What Is A Spiritual Awakening? The Complete Guide — Gareth Michael
and downs, which can sometimes leave us feeling lost and confused. But these challenging times can often end up becoming major life catalysts for our personal growth, even though we may not be consciously aware of it at the time.
If you’ve found yourself wondering about the purpose of life, looking for more meaning, or generally feeling like your world is turning upside down, then you may be going through a process called a spiritual awakening. Perhaps you’re wondering, ‘What is spiritual awakening?’ Read on to discover the main signs of a spiritual awakening, why it occurs, and how to become more spiritually awakened.
What is a spiritual awakening?
The spiritual awakening definition varies from person to person. This shift in your conscious awareness feels a bit like waking up after a long time of feeling disconnected. Spiritual awakenings can happen quite consciously as a natural evolution of who we are, or strike when we are least expecting it.
When you’re going through an awakening, spirituality signs such as becoming aware of things you didn’t notice before, questioning your habits and belief systems and having spiritual experiences, are common. Many people even experience physical symptoms of spiritual awakening.
The path to spiritual enlightenment may involve dark and challenging times, where you feel lost and cut off from everything and everyone. This process is known as the ‘dark night of the soul’, and will see us purging anything in our life that no longer fits.
Many people wonder, “How long does a spiritual awakening last?” The truth is this process of personal transformation may take very little time, or much longer. As our spiritual awareness begins to peak, we find ourselves at the beginning of a spiritual journey.
What causes a spiritual awakening?
Perhaps you are wondering, “Why did I have a spiritual awakening?” When it comes to how to have a spiritual awakening, it’s something that cannot be planned for. Your awareness may slowly rise over time, or you may wake up one day with a completely different perspective on life.
There are many reasons for awakenings, including life changing events that cause you to reassess your outlook, or an intuitive search for your true purpose. Whatever the catalyst for change, this usually happens exactly when you need it to.
What are the benefits of a spiritual awakening?
Each stage of our spiritual awakening can offer a gift, with unknown possibility, if only we can ground ourselves in the present moment. Here are some of the ways in which a spiritual awakening will help you to feel more connected and improve your life:
New perspectives and beliefs.
Feeling more in tune with your intuition.
Deeper self-trust.
Better relationships.
A more profound sense of connection to yourself and your true nature.
More connection with your values.
Feeling called to be of service to others.
Heightened senses and awareness.
Living more positively and with meaning.
Increased empathy and compassion.
Experiencing more joy, lightness and fun.
Feeling a sense connection to the Universe.
Feeling more peaceful, loving and calm.
How to know you’re going through a spiritual awakening
Although it can often feel like your life is being turned upside down, moving through a spiritual awakening can be a profound part of your spiritual growth. There can be many signs of a spiritual awakening and this differs from person to person. For some, this process of enlightenment will be a smooth transition; for others, the road is much bumpier.
So, how do you know if you’ve experienced a spiritual awakening? There are various stages of spiritual awakening and these will look different for each person. Here are 8 of the most common spiritual awakening signs you may experience:
1. You feel disillusioned with life and crave a deeper connection
Feeling disillusioned and unhappy can be one of the first spiritual awakening symptoms you may experience. Life may feel turbulent one moment and harmonious the next, and you may find this impacts your mental health. Your interactions with others might have begun to feel surface-level, and you may find yourself longing for deeper, more meaningful connection.
2. You can feel your values and priorities shifting
What once felt important may begin to feel less of a priority, and you may start to reevaluate your beliefs. As you venture on this journey of self discovery, you may find you no longer want to be around certain types of energy. This is an invitation to reassess your values and priorities.
3. You look for new ways to find happiness
You begin to find that external factors no longer bring you joy and satisfaction. As you spend time questioning who you are, you realise that happiness comes from within. This might see you living more simply, getting to know what truly brings you happiness, and developing compassion for others. These tips are helpful for anyone looking to cultivate a sense of inner peace.
4. You’re becoming more sensitive
Becoming more sensitive to the energy of others is another of the strong signs of spiritual awakening. Being more sensitive also means you will have more instances of the Universe trying to get your attention. This could be in the form of synchronicities such as people crossing your path at the right time, a chain of repeating numbers, or a white feather catching your attention.
5. You feel compelled to make big life changes
When you begin to discover a more authentic version of yourself, and you start to see things differently, you may find yourself feeling compelled to drastically change your life. You could find that the career you love is no longer right for you, or you’re no longer able to pretend that you fit into a friendship group that has felt uncomfortable for a long time. These types of life reassessments are a very usual part of the spiritual awakening process.
6. You’re becoming curious about spirituality
As your eyes open wide to all that is out there, you will likely become more curious about different spiritual paths and spiritual beliefs. You may begin to read books, mix with spiritual people, or take up spiritual practice. As your self-awareness increases, you’ll also begin to learn more about the ego and the ways in which it has a hold over all our life experiences.
7. You start to take responsibility for your life
The realisation sets in that external factors are not to blame for your experience and that you can take responsibility for how your life unfolds. Taking responsibility has many different forms, such as looking after your physical, mental and emotional health, as well as owning your life choices and decisions. As you awaken more, you’ll feel empowered to design your life in any way you wish.
8. You allow life to flow
Journeying on the path of spiritual awakening will see you creating a life that feels more aligned, peaceful, and purposeful. You might find yourself feeling calmer and more peaceful, leaning on intuitive nudges and seeing things from a wider perspective, trusting that things always work out. Instead of pushing for things to happen, you begin to experience the power of surrender, and allow life to flow.
Learn how to embrace your spiritual awakening
Going through a spiritual awakening can leave us feeling all sorts of emotions, from feeling like we’re in the depths of darkness, to experiencing moments of joy that leave us feeling equally as confused.
Dealing with these intense emotions alone can feel heavy so working with a spiritual coach can help you to understand the stages of spiritual awakening, and support you on your spiritual awakening journey.
Get in touch to book your free consultation and discover how spiritual coaching can provide a safe space for you to gently navigate this spiritual path back home to your truest self.
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