What is awakening anyway?
A mindful journey into the roots, meaning, and daily practice of spiritual awakening.
Awakening is a term that has been used throughout history to identify those on a spiritual path who experience a shift in consciousness Yet, what is awakening really? I approach awakening as a daily practice–a moment-by-moment experience to awaken a little more with each opportunity that I’m given.
Merriam-Webster defines “awakening“ as:
A rousing from sleep
rousing from inactivity or indifference
a revival of interest in something (such as religion)
a coming into awareness
I always love returning to the definitions that words have been given in our society as they often hold a richness to the intent of the word. The origin of the word ‘awaken’ is from ancient germanic roots ( wakjanan ) of “to wake, arouse, be vigilant”.
We ‘wake up’ every day which seems to be the origin of the word to “awaken”. Each morning we are gifted with another day where the sun comes up, the flowers open up, and the birds start singing. We are stirred to life—to awaken. It’s this transition of leaving the groggy state of dreaming and sleep to move into our day.
I love the word ‘vigilant’ as that is what it takes to be in a constant state of awakening as one moves throughout their day. Being vigilant means to be “alertly watchful especially to avoid danger”. Yes, I know danger brings up all these additional emotions and feelings, yet that’s not the danger that I think of. The danger that comes to me when talking about awakening is the danger of the thoughts in our own minds. The danger of the negative thoughts, the judgements, the frustrations that sneak into our thoughts and our words.
Yes, our thoughts matter. In fact, they probably matter the most as they are what then comes out of our mouths as words, what emanates from our bodies as emotions and the movement that comes from our bodies with action. It all begins with our thoughts so being vigilant about our thoughts is the origin of where we can be the change we want to be in the world.
Change your thoughts. Change your energy. Change your world. Change your life.
When one first starts to truly watch their thoughts, you’ll think they are just running themselves and that you have no control over them. It does feel that way! They are like tornadoes that seem to have a mind of their own. They spin and move and touch down and return again in places where you least expect them.
As we start to awaken into more consciousness, we notice our thoughts, we realize that we can choose different ones and we explore where those thoughts came from to begin with. Exploring the roots of thoughts are like walking into a forest of banyan tress with the roots all intertwined and touching each other. Our thoughts are like this, they are intertwined and woven deeply into our subconscious mind.
Awakening is seeing the thoughts as those patterns and realizing that they don’t define you.
Awakening is realizing that you aren’t your thoughts and that there is a “you” that can choose new ones.
Awakening is the desire to want to change your thoughts.
Awakening is taking action to learn a new way.
Awakening might be receiving a healing that creates some space to learn something new.
Awakening is noticing the maze and stepping above it to see the path through the maze.
Awakening is the willingness to look at the web and step forward to find the path through.
Awakening happens each day you set the intention to live more consciously. When you choose this path, you commit to awakening a little more each day, each moment, and with every interaction.
