Spiritual Emergence/Spiritual Emergency Signs and Symptoms
How do you know if you're having a spiritual crisis?
Spiritual Emergence |
Spiritual Emergency |
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Basic indicators
Inner experiences are fluid, mild, and easy to integrate
New spiritual insights are welcome, desirable, and expansive Gradual infusion of ideas and insights into life Energy experiences are contained and easily manageable Easy differentiation between internal and external experiences and transition from one to another Ease in incorporating non-ordinary states of consciousness into daily life Slow, gradual change in awareness of self and the world Excitement about inner experiences as they arise, and a willingness and ability to cooperate with them An accepting attitude toward change Ease in giving up control Trust in the process Difficult experiences are treated as opportunities for change Positive experiences are accepted as gifts Infrequent need to discuss inner experiences Discrimination used when communicating about inner experiences (when, how, with whom) |
Basic indicators
Inner experiences are dynamic, jarring, and difficult to integrate
New spiritual insights may be philosophically challenging and threatening Overwhelming influx of experiences and insights Experiences of jolting tremors, shaking, and energy disruptive to daily life Difficult at times to distinguish between internal and external experiences, or simultaneous occurrence of both Inner experiences interrupt and disturb daily life Abrupt, rapid shift in perception of self and the world Ambivalence toward inner experiences, but willingness and ability to cooperate with them using guidance Resistance to change Need to be in control Dislike and/or mistrust in the process Difficult experiences are overwhelming and often unwelcome Positive experiences are difficult to accept, painful, and seem undeserved Frequent urgent need to discuss inner experiences Indiscriminate communicating about process and inner experience (when, how, with whom) |
*Adapted from Stormy Search for the Self, Christina and Stanislav Grof (1990), pg. 37