A significant shift in awareness prompts one to question the nature of reality, one’s existence, and the interconnectedness of all causes of spiritual awakening.

Spirituality is an increasing awareness of the present moment that results in feelings of inner serenity, clarity, and a newly discovered purpose in life.

While everyone’s journey towards spiritual awakening is unique, you may feel a strengthening sense of inner connectedness, increased empathy and compassion for others, and an awareness of the transcendent or divine connection.

People around the globe characterize spiritual awakening as a profoundly transformative and liberating experience, creating significant life opportunities for personal growth, healing, and self-discovery, despite the initial feelings of confusion or discomfort that may accompany the process.

Sometimes, existential crises can prompt a person to deeply reevaluate their place in the universe and their relationship to something larger than themselves, regardless of whether they are triggered by outside life-changing events or inward reflection.

Similar to this, mental health crises or acute emotional turmoil can wake you up and inspire you to seek spiritual consolation and healing.

The spiritual awakening process is often referred to as enlightenment or the Night of the Soul. Let’s examine spiritual awakening.

What are the signs of a spiritual awakening?

While each person’s waking experience is unique, there are several common ones you may encounter. Approximately 20% of people are expected to have a profound spiritual experience, according to research.

1. You can be more tuned in to your surroundings and emotions. Little things that used not to bother you could suddenly seem quite significant or overwhelming.
2. You can start to question why you are here and what the point of life is. You may strongly desire to learn more about spiritual beliefs and seek greater meaning in life.
3. You may occasionally experience a feeling of detachment from the people and your old life.
4. Certain relationships or hobbies that don’t align with your changing self-image may feel like you’re outgrowing them.
5. You can greatly desire to develop within and become a better person. For spiritual development and self-discovery, exercises such as yoga, meditation, journaling, and spiritual practices may be appealing.
6. You may start to observe noteworthy synchronicity or coincidences in your day-to-day activities.
7. Perhaps you experience a stronger bond with the environment around you and want to spend more time in nature.
8. Dreams are vivid. Some specialists claim that dreams may provide insight into our unconscious thoughts, feelings, and desires.
9. I possess a greater degree of intuition and can detect trickery or deception.
10. Becoming highly conscious of bodily sensations, having heightened senses, or experiencing other physical symptoms, such as fatigue.
11. After seeing the value and equality of all living things, you will want to help people, animals, and the environment.
12. With enlightenment, you understand that spiritual teachers appear when you need them. They could be a kind stranger you meet in a store, a new friend you meet by chance, or even a religious person who holds symbolic meaning.
13. Several physical symptoms, such as exhaustion and mental fog, can also coincide with causes of spiritual awakenings.

Spiritual awakening occurs uniquely for each person, so proceed at your own pace. Trust the process and allow yourself to grow on your spiritual path.

Causes of Spiritual Awakening

Many different experiences can lead to spiritual awakening, ranging from profound, life-changing events to subtle shifts in one’s perception.

A spiritual awakening can be triggered by significant life events that alter a person’s perspective and prompt them to reevaluate their priorities, values, and beliefs, such as the loss of a loved one, a diagnosis of a severe illness, or a divorce.

Inspiring people to seek out a deeper meaning and understanding of adversity, terrible experiences, or near-death experiences can also ignite a person’s spiritual journey.

Let’s investigate the reasons for spiritual awakening in further detail.

Trauma

Trauma can lead to a spiritual awakening. Having survived a horrific event may prompt you to reflect on your life and seek meaning and healing beyond this world. You may find that meditation helps you cope with the emotional aftermath and achieve inner peace after an auto accident.

Spiritual activities and meditation

Awakening can also be accessed through spiritual activities and meditation. Attending mindfulness workshops or spending time in solitude may help you become progressively more aware of the deeper truths about the universe and yourself. Regular yoga practice, for instance, may help you get a profound understanding of how you are interconnected with all living things.

Psychedelic experience

Many people who have had drug experiences say they became spiritually awake. If you use a psychological drug like LSD or psilocybin mushrooms, you might have a significant shift in how you think about things and gain new insights into how things work. For example, you may feel a deeper spiritual connection to the planet after attending a transformational ceremony.

For example, reading the writings of spiritual giants like Eckhart Tolle can lead to big realizations and insights.

Reading spiritual books and articles

Spiritual literature and articles can also help awaken people. Your curiosity about yourself may be sparked by devoting time to reading literature that inspires you or researching teachings from many faiths. Deep realizations and epiphanies might result from reading the works of spiritual gurus like Eckhart Tolle.

An existential crisis

An existential crisis, marked by profound inquiries into the purpose of being, may be one of the primary causes of spiritual awakening. Accepting life’s uncertainty and fleetingness may inspire you to look for more profound realities and spiritual insight. For example, you may find yourself on a spiritual path, searching for meaning and purpose, if you are struggling with existential issues following a personal loss.

Near-Death Experience

An NDE (near-death experience) has the potential to be a powerful awakening catalyst. A life-threatening event can cause a significant shift in priorities and perspectives. For instance, following a near-death experience, you can gain a deeper understanding of how interconnected everything is and develop a renewed sense of gratitude for life.

Meditation and prayer

Meditation and prayer are effective causes of spiritual awakening. Making time for prayer and contemplative activities can help you connect with a higher power and your innermost self. After spending some time in prayer and introspection, you may feel at peace and gain a clearer understanding of your life’s mission.

Spontaneous awakening

Finally, some people seem to have a spontaneous awakening without any apparent cause. Their awareness seems to grow naturally, resulting in a more profound comprehension of both the outside world and themselves. For example, after spending some peaceful time reflecting, you may experience an overwhelming sense of clarity and oneness with everything.

These are some causes that trigger a spiritual awakening, although each person may have different reasons for experiencing one. The purpose is the same for everyone: to discover your profound consciousness.

7 Stages of Spiritual Awakening

The spiritual seeker can experience awakening in a moment, but the entire process of spiritual awakening takes time, depending on the person being spiritually awakened.

The Awakening- 1st Stage

As the spiritual crisis unfolds, you may start questioning your every belief and opinion, clearing out old attachments and belongings, and readjusting to make room for new beliefs, people, and belongings to come into your life. You may feel confused, lost, and down. You may feel that something specific is missing in your life, but you cannot quite figure it out yet.

Dark Night of the Soul- 2nd Stage

Often called the “night of the soul,” the second stage of spiritual awakening is just what it sounds like: a challenging time that may be the lowest point of the path. Your soul undergoes a profound reset during this period, shedding layers of the ego.

Even though it’s challenging, hitting rock bottom can catalyze genuine transformation by compelling you to make significant and lasting adjustments.

The Exploration- 3rd Stage

The third stage is constructing your awakened life, which you begin after rising from the abyss of your dark night of the soul.  It’s now about discovery and experimentation. You welcome this stage by exploring a range of pursuits, passions, and interpersonal connections, allowing yourself to try different perspectives and experiences.

Every endeavor—whether it’s taking up a new hobby, learning a different spiritual practice, or making new friends—serves as a step towards realizing who you truly are. As you discover what truly resonates with your soul, this phase is characterized by openness and curiosity.

True Nature Embodiment – 4th Stage

You move from recognition to a profound respect and embodiment of your true self throughout this phase. It means valuing and bringing your innate abilities, aptitudes, and skills to life. As you navigate this process of self-discovery and spiritual growth, you become increasingly in tune with your inner self, fostering a sense of harmony and purpose.

Soul Building- 5th Stage

The fifth stage, sometimes referred to as the “Soul Sessions,” is a complex procedure that takes time and patience. Here, you’re building your life from the ground up to enable the expression of your actual essence. During this stage, you will probably need to try out different approaches and see which ones work best for you.

You discover the practices and procedures that resonate with your true self during this time of soul healing and growth. Years or even decades may pass as you develop routines and systems that support your inner self throughout this journey.

The Surrender- 6th Stage

When you let go of the last tie that holds you back from being open and in touch with your truth, it’s a big step forward. You have delved deep within yourself, peeling back layers of who you are until you reach the core of your soul. It took a lot of effort to align your life with your ideals and goals.

But despite all this change, there may still be parts of old relationships, ways of thinking, or actions that don’t serve your best interests. During this stage, you’ll not only give up power but also control. You’ll have to trust life’s path, your soul’s guidance, and the endless possibilities that lie ahead of you as you bravely take charge of your fate.

Awareness and Service- Final Stage

All the trials you have endured will be repaid exponentially with peace, contentment, and serenity in your life.

This stage is characterized by a heightened state of consciousness, in which one experiences a profound awareness of one’s divinity at all times. It’s a graceful and precise state of being in which one moves through life with ease and is aware of how everything is interconnected.

Living a life of service to others becomes a natural manifestation of one’s awakened consciousness at this point, rather than just a decision. There’s a profound awareness that one can achieve authentic fulfillment and connect with one’s true purpose when serving others.

Serving others is now viewed as an opportunity to demonstrate love, compassion, and understanding for other living beings, rather than as a duty.

How long does the spiritual awakening process take?

There is a wide variation in the duration of a spiritual awakening. It may occur gradually over several months or years, or it may happen suddenly and intensely within a shorter period. Its duration is influenced by elements such as the ability to adapt, the strength of triggers, and the availability of assistance.

Spiritual awakening is viewed as a continuous process of growth and transformation rather than a destination. There’s no time limit; it’s personal to each individual. While some people may make major progress more slowly, others may make significant breakthroughs more quickly. Ultimately, it’s a highly personal process with no set timeframe that unfolds at its own pace.

How To Navigate Spiritual Awakening?

Here are some tips from my personal experience to help you deal with this laborious process;

1. Make time for reflection and self-analysis. Reflect on your experiences, values, and beliefs to gain a deeper understanding of your spiritual path.
2. Practice present-moment awareness to stay aware of your thoughts, feelings, and surroundings. If you practice awareness, you can handle the ups and downs of awakening more easily and calmly.
3. Talk to teachers, spiritual guides or mentors, or people who share your beliefs. They can give you advice, support, and help on your journey.
4. Be open to growing and changing. Accept the process of letting go of old habits and ideas that don’t help you anymore so that you can make room for new ones.
5. Spend time with yourself and take care of your physical, mental, and spiritual health. Make time for things that bring you happiness and well-being, such as meditation, exercise, and spending time in nature.
6. Have faith in the understanding of your inner guidance and the progression of your spiritual awakening or enlightenment. Give yourself over to life’s current course and have faith that you are on the correct path towards enlightenment.
7. Include your spiritual experiences and insights into your day-to-day activities. Seek methods to live out your newly discovered consciousness and synchronize your actions with your spiritual goals and objectives.
8. Maintain an open mind and a curious nature as you explore various spiritual practices, viewpoints, and beliefs. Give yourself permission to change and develop, and be open to exploring new ideas and perspectives on reality and spirituality.

FAQS about causes of spiritual awakening