What you said about mantras without guidance is very commonly said in traditional circles, but truthfully I don't think it's the case! Isolated shaktas whom have no access to gurus have used various forms of divination for years to decide which of the mahavidyas are appropriate for them based on whatever scripture they were able to get their hands on. Even traditional Saiva from Kashmir will give instructions to self initiate with quite long mantras, the intention being some sort of intentional psychic upheaval for the sake of rebirth, as is common from what I've seen in vamamarg initiations.
I speak from my own experience. People may do as they please.
It has more to do with the disharmonious rise of kundalini shakti than spirit engagement. One person I knew developed symptoms of mental illness by merely practicing yoga.
I haven't known enough aspirants to answer.
Absolutely, I think my diksha into other vamamarg paths incited the same. My guru, though, has me focusing more on sattvic emanations for now, with periodic larger rituals to tamasic emanations for their capacity to purify tamas and witness its divinity. Just for now until my householder path is completed! Do you currently maintain your practice with mantra sadhana?
I currently do not, unfortunately. Sattvic in the sense of, say, Saraswati (just a random example)?
I never thought anyone would notice my name, but thank you for catching it!
Unfortunately, this is not how my guru "drives the conversation," so to speak. But what you speak of sounds prudent. I've considered lately just doing a hardcore panchakshara mantra cycle focused on all of my chakra systems (sort of like a tantric Hindu equivalent of what Vajrasattva does for Tibetan Buddhists). Going to discuss that with him soon.I never thought anyone would notice my name, but thank you for catching it!
Sattvic in the sense that the krama, sequence, of deities evoked throughout the sadhana have a purifying orientation. We might start with a tamasic deity known for purifying all perception, like tantrik forms of Ganesha or Shiva, and then move into mantras dedicated for forms of Devi that bring good things into our life. This way we can aspire towards jivanmukti, liberation while living, by attaining moksha, liberation, and bogha, worldly pleasures.
