When it comes to healing modalities and spiritual practices there was one practice where I had THE most profound spiritual experience, and I haven’t heard anyone talk about – it’s called dhikr. In my 20’s I was very much a seeker. I was trying to understand “why I am here?” and “what is my life purpose?” I was plagued with these existential questions very early on in my life. I was very much an avid reader and somehow, I had come across information on Sufism. If you are not familiar with Sufism, it is basically the esoteric branch of the Islamic faith. I honestly don’t know too much about any of it, other than I found that I resonated with the information that I did find. The main concept that I recall was that you polish the mirror of the heart so that the God within, reflects outward. That basic idea made so much sense to me. It really is about being a better person and working towards that inner recognition of your own divinity. Sufism is very different in that there isn’t a Church. This practice involves having a guru or spiritual teacher called a sheik. And the idea is that when the student is ready, the teacher will appear. And I’ll have to say, if anyone is a Sufi and is reading this and I’m doing a horrible job at explaining it – I apologize. I feel I would never do a good job in trying to explain it – but I’m doing my best.
Anyway, eventually after I finished college and was out in the working world, I ended up meeting a lady who also studied Sufism. She and I would have conversations about it and eventually I ended up buying a few different books based on her recommendations. My focus on spirituality would wax and wane over the years. Some years later, I became focused once more on developing my spiritual side and so had begun doing one of the practices described in one of the books. A practice called dhikr.
Dhikr is basically where with every breath you think ‘God’ (for the Islamic faith – they would say Allah, but God resonated more with me). So instead of entertaining all these random thought in your mind, you just focus on God. The idea is that eventually, you won’t consciously have to ‘think’ of God, but God will just ‘sit in your heart’ and you won’t have to make an effort. I had only been practicing this for a short time – less than a week. So, one day I was driving down the road when suddenly I was overcome with what would be today – the most profound thing I’ve ever experienced. It is very hard to describe, but I would say it was like I saw everything for what it really was – and it was beautiful! I just remember I had this almost like full body orgasm go through my body and then I just experienced this overwhelming feeling of bliss. But it did not last that long, it was almost like I had a glimpse. It is hard to remember how it felt, but it’s almost like this veil dropped for a while and I was able to see the beauty in everything.
I had that experience over 10 years ago, even BEFORE my Kundalini activation. I suspect that when Kundalini is activated, and the crown chakra opens – that is the type of experience someone would have. But apparently, I like to do everything backwards! IF that is what it is supposed to feel like, then wow – what a state to be in! What I find so odd, is that even though I had that the most profound experience using that technique – I actually never engaged in the practice again.
Ultimately, I think the power in that practice is that you are actively engaging with the remembrance of your own beauty, your own inner divinity. To have just a glimpse of what that looks and feels like, was such a gift. As we walk through this life with blinders on, this false reality of what is ‘real’ I think to be able to see the beauty of life and all it’s wonder is something that we all aim to experience – real meaning. I think that is why I like to walk early in the morning and see the stars. It helps me to keep perspective and to see and remember what a vast and mysterious place that we live in.
In love, light, and gratitude,
Heather