Spontaneous Spiritual Awakenings: Phenomenology, Altered States, Individual Differences, and Wellbeing

Spontaneous spiritual awakenings (SSAs) are sudden experiences of merging with ultimate reality, the universe, or the divine. This study compared SSAs to spontaneous kundalini awakenings (SKAs), which the authors hypothesized might involve more physical and negative effects. In 152 participants, SKAs were significantly more physical and negative than SSAs, yet both were overwhelmingly positive overall. The phenomenological patterns of both experiences resembled other altered states of consciousness, especially drug-induced states from classic psychedelics like DMT and psilocybin. Personality traits absorption and temporal lobe lability predicted these awakening experiences.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Spontaneous Spiritual Awakenings (SSAs) are subjective experiences characterised by a sud- den sense of direct contact, union or merging with a perceived ultimate reality, the universe, or the divine. These profound transformative experiences have scarcely been researched, de- spite extensive anecdotal evidence suggesting their potential to catalyse drastic, long-term and often positive shifts in perception, world-view, and wellbeing. The aims of this study were to investigate the potential phenomenological differences between SSAs and Spontaneous Kundalini Awakenings (SKAs), a subset of awakening experiences that the authors postulate may produce a higher likelihood of both physical and negative effects; to assess how these ex- periences compare to other altered states of consciousness (ASCs); and understand their im- pact on mental wellbeing. Personality trait absorption and temporal lobe lability (TLL) were assessed as predictors of SSA/SKAs. A quasi-experimental mixed within and between-partici- pants self-report survey design was adopted. 152 participants reporting their most powerful SSA/SKAs completed questionnaires measuring non-dual, kundalini and mystical experience, as well as depth of ASC, and trait absorption and TLL. SKAs were found to be significantly more physical and significantly more negative than SSAs, however, both sets of experiences were perceived to be overwhelmingly more positive than negative, even when the experiences were initially challenging. The phenomenological distribution of SSA/SKAs were similar to other ASCs although greater in magnitude, and appeared most similar in distribution and in depth to drug-induced ASCs, particularly classic psychedelics DMT and psilocybin. TLL and absorption were found to predict the SSA/SKA experience. The limitations and implications of these findings are discussed.