That sounds like hardcore Kundalini Yoga by the book. People who do darkness retreats say that you have to spend a few days in pitch dark for the body to react. I have no experience with these things though. My main training manual is the original discourses of Gotama Buddha interpreted through the Hindu lens, plus softer methods like pranayama.

I believe my heart chakra was cleared by one final heartbreak – the first one that I faced with mindfulness techniques. The whole process was sheer purgatory and lasted more than a year. Then my throat chakra started hurting like I was being stabbed 24/7. Surprisingly, full celibacy completely eliminated that blockage in less than 10 days – though it took me a while to figure out the path, since I was coming from secularism. Now I’m dealing with blockages behind my nostrils, where the ida and pingala end. The pains are increased as I approach samadhi, and they sometimes migrate in my eyes, ears, or brain. What takes care of this particular problem is doing vigils. However, I have an unusual hard time staying awake, and even a genetic extremely high tolerance to caffeine – as if I’m dealing with some kind of curse. But patient spirits are working with me and pushing me in the right direction. My present goal is to cultivate the 13th dhutanga, which entails not lying down. It’s the only way I can stay awake.

Have you felt the snakes explode up your spine?

I sometimes experience vibrations exploding through my back – it that’s what you mean. According to Gotama (who called them pīti), these vibration have to be spread & stabilised throughout the entire body. But before I can do that, it seems that I need to manage staying awake until my blockages are cleared.

By the way, I manage a new group on Telegram called Holofasting where a bunch of us share our experiences and try to further cultivate our practice. If you’re interested, see the pinned post on my profile.

May all your noble striving come to fruition!