avoid unnecessary mishaps.”
Both from this post:
http://www.aypsite.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1607#12295
All the best,
Christi
Hi there, Shanti
I appreciate your response. I found it (and the link) insightful.
Okay, this sounds somewhat like what I’m experiencing. Every few months, there will be a peak of crown activity, where it feels like some dramatic opening is immanent. But then it calms down for a while, and the activity becomes more subtle (but still occurring). Then the cycle repeats.
It reminds me of a pot of boiling water that when it starts to boil over, someone turns the stove down and lets it simmer for a bit.
Then, I notice that both life and spiritual practice are much more stable (and pleasant) than they were before the peak. And on it goes. It feels like I’m constantly on the verge of something that keeps moving just out of reach. There’s no suffering about it, it’s just something I’m noticing. It’s like the playful withholding that a lover would tease you with.
Thank you so much!
I’ll take your advice and allow it to happen without expectations. It’s becoming easier to do that now…
With Love
cosmic
Hi Christi,
Thanks for sharing your experience and the links. I’ll give them a thorough read tonight.
This sounds wonderful! I don’t think I’m ready for full-on crown practices, but some mild crown testing is probably in order. Maybe once every other month since the crown activity started, I’ve allowed the last few breaths of SBP to go from root to crown. So far, no problems. But it’s been a while since I’ve tested.
BTW, Cosmic Samyama has been stable for 6+ months. Your advice from earlier this year turned out to be good. CS has been a stabilizing influence, and has gently been stimulating the crown.
Thanks for your support! I’ll check out the links…
Love
cosmic
Hi Cosmic,
Strictly speaking, switching from root-to-brow to root-to-crown for the last couple of breaths of SBP is not “testing at the crown”, as per the main lessons. Basically the testing process involves resting the attention at the crown for a short time after meditation (or samyama) and before rest. It is all explained in lesson 199 but I just wanted to clarify that point. It is important because it is the continued root-to-brow connection which provides stability for anything you may choose to do at the crown, so you don’t want to errode that in any way.
Glad my Cosmic Samyama advice worked out alright. It is one of my favorite practices, and the one I most often forget about.
All the best,
Christi
Thanks for clarifying that, Christi
I’ll try resting my attention (briefly) at the crown before rest.
I wasn’t planning to discard root-to-brow SBP in favor of root-to-crown SBP, but it’s good to know this isn’t the way to test the crown.
Peace & Love
cosmic