What Does a Spiritual Awakening Feel Like?
I’ve written a lot about the spiritual awakening process from a logical point of view…as best as I can to ‘logically’ explain something that is not logical and easily comprehensible to the human mind. I thought I’d take a pass at explaining what it feels like.
From the start, it’s hard to pinpoint the exact moment it begins but somehow it sneaks up on you. You’re so consumed and distracted by all the chaos that’s happening “to you”, that you don’t even notice until it’s something you cannot deny. It is an experience that is completely foreign and unknown, there is no model or template for how it’s supposed to go, there’s no way to prepare for it, no one talks about it, and it is hard to explain and communicate it to others. At first I was intrigued by these things that were happening that felt sort of unusual, or others would perceive as freaky or strange. But I accept now that I am an unusual person and I appreciate experiences that are new and different, and otherworldly. I was not afraid and I really embraced the experience completely. To me, it felt like a team of warriors and mothers working together to guide and support me in my next phase of life. It didn’t feel scary (well maybe later there was a period of time in the tulum months), it felt like my mind and perception of everything was expanding. Like I now had access to this door into the universe, and all the wisdom and secrets were now available to me.
The whole process of spiritual awakening is not a set period of time. It is specific to each person. And it goes through waves and cycles like the changing of seasons. There are intense periods and then there are periods of integration, reflection and processing.
What Does It Feel Like?
Here’s a quick breakdown of my phases and what it felt like:
Phase I - The Trigger
Deep despair
Turmoil
Fear
Uncertain
Deep sadness
Intense pain
Feeling lost
Rock bottom
Feeling like I was going through a hurricane and wasn’t sure if I would make it through
Phase II - The Opening
Survival
Confusion
Baffled
Curiosity
Humbling
Hope
*Like something had been cracked open
Phase III - Divine Connection
Curiosity
Lightness
Wonder
Energizing
Enlightening
Expansive
Grateful
Warm
Nurturing
Supportive
True, so much truth
Intense Joy
Intense Happiness
Intense Love
*The purest happiness I’ve ever felt as an adult
In love with life and everyone and everything
Phase IV - Joy Ride
Enjoying life
Having fun
Happiness
Joyful
Pleasure
Ignorant
Busyness
Exploration
Possibility
*Basically on a joy ride
Phase V - Integration
Coming down from the high
Back to reality
Disorienting
Shocking
Challenging
Isolation
Uncertain
Confusing
Frustrating
Painful
Fear
*Having to stay put and process everything in solitude - my monk days
Phase VI - Shedding
Isolation
Reflection
Processing
Evaluating
Questioning
Releasing
Frustrating
Painful
Lost (but in a way that feels like you’re no one and it’s not necessarily a bad thing)
Enlightening
*Having to stay put and process, release and redefine everything in solitude - my monk days
Phase VII - Peace
Light
Free
Peaceful
Joyful
Calm
Tranquil
In the flow
Meditative
Reflective
Aware
In tune
Connected
*Imagining new possibilities, setting new programming, new dreams
Phase VIII - Love
Deep connection to all beings
Deep love for all beings
Heart is full
Deep compassion
Light
Joyful
Peaceful
Radiant
In the flow
In tune
Connected
*Connecting with my body and intuition to feel what sparks joy, re-evaluating and re-prioritizing everything
Phase IX - Expansive
Open
Spacious
Free
Patient
Peaceful
Purposeful
Clarifying
Strong
Gentle
*Setting myself free and enjoying the freedom and space to be and feel all the possibilities in life
Phase X - going through it now, will report back
Now let’s talk about the psychic and physical changes your mind and body will go through.
Physical Changes
Not only is your mind altering, every cell in your body is regenerating as you release old energy and reprogram yourself. As you reprogram your mind, your cells are also reprogramming as well through regeneration. Everything in your being is now being aligned. In this process you will see some of your internal changes manifest externally or physically.
In eight months I saw physical changes and modifications to my body, including:
First, many of my health ailments went away
My eyes got a bit bigger/clearer
My skin got clearer
My vocal chords got clearer and brighter
My body got stronger and more physically defined and fit
However my body has gone through multiple cycles of breaking down and rebuilding itself again. As bodies naturally do. However during an accelerated spiritual awakening process like mine is, it can be intense and extreme because your body is going though so many changes in such a short period of time.
I experienced physical symptoms such as:
Intense purges:
like a norovirus / stomach virus
multiple periods in a month
skin shedding
hair falling out, etc.
nausea and vomitting
Top (crown chakra) and top back of brain/head throbbing (this is your parietal cortex expanding
Prone to accidents during this period if you move too quickly.
Prone to psychic attacks and energy cording (the difference is now you are aware of how your energy interacts with others and spirits)
Spiritual ascension sickness:
Yes this is a thing, it happens periodically when your body is going through intense leveling up and oftentimes quickly. Sometimes it’s like flu-like symptoms. It’s not a cold and it’s not a flu. It feels like someone is constantly adjusting your energy and temperature levels. Some symptoms of ‘spiritual ascension sickness’, include:
Intense hot flashes AND intense cold chills and body shivers - alternating and rapidly fluctuating body temperatures
Constant sweating
Intense head throbbing and headaches
Fogginess
Whole body ache - particularly in the neck, spine and legs, muscles and joints
Low energy and weakness
Slight runny nose first day
Slight sore throat second day
You feel like a blob
All you can do is sleep
Usually it sneaks up on you and happens overnight and later in the day it hits you and you feel like a blob for the next two or three days. Most intense the first and second days. If you don’t allow yourself total rest, sleep and nutrition the sickness may get worse and be prolonged. Your powers of manifestation are greatly enhanced during this time so it’s important to believe that this will pass so it doesn’t develop into something more severe. It also feels very similar to post diving sickness. I experienced this same ‘ascension flu’ at least three times during a 10-month period + the purging phases in the first few months of the awakening.
Psychic Changes
You will have expanded levels of consciousness, awareness and connection to the divine/spiritual/cosmic realm (whatever you want to call it).
I am able to connect with and identify angel and spirit guides.
I can sense spirits.
I can psychically connect with animals.
I feel more connected to the network of the natural world.
My senses are on high gear (sounds, smells, sights, intuition, heart, etc).
I feel energy moving all around me and through me.
I notice subtle shifts in energy in myself and in other people.
I can psychically influence some outcomes if I really desire it.
I receive cosmic downloads of information, wisdom, knowing.
Many times I just know things.
In general, a spiritual awakening is mind-blowing, mind-altering, and life changing. I learned to see the world, myself and others from a totally different perspective, a higher perspective, like seeing the bigger cosmic picture. It is a rollercoaster of emotions but always timed appropriately. I never know what to expect and it is full of surprises and incredible insights and wisdom. The process can also be pretty funny as well, with the many synchronicities, outrageous coincidences and moments, epiphanies, and the dry sense of humor of my angel guides. It always keeps me laughing at and with life :) I am in total awe and I’ve fallen in love with the world.
Just remember that if you’re going through the awakening process, to take care of yourself and prioritize yourself completely. Check out my article on “How to Care for Yourself During a Spiritual Awakening.”