So I’ve been practicing pretty steadily for awhile now, and feel like I’ve found a good pace for practices (no emotional overload etc;). The bottom three chakras are often ecstatic, but recently I can feel more opening in my chest, throat, and even a bit in the crown. Occasionally there are some minor pains or turbulence but for the most part the practice feels steady and stable. Anyhow, in the past two months I’ve had two pretty severe throat infections that I needed antibiotics for, after resting for several days and not improving. Today I can feel what may be the start of another (they begin on the left side of my throat). I’ve also had various sinus infection issues pretty chronically over several years, on the left side again, so there is clearly some weakness there. Basically I’m wondering if these infections might be partly because of throat opening/purification, and if they will pass with time. I think if I know that is the case I can be a bit more patient and less alarmed by how chronic they’ve become. I feel like I’m self pacing well, and it seems to be happening on a cycle—basically at the beginning of each new month. On the whole I feel more joy and gratitude in my daily life than ever before. A lot of peace and contentment, so I know that the practices are working. Would appreciate any thoughts and/or experiences that might help me better understand this part of the process, assuming these infections are purification related. Thanks all in advance for your thoughts!
There is likely no proof that ongoing purification is the root of your throat infections and more likely related to exposure to others who are sick. If your practice is otherwise stable, there is no need to self pace, unless the throat symptoms distract you too much to complete your typical routine. There certainly could be throat purification going on simultaneously in your neurobiology, but my inclination is to believe it is not related to the irritability. As always, seek medical advice first for confirmation and treatment. Purification symptoms are often fleeting, infections linger and worsen when untreated.
Kristen, there is not much to add to Michael’s practical advice. We need to eliminate medical reasons first and take treatment.
That said, in as far as I know, the throat chakra is where many aspirants get stuck and it can be really, really painful.
As always, my stand is consistent that we should purify heart and remain in silence in a state of surrender, trusting the kundalini, Divine Mother to do Her work, as She deems fit. If that be so, no trauma will result and why, we can freely communicate with Her telepathically too, as a child does with his or her mother.
In case the throat chakra is blocked or for that matter any other chakra is blocked and we insist on doing a this or that practice, then the next best thing we can do is to look at the cause of blockage, which basically is fear and conditioned habit patterns related to the chakra in question.
This would be debatable of course, as are all topics on spirituality but anyway, let us say, each chakra represents a rung of a ladder we want to climb and offers us a choice, the choice to remain stagnant in that vibration or to renounce desire corresponding to that vibration and rise. So we can also reword this and say that each chakra has a polarity.
The throat chakra relates to communication and intellectual pride is the impediment. It represents a shift from the material to the ethereal, a transformation from form to formlessness.
As always, resting in silence is the cure in case of a blockage.
Thanks for responding. Just to be totally clear, I have and will continue to seek medical attention when I need it. Purification/practice was not the first thing I thought might be the cause of these infections. However, it has been my experience over the years that different things arise as new openings happen, and some of them have been physical. This isn’t always the case, of course. At times, the nature of my relationships has drastically shifted, etc; So I tend to keep an open mind when it comes to something showing up in my life as new ground opens up.
Another practical reason I thought it might be opening/purification related is that I don’t really see many other people. I live on island, in a remote town, and spend most my time in my art studio/backyard. I had chronic throat infections as a kid and I’ve noticed that occasionally purification can kick up old weakness in the body and energy system.
Anyhow, mainly I was looking for anecdotal relationships to the experiences of other practitioners, not proof of a connection. Also, I’m mindful of my own tendency to “over do” with strong Bhakti. I’ve mainly moved past this tendency but it can have a way of sneaking in. Hope that makes sense.
People do sometimes report “flu like symptoms” being caused by inner purification, and this is something I have experienced myself. Inner purification can also cause sinus symptoms that mimic infections. So, I would say you are right to be suspicious.
The doctor is always the first step in these situations, but if that is not helping, or if you suspect that energetic overload/ inner purification is the real cause, then it can be a good idea to self-pace your practices downwards for a while and increase grounding practices. Doing the latter can’t do any harm, and if inner purification is the real cause of your symptoms, then it will be the only thing that actually helps.
Sinus issues can also actually be a result of the nectar cycle, rather than inner purification. If that is happening then nothing is actually wrong with the body. It is simply shifting to a new way of functioning. If that is happening, then it will not be painful, just uncomfortable.
So, there can be a lot of things going on, and it is not always easy to know what is causing what! My advice would be to take the antibiotics, and self-pace and ground, and look into the nectar cycle. Keep all your bases covered.
Thanks Tristan, I’m going to scale back practices a bit. Like you said, it really can’t hurt anything to ground and slow down. At least this way I can start to rule things out. Will also take another look at the Nectar Cycle readings. Appreciate your help!
