Do we experience pain during this process? Yes, I did. But it truly depends.
Each of us walks a unique path; for some, pain is a companion on this journey, while for others, it might not be. In my case, I have encountered different kinds of pain, both physical and emotional. In the early days of my awakening, I didn’t even realize what was happening. There was a deep resistance within me, a stubborn refusal to surrender to the process (I know that now, back then, I did not), though I wasn’t aware of it then. On the surface, I was full of questions, constantly seeking answers. But on a deeper, subconscious level, I resisted the awakening I longed for. I wished I had a spiritual awakening manual. It would have been so handy.
It’s funny how the mind, ego, body, and identity all get tangled up in this process. Each element tries to hold on to the familiar, to the “old me,” because the unknown feels scary. Sometimes, I think, “How can I possibly explain all this in a short conversation? It feels like a book could be written on the subject.” And yet, I know that more enlightened souls would probably laugh softly and explain it all in just a few simple words and with a sense of peace. I’m not quite there yet. But I am learning to detach, to understand the “I am,” and to let go of what no longer serves me. It feels like I’m just beginning to allow my truth to shine through.
Pain has been part of this process for me, though not always in the ways I expected. I’ve read that many people experience bursts of pain during a Kundalini awakening or the journey of spiritual self-awareness. For some, this manifests physically, for others emotionally, and yet for some, it may be more subtle. It is, quite simply, person by person.
One recent experience of mine involved a sharp pain in my right knee. It caught me completely off guard. I was lying down, working on an article, and decided it was time for a break. As I was about to rise, an intense pain shot through my right knee. My immediate reaction was disbelief—this can’t be happening, I thought. Why now? But I also instinctively knew this was more than just a physical pain. Something deeper had been triggered.
At that moment, I asked myself: Could this be the ego holding on? Could it be an old emotion, a memory, or an unresolved thought causing this sudden pain? I didn’t know, but something told me that this pain wasn’t just about my knee. Later, I learned that the knees often symbolise the bridge between the physical and spiritual worlds. This realization hit me hard. My knee pain wasn’t just physical; it was a manifestation of my subconscious resistance to spiritual growth and the balancing of my inner energies, particularly my masculine energy.
This wasn’t the first time I’d felt pain in my right knee. Years ago, I had it while practising dancing. Then, once again, before I was supposed to run a half marathon, the same knee acted up. I didn’t understand why it was always the right knee and never the left. It felt like an odd coincidence, something I couldn’t explain.
But recently, as I’ve been reflecting on my spiritual journey, I understood the more profound meaning. The right side of the body is often associated with masculine energy, and my right knee signalled that this energy within me was blocked. There was resistance—an inner conflict between my masculine and feminine energies (more about masculine and feminine energies in this article). The pain in my knee was a physical manifestation of this resistance.
As I learned more about this, I began to practice Saadhana, a daily spiritual practice of surrender based on Maharishikaa’s simple teaching: bend down and surrender to the divine within. It was during these moments of surrender that the pain would vanish. What an extraordinary phenomenon! Each time I let go, the pain disappeared. It was as though my body was reminding me that resistance, whether physical or spiritual, only creates suffering. But when I surrendered and allowed myself to flow with the process, the suffering ceased.
Looking back, I now understand that the pain in my knee was more than just a recurring injury. It was a message from my body, my spirit, telling me that I needed to work on uniting my masculine and feminine energies. The resistance I felt within, the resistance that showed up in my knee, was part of my journey toward inner harmony.
So, do we experience pain during a spiritual awakening? In my experience, yes, but the pain is never without purpose. It is not meant to harm us but to guide us. Each twinge, each ache, is a nudge from the universe, encouraging us to look deeper within ourselves, to uncover what we’ve been resisting, and to finally let go.
I still have a long way to go on my journey, but I am learning. Every day, I remind myself to surrender a little more, to trust the process, and to embrace both the pain and the peace that come with spiritual growth.
The pain, as I now see it, is not an enemy. It is a bridge—a bridge that connects the old and the new, the physical and the spiritual, the masculine and the feminine. And each step across that bridge brings me closer to my true self.
My content is for informational and inspirational purposes, not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent health conditions or diseases. It is not a substitute for professional medical, psychological, or educational advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare or educational professional for specific concerns or guidance. I encourage you to use your discernment and responsibility in interpreting and applying any information shared.