Kundalini Awakening or Psychosis? Psychology of Spiritual Awakening with Steven Taylor, PhD
Release Date: 07/02/2025
Stop Asking “What Should I Do?” — The Bhagavad Gita Chapter 5 Has a Better Question
The Uplifted Yoga Podcast
Today, I take you into Chapter 5 of the Bhagavad Gita, where Krishna shifts the spotlight from what you do to how you are being when you do it. This is the heart of Karma Yoga — acting in the world without clinging to the outcome. We unpack the powerful metaphor of the lotus leaf (living in the world, untouched), explore the nature of witness consciousness, and look at what it really means to "renounce" in a modern world. 🔹 What it means to act without attachment 🔹 Why the question is no longer “What should I do?” 🔹 How inner renunciation leads to clarity and peace 🔹...
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Who Has Your Attention? Attention Economy vs the Ancient Path
The Uplifted Yoga Podcast
Let’s be real — our attention is under attack. Between scroll culture, constant notifications, and never-ending to-do lists, it’s hard to focus on what actually matters. In this episode, I’m inviting you to pause and reflect on where your precious energy is going. We’ll explore how ancient yogic and Vedantic texts can help us reclaim our attention — not just as a productivity tool, but as a sacred spiritual practice. If you’ve been feeling scattered, stuck, or overstimulated, this one’s for you. We’ll look at how: 🔹 Attention is energy — what you focus on creates your...
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Build Your Yoga Retreat Center with Kayla Nielsen
The Uplifted Yoga Podcast
What does it really take to build your dream yoga retreat center—from scratch? In this episode, I sit down with Kayla Nielsen, who shares the raw, inspiring truth behind building a yoga retreat space from the ground up. From buying land abroad to pricing retreats and navigating local logistics, Kayla opens up about the entrepreneurial journey few yoga teachers talk about. We cover: 🔹 How to navigate land ownership and logistics in a foreign country 🔹 Smart strategies for planning, pricing, and co-teaching retreats 🔹 Why patience and community are the foundation of a sustainable...
info_outline![[Meditation] Vagus Nerve & Nervous System Reset show art](https://assets.libsyn.com/item/39093770?height=50&width=50)
[Meditation] Vagus Nerve & Nervous System Reset
The Uplifted Yoga Podcast
No talk. No theory. No to-do list. Just you and 20 minutes of deep nervous system reset. This New Year’s Eve episode is a guided Somatic Release Meditation—designed to help you let go of trapped emotions, soothe your system, and make space for what’s next. It’s also a beautiful primer for what’s coming in the Evolve Somatic Challenge, which starts January 1st. (If you haven’t signed up yet—go do that!) ✨ A few important notes: 🛋️ Lie down, get comfy, and please don’t do this while driving. 🧠 This practice also helps soothe the vagus nerve, release tension, and bring...
info_outline![[Meditation] Taking in the Good show art](https://assets.libsyn.com/item/39093660?height=50&width=50)
[Meditation] Taking in the Good
The Uplifted Yoga Podcast
Okay, this isn’t our usual episode. There’s no philosophy, no Gita breakdown, no talk of funnels or energy anatomy today. Instead, I have a gift for you—a guided meditation designed to help you do something surprisingly hard: feel good and stay in it. If you’ve been through trauma or long-term stress, your nervous system might default to worry, numbness, or waiting for the other shoe to drop—even when things are actually going well. This practice gently helps you expand your capacity to receive joy, compliments, connection, and peace without flinching. ✨ A few important notes:...
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How to Live Smartphone Free (From a 20 Year Old) with Yunus M.
The Uplifted Yoga Podcast
What happens when a 20-year-old decides to completely unplug—from smartphones, social media, and the digital world? In this episode, I talk with Yunus Maximus, a bold, creative soul who's chosen a countercultural path in today’s tech-saturated world. We explore how living without a phone has deepened his art, saved his mental health, and strengthened his human connections. His story will make you rethink your relationship with technology—and your own creativity. We talk about: 🔹 Why Yunus ditched his phone and never looked back 🔹 The link between digital detox and artistic...
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Rewire Your Nervous System + My New Somatic Healing Book is HERE!
The Uplifted Yoga Podcast
Today’s episode is a little different and really special. I’m finally sharing the story behind my new book, Healing with Somatic Yoga. This book is the heart of everything I’ve been teaching, practicing, and living — and I can’t wait for you to hold it in your hands. If you’ve ever felt like traditional wellness advice just doesn’t reach the deeper layers — like something’s missing — you’re not alone. We’re entering what I’m calling the Decade of the Nervous System. It’s time to stop muscling through healing and start listening to the body that’s been protecting...
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The Role of “God” in Yoga + Tantric Shadow Work w/ Katie Silcox
The Uplifted Yoga Podcast
What does it mean to surrender—not just in theory, but in your body? Katie Silcox is back for an intimate and expansive conversation where we explore the intersections of shadow work, yoga, energy practices, and the divine. We talk about the emotional courage it takes to let go, the healing potential of the word God, and how to distinguish between meditation and prayer in a way that supports your spiritual evolution. You’ll learn: 🔹 Why shadow work is more about integration than excavation 🔹 The difference between vertical and horizontal energy flow 🔹 How to ground yourself for...
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What is Feminine Form Kundalini Yoga?
The Uplifted Yoga Podcast
In this episode, I introduce the core principles of Feminine Form Kundalini, a radically different approach to energy and transformation. We explore how the body responds not to pressure, but to rhythm, wave-like movement, and the right conditions for deep inner uncoiling. This practice isn’t about transcendence—it’s about coming home to your body as the sacred gateway to power. You’ll learn: 🔹 Why biological safety is the foundation of true spiritual awakening 🔹 How spiral and wave-like movement unlocks stuck energy 🔹 The vital role of pleasure in feminine energy practices...
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Your Ultimate Wellness Gift Guide (Just in Time for Black Friday!) w/ Corrine Maples
The Uplifted Yoga Podcast
Looking for the perfect gift for the yogi or wellness lover in your life? Or maybe you’re building your own holiday wish list? In this fun and cozy episode, Corinne and I share our favorite yoga gear, wellness hacks, and self-care staples—just in time for Black Friday and the holiday season. We dive into everything from yoga clothing and props to supplements and skincare tools, giving you a yogi-approved guide to all things supportive, stylish, and soul-nourishing. You’ll hear: 🔹 Our go-to yoga clothing brands (from luxe to budget-friendly!) 🔹 Wellness staples we swear by—AG1,...
info_outlineIs it awakening… or a breakdown?
When spiritual awakening hits hard, it can feel disorienting—even terrifying. In this raw and insightful conversation, I sit down with Steven Taylor, PhD, psychologist and expert on spiritual awakening, to explore what happens when consciousness expands faster than your system can handle it.
We unpack the psychology behind Kundalini awakenings, and how to navigate the fine line between transformation and overwhelm.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
🔹 How to tell the difference between psychosis and spiritual awakening
🔹 What a Kundalini awakening really looks and feels like
🔹 How to support your nervous system during spiritual emergence
🔹 Why awakening is part of the natural evolution of human consciousness
Whether you’re in it, afraid of it, or just curious—this is your invitation to bring grounding and understanding to your spiritual journey.
💃 Join me for a FREE Kundalini Dance Party =>
https://www.brettlarkin.com/dance?utm_medium=social&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=dance
GUEST EXPERT: Steve Taylor PhD | @stevetaylorauthor
Steve Taylor PhD has many best-selling books on psychology and spirituality, including The Adventure, Extraordinary Awakenings, The Leap and Spiritual Science. His books have been published in more than 20 languages, and he writes the popular ‘Out of the Darkness’ blog for Psychology Today magazine. Eckhart Tolle has described his work as ‘an important contribution to the shift in consciousness which is happening on our planet at present.’ Steve lives in Manchester, England, with his wife and three children.
Find Steve’s books and offerings: stevenmtaylor.com
FREE Practice: 10 Min Kundalini Kriya For Awakening For Beginners | GUIDED KUNDALINI MEDITATION
Relevant Blog: How to Resolve Kundalini Awakening
Relevant to Today’s Episode:
✅ 200-hour Online Yoga Teacher Training
🎧 Also Listen to:
#316 – Origins of Kundalini & the Yogi Bhajan Scandal – Part 1
#322 – Origins of Kundalini & the Yogi Bhajan Scandal – Part 2
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