THE 20 STAGES OF A SPIRITUAL AWAKENING, FROM CONFUSION TO CLARITY- CONTINUOUS SPIRITUAL REBIRTH:
Plus Tips for mastering each phase of your spiritual journey – THE ULTIMATE GUIDE.
Are you currently on a spiritual growth journey or thinking of beginning one?
If so, you’re in the right place! In this blog, we will be discussing the various stages of the spiritual awakening process,
From the dark night of the soul, inner conflict and denial to the clarity and service stages, we will go through it all in this post; in detail, I will also give suggestions on how to manage each phase.
Spirituality is recognising that our lives hold a greater purpose than simple survival, beyond our basic needs and the constant tug of competing desires and aggression.
Understanding that your place in this universe is integral to a much bigger plan and evolution of Life.
Authentic spirituality is finding one’s spiritual core that can provide a soothing sense of completeness, equilibrium, and harmony between the four components of human existence: physical, emotional, communal, and spiritual.
Yet the path to inner peace and spiritual awareness, rebirth and transformation for most of us is a strenuous and painful journey, full of many struggles and hardships and moments of terror and anguish.
How long does a spiritual awakening last?
This question does not have a singular answer, as spiritual awakenings are individual and distinct.
For some, the process may be brief, lasting only a few days or months, but for others, it may be an ongoing journey that lasts a lifetime.
Why is spiritual awakening so hard?
Shadow work is the process of peeling away all the layers of your psyche, mind, body and soul-higher cons
A spiritual awakening can be brutal, but it is ultimately a journey of self-discovery and transformation. I
t invites us to take an honest look at our decisions, actions, beliefs, and relationships and ask ourselves if we are truly living our truth, or are we being driven by past traumas, wish fulfilment, or a need to please ourselves?
And it can be very challenging, time-consuming and energy-draining at first to do so, so many avoid doing it or leave the path as it takes longer than they expect.
It can be difficult to face our inner demons, but once we do, we can make strides to break free from our own chains and move forward on a journey of self-discovery and enlightenment.
It is only when we bring our awareness to the ways we may be holding ourselves back that we can begin to make the necessary changes to help us embrace our spiritual journey.
It takes courage to explore our innermost depths and awaken to our highest selves. It is only then that we can genuinely live with love and joy.
ciousness. It can be painful because you will have to confront the parts you may not like.
Think of an onion or a leek and its layers.
This is what shadow work is like, or if you dislike onions and leeks, think of the different layers that make up a lasagne, a finnish sandwich, ice cream sundae, parfait or nachos or anything else you like in layers.
How many levels are there in spiritual awakening?
The exact number of levels in spiritual awakening is highly debated, with some sources suggesting as few as three, while others suggest there are up to 30 distinct stages of spiritual awakening.
The three-level model typically includes an initial awakening, a deepening of the awakening, and an integration of the awakening into daily life.
Other models may include additional levels, such as the recognition of the spiritual dimension of the self, the understanding of spiritual principles, the development of spiritual practice, the appreciation of the interconnectedness of all things, and the realization of unity with the Divine.
Though the exact number of levels may vary, the process of spiritual awakening generally consists of becoming more aware of one’s true nature and of the spiritual dimensions of existence.
In this blog, I will cover stages 1-10 of the 20 stages of spiritual awakening
Key facts to remember while journeying, or you may fall into the many traps of the path.
First, things, first, the spiritual journey is all about learning to discipline, understand and manage yourself, including your thoughts, responses and emotions.
The 2nd thing is the process is not linear; many of the phases I will mention later overlap and interlink.
This is because all stages of spiritual awakening are connected, and the journey can be circular; you may swing back and forth between phases or experience more than one stage at once.
So don’t get too attached to any particular stage or experience; sometimes, you will have to move backwards on your path to move forwards, only to go back again, which can happen many times.
Never think your spiritual awakening will end or see it as an easy way out from “normal life”, for it is not.
Don’t be fooled into thinking your spiritual awakening is a shortcut to skipping the “boring” parts of life ’cause it ain’t gonna happen!
Choosing to awaken spiritually is not a free pass for avoiding the less exciting elements or the sufferings of life.
Oh, no, no, no - that ain't gonna happen!
You may be dreaming of a life of enlightenment with no dull moments, but the truth of the matter is that even the most enlightened spiritual beings have to do the mundane tasks of everyday life.
Let’s face it, sometimes life can be a bit of a bore, but that doesn’t mean you can’t use your spiritual awakening to make the most of it.
Appreciate the little moments and small joys you encounter, and you’ll find that even the most tedious tasks can become an enjoyable part of your spiritual journey.
Thirdly, Us humans are creatures of comfort; because of this, we don’t want to wake up, even if we think we do and take active steps to do so, admitting this is the first step to “enlightenment”, as suggested by Anthony Demello.
Waking us is very painful. Why? As we will have to deal with emotional, spiritual and psychological traumas along the way, as well as meet our own shadows
It can be easy at times to see and accept the darkness in ourselves, and it can be easy to get lost in spiritual bypassing or playing with spiritual toys that we must outgrow in some respect as we progress on our journey.
Much like an infant gradually transitioning from crawling to walking, we must discard outdated ideas as we progress.
I have got lost many times along the way, as is a must; never give up on yourself, never think you know it all, and never be afraid to unlearn or relearn the things you think you know.
Oh yeah, it is best to practice self-awareness, as if not, and I have been guilty of this, you can think you are practising your spiritual knowledge just because you speak the lingo language and wear the clothes.
It is all in the walk-action, not the talk, bespoke mandala hoodie, or shiny crystal.
Question everything, even your own intentions
Stay open-minded as you walk your individual yet collective path of spiritual, emotional and psychological development.
Just like an unspiritual life, a spiritual path has its comfort zones, and we must become aware as we venture the path of awakening to the many pathways of deception they are on the way to enlightenment.
The number one book I recommend as you walk this path is glamour by Alice bailey; although outdated in some respect, the wisdom is timeless, as well as all work from Jiddu Krishnamurti and all works by Octavia butler.
Although not directly spiritual, mostly sci-fi, they have a lot of hidden depth. …..oh, and remember to have fun as you crave out your future by taking steps to become more present…in the eternal now.
Oh, and know the path is about taking personal responsibility for your life.
If you don’t resonate with any of the people listed in this post, seek out your teachers and fun; make sure you factor in time to just chill and enjoy life, creativity and relaxation as you seek-to meet -realise-your highest potential and contentment.
Constant evolution - steps to spiritual awakening
Know that it is a natural part of the path to outgrow teachers, and anyone who tries to say you need to go through them to get to the divine source is typically a fake teacher. These individuals are not to be trusted and should be avoided.
True teachers are dedicated to helping you find your direct connection with the divine source.
They will never try to co-opt your experience or attach their own ego to their teachings.
Anyone who claims to be the only way is typically a false light; questioning is natural, so anyone who advises against this must also be looked upon with a sceptical eye.
The path to finding the divine source is an individual one, and though it may require you to lean on the teachings of great teachers, in the end, your “enlightenment” is something only you can discover within yourself
They are many roads to awakening, for we are never woke; we are always awakening.
Okay, so now let s get to it.
As I said earlier, walking the path of enlightenment is arduous; it can sometimes become monotonous. Your sense of what life means and what you want from it, will change many times, and how you view yourself and others will change for better and worse.
But despite all of this, it is worth it because you find yourself and the occasional lost sock…..gottta keep the humour right…..
Still, the spiritual path is it’s not the easy way out.
In fact, it requires strength, patience, and dedication. Plus, some days, it just feels like you’re getting nowhere.
Do you know what I mean? You’re sitting there meditating, and all you can think is “oh great, I’m still in the same place I was yesterday – I’m never going to reach enlightenment!”
Yet keep in mind, always, that spiritual growth is like a good jigsaw puzzle – it’s hard work, but you can eventually see the results manifesting in your life.
As you take daily actions to keep on growing.
There are, of course, many levels and layers to this s@@@ ode to the late and great Avicii
And don't forget, getting through the phases of spiritual awakening is not a race; and it aint all about burning incense or polishing crystals, flipping tarot cards.
Nor expanding your mind with CBD, weed, and DMT or expressing love and light without actually living it.
Although these can be part of your way to enlightenment, spiritual objects or toys are not the paths yet; they can show you the way…they are not the way itself.
However, it would be best to watch out for being lost; you may find that no external thing or person comes close to defining authentic Spirituality.
Don’t get me wrong; there’s nothing wrong with playing with spiritual toys and using objects to help you stay on the path.
But like me, you may soon realise that it’s not the objects themselves that are special, but the higher power behind them.
Whatever that may be to you, I personally like to think of it as a wise old tree in the middle of some majestic wood- each to their own hey, as we say here in the UK.
Sure, your crystals may make your desk look nice, and your tarot cards can help you make decisions, but without the power of the higher power, they’d just be pretty rocks and pretty pictures.
Don't get me wrong; you can still play with spiritual toys and use objects to help you stay on the path.
Crystals, essential oils and sage sticks can still be your best friends! Yet, over time you may come to realise that it is the higher power- whatever that may be to you and your “transcendental self” that is the true force behind all of these things.
It’s like a little game of hide and seeks; you reach for the sage stick, and something just clicks, the energy around you shifts, and you will have these sensations many times as you feel lost and then found many times on your spiritual journey.
Becoming aware that it’s not the stick of sage, nor the cards or the spiritual teachers, that are the root of these continuous awakenings, although they are the channels.
It’s the power within you that’s making it work. So don’t forget to give yourself credit where it is due
A spiritual awakening journey typically leads to the following:
A shift in Consciousness- You will find yourself having new perspectives and outlooks on many things and a greater awareness of your feelings and those of others. You may also have a newfound wonder and curiosity about the world. You believe that everything has transformed in the universe.
Before these highly beneficial transformations, you usually have some disturbing symptoms and experiences such as Sleep difficulties, fatigue, feeling lost, disconnected, and clouding of thinking are all common symptoms.
Top signs you are experiencing or experienced a spiritual awakening journey or are about to do so:
- Life takes on new dimensions of clarity.
- You have engaging and symbolic dreams.
- You become more spiritual as time goes on.
- Your intuitive skills become more effective.
- You have the desire to help others, realising everyone’s journey to discovery is different.
- You don’t push your path on others or coax them to wake up. You accept what is, knowing it’s best to lead by example….as you understand how tetchy-temperamental we humans can get over being told what to do.
- You feel isolated and misunderstood, which gives you a strong sense of loneliness.
- You’re no longer doing the same things every day, giving up slowly on your addictions and self-destructive thoughts, behaviours and relationships.
- You’ve grown closer to nature, and it’s paying off.
- Your attention has heightened, and your perception has improved.
Click here to read about the main symptoms and experiences you go through on your spiritual awakening journey.
As you venture further down the spiritual path, you’ll likely experience stages of confusion, then clarity, and finally, action
It can be confusing as you sort through the different ideas and beliefs you’re encountering. It’s essential to have endurance and keep searching for answers until you find the clarity you’re looking for.
Once again, It’s important to remember that the awakening process is constantly evolving and expanding!
What is a spiritual awakening? And is it the same thing as an enlightenment journey
So, what is a spiritual awakening, and is it the same thing as being ‘enlightened’? A spiritual awakening is a process that leads you from confusion to clarity.
Each time you go through a spiritual awakening, you experience a ‘shift in perspective, and it’s one of the most critical steps on your path to enlightenment.
While some people experience an awakening immediately, like a bolt of lightning striking Zeus and imparting him with knowledge, others take a bit longer to achieve the same level of understanding. It’s not a competition but a long haul – a life-long marathon, not a sprint
Sure, some folks may get a sudden burst of inspiration and ‘get it’ right away, but for the rest of us, it’s a slow and steady process of enlightenment, with plenty of detours, rest stops, and wrong turns along the way.
It’s okay to take your time, and enjoy the journey!
You’ll need to work through many things during the different stages of your spiritual awakening journey.
The various stages, such as ( confusion, disillusionment, and growing insight), require different actions on our part for you to reach your final destination.
What you need to do for the one stage may not be what’s needed for the next stage of your higher consciousness evolution.
No matter what tools you use or the spiritual practice you choose, the key is to stay focused on your journey and allow time to grow and learn along the way.
It can take time for this shift in perspective to happen, so be patient and allow yourself space to explore new ideas and concepts on your terms.
Once you find the definition and path of enlightenment that resonates with your personality and aspirations, stick to it – it will help you reach your spiritual goals more quickly.
The higher and lower selves
Ah, poor old ego, always getting a bad rap! People seem to think it’s synonymous with “megalomania” and “vanity,” but it’s really just the conscious part of our identity – the “self” that we all have.
What is megalomania?
Megalomania is a mental disorder characterized by an excessive admiration of oneself or a strong desire for power. People with megalomania may believe they are superior to others and that their powers can only be fully realised if they reach very high levels of authority or wealth. They may become self-righteous and impatient with others, believing that they are entitled to special treatment.
People with megalomania often struggle to concentrate, behave normally in social situations, communicate effectively, and manage their finances.
Now back to the ego
I will use the term ego as I write this, but what people really mean by saying you are egotistical typically means you are being selfish and not considering the needs of others or even the authentic needs of your mind, body, and soul to promote your overall well-being; instead, you live out your life doing all you can to chase pleasure.
Other examples of “egotistical behaviour” include always wanting more, being self-righteous, always wanting to win, and being attention-seeking.
Lacking empathy for yourself and others, having one-sided conversations, your insecure; although these are characteristics of selfishness, vanity and megalomania, these behaviours are not what the ego is.
The ego is a complex entity – and part of the mind – that is responsible for mediating between the conscious and the unconscious.
It’s very important for reality testing and providing us with a sense of personal identity. Freud popularized the term and saw it as the conscious mind, rather than the unconscious.
It’s not always easy to keep the ego in check – it can be a bit of a diva, demanding attention and throwing tantrums when it doesn’t get its own way.
Learning to balance the ego as you float through the phases of your spiritual awakening journey
But remember, the ego needs to have a healthy balance – too much ego can lead to a sense of entitlement and narcissism, while too little can leave you feeling lost and without direction. The ego and the lowest selves are needed to successfully navigate this physical-earthly realm successfully; Spirituality is not about getting rid of the ego-lower self.
But becoming aware of it and training yourself to understand and manage it.
The lower self is the part of ourselves that we can often feel ashamed or embarrassed about, so we end up rejecting or neglecting it; an unmanaged lower self can increase negative thoughts, impulsive behaviours and relationships.
Understanding your authentic needs
The lower self has desires that society tells us are taboo, or you may feel uncomfortable with some of your inclinations and passions; for instance, you may like to have sex a certain number of times a week, or you may like to masturbate. Even typing this, the past religious condition came up in me, saying, don’t type that, yet it is what it is.
You may have a side of you that’s into BDSM, likes to party, and smoke some weed sometimes. And although doing these things or anything else your lower self desires all the time will lead to imbalance.
Still, repressing your desires may lead to you expressing your wishes in unhealthy and self-destructive ways.
It’s better to find healthy and consensual ways to release your lower self and its undisclosed desires, as the band muse sing.
Take notes from the band Muse, whose music is the perfect soundtrack for letting go of inhibitions and expressing your true self, in my experience.
Allowing you to be yourself and feel free to express your hidden desires in safe and balanced ways.
It can be challenging to accept your lower self and its need, but it is essential to remember that it exists for a reason – your ego and lower selves are necessary for your survival.
The lower self helps us deal with the challenges and stresses of everyday life, so we shouldn’t try to suppress or ignore them.
Why should I accept my lower self?
Accepting your lower self is key to healing from any psychological damage you may have suffered. It can also help you live a more fulfilling and positive life by accepting yourself as you are – flaws and all. Once again, it is easy to accept ourselves for who we are, but building self-acceptance is necessary if you want to break free from your past and create a better future.
When you strip away all the labels, boxes, barriers, and illusions that hold you back, who are you?
Only you can answer that question, and you don’t need to have the answers now; your spiritual awakening journey will reveal these answers for you.
Nevertheless, you may uncover unique gifts, strengths, flaws, and perspectives. Remind yourself of this every day, and never forget that you are worthy of love and acceptance. You are enough, just as you are.
As you walk your path, you will realise that the confines of these limiting ideas have held you back for far too long, and it’s time to free yourself from their restrictive grasp.
Allow yourself to open up to the possibilities beyond your current reality, and embrace the unique gifts you have to offer the world.
Trust yourself to take the necessary steps towards your true potential, and never forget the power that lies within.
What is the higher self?
The Higher Self is more connected to the non-physical and transcendental -metaphysical -ethereal realm. The higher self is the eternal, omnipotent and subconscious part of ourselves; some call it our soul, others our more heightened awareness. The Higher Self allows us to reach our true potential; it is the part of us that knows our most profound and authentic aspirations.
Guiding you beyond your physical and mental limitations and being your best self.
It’s like the wise, old sage that lives inside us, the one that’s been around for centuries and is wise beyond our years.
It’s the part of us that stops us from making self-destructive choices and helps manage our needs in life-affirming ways.
If you’re struggling to identify your higher self, take some time out each day to do some quiet meditation, prayer, yoga, tai chi or anything else that helps you connect to your higher being– it will help you reconnect with who you are.
As stated, the ego is the bridge between your conscious and subconscious minds-your higher and lower self; you need to train your highest self to manage not to repress the needs of your lowest self, and you must teach your lower self to meet the requirements of your highest self.
Which is to heal and manage your life’s spiritual, emotional, and psychological areas as you take daily steps to reach your highest potential.
Walking into the abyss
Most people’s spiritual journey stages off with the dark night of the soul; I will talk more about this later but in brief. It can be an intense period of emotional and psychological darkness.
The Dark Night of the Soul is a period of complete spiritual and material separation, Detachment and hollowness. It can be complicated and traumatic to handle a dark night of the soul, so it is best to seek help if you feel you need it.
But make sure you choose the right person(s) to support you because some may take advantage of your vulnerability.
Many people experience a dark night of the soul after losing a loved one, the end of a marriage, or the diagnosis of a life-threatening illness. And if you find yourself in this dark period, don’t worry – you’re not alone.
The dark night of the soul can be an exceedingly difficult and painful phase in their lives; they can experience intense sadness, loneliness, confusion, and maybe even a feeling of hopelessness.
Your dreams and hopes for your life may be shattered, your future uncertain, and you might feel like the world around you is crumbling.
But don’t despair – the dark night of the soul usually comes with a side order of pizza, so at least you won’t have to worry about ordering takeout.
I told you, you have to keep the humour, but seriously, although it can be a terrifying time, but there is hope at the end of the tunnel if you are willing to embrace the process and seek our tools to help you through it.
During your dark night of the soul, you may experience terrifying hallucinations and delusions that can leave you feeling completely isolated and helpless.
These intense emotions can take many forms, including feelings of dread, fear, guilt, despair, and hopelessness.
At times, you may also experience physical symptoms such as nausea, dizziness, trembling, and changes in appetite or sleep patterns.
You may also become fixated on specific thoughts that lead to obsessive behaviours or have difficulty concentrating, leaving you feeling overwhelmed.
However, it is essential to remember that these symptoms are temporary and that it is possible to emerge from this dark night of the soul feeling stronger and more resilient than before.
Still, a dark night of the soul is an opportunity for spiritual growth as you confront and deal with difficult life experiences head-on.
Allowing you to connect with your higher self and the Divine.
So, what is the role of the Divine in our lives? It's a question that visionaries, sages, and spiritual seekers throughout history have asked.
Many believe that we need to tap into our divine potential to create a more harmonious and peaceful world. We must strive to be the best versions of ourselves, transcend our current state of being, and become our true divine selves.
This can be seen as a cosmic “self-help” journey, unlocking our ultimate potential and helping us achieve our highest destiny. Some might say it’s a bit like taking a trip to the mystical land of Oz and asking the all-powerful wizard for a special power-up.
But, instead of a magical pair of ruby slippers, we are looking for a way to be our most divine and powerful selves. Who knows, maybe with the help of a few magicians, a lion and a wardrobe may help us along the way!
The Divine is the source of all creation; its energy animates everything in existence. The intelligence created us, guides our lives, and helps us find our purpose on this earth.
The exact nature of the Divine has been a source of contention and debate for many centuries.
Different beliefs and cultures worldwide have their interpretation of the Divine, from the Christian God and indigenous ancestors to the pantheon of deities, as seen in ancient Greek culture.
But despite these differences, those who have explored their own divine potential have reached a common understanding: that it is our duty to strive for growth.
This growth is physical and spiritual: we must strive towards understanding and embodying the Divine within ourselves and, in doing so, realize our potential.
It’s essential to find something higher than your lower self and its desires to believe in and guide you; there are several reasons for this.
First of all, as human beings, we were not designed to live purely on instant gratification as with either get lost in our sensual desires or numb ourselves to our existence.
Using various distractions such as hookups, endless streaming of tv shows, music, or anything else that intoxicates us, from people and drugs to alcohol and everything else, fuels self-destructive thoughts and behaviours.
We are all born with soul-higher consciousness, and most of us do express this when we are children, yet as life and heartbreaks and setbacks go on, the average human typically closes down by their mid-20s.
Burying their authentic self-expression until most forget it completely, being moulded by our environment as we create various social masks from the expectations of others or the pain of past traumas.
All humans have a mind, a soul, and a body, and it is our responsibility to HEAL the wounds that are living in our subconscious minds.
Getting to know yourself inside out, warts and all, shadow and light, as you work to integrate all your personality traits.
Yet first, you have to uncover which parts of you are the authentic you and what aspects of your personality are made up of other people’s opinions, beliefs, and expectations.
This can take time, and you may even find none of who you thought you were or could be is true; as you heal, understand, love and forgive yourself, you can gain emotional, psychological and spiritual balance.
Blocks to the higher self
However, modern life often prevents us from entirely doing so, so we live our lives either driven by distorted egos or endless desires, numbing ourselves to reality.
This means we focus solely on ourselves rather than connecting with others and embracing collective consciousness.
Living like this is a struggle between our lower and self
Because often, as the years go by, we are programmed by our environment and experiences to allow our lower selves to lead us to our self-destruction
This is not always a conscious thing; your unresolved emotional and psychological trauma can drive you to crave the things that will eventually destroy you.
Your unresolved emotional and psychological trauma can drive you to seek out the people, substances, and behaviours that will only harm you.
Whether it’s a form of self-sabotage or a misguided attempt to protect yourself, the pain and trauma that lurks beneath the surface of our conscious minds can have a powerful influence on our decisions.
We can often find ourselves in the throes of addiction, engaging in destructive relationships, or taking part in activities that are only helping to add to our inner turmoil.
Rather than addressing our underlying issues, we can instead turn to these unhealthy coping mechanisms to temporarily relieve the pain.
In the long run, these escapism methods will make you feel unstable within and repeat a cycle of self-destruction.
Still, if you listen to the call of your higher self and take personal responsibility for your life direction, doing this will make you more independent and interdependent( working healthy with others).
Giving up on co-dependency-relating dysfunctionally with others as you grow into self-awareness.
Self-management
As long as you continue to operate from your lower self’s perspective whilst ignoring your highest self-calling, however subtle or unconscious it may be. You will never be able to connect with yourself or other people fully. You will continue to be weighed down by the problems you avoid or won’t take the time to deal with because you find it too time-consuming.
Yet, you will spend hours upon hours, years, and even decades spinning your wheels and wasting your precious time, mainly repeating the same non-productive experiences.
It’s like you’re walking up the same steep hill repeatedly, and with each step you take, you find yourself back at the bottom. It’s enough to make a person hopelessly dizzy!
So, if you want to save yourself the trouble and get off the merry-go-round, it’s time to start training yourself to tackle these issues head-on.
Face your fears, and take the plunge to face your psychological, emotional, and spiritual wounds through self-awareness and commitment to lifelong growth as your spiritual path demands.
By doing this, you will connect more fully with your higher self, higher power-divine energy centre and creator to gain more balance in your life.
Self-awareness is the ability to be aware of and understand yourself, your thoughts, feelings, and behaviour; it is also the ability to have a perspective on your own experience.
The spiritual awakening process won’t be easy; below, I will discuss the various, often painstaking phases of spiritual awakening; still, many stages of growth are beautiful and uplifting.
The Divine provides comfort and peace when we need it most and connects us with other spiritual beings who can help guide our growth journey.
The Divine is also a source of love, compassion, and support. It provides us with opportunities to feel joy, connect authentically with ourselves and others, and experience life’s wonders.
The Divine loves us unconditionally and wants everyone to find happiness and fulfilment.
No matter our beliefs or personal preferences, we can all benefit from learning more about the Divine.
By exploring its energy within ourselves and around us, we can open up greater possibilities for growth and happiness in our lives.
As these insights take root within us, eventually, they will change everything! The Divine is the source of all life, love, and creativity; that exists beyond human comprehension.
Through prayer, meditation, and other practices, we can connect with this energy to grow and continually nurture -love, compassion, peace, self-acceptance, forgiveness, and respect for ourselves and others.
THE FIRST 10 MAJOR PHASES YOU GO THROUGH DURING YOUR SPIRITUAL AWAKENING AND LIFE-LONG SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT JOURNEY
Prologue
Throughout history, spiritual teachers from Jesus Christ, XXXTENTACION, Hildegard of Bingen, Peter Tosh, Audre Lorde, Bob Marley, plus many more came from all different cultures from all pathways of life. Have questioned, sought, and given answers to questions such as, what is the nature of life? Of all existence? What are the root causes of human suffering? Prejudice-division? Hate? Love?
Where did humanity come from? Is there a god/goddess-type figure that is within us? Who controls all the acts in the cosmos?
Why do some humans run to their destruction or cause it by repeatedly doing things that harm their psychological, emotional, physical, and spiritual health?
Some spiritual mystics, musicians, writers, healers, and teachers have answered these questions.
As well as commenting on how human desire can blind us to our inner light and therefore block us from reaching our highest potential or getting even halfway there; let’s face it, however much we crave it and think we have it, we will never be perfect.
And that’s okay; lack of perfection isn’t an excuse for you to stop trying to grow on the spiritual, emotional, and psychological levels.
It’s essential to continue pushing yourself to grow spiritually, emotionally, and psychologically.
There is beauty in the imperfect, and by focusing on the journey instead of the destination, embracing the discomfort, doubt, and hard work are inescapable parts of life and your spiritual journey, especially if you want to transform your life.
Going around in loops
As stated above, many of us keep reliving our past daily, running from emotional, psychological, and spiritual wounds that we are not aware of or we numb ourselves. Because we feel too weak to want to avoid resolving them due to the pain they cause, but the truth is, we have much more inner strength than we realise.
We can take our power back and make a conscious effort to heal. We can face our wounds and resolve them, and it will be worth it in the end. We can move forward and make positive changes by facing our pain and fixing it.
Striving to confront, understand, heal and forgive the past will lead to a brighter future.
Typically, a spiritual awakening explodes the awareness of these unresolved wounds into your consciousness; this awakening, whether it is a result of a traumatic external event like a breakup or an internal event such as a dream or waking vision or research into Spirituality or the occult.
A Spiritual awakening drives you to develop into your Divine and higher nature showing you that you are capable of so much more than your previous limited perspective and experience that was dominated solely by your lower self.
As you walk your path, you learn to truly be yourself and live in harmony with yourself and nature.
To help you find your way toward this deeper understanding, here are some key phrases from these incredible individuals:
“Know thyself.” – Socrates
“You are everything.” – Lao Tzu
“The only way out is through.” – Ram Dass “
You are the one thing you cannot lose.” – Marcus Aurelius
“We are all one. Everything is connected.” – Rumi
“You are capable of so much more. Make your dreams a reality.” – Carlos Santana
Life is a matter of perception. Everything is a riddle. You can simplify if you diversify your thoughts- I’m lost, then I’m found” — XXXTENTACION
“My philosophy is: if you don’t bear a cross, you can’t wear a crown.-Peter tosh
“Truth is the light, so you never give up the fight.” Bob Marley
“In order to keep me available to myself and be able to concentrate my energies upon the challenges of those worlds through which I move”, Audre Lorde
“Dare to declare who you are. It is not far from the shores of silence to the boundaries of speech. The path is not long, but the way is deep. You must not only walk there, you must be prepared to leap.”
― St. Hildegard of Bingen
The heroic journey
Note that you can go through more than one of the following stages at once, moving forward and then backwards; this is all part of the spiritual awakening process.
To give you an idea of the spiritual journey ahead, the spiritual rebirth process that’s triggered by your awakening can be broken down into stages. These stages aid in determining how far along the route you are and what steps you must take to reach the next phase, but be wary that the path is not straight, steady and easy; it is often complicated, winding, steep and gruelling.
While the stages described here are generally recognised and can be helpful to know, they are not necessarily fixed or static.
The spiritual awakening journey is meant to be one of discovery and realization, so it is best to be flexible to accommodate your journey and its pace.
The process of emerging into Spirituality takes time and effort on the part of each person – it doesn’t happen overnight, nor does everyone progress through these same phases at the same speed.
So, while this information presented here in this blog may provide some understanding and guidance along the way, ultimately, every individual must find their way to their spiritual rebirth based on what feels right for them at any moment.
Although you can call upon others and use tools to support you, your personal transformation is your responsibility.
Phase one: Most spiritual journeys are triggered by The Dark Night of the Soul
As I discussed earlier, the dark night of the soul (DNO)S is often the first stage of the awakening journey
A Dark Night of the Soul can also include losing interest in things you used to enjoy (work or socializing) and experiencing intense anxiety or dread about your future.
There are many reasons why you may feel this way an ending of a relationship or job, or you begin to feel your career isn’t compelling anymore, or you’ve gotten stuck in an unproductive relationship or other situation.
You may think something is missing; and that no matter what you do, you can’t find whatever it is that you feel is lost; depression, a lack of drive, and feelings of being directionless are common symptoms that are experienced during a DNOS.
You may also doubt your ability to get out of your situation and feel drained emotionally, even when there is no apparent reason why you feel sadder than usual.
Because for some people, a dnos is triggered by an internal event, your external life can be completely fine; one day, this feeling of utter despair may come over you- seemingly out of nowhere.
And you may find yourself having difficulty concentrating on anything other than your misery.
You may temporarily lack the ability to make decisions rationally and feel extreme physical exhaustion coupled with an unexplained sense that all energy has been taken away from you.
To even begin to move forward and get out of this lost or detached state of mind.
They both involve feelings of sadness and hopelessness; people who experience depression may feel like life is not worth living, feeling trapped in their own minds, and experience a loss of interest in life.
However, some crucial differences should be taken into account if you think one is causing the other.
The main difference between depression and a Dark Night of the Soul is severity.
While depressive symptoms may be mild or moderate, at first, don’t get me wrong, there are things such as manic depression that can be worse than a dark night of the soul.
But I myself think the two states of mind are interchangeable, as both bring a deep sadness about how your life is not, although depression, along with other mental illnesses, may be helped with medication and therapy; however, a DNOS may not respond to these treatments.
Because psychological illnesses are typically influenced by biological – genetic, and environmental reasons, a DNOS is a spiritual health condition. Although it may affect emotional, mental, and physical health, these usually are not the root cause of a dark night of a soul experience.
As mentioned earlier, this might include feeling unable to cope with everyday activities, experiencing intense despair or anger, feeling like you’re losing control over your life, or having hallucinations or delusions.
such as extreme emotional pain; or altered thoughts (e.g., suicidal thoughts).
Increased amounts of physical distress (e g, insomnia); impaired concentration; reckless behaviours; decreased motivation; etc.
Although it’s crucial to get help and not go through a DNOS on your own, they may be times when life forces you to deal with your dark night of the soul on your own.
So it’s essential you research how you can help balance your emotional, psychological and spiritual health as you go through your dark night of the soul.
No one can rescue us but ourselves. YET THEY CAN SUPPORT YOU IF THEY ARE WILLING AND AVAILABLE.
As I mentioned, there can be no conscious or external reasons for these internal feelings of dread, emptiness, or inertia-apathy-disinterestedness in your life.
Esoterically this can be because your past life and your current life are coming into alignment; in simple terms, spiritually, we are all consciousness- a soul.
And many of us have had past lives. And you may have incarnated this lifetime to learn specific lessons, yet because all recognition of this is in your subconscious and not your conscious mind.
You are not actively aware of this; in this case, the DNOS experience can be unnerving because there’s no apparent reason for this state of confusion.
Even if things are well on the surface, you may have all the material markers of excess, a relationship, a good job, a home, a car and money; still, you may feel disconnected.
This is called a spiritual dnos and is triggered by your highest self to bring to your attention and get you to question if there are deeper meanings of life and if you are really living authentically in an attempt to lead you to the right path.
A spiritually triggered Dark Night of the Soul is similar to medicalised depression in that it is spiritual depression resulting from internal and ethereal pressures.
A DNOS is mainly a spiritual and subjective kind of crisis that cannot be treated or cured with traditional medications and other treatments, although these could help alleviate the “depression” like symptoms of a DNOS.
A spiritual dark night of the soul can only be managed by uncovering your authentic path and aligning with what will truly bring meaning to you.
And this will be different from what you thought would bring you contentment; it can be baffling as you may have all the material things you think should make you happy.
Nevertheless, it would be best if you went within to uncover your individual truth; still, you will go through all the phases mentioned in this blog post, regardless of if you are experiencing an internal or external dark night of the soul.
Whether an internal or external event brings about your DNOS, a DNOS is a subjective – individualised experience, and although we may all experience one, it’s never exactly the same.
For this reason, a person will have to do their best and take personal responsibility for their lives, to manage their DNOS successfully.
When we discover that no one can rescue us but ourselves because we have been programmed to think someone or something outside us is responsible for our contentment.
Those experiencing the Dark Night may feel more consumed with feelings of futility, unease, and sadness.
You may feel even more isolated, dissatisfied, and unsure about the world and your place as you live out your days in anguished-torment, but never forget that you can get through it.
It is not all doom and gloom because, as I said, others can support you through it; still, you must do the hard work to uncover what will make you happier and take steps to allow this happiness to become your reality.
It is also essential to take care of yourself during this difficult time. It is okay to take a break from the world and focus on yourself.
There are some things you can do to alleviate the feelings of despair that come up during the dark night of the soul phases of your awakening journey :
If you’re finding it hard to get through a dark night of the soul, don’t worry – there are ways to help.
Here are tips that may help:
- Connect with like-minded individuals who share your experiences, as they can support you through this difficult time by listening attentively and offering their insights and advice.
Talking about your feelings and thoughts can help rebuild self-confidence and resolve issues.
At times you may not be able to find someone to talk to who has experienced a DNOS but Talking openly with a trusted friend or family member may make you less likely to bottle things up and explode later.
Reach out to them if you need help or strength in those dark moments.
- Spend time reflecting on what has happened, and then ask a higher or other power you believe in to help you grieve effectively. Grieving takes time (sometimes years), but if done correctly, it allows closure so we can move forward into our next chapter with renewed hope.
- Take some time for yourself. Make sure you set aside time each day (or every weekend if possible) just for yourself – whether that means taking a long walk, spending time reading, or simply relaxing in silence. This will help take the focus off of your negative emotions and allow them to dissipate more peacefully.
- Surround yourself with positive memories and reminders of why you’re fighting on behalf of your cause(s). Collect images, quotes, cards, or anything else that reminds you why what’s happening is worth it.
Even if the fight feels endless at times, remembering all the good that comes from hardships will give you strength when it seems like everything is against you.
- Don’t blame yourself or anyone else for how you’re feeling. No one person can control everything, no matter how much we might want/think they or we can; blaming yourself or others only makes things worse.
- Meditate or prayerfully practice any type of contemplative practice to gain insight into yourself, your situation, and divine guidance. Speaking aloud your fears, questions, or doubts helps release them from their imprisonment inside your mind.
- Eat healthy foods that fuel your body and give you energy. Please consult a health professional before making drastic changes to your diet.
Get plenty of sleep. The more rest you get, the better your body will heal and the easier it will be for you to manage stress in the future.
Some additional tips for coping with dark nights of the soul:
- Talk to your doctor if you experience any unusual physical symptoms, such as feelings of hopelessness or fatigue.
- Draw on creative and constructive outlets to help calm, ground, and allow you to become centred in yourself. This might include writing poetry, painting, spending time in nature or yoga.
- Set realistic goals – it’s essential not to get too discouraged if progress seems slow at first, especially if what you’re fighting against feels overwhelming.
Remember that every battle makes progress possible! -Reflect on the good that comes from your struggles, no matter how small.
- Have Gratitude, which inspires resilience and can help you maintain a positive perspective in difficult times.
- Remember that you can always start fresh tomorrow. No matter how dark the night, there’s always a chance for light to dawn – and that begins with accepting and honouring where you are right now.
If you’re feeling especially down, try engaging in some activities that make you happy and content. This might include spending time binging on online streams, hanging out with loved ones, cooking a favourite dish, or walking outdoors.
Finally, remember that every dark night period has an end – and don’t forget to take care of yourself physically and emotionally. Get plenty of rest, eat healthy foods, and get regular exercise – all of which will help you recharge and feel stronger when the next dark night comes around.
Don’t rush or force the process; at times, the reasons for a dark night of a soul period will be given; at other times, there is no reason; sometimes, the dark night of the soul comes to remind you to slow down.
Phase Two. You Feel Disconnected or Detached
Spiritually awakening can lead to feelings of disconnection and Detachment, especially If you are currently going through a dark night of the soul.
You may feel detached from everything and everyone around you as if the world has turned upside down.
Whenever this happens to you, it is important to know that this is just a phase of your spiritual journey, and soon enough, you will regain your bearings and be on the path to more extraordinary things.
There will be many periods throughout the many different phases of your spiritual awakening when you feel like you are not connected to anything.
It can be felt as a lack of connection with oneself, others, or the world around you; the disconnection phase can be scary, as you can feel like you are shut off from all that used to give you pleasure.
Being spiritually disconnected can negatively affect our capacity to feel and name our emotions. This Detachment has resulted in us becoming “unrooted.” We experience tiredness, tension, and stress symptoms but don’t know why.
Feeling disconnected spiritually often results from living in a habitual way that’s based on false beliefs.
These beliefs may include blaming other people or situations for our problems or thinking that we’re unworthy of happiness or love. Living this way creates emotional separation and disconnection.
Fortunately, there are simple ways to reconnect with our thoughts, feelings, and higher self. By learning how to listen to our intuition and connect with ourselves on an instinctual level, we can heal ourselves and help them heal emotionally.
By staying connected to your mind (the intellect) and your body (senses), you’ll be better equipped to handle life’s challenges constructively!
The disconnected phases happen to get you more connected to your emotions, it can be painful sitting and exploring your feelings, yet this is what is needed to reconnect you or allow you to discover your sense of self and purpose.
As you progress on your path, these feelings of disconnection often turn into a sense of wanting to be willing to detach and be free from strong attachments to things or people.
Becoming detached
This state of mind will come naturally to you as you work through all these phases of spiritual awakening; building a mindset of Detachment will help you focus on your self-care, love, forgiveness, and awareness.
As you work steadily towards your spiritual, emotional, career, psychological, physical- material goals independently, it can take a while to get to this stage, and you will swing back and forwards between a sense of disconnection and Detachment.
As you have seen by now, awakening can be an isolating phase, and you will feel lonelier and distant from people around you than at other times in your journey.
But know these feelings will get less and less as you become more aware of why these periods of aloneness and feeling disconnected are essential for your growth.
When we experience deep self-reflection, our sense of separation from the world starts to dissolve because we start seeing things more clearly.
The barriers between us and the world start to come down, allowing us to connect with other people deeper than ever before; you may come to see these periods of disconnection and Detachment.
Are not that; it is just that you’re connected to people in more subtle ways, preparing yourself to have a tolerance and unconditional love for all souls, starting with training yourself to love, heal and nurture yourself first.
Seeing beyond words and actions
Although you may dislike the individual actions of people, you will come to see them more than their uncontrolled and often unconscious words and behaviours. So you will respond less to their outburst; not to say you allow them to hurt you or cross your boundaries, it is just that you will become less reactive and more understanding of why people react like this, as you would have met your own shadow.
As you learn how to trust yourself again, even when it feels difficult or uncomfortable, all those lonely moments caused by feeling disconnected will eventually turn into valuable lessons that help us grow stronger emotionally and spiritually.
When you no longer rely on a fixed outcome or know each step before you move forward on your path, letting go of your perceptions of how things must be, you free yourself up to limitless possibilities.
The spiritual Law of Detachment is about trust and surrender rather than control.
Detachment spiritually could be described as the art of letting go: stop holding on and let it all go! When you let go of the need to control and trust the process, you open the door to a plethora of possibilities. Don’t be a control freak; embrace the journey and enjoy the ride!
But humour aside, when you trust in the spiritual law of Detachment, you allow yourself to be open and receptive to opportunities that come your way. Instead of clinging tightly to what you want or how things should happen, you let go and allow the universe to work its magic.
This allows for more flexibility and creativity in your life and a greater sense of freedom and abundance.
Detachment can help you achieve your goals.
Rather than trying to control everything or worrying about the outcome, Detachment allows you to trust in reality and embrace limitless possibilities.
It’s a day-by-day, moment-by-moment process of embracing reality as it comes, trying our best to match our behaviour with what we believe is fair, and abandoning the outcome.
This type of Detachment doesn’t mean giving up on ourselves; it means trusting in the Divine Plan and accepting whatever happens as part of that plan.
Remaining hopeful and keeping the faith
It’s about being open to new opportunities and learning from each experience – whether good or bad – without getting bogged down by worry or negative emotions.
Instead of resisting change, we allow it to happen naturally through patience and discernment.
As we let go emotionally and mentally, more positive things start happening in our lives. We become happier, healthier individuals who are better able to handle difficult situations positively.”
Establishing Detachment in your life can be a powerful tool for manifesting the desires and goals that matter most to you. By trusting in the spiritual law of Detachment, you set yourself up for success – no matter what comes your way.
During these times of Detachment and disconnection, it can be challenging to hold onto faith; even the most basic concepts seem impossible to grasp.
It’s important not to lose hope because anything is possible with patience and perseverance. And above all else – remember that YOU ARE NOT ALONE!
Tips on how to become more spiritually detached and endure the disconnection phases
While every person will find their own methods of coping with Detachment, these are some general tips that may help to ease the process.
- Accept that things will not always go as you want them to, but
- Practice detachment by recognising when you’re getting wrapped up in your thoughts and feelings and refocusing on what is happening around you.
- Spend time each day focusing on Gratitude for all that life has given you – good and bad – as this will help reduce negative emotions associated with setbacks or disappointments.
- Recognise that change can be a good thing; take time for yourself; make sure you have enough downtime each day so you can relax and reflect on your priorities.
- Be patient with yourself; change takes time, so don’t get frustrated if it doesn’t happen overnight! Constantly remind yourself that Detachment is a process, not an overnight shift.
- Let go of expectations and judgments, as they will only complicate your situation further. Just accept things for what they are and move on.
- Ask for help when you need it; there is no shame in admitting that you need support and guidance to achieve Detachment. The people around you – family, friends, teachers, etc. – may be able to offer invaluable insights and support along the way.
- Relish in the simple things in life; take time to savour the moment, appreciate all that surrounds you, and let go of thoughts of what could be.
- When you are resisting the process of Detachment and the changes it calls for. Try to keep in mind the reasons why you want to remain detached in the first place. This will help rationalise your decisions and keep you focused on your long-term goals.
- Avoid making any hasty decisions; try to take things step-by-step rather than jumping headlong into a new situation without fully understanding all its implications.
- Remain optimistic about the future. Focus on how Detachment can be a good thing for your overall well-being rather than viewing it as a threat or opposing force in your life.
- Stay connected to your support network; don’t hesitate to reach out for help when you need it, whether that’s through family and friends, a therapist, or a self-help group.
- Finding supportive communities, joining online groups, or attending self-help workshops can provide support for coping with change and tools for managing emotions such as uncertainty, fear, and doubt.
- Engaging in activities that bring you happiness and fulfilment; doing things that make you feel good regularly will reinforce the positive message of Detachment and counteract any opposing thoughts or feelings about change.
- Develop positive self-talk; focus on complimenting yourself for your strengths rather than criticizing yourself for your weaknesses. This will help you see yourself positively and increase your self-esteem, which can strengthen your Detachment from change.
- Practising meditation or Mindfulness, focusing on your breath and counting each inhalation and exhalation, can help to reduce stress levels and promote calmness and Detachment.
Remember, change is inevitable – it’s just a matter of how you deal with it. By following these tips and embracing Detachment in your life, you can achieve the goal of resisting change without going through any significant struggles or setbacks.
Every person needs to find their own way of coping with Detachment, depending on their individual circumstances and background.
But Remind yourself consistently of why you’re fighting for change and are committed to your spiritual development in the first place
The benefits of Detachment that pursuing your goals will bring, both short-term and long-term, can help to strengthen your resolve and keep you focused on the positive aspects of progress.
Phase three. Ego death- letting go of letting your lower self and the self-destruction which controls your life
Ego death is a concept that refers to a complete and utter loss of subjective self-identity. I recommend that you do not try to eliminate your ego entirely as it is not needed and is a false concept that the ego is something you need to get rid of.
It is better to accept the ego and your shadow self as much as you accept all your “positive traits.”
It is best to see an ego death as the death of your current sense of self; you will go through this stage many times as you accept new spiritual concepts into your life.
Every time you go through an ego death, you will let go of who you believe yourself to be or what you know yourself to be, including your beliefs, viewpoints, and ideologies.
You may experience a higher level of understanding and enlightenment and break free of the limitations of living purely through your lowest self and its desire-seeking.
Ego death can be experienced in various ways, such as through meditation, intense emotional experiences, and other forms of self-exploration.
A person’s ego death is the experience of losing their current sense of self and identity to find their authentic self; as said earlier, the ego is not bad.
When we allow our lower self to rule our lives or fall into spiritual superiority, our ego becomes problematic because we may have fallen into the trap of being selfish in a way that harms ourselves and others.
Ego death is the understanding that the separation of the ego, the lower and higher selves, is an illusion and that all things are interconnected and one.
Realising this can be a powerful and transformative experience, allowing one to gain a greater sense of connection to the world around them.
Feeling the pain to realise the suffering
An ego death can be painful as your self-esteem is shattered, and you may no longer feel in control of your own life.
People may go through various stages of ego death before finally becoming detached and finding their authentic self-expression.
Warning there will be many times on the path you will think you have found your true self, yet as the path is endless, it’s important to note that your authentic self will continually grow as you learn new things and reach new levels of awareness.
The ego deaths you experience early on your journey, especially the ones after your first few dark nights of the soul experiences, are typically triggered by feeling like a puppet on a string, becoming entirely indifferent to what is happening around you or losing all interest in life.
As you progress on your path, ego death usually happens after an inner conflict and denial period or if you are disillusioned with your current spiritual practice.
When you go through your early experiences of ego-lower self-death, Starting new habits to stop your lower self’s destructive thoughts and habits to control your life, it can be challenging to re-emerge into the world and rebuild your identity.
Finding yourself again isn’t always a quick and easy process; it may take multiple years to discover and embrace your new identity and outlook on life.
This process can considerably impact all aspects of your life, from your relationships to your work life.
It’s essential to be patient with yourself as you go through this journey of self-discovery.
Gaining a better understanding of yourself and your true purpose can be a long and challenging process.
You may experience moments of self-doubt and confusion, but the end result will be worth the time and effort.
Your relationship, especially the one you create with yourself, will evolve as you learn more about yourself and your values.
This can be a difficult adjustment, but it will ultimately lead to healthier and more meaningful connections with yourself and others
The spiritual concept and importance of ego death in a little more depth
We have already established that an ego death entails the death of your current sense of self, letting go of who you believe yourself to be or what you have known yourself to be.
Including your beliefs, viewpoints, and ideologies formed before starting your spiritual rebirth, the ego (the lower self) is your identity and sense of self.
People’s sense of who they are is typically made up of their job, what others say they are, and cultural or religious expectations.
Although not a literal death, the spiritual meaning of ego death is- no longer identifying with our thoughts and feelings or with the body itself.
Doing this can lead to an “enlightenment” or “awakened awareness”, where we become one with everything around us, including our thoughts and feelings.
Mindfulness is a practice that focuses on being present and paying attention to what’s happening in the moment.
You can practice Mindfulness by focusing on your breath, feeling your body, and living in the present.
Practising Mindfulness can help us to achieve ego death. When we are constantly preoccupied with our thoughts and feelings, it becomes challenging to be present in the moment.
Mindfulness helps us focus on our breath and other sensations throughout our body, which allows us to disconnect from the thoughts and feelings of the moment.
This helps us to live in the present more easily and experience life more fully.
Are there any benefits to going through an ego death?
There are many benefits to ego death. When we become more aware of our thoughts and feelings and how they affect us, we can learn how to deal with them more effectively.
We can also develop a greater sense of calmness and peace.
Mindfulness can also help us to regulate our emotions and improve our relationship skills.
Finally, we may experience increased creativity and productivity as the ego dies.
Is it possible to achieve ego death without practising Mindfulness?
Yes, some people find enlightenment by never mediating; some find enlightenment by dancing, singing, playing an instrument, or drawing, they are many ways to find spiritual rebirth and understanding.
No one method will always lead to the same result, so it is up to you how you choose to approach meditation or other forms of spiritual exercise.
Some people may find that they are more successful in achieving ego death through one practice than others, but there is no one “right” way to do things.
Phase four. The beam of light- the redeeming feature
Now this stage isn’t everlasting, and like all stages, you can go back and forth between them, yet this stage, the beam of light phase, is when you start to see the light in the darkness, seeing a way out.
During this stage, you begin to move from confusion and fear to a feeling of hope, the glimmer of faith and expectation of better days will help you stay focused on your goals, no matter how uncertain they seem at first glance.
You’re living in the past or the future. You’re stuck in a cycle of regrets and worries, never really taking in what’s happening right now.
you begin to live more in the present moment, fully aware of your surroundings and how your actions affect others around you, you live more confidently because you know everything will work out as it should – if you stay focused on what’s important.
This is the start of one phase of your life and the end of another; you will go from living on autopilot to conscious living. To put it another way, as the darkness of the DNOS starts to ease up slowly, you realise that there’s a profound sense of something awakening inside your mind.
You start to open up to a life that’s full of purpose, meaning, and joy. You’ve come to understand yourself more fundamentally, and you start to live with greater integrity than ever before.
You are on the way to your new life; before, you were living without intention or purpose, and now you are walking towards the path of living intentionally, finding meaning and joy.
Yet as I said in the introduction to this post, pain, uncertainty, and hard work will always be part of the journey and life itself.
Still, relaxing, having fun, and building creativity into your everyday life is essential.
Nevertheless, remember that every step forward is a victory – keep pushing onward!
By surrounding yourself with positive thoughts, behaviours, people, and things, you will help to dispel confusion and fear.
When you are at this stage of your journey, it is essential to remember to question and reform your personal belief system, as this will give you the strength to continue on and uncover the parts of you that are not you.
For me, this beacon of light was a lifesaver; as I experienced my first awakening, where everything was dark, I had given up; I didn’t want even to be here physically anymore; I got so low.
Yet I felt this tiny sparkle of love, and although it was a dull spark at first, this glimmer of hope drove me to look for a reason to continue living.
As I journey on and go through the various stages of awakening, I still have these low periods; after all, I am a lifelong depression sufferer, and I have no shame in admitting that to you now.
As it does fuel my creativity, it is essential to remember we can never get rid of all our shadow traits. And some emotional and psychological pain will linger with us forever; still, we can learn to manage our suffering and shadow traits.
Realise you are never awake; your always awaking, so whenever I experience a dark night of the soul.
This happens for me as I transition from one level of awareness to the next, and this may be the same for most people.
I experienced this immense darkness, granted it is not as big as it was, and I have learned to understand these downward slumps more when I feel meh.
During these DNOS periods, I am reminded of why it is crucial to keep the faith and never to think you are awakened but to know you are constantly wakening.
It can be hard to keep the faith during this period; the tiny spark of hope you have found can dim, and it is hard to recalibrate with the Divine and your higher self.
Remaining hopeful in today’s world, especially when you are dealing with past, and current emotional and psychological trauma, can be stressful.
Plus, your lower self-battles to keep its control, often disguising itself as your higher self.
This is why self-awareness is the most important thing on the spiritual journey, as the mind and the lower self will always find ways to justify even the most toxic of your behaviours and thought patterns.
In this phase, your lower self can drive you to thoughts that tell you there is no point in having hope, that you might as well give up, and you will never really change; still, it’s necessary to keep on going, seeking support if you need it.
I believe that telling the truth about the spiritual awakening process is not glamorous, although it is worth it.
And it can be hard to lose interest in the people and things you once were so consumed with.
It can get very dark indeed, but ultimately, in this phase, you develop an interest in spiritual and mystical topics, prompting further exploration, which leads you to phase five.
The first 10 phases of the spiritual awakening journey continued, phases 5-10.
Phase Five: Looking for spiritual tools, being susceptible to fake teachers, the pitfalls of toxic positivity and the importance of critical thinking and self-reflection
In the early stages of your awakening journey, it can be hard to feel comforted or reassured.
However, accepting that you don’t have to change yourself all at once is a critical step in your spiritual rebirth; as you acknowledge this, you will find comfort and strength.
It’s important to remember that you aren’t alone. Everyone experiences stumbling blocks on the path, and by using these low moments as learning opportunities, you can eventually reach the light at the end of the tunnel.
When you come to this realisation, many positive emotions will start flowing into your life again.
This includes relief, hope, and confidence – all of which are potent catalysts for positive change, but before you get to this stage, you will find yourself opening up to and actively looking for spiritual tools and people.
Many tools can help you advance spiritually, including crystals, tarot cards, yoga, meditation, tai chi, astrology, numerology and spiritual courses
Naturally, you will have to decide which abilities you will use the most and develop; it’s best to become proficient at one – three spiritual tools at a time, aiming to be an expert at one, noting that tool inside out.
Although they all are connected in one way or the next, some play -connect more easily with each other, like numerology and angel numbers, tarot cards and astrology.
As you embark on a journey of self-discovery, you may be very eager to learn all there is about the psychic realm – including how to read Tarot cards, crystals, energy or hands-on healing work.
You may decide on aura readings, reiki, emotional freedom technique, affirmations, mindfulness, yoga, tai chi, or sitting in safe and ethical psychic development circles.
Try out a few, then find the ones that resonate with you; pick 1-3 to get real intimate with, but also make sure you go back to the basics of anything every once in a while.
For example, using astrology as you should revisit the concept of the houses, modes cardinal, mutable and fixed, elements: earth, water, air and fire, zodiac signs, i.e. Leo, Pisces and Gemini or the keywords of the planets.
Even when you know more complex things like aspects, midpoints, esoteric aspects like the yod, chart rulers, dignities, mutual reception and things, Always go back to the begins no matter what spiritual tools you choose.
Even when you think,” I know the complex stuff; I don’t need the basics”, I have fallen into the trap of thinking I didn’t need to learn about certain things anymore.
Gotto love the spiritual ego-hey- anyway, the universe showed me its best to never think you know it all or undervalue the value of going back to move forward.
As your psychic abilities develop, you may come to realise that there is much more to life than just the material world.
It is better to figure out a way that’s best for you to connect to your higher self and the divine, especially trying to and using other people’s techniques that may not work for you.
Sure, test out things like yoga, meditation, sweat lodges etc., and follow a particular spiritual practice or philosophy.
If you get stuck and find it difficult to connect with your inner voice, the divine or your intuition after you have tried many tools, don’t give up.
You may need to resolve some emotional, psychological or spiritual trauma before the gateway is open, but it doesn’t necessarily mean the tool isn’t for you.
If you still don’t connect with your preferred spiritual tool, maybe you just have to choose another spiritual tool or resource; there are many out there.
So, for example, if you have been using crystals and they don’t work, try tarot, and tai chi, as some of us have to intellectually understand things to spiritually understand them; however, this may seem as defeating the purpose of spirituality; for some people, this is their path.
Others have to feel the energy, so reiki,tai chi, yoga, dance, hugging trees, walking bear feet, swimming or anything else that uses the body awareness centres.
Never give up; also, sometimes, you may try one tool for years, leave it alone for a few months or longer and return to it and find yourself better at it than before; sometimes, specific spiritual tools don’t work for us until we are ready.
But beware, as you start to get used to these new tools or even when you are good at them, you are still vulnerable and in danger of developing a new form of ego.
Which disguises or can make you oblivious to your toxicity; I will discuss the spiritual ego in depth later in phase 13.
Going through a spiritual awakening can make us susceptible and easily influenced by others because we are less resistant or search for outside forces to guide us.
And don’t think you are ever too far on your path not to be affected by being taken in by a false philosophy or teacher, a lesson I have had to relearn many times on my path.
Lacking clarity
At this stage, you can feel very low, and although you have faith that things will get better, this faith is still weak, and you will go through desperate times so that you will look for answers outside yourself, and this is natural; still, you have to be careful.
Because most of us enter our spiritual awakening journey when we are at our most vulnerable, after a death, break up, loss of career, or some other traumatic event.
We can be more susceptible to fake shamans and spiritual teachers who take advantage of our lack of knowledge or need for comfort, direction, and reassurance
Remember, a spiritual journey’s end goal is always taking responsibility for your personal, spiritual, and emotional development.
So even though you may find a teacher or philosophy, you like it is your job to check yourself before you wreck yourself, as the song goes.
There are many fake teachers and philosophers out there, and people actively seeking the truth can be the biggest targets for toxic teachers and spiritual practices.
There are a few ways to spot a fraudulent spiritual teacher.
Firstly, examine the real life of the teacher. Do they live by what they teach? Does it really work for them?
Inner peace is nice, yet this is a fleeting state; it can get more and more, yet it is not lasting, although y viewpoint could be because I have not found this constant state of bliss within myself yet.
Still, if a teacher says they have it, go to their retreat and watch them, as I am sure their mask will slip and don’t get me wrong, it’s okay not to experience inner peace all the time.
If we look at the weather just like the seasons, change so do all human moods, so it is not wrong for spiritual teachers not to be at peace at all times.
But it is wrong to give the false illusion that you are so that others feel that they need to be around you to gain a state you have not even achieved yourself.
In my opinion, it is essential to train yourself in critical thinking and the trivium methodology asking things like, why is this person saying this? Are there other ways of thinking?
Are they an embodiment of what they are teaching even when they are alone, and no one is watching?
Secondly, examine the lives of those who promote and follow the teacher’s teachings.
Do these teachings work for them? If they have not lived a teaching or insight and proven it true, then they should not share it with others.
Has the teacher harmed people, lied to them, led them on, or stolen money or valuables from them?
Is the teacher living in wealth gained from their students while their followers and students live in poverty and struggle?
Don’t get me wrong; every genuine instructor must be compensated for their needs to be met, but when their pupils are poor, they should not be filthy rich.
Although wealth is not wrong, meeting your financial needs is also a big part of your awakening journey while not being extravagant but self-sufficient.
Every teacher has their own unique teaching style and approach. It’s impossible to say that any one teacher is a 100% clear embodiment of enlightenment or inner peace all the time
This would be equivalent to saying that they are perfect, and as I have already said in the introduction, there is no such thing as perfection.
And there is no such thing as we are all subject to flaws as we pass through this mortal realm.
Perfection is just an illusion, and like the idea that unicorns fly in the sky every morning at 7 am, it is just that we can’t see them – maybe that is true, anyway or that I can actually get away with eating an entire cake in one sitting for a whole month without putting on some weight.
Anyway, the point here, without the tangents, is, don’t ever expect perfection from yourself or anyone else.
Yes, but back to the point, Compassion, love, caring, joy, peace, and other qualities of an enlightened being are not faked by a genuine spiritual teacher.
They’re just themselves, without any deception or pretence.
If you pay attention to what you feel around them, you’ll be able to tell the difference. An awakened spiritual instructor never makes you feel like an unaware person who must comply with their path.
A fake spiritual teacher might talk to you in a very robotic or one-sided manner, or all their questions come from a place of self-interest rather than genuine curiosity about who YOU ARE as an individual and helping you on your journey.
A genuinely enlightened spiritual instructor treats you with respect, regardless of your level of awakening. If you feel diminished and judged by a teacher, you should consider whether they are right for you.
This may not be something you’ll notice right away, but if you walk a path of self-awareness, you will grow in your discernment, being able to see through a person’s words to their actions and, therefore, authentic inner truth.
You should be very cautious if a teacher makes you feel unwanted, unimportant, illiterate, alone, or reliant on them for validation.
If any teacher tells you their way is the only way, then run away from them as fast as possible, in my opinion.
Know that there are many ways to enlightenment, and it’s best to question everything until you feel secure on your path. Anyone who discourages this should be considered sceptical.
True enlightened spiritual teachers are available to answer your questions and help you along the way. They do not hide from you or put barriers between you and them.
Ask yourself if you can trust this person with your life and well-being. If not, find someone else who can help you grow into your true potential!
If you’re uncomfortable with the philosophy or teacher or don’t believe them, do whatever is necessary to protect yourself from harm.
If something feels shady or doesn’t feel right, it’s probably time to revise your thinking and look for a new teacher; It’s important to remember that a spiritual teacher should not lead others astray for any reason.
I suggest using your deep inner knowing, feelings, and critical thinking to evaluate a teacher and their teachings and know that sometimes it’s natural to outgrow mentors.
So they should never let you feel guilty for wanting to leave. It’s another red flag if they pressure you to stay or try to tell you to ignore your intuitive calls to move on.
Don’t allow anyone else to silence your intuition – listen carefully to what it is telling you before making any decisions.
Once you’ve evaluated the situation thoroughly, make an informed decision based on what feels suitable for you, not out of another person’s guilt or insistence their way is the right way.
As you go through your spiritual journey, it is essential to take things slow, stay open-minded, and allow yourself to grow; at times, this may mean leaving behind spiritual teachers you have come to love, which can be painful.
But many get stuck on the path, as they won’t grow when it calls for it, don’t make giant leaps once you transit from one teaching to the next.
Take time to do the proper research and other due diligence, which means gathering research from various sources, even people who, at first, you may dislike.
If you follow one person or one philosophy as you progress on your spiritual journey, it’s essential to check this behaviour, as this is a surefire way that you may be giving in to cult-like practices and thinking.
It is also good to build your ability in critical thinking and non-spiritual practices such as psychology, although psychology was initially developed from spirituality.
Still, it is essential to use your rational and subconscious mind as you keep walking your spiritual path; balance is critical, as it builds your ability to look at things from all perspectives.
Intellectually, philosophically, scientifically, and spiritually, without letting one discipline overtake the others.
It is hard at first, but as you keep researching and keep an open mind, be willing to let go of outdated ways of thinking and living in the world.
As you walk your path, you should always keep in mind that you need to research, think critically, and evaluate before you readily believe anything.
You should also train yourself to look at yourself critically as well. Building self-awareness will help you do this; being able to look at yourself and others’ objectives is a critical part of your spiritual awakening journey.
To protect you from those who will take advantage of your vulnerability and the spiritual ego that will develop as you walk your path.
As mentioned in the introduction,
It’s a catch-22 because the spiritual journey can make us more self-aware, yet we can use this self-awareness to control others and explain away our pain via toxic positivity.
Toxic positivity refers to ineffective emotional management and unwillingness to acknowledge unpleasant feelings, especially anger and sadness.
When you go through your toxic positivity phase, as we all must, you will likely ignore or neglect your feelings or see negative emotions as undesirable or irrelevant.
Some people can become unappreciative of compliments or help offered, exaggerate the good in themselves and others, or resort to denial and self-deception when faced with difficult situations.
It is easy to fall into toxic spirituality, spiritual bypassing and hiding from your pain; remember, humans are masters at hiding from ourselves; many of us die without ever knowing who we are.
And many spiritual teachers, especially those founded on new-age spirituality concepts, preach this level of thinking positively or blaming one group or the next for the world’s problems.
Other practitioners can hide the real message of their teachings, which is often built on one decisive concept or the next.
Using fluffy jargon to hide the exact truth of their education; this is why it is imperative to do your research and train yourself to spot bullcrap mile off, as there is a lot of it in there
It can be hard to tell what is truth or a lie, as the best lies contain some truth.
We, humans, are usually drawn in by conspiracy and other questionable theories because they typically contain at least 1% truth, yet the other 2- 99% is mere speculation.
At the core of all authentic spiritual teachings is to do no harm to yourself or others and do your best to live your best life.
Toxic positivity can be a problem because it creates an environment where people feel unsafe expressing anger and sadness (known as emotional ventilation), leading to health problems such as depression.
It is also damaging because it reinforces negative thinking patterns and can stop people from progressing
Toxic positivity and the thought patterns it creates often result in severe harm and are one of the most giant stumbling blocks on the path to enlightenment.
Also known as Spiritual bypassing- toxic positivity is continuously ignoring or avoiding our negative emotions and focusing on our positive experiences and feelings.
It can lead us to believe everything else is fine and dandy. But as any experienced therapist will tell you, this isn’t healthy – it’s destructive, feeling sadness as necessary a part of life as happiness and nothing to be ashamed of.
Choosing a spiritual life does not stop you from experiencing pain; it just helps you understand it and manage it effectively, opening you up to creative solutions to express suffering.
Doing research and gathering facts from many sources and schools of thought are necessary to see the similarities and differences.
So you can form your beliefs based on your investigation, analysis and self-reflection; you will take many wrong turns on your path, and you may do things or get involved with spiritual practices that you may later regret.
But rather than beat yourself up over the evitable mistakes you will work, it is much better to begin and continue a practice of self-examination.
What is self-reflection?
Reflection is a process of introspection in which individuals review and evaluate their thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. Questioning your assumptions and investigating the underlying reasons you’re your past or future actions or decisions.
Why is self-reflection critical?
Self-reflection can be helpful for many reasons. First, it can help individuals identify areas they need to improve.
Second, it can help individuals learn from their past experiences and determine what factors led to success or failure in specific situations.
Finally, self-reflection can also help individuals develop a better understanding of themselves and their own and others’ motivations.
What are some tips which will help me practice self-reflection?
- Begin by taking a moment to define your personal values and ideals. Once you better understand what matters to you, it will be easier to identify when something is negatively affecting your thoughts or actions.
- Attempt to analyse the events or situations that have occurred objectively; rather than dwelling on the emotions that accompany these experiences, try to take an objective perspective to understand why they happened and what lessons can be learned from them.
Listen attentively to what someone is saying and your own thoughts; no words are easy to fake, yet actions are more challenging, so watch people’s actions when judging their suitability to be your spiritual teacher.
- Be patient with yourself – self-reflection does not happen
overnight! Allow yourself time each day to reflect on your thoughts and feelings, even if initially tricky. With time and effort, you will see positive improvements and your ability to self-reflect.
- Set realistic goals for yourself – while it is essential to strive for perfection, set reasonable expectations to avoid becoming discouraged or frustrated.
Remember, you can always continue refining your practice as you go along!
It is essential to be patient when practising self-reflection, and it can take time for the process to become more accessible and more effective.
However, with some effort, you will be on your way to becoming more reflective!
Going through ego death, becoming aware of your spiritual bypassing and toxic positivity, and questioning your spiritual teachers and practices will help you successfully grow into your authentic self
Phase six: your intuition, gut feelings and becoming more aware of the difference between your inner-internal monologue voice, your higher consciousness-soul inner voice and the dark-critical inner voice.
“Cyclic knowledge is mind — knowledge — however vast and encompassing the mind may be. It is structural knowledge. It is only one mode of knowing, but this mode is all-important in situations where disorder, confusion, and emotional biases prevail.
It does not take the place of direct experience, whether at the personal or the spiritual level.
Still, it enables the experiencer to place their (his) experience in a frame of reference which reveals their eonic significance — i.e. the function they occupy within the entire life-span.”
― Dane Rudhyar
This quote calls our attention to the fact that logical–intellectual knowledge is just one type of knowing, although it is necessary for spiritual, career, educational and personal development.
They are other ways to know things, like using our inner voice and intuition.
As you walk your path of spiritual awakening, you may become more aware of your inner voices and intuition; there are two types of inner voice one is more conscious, and the other is subconscious.
Your intuition, the higher consciousness inner voice, the cognitive internal monology and the dark-critical inner voice all originate within us, but they operate differently.
- Intuition is a feeling that comes through your senses, while the cognitive inner voice is a thought that arises inside your mind;
Intuition is generally unconscious but is sometimes triggered by specific events or conditions.
- Your higher consciousness-soul inner voice is a direct feeling or voice that gives definitive yet subtle directions.
You can distinguish between the inner voice controlled by the brain and the one that comes from your soul- higher consciousness.
- The inner voice that comes from your mind is more of an internal monologue and often debates whatever is on your mind; it’s generally conscious and can be accessed at any time.
The soul’s inner voice is direct; it doesn’t discuss nor argue; it just gives explicit instruction; it is not always a loud voice or even a voice at all; it can be a feeling.
- The dark-critical inner voice is an insidious inner voice that produces harmful thoughts between ourselves and others. These incessant “voices”, or thoughts, are self-destructive and lead to counterproductive behaviour.
A definitive difference between this inner voice and the others is its adverse and condemnatory nature – it only creates gruelling self-loathing rather than inspiring a positive shift in behaviour.
To understand this section, it is essential to know the basics of logical-deductive reasoning.
Logical reasoning is making a conclusion based on evidence and logical arguments. It requires using facts or data to draw specific conclusions through logical reasoning.
Logical reasoning is essential for problem-solving, critical thinking, and decision-making. It allows us to gather information and form accurate conclusions based on it.
Deductive reasoning skills are also helpful in understanding complex theories or concepts, and this is why I recommend you research and build or strengthen these skills.
As you walk your spiritual path, they will come in handy for your healing, self-understanding, love, acceptance, awareness, forgiveness, management and growth.
But it will help you when trying to test the validity of spiritual teachers and concepts.
I will now talk in-depth about the differences between your inner voices and your intuition.
So we don’t get confused, I will now call the cognitive inner voice the inner monologue and the one that originates from your subconscious-higher consciousness – your soul, the inner voice.
Inner monologue- the cognitive inner voice
Your inner voice is a powerful guide within you that helps you make meaningful decisions. It is a result of the remarkable brain processes that allow you to contemplate and express your innermost thoughts without uttering a single word.
For example, it can help you remember things you need to do on any given day, such as paying a bill.
Provide advice on problems you may be facing, help you remember important information and analyse the things you see, hear or read
.
It can also motivate you to do tasks and have fun and is responsible for getting a particular song or lines from a film or tv show stuck in your mind.
The inner voice is not always an audio voice like you typically hear when someone is speaking to you, but for some people, it is; research has found 30-50% of people have access to an inner voice naturally.
A Corollary discharge is a neurological event experienced by all humans, facilitates the ability to distinguish between internal and external stimuli, and enables inner monologue.
But it is important to note that not all people experience inner speaking, yet everyone experiences corollary discharge.
Geeky fact
Corollary discharge allows you to identify and differentiate between sensory experiences accurately. It will enable your auditory system to interpret and comprehend spoken language.
Corollary discharge explains why your voice sounds different on a recording than when you speak.
External stimuli are cancelled out by your internal monologue, allowing you to concentrate on your voice.
Organizing your thoughts without speaking out loud is made possible because of your inner monologue; it also allows you to question yourself and develop viable solutions through self-reflection.
Training yourself to develop and understand your inner monologue can have many positive impacts, such as improved analytical skills, memory, and self-reflection; you can become more efficient and become more adept at critical thinking.
Additionally, being comfortable with self-reflection can make one more resilient to challenges and reduce anxiety levels.
Conversely, negative internal dialogue can adversely affect your ability to trust yourself and others, make you feel stressed, cause serious psychological health issues, lower your self-esteem and stop you from moving forward.
So it is important to try and sort through any negative thoughts that come up in your inner monologue, getting professional help if they cripple you from taking positive action on your awakening journey.
Nevertheless, becoming more aware of your internal monologue can help you become aware of the unresolved emotional, spiritual and psychological trauma you need to understand and heal.
Increasing your ability to visualise and be more imaginative and artistic; your inner voice is like a bridge, connecting all of your past, present and future experiences.
It can form your ideas, outlooks and self-evaluations, ultimately shaping your life for the better or worse.
As you go through your spiritual rebirth, you may increase your awareness or develop your cognitive inner voice, also known as the inner monologue.
The soul’s inner voice is also referred to by many names -the angels, higher self, inner guide, spiritual guide(s), or infinite wisdom; your inner voice might not be something you can hear audibly.
But instead, sense or feel a presence (though for some, it may indeed be a voice).
It could be a sudden feeling, an image, or a fleeting impression; your inner voice is in tune with your genuine emotions, giving you the strength and assurance to make the correct decision.
The inner voice is usually relatively straightforward to understand. It is quiet and firm on whatever it is trying to tell you, but because it is not loud like intuition can be, we typically ignore it.
It talks in definitive, giving yes or no answers with no explanation, and because we humans can like to know the ins and out of everything or the reasons why we should not go on that date or let that person into our lives.
We can spend our lives ignoring this inner guide, which knows exactly where we should be heading
Our senses, especially, are subtle inner ones. Play an essential role in allowing us to see, discern and hear things around us – Without them, we would not be able to survive in this world!
Your intuition also works through inner pictures or sensations; I will discuss this more now.
Your intuition – the intuitive inner voice
They are three levels of intuition
The first level is instinct, which most humans are born with, such as the impulse to urinate or the tendency to get hungry; an instinct is different to a learned behaviour.
A learned behaviour is something learned via experience, such as someone who has repeatedly taken things that don’t belong to them will eventually develop an instinct to steal every time they get an opportunity.
The second level of intuition is a gut feeling, and we often literally feel it in our belly- a gut feeling or hunch does overlap in some ways with the soul- higher consciousness inner voice.
Research has shown that the gastrointestinal tract plays a part in helping us uncover our authentic emotions; geeky fact,
The gastro-journey begins the moment we swallow, as food and liquid traverse a winding path through several organs.
From the mouth to the pharynx (throat) and oesophagus, to the stomach, small intestine, large intestine, rectum, and finally, the anus, these organs form a complex yet the necessary system for digestion, absorption, and the eventual elimination of waste.
Gut feelings suddenly appear in my consciousness or are felt in our body without us being aware of the source, giving us the option to act on what we feel if we wish.
- As discussed above, Intuition is typically a feeling that comes about without any conscious effort on your part – you might get a sense of knowing or awareness.
Intuitions often arise automatically through your senses (such as seeing something unexpected) or from memories or experiences you’ve had before (known as ‘gut instinct’).
Gut instincts can be built up from our past experiences and the lessons they taught us, which we may not consciously remember.
These gut instincts can be built on past and current life experiences; for instance, if you have been romantically hurt before.
By someone in your past lifetime, and you meet them for the first time in this lifetime.
Your gut instinct may give you a sensation to stay away from this person.
When there is no logical reason for this, and even if you have not met a lover before in a past lifetime.
A gut instinct may warn you of someone because it senses they will hurt you like you have been hurt before, esoterically- as all things are connected.
Some say that everyone’s guts can talk to each other, but because commonly we are not taught this, we usually ignore these sensations and often think we are being weird, mad or irrational.
This is the reason why many people say after a breakup, when I met this person, my gut – intuition told me to stay away from them, but I ignored it.
As you walk your spiritual path, your ability to spiritually discern what and who is good for you become sharper; discernment is not about judging or thinking you are better than anyone else.
Building spiritual discernment is about making the right choices for your overall well-being.
Spiritual discernment is a powerful tool that allows you to tap into the divine consciousness, your inner wisdom and knowledge.
It’s an intuitive ability to understand the subtle messages and understandings that come from beyond our physical realm.
By connecting to our higher selves and listening to the intuition within, we can develop an understanding of ourselves, other people, situations and spiritual teachings that go far beyond our intellectual-and logical reasoning abilities.
Unfortunately, many of us are hesitant to trust our instincts because we’re afraid they will lead us astray, or others may ridicule us.
But this fear is unfounded. Intuition is essential to the human experience – it allows us to navigate the world safely and successfully.
When used correctly, intuition can guide in both personal and professional situations. For example, if you’ve been referred for a job interview but feel uneasy about attending, your intuition may be telling you not to go forward with the interview.
Similarly, if you have a strong feeling that something isn’t right about someone you’re dating or working with, LISTEN TO YOUR intuition.
Don’t dismiss your gut feeling out of hand; it could be indicative of danger lurking around the corner.
By becoming more familiar with how our intuition works and acknowledging its role in our lives, we can start making better decisions based on sound reasoning rather than blind faith alone
Because the central principle is: do no harm, this means not allowing others to harm nor for you to damage them, as well as not hurting yourself; you should train yourself to let your inner voices, intuition and conscious reasoning abilities work together.
Our intuition is a powerful tool that allows us to comprehend something without the need for rational thought, connecting the two realms of the conscious and unconscious mind and the fusion of instinct and logic.
The intuitive senses usually provide guidance or warnings about something you are experiencing physically or emotionally. It’s important to remember that intuition isn’t always correct.
I have learned the more I look after my emotional,
spiritual, physical, financial and psychological health, the more accurate my intuition is.
If we are physically or emotionally drained and have not been eating, sleeping or exercising well, all these and more can affect the accuracy of our intuition.
People have psychological and emotional disorders that can also interfere with the accuracy of their inner voices and intuitive guidance, and it is essential to know that we have a dark inner voice.
The dark inner voice- the inner critic
The Shadow, or what some may call the Critical Inner Voice, is a part of ourselves that can be our own worst enemy.
This darker side of our personality is defensive, resistant to our growth, and can be filled with negative thoughts.
That little devil on your shoulder, the one that gibes and guffaws, whispering in your ear to ignore your best instincts – that’s the critical inner voice.
It’s not an auditory hallucination but rather a constant barrage of negative, self-sabotaging thoughts that stand between you and success.
It can be a challenge to overcome the dark-critical inner voice, but ultimately it can help us to reach our highest potential.
That is often fear-based within us all that often likes to masquerade as the inner voice; how can you tell the difference between your dark inner voice, inner monologue, intuition and your soul- higher consciousness?
Is that the dark inner voice is always fear, guilt or shame based; it’s very loud; think Patrick Swayze in ghost when his annoying Whoopi Goldberg’s character.
It often taunts you and drives you to self-destruction; it will encourage you to take the wrong jobs and get into toxic relationships and destructive life patterns that are not good for your overall wellbeing.
If the guidance you are being given tells you to harm yourself or others in any way, you can be sure this is the dark inner voice and not the other voices or intuition trying to guide you to what’s best for you.
When you walk your spiritual path, you must know that they will be a voice that will try and stop you from doing things for your own highest good.
So it is vital to learn to tell the difference between your higher consciousness- inner soul voice, your internal monologue -a cognitive inner voice, your intuition and the dark inner voice.
Tapping in
We must tap into our instinct, intuition, and positive inner voices (soul-higher consciousness and internal monologue) and allow them to work with our reasoning abilities to make the best possible decisions for our lives.
As discussed, intuition is often overlooked in favour of logical-deductive reasoning (LDS), but intuition can be a powerful tool for achieving success, despite having experienced great success in the past through trusting our gut.
Many of us still feel hesitant and uneasy when relying on instinct due to the cultural stigma against trusting anything but a billionaire- jokes, scientific and intellectual reasoning.
That is why it is vital to strike a balance between instinct and reason; by combining both, we can achieve a more well-rounded approach to decision-making.
Instinct, intuition and the higher consciousness-soul-internal monologue cognitive inner voices help us to understand current situations and make rapid decisions.
In contrast, reason helps us to think through potential options and consider the implications of our choices, helping us make step-by-step strategic plans to achieve the things your intuition and positive inner voices are guiding us to.
Spiritual test, the inner voices and your intuition
As part of your spiritual test and dark night of the soul experiences, your access to your intuition can even be made stronger or weaker depending on what is meant to be learned from the level you are at in your spiritual awakening experience.
Tapping in
We must tap into our instinct, intuition, and positive inner voices (soul-higher consciousness and internal monologue) and allow them to work with our reasoning abilities to make the best possible decisions for our lives.
As discussed, intuition is often overlooked in favour of logical-deductive reasoning (LDS), but intuition can be a powerful tool for achieving success, despite having experienced great success in the past through trusting our gut.
Many of us still feel hesitant and uneasy when relying on instinct due to the cultural stigma against trusting anything but a billionaire- jokes, scientific and intellectual reasoning.
That is why it is vital to strike a balance between instinct and reason; by combining both, we can achieve a more well-rounded approach to decision-making.
Instinct, intuition and the higher consciousness-soul-internal monologue cognitive inner voices help us to understand current situations and make rapid decisions.
In contrast, reason helps us to think through potential options and consider the implications of our choices, helping us make step-by-step strategic plans to achieve the things your intuition and positive inner voices are guiding us to.
Spiritual test, the inner voices and your intuition
As part of your spiritual test and dark night of the soul experiences, your access to your intuition can even be made stronger or weaker depending on what is meant to be learned from the level you are at in your spiritual awakening experience.
What is a spiritual test
Spiritual tests allow us to take a step back and examine our conduct.
Spiritual tests are essential to spiritual growth, like stepping stones that help us take strides forward in our personal development.
They help us to recognize our strengths and weaknesses and highlight the areas where we need to focus our energies.
They can provide us with essential guidance, showing us the paths we should take in our lives and helping us move closer to our goals and aspirations.
And ultimately, spiritual tests can arm us with the insight and understanding that we need to progress through life, allowing us to develop and evolve on a deeper level.
Through these tests, the divine consciousness or higher self offers us a chance to evaluate our moral character and reflect on the lessons we have learnt through our spiritual journey.
Examining our behaviour in various scenarios allows us to gain further insight into our progress and personality.
If you are cut off from your intuitive or inner voice during a spiritual test, this is when your logical reasoning ability can come in handy.
This is why it is crucial to program your mind with positive and rational thoughts and build your conscious reasoning and critical thinking skills.
As you walk your path, I hope you can see how all phases can lead to each other on the spiritual path and how building skills like self-awareness and reflection can help you at all stages of your awakening journey.
Learning to distinguish between the irrational beliefs of the dark inner voices and the positive opinions of your rational mind will guide you to what is best for you at any given time, especially when your inner voices and intuition may be less accessible.
Subtle forces on the spiritual awakening journey
Nevertheless, opening yourself up to more subtle influences and getting comfortable with your inner voice and intuitions can get you more in tune with the things you cannot rationalise but feel.
As you become more intuitive or learn to listen to your inner voices more regularly, you may discover innate psychic, healing and other spiritual skills
For instance, as you become more open to the unknown, divine consciousness and the things that cannot be seen but can be felt, you may discover that you are naturally gifted at sensing things or intuiting events before they happen.
You may use your inherent or developed psychic and intuitive talents in your personal life or start a spiritual side business or hustle.
Eventually, after you get over the spiritual ego glamour stage of finding out you have psychic and healing abilities, you realise that none of these innate or developed gifts is better or inferior to the other.
It’s just that some are more suited to one stage of your spiritual journey than the next; nevertheless, all these intuitive talents and psychic toys are all equal.
As your intuitive talents develop, you may also start to see synchronistic daily occurrences you hadn’t noticed before; some people notice number sequences, such as angel numbers. You may begin to think more positively.
These developments in your thinking, feeling, and emoting reveal the unavoidable – that your beliefs, sentiments, and emotions mould your existence.
You may start to believe that you can also change your reality by appropriately directing your thoughts and taking positive changes to bring healthy changes into your life.
Feeling cut off
As I mentioned earlier, there will be times that you will not be able to tap into your inner voices, intuition or psychic gifts; this is the higher powers- divines’ way of telling you to give your spiritual tools a break.
And maybe deal with the emotional or spiritual trauma you have been putting off working through or been distracted from doing.
Because you have been too caught up in playing with your newfound psychic abilities or spiritual toys, or leave them for a while as you move to the next stage.
It’s easy to get distracted when you develop or deepen psychic -intuitive-deductive reasoning gifts.
During your spiritual test, you can be tested on how well you are using your spiritual gifts, intuition and inner voices; you may be sent spiritual workers or other people on your path who can teach you how to use your gifts correctly.
Through their guidance, knowledge and wisdom, these people will support your to advance with your spiritual growth and transformation and know that these people can be at different stages in your evolution than you.
Sometimes as you progress on your spiritual awakening, you can get jaded or tired of all the psychological, spiritual or emotional healing and spiritual practice work.
Battling on during the dark times of your spiritual awakening
It’s not all a bed of roses. It is easy to get world-weary and fed up because many of us on the path are sold the illusion that it is a quick fix to our problems or that all our issues will go away by rubbing a few crystals or attending some reiki or yoga sessions.
Yet this is far from the case, so you can get disillusioned when you realise the spiritual path still contains pain, uncertainty and hard work.
It is not uncommon for someone early on their path to teach, someone whos been doing something for years, something new.
Because some fresh on their spiritual awakening path is typically optimistic about everything, after their first dark night of the soul and their first denial and inner conflict phase, they may burst into your life full of optimism and vitality.
And because they are full of positivity, at times, this can be toxic positivity, but this is not the point here; they can see where someone who has been on their journey for a while has become stuck.
Reminding them of why they committed to their spiritual rebirth in the first place or offering other penetrating insight that can uplift them and make them reaffirm their commitment to truth, creativity, faith and personal transformation.
A spiritual teacher comes in all forms and experience levels, so never judge a book by its cover or think you are so far on your spiritual journey that no one can teach you anything.
But once that book -person shows you who they are, discern whether their actions and vibe fit into your awakening journey.
Yet remember that some people are sent to test us, so always keep an open mind and train yourself to always ask, what can I learn from this individual or person?
Test after test
At times you will be sent people that are there to test if you have really given up on your self-destructive habits, toxic thought or behaviour habit, addictions or anything else that is not conducive to your spiritual path.
You can be sent a toxic lover to test if you have really moved on from wanting unhealthy intimate connections; a spiritual test also comes to gauge if you have given up on getting lost in distractions or numbing yourself to your feelings.
All in all, spiritual tests are sent to see if you have really changed internally or are the changes you may tell yourself and others you have made are based on deceptive fabrications, meaningless words or actions
The spiritual tests you are sent measure if the information you have learnt from research, that others have taught you or that you have gained from dreams, intuition or inner voice is backed up continually with changes in behaviours, thoughts and choices.
Don’t let this or any other phases scare you; spiritual growth is circular and not a straight line, and they can be many tests.
The tests each person’s faces are personal to them, so although we are all tested differently, we will all be tested repeatedly on the things we have shown our higher self and the divine that we find hard to manage.
Your most destructive thoughts and behaviours patterns are the ones that will be the hardest to overcome, and your ability to understand, heal, forgive, have compassion and resist your biggest temptations will be tested rigorously.
Individual sore spots in the spiritual awakening journey
Everyone has an Achilles heel; things, people, emotional or pleasure states they find hard to resist are different. Achilles heel refers to a weakness or flaw in someone’s character that can be exploited by an adversary or is complicated for them to manage.
In terms of personality, Achilles’ heels are qualities or ego desires that can be used to put someone at a disadvantage in a challenging situation.
This could be anything from being susceptible to the influence of others, insecurity or lack of confidence in your abilities.
When it comes to personal relationships, an Achilles heel can also refer to a quality or trait in a partner, friend or family member that makes you vulnerable to being manipulated or controlled by them.
It could also be something about the relationship itself – for example, if one person is highly emotional and prone to blowing things out of proportion, this may make them very vulnerable to starting arguments which can lead to misunderstanding in all their relationships.
So these people can be tested and tested again until they learn to control their emotional reactions and improve how they relate to themselves and others.
As you go on, prepare yourself for the test
Your Achilles heels- personal weakness will constantly be tested throughout your spiritual journey, don’t beat yourself up if you all back into old behaviours. As with everything on the spiritual path, sometimes you have to go backwards to move forward, keep the faith, listen to your inner voice and intuition and use your spiritual gifts and tools to help you navigate your journey.
And remember that often, people we take a strong dislike to on our paths can be our biggest teachers; said not discourage but to keep you aware, plus the people we try to avoid the most can teach us the most about our shadows or light.
This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t distance yourself from toxic people or relatives that pee you off, but as you progress, you will see as you deal with your own emotional, psychological and spiritual blockages and wounds.
People that used to enrage you at worst do not affect your inner state anymore; this is because, as you change, how you view the world and the people in it do too.
Tips on how to access your inner voices and intuition:
- Ask yourself questions such as: What do I need right now? What should I focus my energy on? If something feels wrong or uncomfortable, don’t ignore it – take the time to explore and figure out why it feels that way.
- Try mindfulness and meditation to help you focus and control your thoughts. Practice meditation or mindfulness regularly, concentrate on grounding yourself in the present moment, and connect with nature – whether that means spending time outdoors or exploring plants at a botanical garden.
- Do things to reprogram your negative thoughts. To become more positive, we need to let go of past negative experiences and tap into our inner power. The only healthy way to do this is to deal with everything from your past that needs healing.
This will take time but listening to inspirational speakers, using positive affirmations or using the emotional freedom technique (eft), and looking in the mirror.
Emotional Freedom Techniques is an empowering form of counselling that encourages self-healing through stimulating acupressure points associated with fear and trauma.
By applying pressure and tapping or rubbing these points as your emotional, spiritual and psychological fears and trauma comes up; you can gain clarity and restore emotional balance.
Also, saying positive things about yourself, other people, and the world can help quieten the inner critic that interferes with your intuition and positive inner voices.
- Try observation: Take a moment to be mindful of your thoughts as they enter your consciousness. Cultivating an awareness of your thought patterns, even for just a brief period, but I recommend 5-30 minutes daily is the first step to personal growth.
By being mindful, you can identify any unhelpful thinking habits you have been holding onto. Are you feeling anxious about an upcoming journey? Have you been stuck in a pattern of low productivity? Do you feel stuck in your relationship? Mind? Job?
Observe your thoughts and take action to change them or do what they ask you to do, yet make sure you don’t take action on what your dark-inner critic tells you to do. Know that you have the power to change any situation and take control of your destiny.
- Journal about your thoughts and feelings to open up communication between what you know and how you feel; learn self-care skills. Such as gentle dance, taking a bath, lighting candles and, listening to chilled-out music, doing yoga or acupuncture to better self-soothe when anxiety or stress takes over.
- Set boundaries – don’t let the critical dark inner voice take over completely. Build your ability to make sound decisions and take positive actions rather than relying upon this negative voice to tell you what to do.
- Practice self-compassion. Accepting that you’re flawed is an essential step in the self-improvement journey, but don’t forget to give yourself a break. Trying to be our best selves is hard enough without having this negative voice constantly nagging us.
- Focus on taking small, manageable steps forward instead of focusing on attaining too lofty goals. -Believe in yourself and take positive action towards your goals.
- Write out your goals and strategies for managing the critical inner voice, and keep them close by to help you stay on track. -Remember that it’s okay to make mistakes – learn from them and continue moving forward.
- Take care of yourself and regularly reflect upon your goals.
- Always look for the positive when you wake up or before sleep; write down or think of 1-10 things that have been positive in your day. Doing this will strengthen your mind and help you celebrate everything, from the small wins to the big ones.
- Expressing gratitude is so important! Studies have shown us that we can increase our optimism and guard ourselves against coronary artery disease by expressing gratitude. Writing down your grateful thoughts in a gratitude journal is a great way to start, but I’ve discovered that sharing your thankfulness with others is even more beneficial!
- Finding a supportive community will help you manage the critical inner voice in a healthy way to continue reaching your goals. Surrounding yourself with supportive individuals who share your enthusiasm for life and your dreams. Find friends and mentors who lift you up, energize you, and cheer you on. These will be the people who will bring out the best in you and help you reach heights you never thought possible. Distancing yourself from those who bring you down and choosing to focus on those who fill your life with positivity and opportunity.
- Practising visualisation can help you connect with your inner voice or intuition or find relief from your inner critic. Visualise a quiet place in your mind’s eye. It might be a forest, a beach, an old house by the water, or any peaceful and calming place. Notice all of the natural elements around you: The rustling leaves, the waves crashing on the shore, and the gentle breeze blowing through the branches. Take some time to breathe in and feel your body relax in this tranquil space.
- Take time to be alone so you can hear your intuitive guidance, and create a place of solitude. Allowing yourself to feel intensely is essential to nurturing your inner wisdom. Create an emotional connection to something dear to your heart, be it a colour, a song, a book–anything that will ignite your emotions. Here, you will find the keys to unlocking a deeper understanding of yourself.
- Practice acts of kindness: Acts of kindness, big or small, can bring an immense amount of joy. From offering to help a friend, someone at work or a family member with something they need to do, buying a stranger something to eat, donating to charity, or volunteering your time, such gestures can uplift a sense of purpose and fulfilment. Let us strive to make the world brighter, one small act of kindness at a time.
- Finally, make time for yourself, do something you love daily, get a creative hobby; and you may be saying I am not artistic at all; you don’t have to be, or you have to do is try; we can’t all be the next Mozart or Picasso after all. Doing something creative and using your imagination can help you hear and develop your connection with your intuition and inner voices.
It can be hard to stay positive, but committing to something you love can be a great way to bring more positivity into your life.
Whatever it may be – gaming, knitting or other handicrafts, reading, writing, singing, dancing. Cooking, playing a sport, exercising, yoga, tai chi, streaming online shows or content, spending time outdoors, swimming or anything else you enjoy.
It is vital for your spiritual and overall growth that you take the time to do something you genuinely like each day for at least 1 hour, and you will be glad you did.
As I mentioned above, looking after your physical, emotional and spiritual health is essential because low vitality can make you mistake the dark critical voice for your authentic intuition, inner monologue, or inner higher consciousness-soul internal voice.
Caring for your body and mind is the most critical step to achieving happiness.
Positive habits like consuming nutritious foods like fruits, fish, and vegetables become part of your routine.
Exercise for even a short amount of time each day, and your brain will begin to create new pathways towards optimism and allow you to work with your inner world.
Don’t hesitate to consult with a counsellor, psychotherapist, or other professionals if you have psychological, spiritual or emotional reasons that mess with your ability to trust your intuition or if your unhealed psychological or emotional blockages make you behave in an unhealthy way.
Committing to healing your psychological and emotional wounds and finding activities that help you think positively will unlock your highest potential and connect you with your inner strength.
With these tools, you can bring out the best in yourself and create a brighter future as you grow spiritually, emotionally and psychologically.
Phase Seven. The Surrender stage of your spiritual awakening journey
Surrendering to the will of a higher power in spirituality and faith can be a liberating experience.
It means relinquishing the ego and relinquishing the idea of having to control one’s thoughts and actions.
As opposed to submission, surrender is a conscious choice to accept a greater force and follow its teachings.
To experience spiritual surrender, one must manage the desires of their lower self until they are ready to live by their highest self wishes and tap into the higher power.
Abandoning the need to control every outcome, one must trust that a greater force is guiding them.
This allows them to be at peace, knowing that something greater is at work, providing them with a sense of calm in the face of uncertainty.
The need for surrender typically happens after each transformation in thought, behaviours and related patterns you go through.
As you change non-productive words, thoughts and actions for efficient and life-enriching ones, one step at a time, the surrender stage is when you are being called to or are more open to letting go fully.
Letting go of who you thought you were so you can keep on moving towards who you choose or are destined to become.
Having become more familiar with your authentic self, as you let go, give your true self permission to shine.
This may seem difficult at first, but once you have started letting go of what’s holding you back, it will get easier and easier.
In the early stages of spiritual awakening, it is often difficult to let go because we are still attached to our old ways of thinking and behaving.
But over time and with practice, we begin to see that who we thought we were was not actually who we were.
So as you age in your spiritual maturity, you will find it easier to surrender as you get used to this phase.
You find it easier to live in a state of emotional, spiritual and psychological balance as you build more love, faith, self-awareness, reflection, understanding, peace and harmony.
Because you have increased your spiritual practice and self-reflection; therefore it becomes easy enough for you to fully let go of what no longer serves you or whose presence makes us uncomfortable when the time calls for it.
There is no definitive way to surrender, as you know by now; the spiritual path is significantly individualised; yes, we must learn to live as a community. Still, each person’s pathway to this realisation will be different.
The best way to surrender spiritually depends on an individual’s beliefs and practices.
However, some tips on how to surrender spiritually may include prayer and meditation, seeking guidance from a trusted mentor or teacher, and practising forgiveness.
Keep in mind that spiritual surrendering is a process, not a destination. There is no “right” way to do anything, and what works for one person may not work for another.
Simply be open to whatever guidance and insight come your way as you explore how to surrender spiritually in the best way possible.
If you’re finding it challenging to find the right words or guidance to help you surrender spiritually, consider looking into self-help resources such as books, articles, or online courses.
Self-care is also essential when exploring how to surrender spiritually; take some time outa each day to relax and focus on your well-being.
Questions to ask yourself to check if you are surrendering to the process of spiritual surrendering and allowing?
- Am I willing to let go of all expectations?
- What is my biggest challenge to surrendering fully, and how can I face it courageously?
- Do I clearly understand what surrendering entails in terms of its meaning and practice?
- How committed am I to following through with my plan for spiritual surrendering even when things get tough or difficult?
- Am I willing to be open and vulnerable during the process of spiritual surrendering?
- Do I feel safe enough to express any doubts or fears that may come up?
- Am I willing to fully commit myself to this journey, even if it doesn’t always go as planned?
- What steps will I need to take to deepen my spiritual surrendering practice?
- What support and guidance can I find to help me through the process?
- Is there anyone in my life who can accompany me on this journey as a friend or support system?
Lastly, it is essential to remember that every time your spiritual awakening journey calls for you to surrender, you are being asked to give up anything that isn’t in sync with your authentic self during this part of the journey.
This encompasses everything that is no longer serving you, whether it is patterns, habits, individuals, or environments.
Things including spiritual tools and teachers you were encouraged to hold on to or follow by your inner voice and intuition at one stage of your spiritual awakening journey can be the very things you need to give up at another stage of your path.
This is one of the second essential facts to remember on your spiritual journey and is repeated a few times throughout this article.
Because from my experience, you can forget this on your spiritual journey and fall into spiritual bypassing, toxic positivity as you cling to your spiritual tools or refuse to let go of experiences and people you now need to let go of.
Trusting that you don’t need to know all, if not any, of the details of your next step, you just have to be willing to let go and move forward and take it; this is the central part of the surrendering phase.
You learn to lean on faith and trust that the divine and your higher self will help you in every way they can to assist, uplift, and lead you along the path.
Training yourself to surrender to the higher power and work in conjunction with it as you go through life with the knowledge that you are one with the Universe.
Trust that Unlimited energy, insight and courage will be sent to you to help you as you reach for higher and deeper understanding.
Phase Eight. Lost, emptiness and wanting to be alone First, we must define the terms of this stage
Spiritual emptiness
There are two types of emptiness that you may feel on your spiritual journey, one where you feel nothing at all and are numb to all emotion or a sort of spiritual emptiness, also known as a void: where to avoid your spiritual path purposely.
Preoccupation with avoidance and doing all you can to escape the present dullness, driven by a feeling of insignificance and lack of direction, can lead to depression.
Prompting the use of drugs and alcohol to lift the mood temporarily, or you can use substances to avoid your spirituality which can cause psychological distress and anxiety.
Feeling spirtuually lost
Feeling Spiritual Lost In the wake of a spiritual awakening is a common experience it is a sense of aimlessness and confusion.
To navigate this period successfully, it is crucial to recognise that the shift in your spiritual path may require adjustments to your lifestyle and outlook.
Embrace the change, strive to stay positive, and seek the guidance of trusted friends, family, and spiritual leaders who can help you find your way.
What is spiritual solitude
Spiritual solitude can be defined as the conscious decision to distance oneself from others and eschew social interaction. It is an act of self-reflection and introspection that can lead to personal growth and enlightenment.
What is spiritual seclusion
Spiritual seclusion is spending time in solitude, and silence can facilitate a more profound spiritual experience. Without dedicating time to cultivate spiritual depth, our spiritual lives may lack a greater sense of fulfilment.
The need for Solitude and seclusion can happen at various stages of your awakening; these can bring about very low moments; still, feelings of happiness, balance and contentment can also be felt in these times as you get used to these periods.
Life, as you know, can crumble and fall apart at various intervals on your spiritual awakening journey, leaving you alone, confused, and afraid.
As you evaluate the situation that has brought you to this period of solitude, emptiness and aloneness, you may find yourself in a deep, dark tunnel with no light to guide you on your journey.
This is an unavoidable stage on the road to awakening; however, it can be very frightening. All you can perceive is the darkness as you stand lonely and perplexed.
You’re left wondering how things got to such a state of sadness, misery, suffering, and degeneration-relapse.
You may feel empty, sad and confused as you wonder how you’ll fit into the world again; all the information you learn on your spiritual path can isolate you from the very people, activities and behaviours that were once your comfort zone.
At this point, you may start to doubt your raison d’être – reason for living, starting or continuing your spiritual rebirth and who you are.
People around you could be concerned about your antisocial behaviour.
Even if you try to explain why you want or feel alone, they may not be able to understand your explanation.
Although this can be harrowing and make you feel downhearted, this is a crucial part of your awakening journey; these feelings of loneliness and emptiness will pass with time.
When you’re feeling lost on your spiritual awakening journey, it is also imperative to schedule time out for yourself; it can be helpful to allow yourself to feel alone, with fleeting moments of stillness.
To get to the root cause of why you are empty, feel or want to be alone, or need solitude, why is the divine or your higher self putting you through this? What is it you need to learn from this period? What guidance have you been ignoring?
Questions like this can help you clarify why you feel this way; although this may feel alien to you initially, it is a needed stage and an intricate part of your spiritual awakening.
Feeling lost and wanting to spend time alone can happen at any step in your spiritual journey or be an aspect you experience; how long these feelings of isolation or emptiness will last depends on each individual.
You will experience feelings of emptiness at various stages on your awakening path; everyone experiences spiritual emptiness in different ways and at times.
Spiritual emptiness is the lack of a permanent, substantial sense of self or soul; it refers to an absence of seeing or believing in intrinsic value in things and experiences.
This absence of meaning or purpose can be frustrating and discouraging, make you feel unfulfilled, and drive you to use substances, porn or other stimulants to feel something.
Still, you need to deepen your connection to the divine and your higher self at these times.
At times these periods of emptiness, solitude or aloneness are a call to be more present at the moment, learning to sit with your pain or thought patterns; sometimes, you will observe these thoughts or the moment of presence, others you will question it.
Focusing on your or starting a daily meditation routine during these times, concentrating on your breath and counting each inhale and exhale.
Contemplation or prayer can help you get in touch with your inner voice and intuition, which can reveal what you need to learn from every period of aloneness.
Each person’s spiritual awakening journey will be unique, so finding what works for you is essential to develop a consistent practice of stillness.
- Remain open and receptive to divine guidance and insights during these times of emptiness.
If you allow yourself to simply experience your inner space’s silence, warmth, and stillness. You may begin to notice intuitive messages or prompts from above, which can help guide your journey on the spiritual path forward.
- Consider seeking out contemplative practices or retreats that can help you to connect more deeply with your inner soul and find new ways to reconnect with your divine Self. There are many different types of spiritual retreats out there, so find one that is right for you and that will resonate strongly with your personal desires and aspirations. But be careful not to drink any cool aid- distorted spiritual beliefs they may be selling.
- Ask for help from spiritual practitioners or people you are in supportive or healing relationships with, such as friendships, family members, counsellors, therapists etc., who can provide a listening ear and offer guidance along the way. A healthy relationship with another person can be beneficial in times of spiritual emptiness since it allows us to share our vulnerabilities and struggles openly without judgement.
There is no one “right” way to deal with spiritual emptiness. Some people may find inspiration and guidance in spiritual or religious texts or from their personal faith community, while others may turn to nature or self-reflection for solace.
Ultimately, the goal of any effort to combat spiritual emptiness may sometimes be connecting with external situations or people. At other times, the solution will be sitting alone with the feeling until the root cause of these emotions is revealed to you.
Recognising that we all have many sides to our personalities, including our spiritual selves, although these periods of emptiness, solitude and feeling alone can be painful at first.
And you may turn to substances or toxic relationships, thoughts and behaviours to avoid doing the work you need to do spiritually. It’s okay; we all fall on this path many times; the trick is to pick yourself up each time you fall.
Rather than judging ourselves harshly for feeling spiritually empty or dried up, as some people call this process, let go of the need to be perfect and start listening to what feels true for you.
Giving up on perfection is the best favour you will do for yourself; I have struggled so much, and sometimes, I fall back into this pattern, as it is expected to do as we go through spiritual rebirth; spiritual bypassing and ego can be “one hell of a drug” in the words of Rick James
Sometimes I can beat myself up when I relapse into the spiritual emptiness phases Until I remember to practice self-love, compassion and awareness, reminding myself and trying to be in the moment with whatever is happening or I am feeling at any given time.
The practice of intentionality is an essential tool for individuals on the spiritual path; it helps you put your determination and actions towards your desired goals and live a more mindful life.
Intentionality involves consciously and consistently evaluating your goals and taking action to achieve them.
It means actively seeking out opportunities and cultivating the motivation and discipline to progress.
This involves challenging yourself to identify actionable steps and work diligently to complete them.
Intentionality can also help you become more mindful of your time and how you spend it. By taking a more mindful approach to how you use your time, you can focus on activities that bring actual value to your life.
Through intentionality, individuals can set measurable goals, identify potential obstacles, and continuously make progress. It is a powerful tool for
When we intentionally connect with what matters most- spending time with loved ones, appreciating nature, or engaging in meaningful meditation
We create an environment more conducive to spiritual growth, allowing ourselves to connect with our higher self and higher power creatively.
Whether you are washing up, doing your work, exploring different spiritual traditions and practices, making paintings, writing poetry, or singing songs of your creation, practising intentionality in all you do.
From the daily commute to using the arts to connect with the divine or your higher self, it can be incredibly healing and inspiring to be intentional in all you do.
While not everyone will enjoy the same type of spirituality, staying intentional in all you do and exploring a variety of pathways can help broaden your understanding and lead you to greater inward exploration.
Seeking professional help and finding support groups or counselling services that align with your beliefs and desires for self-growth.
If you feel like you’re constantly struggling with negative thoughts about yourself or lack fulfilment in life and find it hard to connect with your spiritual self, don’t be ashamed – there is always hope for growth.
In summary: Start by listening to what feels true for you and exploring different spiritual traditions and practices until you find something that resonates deeply with you in your times of spiritual emptiness or aloneness.
Remember that the spiritual journey is one of constant growth and change, ups and downs, lows and highs- so don’t get discouraged if you experience moments of spiritual emptiness that drive you to unhealthy habits or substances at different points in your odyssey.
The key is to keep moving forward and get back up after each fall, accept whatever guidance or insights come your way, and never give up on your dreams and aspirations for continuous personal growth and enlightenment!
Spend time thinking about what brought you to these feelings or thoughts in the first place, No matter if you are feeling lost, need time to be alone or going through feelings of inertia and emptiness.
Remembering there is always a way back home, whether finding a new community or returning to old practices and rituals, is important.
Finally, try reaching out for help from those who care about you – your family and friends might just be the people who can guide and support you through this transitional period.
But also learn to be still and sit with these feelings of loss, and seek professional help if you also experience grief or any other emotional or psychological state you find hard to manage.
Phases Nine. Inner discontent, imbalance and de-nial not just a river in Egypt
What is denial
Rather than facing the harsh reality of a situation, denial is consciously choosing to ignore any unpleasant facts to avoid dealing with the distressful feelings and experiences accompanying these circumstances.
On the spiritual path, this is commonly experienced by refusing to uncover and heal your psychological, emotional and spiritual trauma or face your shadow.
What is inner conflict
The conflict or struggle inside an individual’s mind is known as inner or internal conflict.
The conflict between two opposed options is a common way to represent this problem.
As you walk your spiritual path, you may constantly battle choosing your path and doing the things that bring you pain or satisfy your lower self’s desires.
This can range from taking drugs, drinking alcohol, engaging in toxic relationships or behaviours or anything else that stops your spiritual awakening.
In the eighth stage of the spiritual awakening process, denial and the inner battle when your previous selves and your emerging integrated self rage war with each other.
Although your higher self tends to be silent, using calm inner promptings to move your forward, your lower self and ego may devise many tricks.
Including falling into toxicity, positivity and other forms of spiritual bypassing; as the lower self-ego and spiritual ego start to get in the way of our spiritual development, we may struggle to accept new information.
(I will go in-depth about this in phase 13 when ill talk about the spiritual ego)
We become attached to our beliefs and preferences, which can keep us from growing spiritually.
Denial is a common reaction to acknowledging that one may need help on the spiritual awakening journey; it is common to refuse help at the early and mature stages of your spiritual journey.
In the early stages, when you refuse help, this can be because you do not want to accept the calling for spiritual rebirth.
So you may want nothing to do with your awakening process at all, or you feel you have found the teacher or philosophy that is meant for you and ignore any inner or external calls to question the things you believe in.
During your spiritual journey’s mid and late stages, you may deny that you need any outside or inside help.
Denying your intuition, the higher power and your inner voices calls to rethink your views as you have developed a spiritual ego or actively or subconsciously engage in spiritual bypassing.
This is why I stress a lot in this article that it is essential not just to get lost in spiritual concepts and to use critical thinking, self-reflection and deductive logical reasoning at all stages of your journey.
Building your self-awareness and, plainly speaking, never being too afraid to call yourself out on your bullcrap and do the work to change it.
People in denial believe they can do everything independently or that there is no way out of their current situation.
They may refuse to seek help or try to push through the painful stages without assistance.
Opening up to reality no matter how painful as you walk through the stages of your spiritual awaking journey
Denial can be a sign that someone is not ready to accept help. It may also indicate that the person does not believe anything is wrong with them or is afraid of change.
If you are in denial about your spiritual awakening journey, searching for online tools or other resources that can help you is vital.
Like a therapist specialising in denial and its many guises, support is available on the spiritual awakening journey.
As stated, you’re never too early or late in your spiritual development to fall into the denial trap, which causes a lot of inner conflicts.
Therefore influencing your ability to balance your emotional, spiritual and psychological, it’s easy to put the material concerns of competitiveness, keeping appearances and trends ahead of your spiritual development.
Let’s face it, it gets heavy, and it is essential to take time out to draw, sing, write, listen to music, podcast, watch tv shows or films, get lost in your Xbox, laptop or PlayStation- other game consoles are available, lol.
But seriously, take time to relax, laugh and have some fun; life is too short, and you must have some enjoyment too, but do not get lost in your lower self and its desires.
Still, it is vital to have fun and not get lost in spiritual concepts, as this is how spiritual ego and bypassing still do not use entertainment to cover up your spiritual ego.
Like saying things like, I’ve been gaming for the past three years for spiritual purposes, which is why I do not need to meditate, or practice self-reflection, awareness, research, or anything else that allows us to live a balanced spiritual life,
Yes, gaming may be part of your awakening process because our guides often speak to us through our interests, especially in the early stages, as, at times, this is the only state they can reach us.
As we open up to spiritual concepts and subtle vibrations, they often use the things we are interested in, even if they may be toxic to do all the time, like 24/7 gaming, unless that’s our job.
Balance is key on your awakening journey as you seek-look for higher understanding
Still, even then, it is not healthy or productive to binge tv shows all the time, yet as I was saying, our guides, diviner consciousness or higher self.
May use the things that will get our attention while we are experiencing a dark night of a soul or in our sunken place- a metaphor for being marginalized, forgotten, or undervalued.
The sunken place is a state of mind a person goes to when they have given up on themselves and life or lost all hope in bettering their condition.
In life, we should always be learning, upgrading and getting rid of old beliefs; the trick is not to through the baby out with the bath water, but instead nurture the baby and get to understand the different sides of it.
This means many old beliefs, such as that without some order, structure and hard work, you won’t get far in life, no matter what you want to achieve.
From being a doctor, an artist or walking a spiritual path, you will need a routine, study, research and perseverance and hard graft- work as those from Liverpool, UK, say to obtain your goals.
Connecting the old with the new
There is a lot of truth in all morals, dare I say, sayings and ways of being in the world; still, it’s okay to update them with our modern advancements.
Many people think being spiritual means giving up on modern advancements; still, you don’t have to deny technology.
Yes, things like the internet and social media have their bad points but so does the spiritual path with its bypassing and ego.
Although you could live without modern conveniences, choosing to be more at one with nature is ok too; remember, everyone’s path and end game destination is different.
Still, we shouldn’t say certain products and services are completely bad, and they should be abolished Just because they have negatives to them.
Every good has a bad, and very bad has some seed of good in it and vice versa; research the Chinese concept of yin and yang to find out more about this.
And this is the truth; with the denial and conflict phases, you may want to hold on to your old beliefs because you fear what life will be like without them.
You may deny that there is more for you to learn spiritually or that you need to heal your emotional, spiritual and emotional wounds and face your shadow.
Spiritual awakening is more about playing with spiritual tools
I notice, and I have seen it in myself, when we are walking the path of spiritual awakening, we can be eager to play with our spiritual toys.
Rubbing those crystals, flipping their tarot cards and spotting and discussing those angel numbers and all the other easy parts of the spiritual path.
We can love to dress up as fairies and other ethereal characters, playing with feathers, burning incense, giving psychic readings, aligning chakra stones, going to gatherings, and talking surface-level astrology horoscopes and numerology.
This is all fun; still, there comes a time when we need to get serious, or we get delirious, lost and stuck in spiritual ego and bypassing.
The goal is to reach a point where you are able to receive new information without resistance or disbelief, learning to meet the needs of all sides of yourself, the higher and lower selves, in healthy ways instead of repressing the needs of either.
Repression is a defence mechanism that protects the conscious mind from memories, thoughts, or feelings that are too difficult to face.
These can be anything from disturbing sexual or aggressive impulses to the pain of a complicated past. We attempt to maintain a sense of inner peace by pushing them out of our conscious minds.
It is best not to repress the needs of your higher or lower self; because, as time passes, repressing memories leads to dangerous mental health issues like worry, sorrow, post-traumatic stress illness and dissociative problems.
Although the parts of your spiritual awakening journey can make you feel overloaded and overwhelmed, it is best to face and not deny-bury the psychological and emotional wounds which come up, no matter how painful.
Because doing so will create or deepen any existing emotional, spiritual or psychological health problems
It is also best for you to listen to both sides of yourself, the lower and the higher, when going through the inner conflict stage of your awakening journey.
When your ego and lower self fight against your new-found knowledge, you experience the uprising of your higher self and your connection to the divine power.
Finding a healthy way to meet the needs of your lower and higher self, often the lower self has destructive impulses like the day to be aggressive after letting out aggression.
By punching the air with a punching bag, I don’t mean using yourself, any human or pet, as one either, as this is criminally, morally and spiritually unethical.
Letting go when need be
Remember, we can get attached to our spiritual toys like crystals, tarot cards, and angel numbers, which we need to rely on and different times in our spiritual awakening. Still, when we are called to leave a tool behind or take a break from using it, we should.
Because what is needed at one stage of your spiritual awakening journey is not required at the next, and sometimes holding on to our spiritual toys can delay your advancement to the next level.
Sometimes if you resist your inner or outer calling to advance on your path, you may be cut off from your inner voice or intuition at some stage.
This may make you feel your higher self and divine consciousness have abandoned you, and this is when you can get pissed off, some people may give up on their path.
Yet the reason for this is that it is often a final warning to bring to your attention the move to move forward; we all have free will, and if we purposely ignore guidance and remain stuck.
Then no need for information can be given until you are willing to accept it; after all, choosing to continue to go ahead in your spiritual rebirth is a choice, as we have free will.
Step by step
At the start of our journey and in the early stages, your guides and the divine may spoon-feed you walking with you each step of the way.
Because when you first start your spiritual awakening journey, it is necessary and helpful. Still, as you mature spiritually, you are meant to learn and integrate what you have learnt into your day-to-day thoughts, actions and relationships.
If you allow yourself to get through the denial and inner conflict stage, Doing the necessary work, whether giving up one spiritual practice or moving from one spiritual teacher to another.
The divine consciousness and your higher self will resume assisting you in ways you never imagined when you were in your sunken place or felt spiritually abandoned.
As we advance deeper into our self-awareness exploration, we may need less assistance from outside sources.
This could cause you to deny your need for help or to change your beliefs because you have become used to your current ones.
You can feel exhausted as you battle against all the unfamiliarity, resisting to enter or re-enter unseen territory with your spiritual knowledge.
It’s not a joyful experience but part of the spiritual enlightenment package. During this time, it’s imperative to remember that it will all pass by soon.
Remember that you are on your own spiritual journey, and no one else can do it for you.
So take the time to explore and learn about yourself without relying too heavily on external guidance or opinion.
At the beginning of our spiritual journey, we commonly rely on external guides and helpers to clarify what we are doing and why it matters.
However, as you progress on your path, this external guidance can hinder -stunt-stop your progress; this is because the assistance you need will change drastically at different stages of your spiritual awakening process
When you are the most loaded and overwhelmed, this is typically when your inner doubt- conflict and denial will become stronger.
Because these are signals that there is a past event you need to revisit or emotional or psychological wounds you need to uncover, understand, heal and let go of to move forward.
When your spiritual understanding, which is unseen territory to the lower self-ego-mind, clashes with all the unfamiliarity, you may feel exhausted. It’s not pleasant, but it is a necessary evil.
In Stage 9, it's often difficult to accept that change is necessary.
It can be frustrating, and denial may provide us with a safety blanket to stay in our comfort zones.
As I said, the awakening process can be physically taxing- exhausting, mentally and emotionally draining and consuming, but it’s an essential stage of the journey – without conflict, there could be no growth or transformation!
Keep the above tips in mind as you progress through the spiritual awakening process, and you’ll be on the right track to the endless track of mastering your spiritual journey.
Phase Ten. You discover or increase the practice of self-love, care, forgiveness, understanding and awareness
As you progress on your spiritual awakening journey, you begin to increase and understand the importance of self-love, self-care, forgiveness, understanding and awareness.
So what are these?
yourself, your thoughts and your feelings, and it means treating yourself with kindness, respect and dignity. Nurturing yourself is the key to unlocking a deep appreciation for who you are, allowing you to flourish and reach your fullest mental. Spiritual and physical growth helps us reach our highest potential.
The power to take charge of one’s health by making conscious decisions, staying disciplined and relying on oneself to reach, preserve, or foster optimal physical and mental well-being.
Taking care of your physical, spiritual, financial, mental and emotional health. It includes eating a healthy diet, getting enough sleep, working through your emotional and psychological problems, finding ways to increase or bring financial stability into your life and exercising regularly.
Spiritually, forgiveness can mean so much more than simply pardoning another person. It is a process of self-reflection and reflection on our behaviour, allowing us to honestly experience the sorrow and regret of our mistakes so that we can learn and grow from them.
In this way, forgiveness can be a powerful tool to help us become better versions of ourselves; forgiving yourself for any mistakes you have made and others who have hurt or offended you is key to spiritual growth.
having insight and empathy for your and other people’s struggles and emotions.
Having understanding is to recognise a problem and possess the wisdom to make informed decisions based on that comprehension.
Understanding is an accumulation of knowledge and recognition of patterns, allowing you to make decisions that are based on understanding; the more you learn, the more you understand.
On the spiritual path, you deepen your understanding of yourself and others by paying attention to what is happening inside you on the physical, mental and emotional levels, learning all that you can about yourself from books, teachers or other sources.
understanding one’s surroundings and recognising what’s taking place in the present moment.
Being conscious of the world around us enables us to appreciate the details and gain insight into the bigger picture. It’s a capability to be aware of the sights, sounds, and sensations that come our way and to make sense of them.
As you increase your spiritual awareness and practice, your ability to be present and live in the moment, listen to your body and mind, and accept what is happening without judgement grows.
All the above things are essential to a healthy spiritual awakening. If you neglect to improve your self-love, self-care or forgiveness, spiritual understanding and awareness, it can lead to resentment and anger, which will stop you from progressing.
If you don’t understand what is happening inside yourself, developing insight or awareness into the causes of YOUR issues and how best to address them is challenging.
Growing in self-awareness is vital as you walk your path because if you’re not present in the moment, you won’t be able to make good decisions based on what YOU know about yourself at that time.
You may react to situations from your unresolved psychological trauma rather than what is going on in any given moment.
Self-love! Self-care! Forgiveness! Understanding and awareness are the keys to a healthy spiritual awakening.
Tips on how to increase self-care?
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to self-care; what soothes and reassures one person may not do so for the subsequent; nevertheless, self-care is vital for your life-long self-improvement journey.
The best way to boost self-care varies depending on your individual needs and preferences.
However, some tips on how to increase self-care include:
- Setting boundaries with work or other responsibilities so that you have more time for yourself.
- Finding interest that relaxes you physically and mentally, practising mindfulness or meditation regularly, and ensuring you eat healthily and get adequate sleep.
- Stay hydrated and healthy by drinking plenty of water and eating nutritious foods. Avoid taking caffeine or alcohol during the morning or night because they dehydrate the body and make it harder to fall asleep. Take care of yourself from the inside out – eat healthy foods, get enough sleep, if possible, and chant mentally fortifying mantras or repeat affirmations when needed
- Get exercise! Even 30 minutes of moderate exercise daily can help improve moods and relieve stress. Engage in activities you love even more! When you regularly exercise, your body releases endorphins which have a calming effect on the mind and body. Plus, being active can actually make you smarter by increasing blood flow to your brain!
- Make time for yourself each day – whether that means taking a relaxing bubble bath, reading your favourite book, or spending time in nature, make sure you carve out some time for yourself every day. This will help you recharge and focus on your own needs rather than feeling overwhelmed by obligations.
- Find ways to relax – whether it’s indulging in a soothing cup of tea or listening to calming music, and find ways to de-stress from the inside out. When you are able to destress physically and mentally, you will be better equipped to take on the challenges of your day.
- Connect with others – whether, through a good book, conversation, or something else that brings you together, relationships are crucial for our well-being. Finding ways to connect with others can help boost self-care and create lasting memories that will stay with you long after the current challenge is over.
- Practice self-compassion – when we encounter tough situations or difficult emotions, it’s often easy to focus on our negative feelings rather than on the good things we are doing. Try to focus on your strengths and positives, even when facing tough challenges. This will help reduce self-judgement and increase feelings of well-being.
Additionally, make use of online resources like websites devoted to self-care advice or mental health support groups to get personalised tips and guidance on how best to take care of yourself.
- Make a list of the things you have done that you are sorry for, and start with the most recent thing that comes to mind. Write out what happened, why it made you feel guilty at the time, and how it has affected your life since then.
- List your negative feelings about yourself and any situation that causes sadness, self-pity, disgust with yourself, etcetera. Recognize them for what they are: irrational thoughts that don’t reflect who you really are or how worthy you feel inside.
- Answer the following questions honestly: Do you think you deserve forgiveness for what you’ve done? If not, why not? Would going through all of this again make it easier or harder for you to forgive yourself?
- Write out a letter to yourself in which you apologize for the things on your list and ask for forgiveness. Explain why it was really wrong of you to do what you did and how the consequences have affected your life.
- Finally, take some time to reflect on your letter and answer the following question: What do these answers mean to me?
This exercise can help you forgive yourself for your mistakes and learn more about what it means to have compassion for yourself.
We all make mistakes. It’s natural to feel shame and guilt over them, but it’s important to remember that these feelings are irrational and don’t reflect who you really are.
Again there is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the best way to increase self-love and understanding varies from person to person.
However, some tips on achieving this may include practising self-compassion, journaling about your feelings and thoughts every day, reading positive affirmations books or listening to calming music regularly.
Additionally, it is often helpful to talk openly and honestly about one’s feelings with trusted friends or family members.
- Loving-kindness meditation: This practice helps to cultivate a sense of kindness and compassion for oneself, which can promote self-love
- Mindfulness practices: These activities help people focus on their present-moment experiences and are often beneficial in promoting self-love because they can allow us to become more aware of our inner thoughts and feelings without judgement. Some recommended mindfulness practices include sitting meditation, walking meditation, and mindful eating.
- Self-help books: There are a variety of self-help books that can be helpful in increasing self-love and understanding, including titles on mindfulness, happiness, intimacy issues, career advice etc. Reading different types of self-help literature is often beneficial to find what works best for you.
- Positive affirmations: Affirmations are statements about oneself that one repeats aloud or mentally to promote positive thinking and feelings about oneself.
Though they may not always work immediately (due to cognitive dissonance), affirmations can help improve self-love. Some popular affirmations to use include “I am enough,” “I love myself,” and “Every day, I am becoming more beautiful.”
- Social media: For some people, social media can be a largely negative space that can exacerbate self-love issues. However, for others, it may provide a way to connect with like-minded individuals and share positive affirmations and experiences.
Be careful when connecting with others, take it slow, don’t ignore red flags and watch out for signs of spiritual bypassing, toxic positive and spiritual ego.
Though self-love can be challenging to grasp, the above exercises can help you increase your self-love and appreciation for yourself.
Self-love, unfortunately, doesn’t always come easy; we can cultivate a more positive view of ourselves by increasing our awareness and understanding of the concept. And remember, do your best to love yourself more and more each day.
Paying attention to your thoughts and feelings, engaging in questioning practices (such as asking yourself why you feel a certain way), and setting specific goals for your self-awareness journey.
When you are aware of what is going on inside of yourself, it can help you make better decisions and cope with difficult situations.
Additionally, being in touch with your thoughts and feelings allows you to develop healthy relationships and achieve your goals.
It can be challenging to stay aware of what is happening around us, but with practice, we can become more self-aware.
1) Pay attention to your thoughts and feelings. Whenever you experience a thought or feeling, be sure to label it (e.g., thinking about a new project – “I’m excited about this project; I wonder how much work it will take”). This will help you better understand and identify the underlying factors driving your thoughts and emotions.
2) Question yourself. When you find yourself feeling unsure or confused about something, ask yourself why that is. This will help you gain a deeper understanding of your thoughts and emotions.
3) practice being in the moment and dealing with the thoughts and the emotions that come; doing this repeatedly will help you train yourself over time to be more present.
Don’t try to push down or ignore the thoughts and feelings that come up, as this is a surefire way to ensure you never spend time in the present moment.
Aim to spend 51- 70% of your day being present, do this every day and your winning. At the start, you will spend 0-50% of the time in the now, but this is to be expected as you work through your unresolved trauma.
4) Set goals for improving your self-awareness. Rather than expecting perfection from yourself, set attainable goals that will allow you to build on what you have learned thus far. Being self-aware is a journey, not a destination. With practice, you can gradually increase your awareness of what is going on around you and improve the quality of your life.
5) Be kind to yourself. Recognize and thank your efforts – even if you don’t achieve all of your goals at once. Appreciating yourself helps build self-esteem, which can lead to increased happiness and success.
6) Talk to someone about your goals. Discussing your thoughts and feelings with someone you trust can be a helpful step in improving your self-awareness. Hearing other perspectives can help you better understand yourself and make informed decisions.
The key to improving your self-awareness is gradual, consistent effort. By focusing on and understanding, healing and managing yourself, you can build a stronger foundation for achieving your goals.
If your thoughts and emotions interfere with your ability to achieve goals, reach out for help.
End of part one phases one to ten of the 20 stages of spiritual awakening, click here to read phases 11-20
