How to have an “awakening experience”
Did you know that most awakening experiences occur right in the middle of everyday life?
Many people believe that it is necessary to engage in dedicated spiritual practices like meditation, breath work, yoga, or prayer to have an “awakening experience” - that is, an experience that involves a shift in perception and meaning, a sense of revelation, awe, aliveness, and deep connection to oneself, others, earth, and potentially some higher forces beyond.
However, there are many other, more profane ways in which we can catalyse them. So if you are still a bit sceptical around everything ‘spiritual’, this might be a great starting point for you to experience the exceptional!
Ultimately, we can foster the occurrence of awakening experiences whenever we enter an expanded state of consciousness by engaging in practices that reduce the rational and analytical activity of our brain.
Here are some activities that can catalyse light awakening experiences:
Listening to music (especially with repetitive sounds)
Exercising (especially engaging in repetitive motions)
Being in nature
Dancing
Artistic expression
Having sex (yes, we can also spot the ‘repetitive’ motion here)
Using psychedelics
Whilst these are all rather pleasant activities, research as well as my own experience prove that things that feel nice and easy don’t allow for real break-throughs (I wish they would, trust me…). Whilst the practices above can definitely help us to elevate our experience of self and life, the most profound awakening experiences that lead to the most profound transformations within and outside of us emerge from our darkest moments when we find ourselves in states of deep psychological turmoil and emotional suffering.
Somehow, things always have to get really $h!t first, before something inside of us clicks.
It’s like awakening happens gradually (and often unconsciously) - then suddenly (and very noticeably).
We literally WAKE UP.
Looking at the process of awakening in this way may allow us to derive a sense of meaning and purpose among the ever-growing amount of crises that we face as humanity today. Maybe the state of the world just has to become beyond bad until we are finally ready to let go of our old way of thinking, feeling, and acting, and allow for a new way of being - with ourselves, each other, and earth - to emerge.
Awakening / ‘Waking up’ is a natural evolutionary impulse.
It is the inherent tendency of everything in nature (and yes, we are part of that) to grow. There is no doubt that humanity will wake up. The only question is when it will happen on a mass scale.
My very first awakening experience that occurred at the age of 4.
I still vividly remember when I was sitting on the floor in my room, looking at my palms whilst slowly moving my fingers. I was doing this for a few minutes with full presence until I suddenly realised that I was in a body, but that I was not my body. It felt more like I had an avatar. I was intrigued by the force inside of me that was able to control and move this avatar, fully aware on a deeper level that this force was within and beyond me at the same time.
Looking at my hands now at age 25 still reminds me of that feeling and helps me realise that I am more than my body, thoughts, feelings and sensations, but a source of pure consciousness and of will.
Maybe you also had moments in your life where you simply knew - on a very deep level - that you are much ‘more’ than what you think you are.
By engaging in the practices above, you can help those moments occur more frequently and thereby enhance the meaning and quality of your life.
And isn’t that what we’re all really looking for? ✨