The term 'spiritual awakening' is something that can be found in different cultures around the world, and refers to a state where through a series of external and internal events one rediscovers oneself and thereby can experience that one sees the world with new eyes (since the world is only a reflection of our interior).

When you go through a spiritual awakening, you gain new insights about yourself and the world you live in. In many ways, it can feel like waking up from a dream or hibernation - where everything went on autopilot, only to then see everything clearly and clear for what it really is.

In other words, a spiritual awakening means that you "wake up to yourself" and suddenly see yourself in the light of your true self, and suddenly understand that you have not lived according to your authentic self. In general, you can say that a spiritual awakening is when you gain a new understanding of yourself and the world you live in. Often it can feel impossible to go back and ever go back to your previous way of living after the newfound knowledge.

The steps in a spiritual awakening

What starts the spiritual awakening process can differ greatly from person to person, but common to many is that major life changes or trauma can be the start of a spiritual awakening. It can be anything from a move, a separation (friendly or romantic), a change of job or career. These situations can trigger a feeling of emptiness or not being satisfied with one's life, which initiates new processes within one. This is followed by a number of steps in the process towards coming to complete insight and rediscovering who you really are.

Are you curious to take part in six steps that often define the spiritual awakening process? They're coming here!

1. You feel a calling
The first step towards rediscovering oneself is usually defined by a feeling of being called to change. As previously mentioned, it may be feeling dissatisfied with your current life situation, or other upheaval events, which make you feel called to make changes. At this stage you are faced with a choice, to accept the change and adventure ahead, or to resist. On a deeper level though, it's not a choice, your soul knows it's time for change and pushes you to dare to throw yourself out. If you keep fighting back and don't listen inwardly to what your soul wants, the universe can put you through trying situations that are repeated over and over again until you finally choose yourself and accept the change that lies ahead. These are called karmic situations that happen for you and not against you, this to help you towards the journey to your highest self.

2. The search for answers
At this stage, it may begin to feel like the world you live in is too cramped for your expanding consciousness, and you begin to notice how things in your life begin to fall away or how situations suddenly feel unfamiliar and uncomfortable. Things that you always took for granted such as relationships, beliefs and everything else that you used to see as constant and unwavering are now being shaken up, and you begin to question it. This can be a tough period to go through because it feels like your whole life is thrown up in the air and you no longer have any secure ground to stand on. You may feel very alone and confused about what is happening, but it is important to remember that this phase is necessary in order to develop and embrace your authentic self. The feeling of confusion and despair often leads one to choose to explore new life philosophies and traditions in search of answers. This then leads one further on the spiritual journey.

3. Gathering of knowledge
In this phase, you find new concepts and ideas that you absorb like a sponge. A feeling of excitement and elation permeates you as you get answers to all your innermost questions. You learn everything there is to learn about spirituality, buy books and book sessions with healers and mediums. You learn a little about everything in your search until you find what resonates with you and your soul.

4. Expanded understanding of oneself
This stage is defined by a feeling that you have come closer to yourself thanks to all the knowledge you have accumulated so far. You gain a greater understanding of how you yourself function, what your strengths and weaknesses are and what is really important to you on a soul level. You come to realization and also begin to embody your true nature through your unique talents and abilities. It is common that you start to feel more confident and that you establish clearer boundaries with the people around you, because you realize your own worth.

5. Establishment of a new way of being
Once you get this far, you begin to slowly integrate and establish new routines. You have realized your value and found what you believe in and are beginning a phase of making your new life an everyday life. Once you've found your routines and rituals, there may still be a few things lingering that keep you from truly stepping into your full potential. It could be limiting beliefs about yourself, or relationships that hold you back. Here is the time to do shadow work and clear out things that no longer serve you.

6. Surrender to the Universe
The final stage of spiritual awakening is symbolized by total acceptance and trust in the universe. Now you have worked through difficulties and doubts and finally arrived at a state of joy, trust and peace of mind. You understand that you are a small but important part of the universal consciousness and you may feel called to help in the work towards improving the world.

In summary , a spiritual awakening is a complicated and often difficult process that can extend over a long period. The various steps described here are an overview of what a spiritual awakening might look like, but it is important to remember that because we are all such unique and different individuals, the process looks different for all of us. A spiritual awakening is also not a continuous staircase upwards, but we can jump back and forth between the different phases during different periods of our life. The most important thing to take away when undergoing an awakening is to have trust and acceptance, and trust that everything is happening in the right timing for a reason. Everything happens so that you can live your very best life in line with who you really are.