Am I having
a Spiritual
Emergency?
What is a Spiritual Emergency?
Having a “spiritual emergency” is typically a critical turning point in human development in which a person expands their sense of who they are and their understanding of the world. However, it often comes with distressing emotions and thoughts that can be disruptive for a period of time.
Am I having a spiritual emergency?
Spiritually transformative experiences can happen in retreats, through meditation, hatha yoga, or ceremony involving psychedelics or plant medicines. They may occur because of loss or trauma, as well as transitions to adulthood or other important changes in life.
To understand if you or someone you care for are having a spiritual emergency, refer to this check list. The more items that apply, the more acute your problem might be.
- Have you had one or more spiritually transformative experiences?
- Are you at a loss to understand what is going on with you?
- Are you afraid you may be going crazy?
- Have you recently reconnected with traumatic events in your life that you had forgotten about?
- Are you feeling at times extremely emotional?
- Are you lacking a safe place to be in and a trustworthy person to share your experiences with?
- Are you wanting to explore the meaning of these experiences that are touching you deeply?
Spiritual Emergence is Natural
Spiritual Emergence involves the search for and discovery of meaning and purpose. It is normal. Spiritually-transformative experiences that make you more aware of something benevolent that is larger than the personal self is also normal, and part of spiritual emergence. “Spiritual emergence”, also called “awakening”, is thus a natural and normal process of life.
Much like birth - Spiritual Emergence can be painful
Spiritual emergency and the process of spiritual emergence may be triggered as a result of stress, loss, grief, psychedelic experience, a sexual experience, time of life (e.g. teens moving into adulthood, or menopause), spiritual practices like meditation or yoga, or evolution itself.
When spiritual emergence processes are especially intense there may be an inner demand that you stop everything in order to integrate the event(s) at a deeper level. Sometimes the demand makes it hard to function normally in work or in relationships. You may become very self-absorbed and even have difficulty finding words for the experience(s).
This is when the process turns into a “spiritual emergency”. However, that does not mean there is mental illness.
Much like birth - Spiritual Emergence can be painful
Spiritual emergency and the process of spiritual emergence may be triggered as a result of stress, loss, grief, psychedelic experience, a sexual experience, time of life (e.g. teens moving into adulthood, or menopause), spiritual practices like meditation or yoga, or evolution itself.
When spiritual emergence processes are especially intense there may be an inner demand that you stop everything in order to integrate the event(s) at a deeper level. Sometimes the demand makes it hard to function normally in work or in relationships. You may become very self-absorbed and even have difficulty finding words for the experience(s).
This is when the process turns into a “spiritual emergency”. However, that does not mean there is mental illness.
Self-care first
It is important for a person to take time to practice self-care during their spiritual emergence process.
Eating healthy meals, exercising regularly, being in nature, getting enough restful sleep, and engaging in supportive relationships are essential during a spiritual emergence.
Activities such as hatha yoga, meditation, journaling, creative expression such as dance, making music and art, etc., may help a person feel at peace with their journey during this time.
Supporting Spiritual Emergence
A person in spiritual emergency needs a particular kind of care which is typically not available in conventional hospitals or clinics. Ideally they can have the support of someone who knows the territory, has already integrated it and is not afraid of it. That person can be affirming, think positively about the process and its conclusion, and offer authentic and respectful companionship while assuring safety.
Supporting Spiritual Emergence
A person in spiritual emergency needs a particular kind of care which is typically not available in conventional hospitals or clinics. Ideally they can have the support of someone who knows the territory, has already integrated it and is not afraid of it. That person can be affirming, think positively about the process and its conclusion, and offer authentic and respectful companionship while assuring safety.
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