A Spiritual Awakening which is a long time coming for me

You become more independent.

People who are waking up no longer feel the need to fit in and belong anywhere in society. This is not an overnight realization. Be patient and gentle with yourself as you begin to understand that the very words “fitting in” connote feelings of being trapped, boxed in. Your soul is released and has the divine right to think, feel and believe what you want. During this time, you may move away from people, groups or organizations that no longer matter to you. Be patient with yourself but also with those around you who may not understand why you are changing and shifting, like the sands of time. 

Your relationships evolve.

One of the hardest parts of going through a spiritual awakening is that many of our relationships begin to evolve, change or even end. This can lead to feelings of loss, fear, and loneliness. Your relatives and friends may not understand this “new you” and will begin to question or challenge you. Do not default to a defensive stance if this occurs. Everyone has a right to their opinion. Listen to them and hear their concerns. Meet them with compassion. Some of them will walk away but many true and loyal friends will try to understand and stay. You will also start to meet new friends who are in alignment with your awakening consciousness,  or it’s positive vibes which they are attracted to. I have many people telling me that they are attracted to my “energy” and positive vibes. Some even say that they do not know how to describe that attraction/pull to my person. They say that I have something “contagious” and they want a part of it. It is also a feeling of  “Joie de vie” (joy of life), a feeling that you belong everywhere in this world and not constrained to just one place. 

You lose interest in material things.

Most of us enjoy shopping for the latest and greatest things in life. But as you go through your spiritual awakening, this will soon become less and less important. This is often called the “Minimalist Stage.” You may start to clear out your closets, donate old clothes, books and pieces of furniture. You start to see how little you really need in order to feel happy and present. Your goals may shift now from saving up for that new house to achieving inner joy by doing what y0u love best, traveling and discovering the world we live in, spending more time with loved ones and learning to appreciate each day, living in gratitude and mindfulness.

You have intense joy followed by total loneliness.

This is one of the hardest stages of spiritual awakening. As you start to see the world as connected and whole, you feel a sense of profound joy that we are eternal beings, that our energy is linked with all those around us, and that we can co-create with the Universe. But just as you’re settling into this ecstasy, you will be hit with a powerful sense of loneliness, possibly even a sense of futility. Feel your way through this up and down period. No emotion will last forever. You are saying goodbye to aspects of yourself that no longer serve you. It’s very similar to the grief process. When you realize how most people no longer understand you or even support you in your awakening, you may feel isolated and think about going back to the “old you.” The message here is again one of patience. When the butterfly emerges from the cocoon, she’s not ready to fly. She must give her wings time to adjust to new circumstances and surroundings. Remind yourself during this stage “This too shall pass” and soon you will  be soaring.

You question everything.

You will start to examine what you have been taught to believe. This can feel isolating because it is our beliefs that comfort us. But you will soon start to see that truth is much more comforting than illusions. Often it is a period of loss or suffering that precipitates this questioning period. During this period of self-questioning and awareness, you do not need to share all that you are questioning with others. 

You feel compassion for all things.