When Spirit Leaps: Navigating the Process of Spiritual Awakening

by Bonnie L. Greenwell, Adyashanti (Foreword)

Whether it happens all at once or gradually over time, spiritual awakening is an experience that may be accompanied by great insight, ecstatic bliss, or a mystical infusion of light, love, and vision. But it can be an overwhelming experience, too, leaving those to whom it’s occurred searching for answers and understanding. Written by a transpersonal psychologist and non-dual teacher, this book will help you understand the phenomenon of spiritual awakening, and provide guidance and support for you on your spiritual journey. At the heart of most spiritual traditions is the understanding that we are one with all of existence. This realization, also known as spiritual awakening or spiritual emergence, can occur spontaneously, after years of spiritual practice, or through many other portals. Although awakening is often considered a purely positive experience, many people are not prepared for the ramifications of such a life-altering event. When your perception of yourself and reality has been altered, you may find yourself with more questions than answers. Where can you turn? Based on over thirty years of case studies, as well as the author’s own experiences, When Spirit Leaps explores the why and what of spiritual awakening, revealing how this phenomenon occurs across all traditions, and exploring the various ways it can happen. Including discussions on kundalini energy, meditation, yoga and qigong, breathwork, near-death experiences, and much more, this inspirational book offers companionship and practical solutions to common challenges along the spiritual path of awakening. With this book as your guide, you’ll gain a deep understanding of the process and different portals of awakening, and find comfort and support in the real-life stories of those who have experienced this shift in consciousness and faced its challenges. Most importantly, you’ll learn how you can embody this awakening and live joyfully and effectively without attachment to a personal sense of self, but as the oneness with all that is your true nature. No matter where you are on your spiritual journey, this book will help you along the way.

Genres: Spirituality

216 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2018

Reviews

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book helped me understand a myriad of spiritual concepts that I just could never fully grasp before. Bonnie Greenwell's writing is impeccable and her delivery of such complex ideas is a rarity among the heaps of information on spiritual awakening that I've personally come across in books or online. This is one of those books that leaves an impression on you. Through Greenwell's writing I found not only an introduction to new ideas but also a true understanding of those new ideas. 'When Spirit Leaps' is a book that makes you see yourself and the world differently than you ever did before you read it. To me, that is the epitome of an exceptional book.

[Morgan Blackledge · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Greenwell’s other book [The Kundalini Gide].

So I eagerly picked this one up directly after finishing the other. And it is very good. But I didn’t LOVE it quite as much.

I wanted straight talk on advanced awakening/liberation.

And Greenwell delivered.

I didn’t want self help anything.

I’m a therapist and I have read (literally) hundreds of self help, therapy books. And at this stage of my life. I’m nearly allergic to them. My skin crawls, and nearly panic when I get near one. And some of the later chapters have a self help feel (just a hint - but enough to trigger the aforementioned allergy).

I absolutely do not fault Greenwell for this.

I don’t even think it was really avoidable.

I think it would’ve been kind of an incomplete text if the materials I am complaining about were not included.

And yes, I could’ve skipped over those chapters.

Something I almost never do.

But still.

No one had a gun in my head.

Given all the above.

I really liked/valued/benefited from 95% of this book.

and I superduper recommend it.

And then for me, one or two chapters left me clammy.

And that’s just me being honest here.

It’s not at all the critique of the text.

It’s just a me problem.

When I used to move furniture for a living.

I just couldn’t move furniture on my day off.

It’s kind of how I currently feel about self-help now.

So don’t let this critique steer away from this book.

Or from Greenwell’s fantastic other books.

4/5 ⭐️’s

[Laura Clementz · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is much to appreciate in this book. If you have experienced any type of energy and/or spiritual experience that changes the way you view the world, this is a great read. It draws from many traditions and individual experiences to provide a comprehensive overview of awakening. The author characterizes awakening as a shift in consciousness that results in a change in understanding who we are and satisfies the longing to understand the “big questions.” Some of the experiences may seem extreme, especially if the reader is new to the topics, yet it’s elegantly written with clear explanations addressing both theoretical and practical applications.

[Mark Scorelle]

Really an excellent book. I found no disagreement with her assessments and prescriptions. The issue of the seeking enlightenment and raising the kundalini or sexual/spiritual life force applies only to a minute population. It is paralleling the success of Stanislav and Chrisitna Groff and the Spiritial Emergency Network. At first I thought the book was too academic but as I read on she fills in outlines with examples of real people, she covers all the points, the facets of this spiritual phenomena. If there is a cross-over area of spirituality and psychology, Bonnie Greenwell is right in there. And in an artful and successful way.

[Anastasia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went through a very frightening awakening experience accompanied by a dark night of the soul a year ago. I wanted to find the answers to my questions and tried to find all the available information on awakening experience. I can describe this experience like this: the vail falls off and you start questioning your life on a very deep level. It is like you open your eyes wide and start seeing life for what it is. You start questioning what you are doing with your life. You might feel imprisoned by the body. This experience is no fun. Those people who have never gone through this experience will never understand it.

The author devoted her life to counselling men and women who are awakening. Her work based on her experience, the experiences of her clients and research available on the topic.

This book helps you to understand deeply the process of awaking. It will teach you a lot in regard to different concepts within this process. However, this book will not give you tools about how to live through this, what you can do to support yourself during this time, and how to stay sane and grounded.

The book is a nice read if you want to understand the process of awakening more and ways it may manifest itself in in your life. So, at least, if you experience this later in life, you will not have completely no idea what is happening with you and whether it is normal to experience what you are experiencing.