A ‘spiritual awakening’ is one of those things we so often hear about, from celebrities, in TV shows and in all sorts of wellness books. Many people who have been through one describe it as a greater sense of awareness or groundedness, a new, wider perspective on life or a deep sense of purpose. Basically, we want one. The thing is, how do you know if you're actually going through one?
We spoke to Betty Andrews, spiritual life and business coach, founder of Woo Woo and author of What the Eff is Happening to Me? A Modern Guide to Spiritual Awakening, to find what a spiritual awakening actually feels like and how to navigate it once you're on that path.
What is a spiritual awakening and what causes it?Truthfully, nobody can prepare you for a spiritual awakening. There aren’t really words to describe it. But I’m going to give it a go anyway. A spiritual awakening is really coming back to yourself, and it's an awareness of a new reality, and who you truly are. You’ll feel called to uncover the true meaning and purpose of life, and once you start, there’s no real going back. You start questioning reality, the government, consumerism, and people’s intentions. EVERYTHING. It’s like in The Matrix, when Neo takes the red pill.
Suddenly, things that you used to accept without question, may no longer make sense to you. The first thing you’ll most likely do? Lots of research, because you might feel like nobody around you gets it, or can explain it. I found myself going down the rabbit hole of #conspiracytok and it helped a lot more than a lot of the resources out there.
My second awakening was during the pandemic, and I suddenly didn't have any distractions and had to finally deal with the childhood trauma that I'd been avoiding my whole life… It was through trying to look for every healing modality that my awakening really began. I stumbled upon energy healing and after my first session, my Reiki healer, Kati Ackerman, made me aware I had an ‘entity’ attached to me, (confirmed by an acupuncturist a week later), and after having to remove it, my whole world was turned upside down. I was seeing spirits, had to have that entity removed (twice), met my spirit guides, got very strong psychic visions and honestly thought I was going mad. But then, I remembered I’d actually seen a lot of this as a child and blocked it out. But over the last three years, I’ve learned the tools and techniques you need, to not feel like you’ve taken too much acid and gone mad.
To be honest, no one specific thing causes a spiritual awakening, it's different for everyone. One thing I do know? It’s not love and light. It is facing and healing what hurt you. It’s a lot of crying, feeling alone and being scared. And coming back to yourself. The thing that starts it, could be a life-changing event, a personal crisis, a transformative experience or even a simple conversation that makes you question everything you thought you knew. It could also be a combination of things such as therapy, meditation, yoga, or even a new hobby. But one thing's for sure, it's always a journey within yourself that leads to the realisation of your true purpose and connection to the universe. And ultimately it’s the beginning of your spiritual journey and peeling back the layers until you feel aligned with yourself and your place in the world.
What are the signs you're going through a spiritual awakening?Some symptoms of awakening can include changes in hermit mode (trying to figure out what the hell is happening), energy levels, emotional ups and downs, and heightened sensitivity to your surroundings. You might also experience physical symptoms like headaches and fatigue. These do pass and are part of the process.
Remember, you're on a journey to self-discovery and you need all the guidance you can get. You can start by connecting to your spirit guides, they are always around you, ready to help you. You can also reach out to tarot readers, astrologers, or any other spiritual practitioner that resonates with you. They can provide valuable insight and guidance on your journey.
What was really helpful for me, was going to Reiki healing and kinesiology which changed my life. And I can say now,, that I live a life without trauma (for the first time in 30 years).
Part of this journey also can mean losing relationships that no longer align with who you are becoming. Sometimes, letting go of what's not serving you, can open up space for new and more fulfilling connections. However, it can also make you feel lonely and isolated, especially if you're the only one going through this change in your immediate circle. That's why it's crucial to find a community of like-minded individuals who are also on the journey of self-discovery. It's important to surround yourself with people who understand and support you, and who can help you navigate this new reality.
How do you navigate a spiritual awakening?Having people around you who understand is really important. If you’re looking to find new friends, go on meetup.com and find local meet-ups of people who are also going to which events or you can even join our app, Woo Woo which I created with this purpose in mind, where you can find new spiritual friends ask questions and chat, but you can also find and book healers, guides, astrologers and readers.
When it comes to life in your spiritual journey, I'd recommend that you do not just rely on others to tell you what to do. The whole point of an awakening and a journey is to bring you closer to yourself so that you can trust your intuition and listen to your inner voice, it will guide you in the right direction. And always remember, you are the master of your own destiny, so don't be afraid to explore different options and find what works best for you.
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