The Kundalini Guide: A Companion for the Inward Journey (Inward Journey Guides)

I don't like it when I see all five-star reviews (at least that's how it was when I first read the book) and nothing below that; there's usually somebody that disagrees with the content! Perhaps that person just hasn't come along yet. I considered giving it just four stars so there would be something other than all five stars, but I couldn't, the book deserves five. I've been practicing yoga for about ten years now, mostly on my own. I've taken numerous workshops and an intense instructor's course, and it has helped me develop a practice I'm very comfortable with. About six months ago I began having intense rushes of energy surging up my back, after I'd finished my routine and was in savasana. Don't want to get into a full description here of what took or has taken place, but just that I wanted to know what this was all about. I talked to a friend/yoga instructor who said it sounded like I was experiencing kundalini. She recommended I read "Kundalini Rising". This is a great book, takes and perspectives of people who have studied/experienced kundalini. But the piece I liked best was by Bonnie Greenwell. I saw that she had also written a book, (The Kundalini Guide), but it wasn't available digitally and where I live, that's about the only way for me to get it. So I read other books, read articles on her website, and then a couple of weeks ago I saw it online, finally in digital format. It was all I had been hoping for, gave me a very good understanding of what I've been experiencing and where I should go next with it. Bonnie traverses comfortably through both Eastern and Western aspects or understandings of Kundalini, and she has a writing style that anyone would be at ease with. She is fully qualified to provide us with this guide, having talked literally with thousands of people who have experienced kundalini, in her work and research. I highly recommend to anyone wanting an objective, helpful explanation of what kundalini is and how you can work with it.

This book has everything explained, clearly and succinctly for the person looking for clarity about Kundalini awakening. I highly recommend it to anyone who has no idea what Kundalini is or what an awakening means. But it is also very useful for those who have awakened and need to fill in some basic facts and details about the phenomena. I met Ms. Greenwell recently, and she has a deep and common sense understanding of this topic having had years of interviews with people who have been through this life-altering process. She lays it all out for everyone to understand with examples and a review of commonly asked questions. It could be a primer on the topic. The focus is on practical down-to-earth advice and information. The same information could be in some ancient Indian text, but to a Western reader it would be incomprehensible; Bonnie Greenwell has rectified this problem by covering the thousand questions one would have on this subject in simple straight-forward language. Her first book "Energies of Transformation" was a great help to me and many others who wanted to find out more about this topic. But this new book has condensed everything into a easily absorbed format that can be read both as informational and for future reference. Start here if you really want to get a clear picture of the phenomena of Kundalini.

I am on the path with an Indian guru and I found this book supportive and useful. It is easy to read and not overly academic so the information is accessible.

If you are IN the experience of a Kundalini Rising it can be quite a road to go alone. For those who are or might be going through that this book will likely be helpful. It may very well be clarifying and validating to you. The author seems to be thoughtful to not make the book revolve around her, like some authors do. When she writes about trying to move beyond ego or whatever, it comes across as sincere in her written tone. This is the first book in a two part series, which would be purchased separately. The second one is called The Awakening Guide. It was smallish book that could have been smaller as there was very much of the same things being stated repeatedly. Thankfully it is such small read that it can be easily finished, and I did just in case there was some new bit of information. I have started on the companion book. So far, 37 pages into that there are once again repeated points of what was already in book one. The chapter line up looks like ALMOST all the same information as book one. Hopefully it has new info as it goes along but at this point it seems like what could have been one book was stretched out into two, which, as a consumer, makes me feel slightly duped. We will see. I continue into this second one with somewhat less enthusiasm but remain cautiously hopeful. Normally I would not review a second book in a book review but in this case it seems highly relevant. It is good that she wrote this book. It would be very lovely if the two volumes were remade into a single pared down volume, in the future. It'd be better to read something meaningful one time in a small volume than extra chapters or another book entirely of the same information. There were at least 2 things in the chapters listings for book 2 which I don't believe were in the book 1.

I was enormously grateful to find Bonnie's books, after experiencing Kundalini awakening and spending a lot of time surfing the net trying to put my experiences into context. She has an extensive background in understanding Kundalini, both from an academic perspective as a psychologist, and from consulting with thousands of people--in contrast to most writers and bloggers on Kundalini, who provide advice to others based on their own experiences only. I have also consulted with Bonnie, and find her to be one of the most radiantly kind people I have encountered, among spiritual teachers and in general. Her online courses have also helped keep me on track spiritually. Cannot recommend her work too highly.

Bonnie Greenwell is an expert in the field and one of my colleagues. She is one of the few kundalini teachers offering a clear and true voice in this field. This book is thorough, and offers a clear, and concise overview of this confusing arena of spiritual awakening. As a teacher and therapist myself, I meet with individuals from around the world who struggle with or are confused by kundalini symptoms and the experiences of awakening. We also share our teacher, Adyashanti, who trained and supported me through kundalini awakening. I recommend this book to all my students and clients who are struggling and/or need some clarity on what is happening within them, during this process. There are many confusing booking offering advice and teachings on kundalini awakening and energy, many of these books are unhelpful, distracting, and even dangerous (by leading the reader astray into troubling experiences) to the reader. Yet Bonnie's writing is clear and helpful, she paints a true picture of what kundalini awakening is, the overwhelming energy which accompanies it, and how to work through it, into the realm of sanity and freedom. I could not recommend this book more. Such a gift to those undergoing Kundalini awakening.

The Kundalini Guide: A Companion for the Inward Journey (Inward Journey Guides) (Volume 1) book is an explanation of the Kundalini Awakening process. It explains why your Kundalini may have awoken and how you can support yourself or others during the process. Bonnie Greenwell, the author, has a PhD in transpersonal psychology and wrote her dissertation on spiritual awakening and Kundalini arising. She has gone through the Kundalini Awakening process herself and worked with people in the spiritual awakening process for more than three decades. This is the only non-dogmatic, non-religious book about kundalini awakening I have found and it is very clear and readable.

Good synopsis of kundalini and kundalini awakening process coming from 2,000 case histories, from a respected expert who has not only helped many others but also went through her own awakening experience. It covers general topics of what one might experience and what is the purpose of such transformation process in an easy to digest way. I think it is good beginner book for those who desire overview of this process or have had a spontaneous awakening to get them started and allay their fears. From this book, you will understand the gift that kundalini awakening is, there is nothing to fear and the information is good starting point on how to work creatively with it and develop your inner guidance. I am recommending this book to people who contact me who are in early kundalini awakening. In the bibliography I have not read most of those book, but can attest that the book: "The Supreme Yoga" by Swami Venkatesananda, is surely a good one to keep on your shelf and keep reading it until there is no doubt left.

Good

Really enjoyed reading this. Simple and straightforward.

Don't buy this, it is a very shallow, popular new age-y booklet skimmed of her other book about Kundalini. That first one is much more of a guide than this one claims to be. I was very disappointed. I adore her first book about Kundalini, it is a must-read, I was very much looking forward to reading this, but it read like a magazine article...

Very useful guide. Thanks. Very clear, precise and also reassuring. I really loved reading it. It was a great companion. If you just had an awakening, read it.

One of many excellent books by Bonnie. If you are going through a kundalini awakening, have been through one or are "seeking" one, this is a must read. I would suggest reading this first before anything else and continuing to refer back to it. Don't take the approach of burning through it quickly and then think "I've read it". Read it again and again if necessary. Pretty much all the answers you need are in here. And different parts will resonate at different times in the process! Good luck and god bless