| | Mike,
The twisting/contorting can happen in several stages. I believe most often in cause&effect, perhaps some in 3C & various stages of the dark night. I never really got them though, so I don't remember for sure. Regardless, best to just observe, note and continue on.
Personally, I noticed the crown chills in varying degrees based mostly on concentration strength and as a response to insight practice. I'm not sure if this is something everyone experiences, but I used it as a type of feedback mechanism for insight. If I read or tried something and I got the tingle, I took that as a sign I was doing something right and continued or tweaked my approach based on the responsiveness. If I remember correctly, this began showing up for me after the 1st crossing of the A&P and still happens some to this day. Although the way the tingle is felt now is much less intense and as such, hardly the same sensation at all. So, in my experience it's comes and goes, changes in how it is felt and its intensity, and MIGHT be useful as a real-time feedback mechanism. Warning, however: don't get caught up in the sensations themselves; they're only a byproduct and perhaps a green flag. Thus, worthy of noting and perhaps investigating a bit, but ultimately unsatisfying, empty, impermanent, etc.
Practicing at any time is beneficial, so long as it doesn't mess with your daily life in a detrimental way! Some of the most powerful insights I tripped into were done at work while I waited on various programs to doing their thing. I think there's a certain point where many of us become so obsessed that we literally find every instant possible to practice, and that's the kind of determination that gets it done.
Trent |