We often embark on a spiritual path seeking the “highs”—the moments of bliss, connectedness, joy, and deep peace. Perhaps you’ve recently experienced a profound activation, or you have been dedicated to a practice for years that nourishes your soul. These moments are gifts; they are the realizations that remind us of our essential nature.

But in my 20 years of clinical and spiritual practice, I’ve discovered a silent truth that many teachers don’t prepare us for: What happens after the awakening?

The Law of the Pendulum

One of the biggest pitfalls on the path of growth is the belief that awakening is a linear upward climb. We think that once we reach a state of love or openness, we will simply stay there.

However, the universe operates on a different principle: the pendulum. Whenever we open to a deep state of being—like the profound rest of a womb activation or the warmth of an open heart—a contraction inevitably follows.

As the pendulum swings toward an “Opening” (Bliss, Presence, Connection), it must eventually swing back toward a “Contraction.” Why? Because to reach those higher states, we must move through the very wounds and traumas that blocked them in the first place.

Why You Need Professional Spiritual Awakening Support During a Contraction

Why We Contract

Our issues, wounds, and traumas are stored in our bodies—in our bones, our muscles, our organs, and even our DNA. We originally shut down those beautiful states of being because we were hurt, attacked, or not mirrored.

When we “open up” spiritually, we aren’t just opening to the light; we are also illuminating the shadows. The deeper the awakening, the bigger the pendulum swing. If you open to a massive state of love, the swing back may bring up a massive state of grief or fear.

Common Pitfalls

When the pendulum swings back, many of us fall into these traps:

• The “I Lost It” Myth: We think we failed because the bliss is gone. We try to “practice harder” to get back to the high, bypassing the work that is arising in the body.
• Repression: We don’t approve of what is arising—like anger, hate, or shame—so we push it back down to maintain a “spiritual” facade.
• Overwhelm: The trauma feels unsolvable or too subtle to catch, leading to dissociation or feeling “disconnected” from ourselves.

4 Steps to Navigate the Integration

If you are currently in a contraction after a period of opening, here is how to navigate the path with somatic intelligence:

1. Expect the Swing: Don’t be surprised when your issues arise after a breakthrough. The bigger the opening, the bigger the required integration. Expect it; honor it.
2. Ground the Body as a Container: Practice staying in your body. We need “muscles” to hold the intensity of emotional release without identifying with the swing.
3. Don’t Repress for the Sake of the “Ideal”: Do not push away your current feelings because of what you want to feel. If you feel hate, feel it in the body. Only by feeling it can it transform.
4. Seek Support: A guide or teacher who has walked this path can hold the space for you when you are terrified by what is arising. A held space provides the safety needed for your system to finally let go.

Integration is the Goal

Awakening happens in the mind, the heart, and the body. It isn’t real until it is actualized in your daily life. The goal isn’t to stay at the “top” of the swing; it is to become a person who can hold the entire movement of the pendulum with grace and presence.

If you are navigating a challenging integration and are looking for somatic and psychospiritual support, I am here to walk that path with you.