Phoenix Metaphysical Institute

I have seen bodies move in every fashion imaginable at a shaktipat initiation. This is not unusual. But when someone for whom this has happened says, "Nothing special happened; I just lay there and didn't move a muscle," now that's interesting. You'd be surprised how often this happens.

Then there are those who really don't move a muscle during the entire initiation but experience it as having been very physically active: "I was all over the place! I couldn't believe it. I really didn't expect that."

Some people cry, some laugh hysterically, some move though asanas and mudras whether they are familiar with them or not, some have visions or hear amazing sounds, some make sounds or chant, some fall into yoga nidra, some have yogic dreams or visions, some leave the body, and some just endure having to listen to their minds running on fast-forward. Sometimes an initiate "sees" something happening "around" another initiate who is oblivious of the event. You never know what will happen in a shaktipat initiation.

It is also not unusual for a person to experience phenomena after their initiation, sometimes after having meditated for several weeks or months. On the other hand, I have had people relate experiences to me that occurred before their initiation, and on some occasions, before we even met. Some get shaktipat spontaneously when they come to a satsang (see Monthly Mandala and Kundalini Clinic) and then need to take an Intensive to learn what to do with it.

I'm telling you this so you won't be shocked out of your meditation (at initiation or afterward in your private meditation), and so you won't come for initiation with the expectation of magical lights, levitation, visions and other phenomena, not get it, and leave feeling disappointed or undeserving. Shakti works in mysterious ways. At a shaktipat initiation you will be given the means of allowing Shakti to remain active — all you have to do is do it and things will unfold uniquely for the unique individual that you are.

The mysteries of shaktipat abound!

Namaste,
Durga Ma