When Raphael Cushnir's marriage fell apart, he decided to stop running away from the pain and embrace it. This led to an unintended explosion of "Kundalini" energy, as well as a spiritual awakening. Yet his awakening was anything but typical. At first it was chaotic, terrifying, and even sometimes demonic. Over the ensuing five years, mostly on his own, Cushnir had to navigate this confounding terrain along with the ordinary challenges of daily life. Through vivid journal entries from that time, as well as commentary afforded by three decades of subsequent reflection, he offers a searingly intimate portrait of experiences usually relegated to secrecy. He's sharing this story now, in his role as spiritual teacher and emotional intelligence facilitator, to support the growing numbers of those who struggle with unconventional openings, and also to shed new light on the more perilous parts of the perennial mystic path.